Oral helminthic infestations

Abstract

Oral infections caused by helminths (worms) are rarely encountered in clinical practice, and consequently, there is a paucity of information in the medical and dental literature about these conditions. In the present article, we review the English literature related to oral helminthic infestations. The main oral infections caused by helminths include four roundworm (trichinosis, trichuriasis, filariasis, and larva migrans) and three tapeworm infections (cysticercosis, sparganosis, and echinococcosis). Cases are mainly encountered in endemic areas and mainly present a benign clinical picture. The diagnosis of oral helminthic infections is mostly established after histopathological examination, which shows parasitic larvae lined by fibrous tissue and inflammatory cells. Surgical excision is the preferred treatment of isolated oral lesions caused by helminths; however, patients should undergo thorough medical evaluation to exclude the possible involvement of other body systems.

Symptoms of selected parasitic diseases in the oral cavity

“…Nematodes. Nematodes (roundworms) are macroscopic, multicellular parasitic helminths that have rounded, elongated and not-segmented body shape [25,26]. They have a simple digestive tract starting with the oral cavity at the front and ending with the anus at the back.…”

“…The eggs need approximately one day in warm soil to hatch, and one week to develop to infectious filariform larvae. Humans become infected when larvae penetrate the skin pores, hair follicles or damaged skin, mainly on hands, arms, feet, genitalia and buttocks [25,26]. The infection of the oral mucosa is rare, but possible, and occurs when mucosa comes into contact with objects contaminated with larvae, such as a blade of grass or a fishing hook [21].…”

“…Common symptoms of HrCLM are painful, pruritic, erythematous papules and lesions, dark serpiginous elevated tracks on the palate, retromolar region and cheeks, and a sensation of a 'crawling bug' inside the mouth. Parasites reaching the throat may even cause dyspnea [25,26,34,35]. Although HrCLM is a self-limiting disease, an anti-helminthic drug, such as thiabendazole, may be applied in the healing process.…”

“…diethyl carbamazine, often in combination with ivermectin or albendazole. The prevention of LF is mainly by limiting contact with insects which carry the disease [25,26,35]. Thirty-four papers found in the PubMed database about filarial infection have been published in recent years.…”

“…mucosa of the soft tissues of the oral cavity such as: lips, frenulum, gums, cheeks, tongue, hard and soft palate, and the oral part of the throat [4,5,6,7,8] Toxoplasma gondii swollen lymph nodes, weakness, headache, dizziness, higher temperature, muscle and joint pain (resemble mononucleosis) submandibular lymph nodes [10] Entamoeba gingivalis periodontitis chronica, inflammation of soft tissue in the oral cavity mucosa of soft tissues in the oral cavity [13,16] Trichomonas tenax periodontitis chronica, inflammation of soft tissue in the oral cavity mucosa of the soft tissues in the oral cavity [17,19] Gongylonema pulchrum itchy sensation of a moving foreign body under the oral and oesophageal mucosa. Irritation, minor pain, hypersalivation, nausea and vomiting, cough and pruritus mucosa of soft tissues in the oral cavity [27,28,30,31,32] Ancylostoma painful, pruritic, erythematous papules, dark serpiginous elevated tracks on palate, retromolar region and cheeks, and a sensation of a 'crawling bug' inside the mouth mucosa of soft tissues in the oral cavity [25,26,34,35] Filariae swelling of intra-oral tissues, external mandibular area or submandibular abscesses, painless nodules mucosa of soft tissues in the oral cavity [25,26,35…”