Primary Health Care Guide to Common UK Parasitic Diseases

Citation

Kingman, S. (1999), "Primary Health Care Guide to Common UK Parasitic Diseases", Health Education, Vol. 99 No. 3, pp. 3-4. https://doi.org/10.1108/he.1999.99.3.3.1

The charity Community Hygiene Concern, the publisher of this volume, has a long track record of campaigning for effective methods of dealing with parasite problems such as head lice and toxocariasis. The expertise of its staff and associates is now being shared in the form of a clearly written and well laid out summary of all aspects of several common parasites.

The book is aimed at health professionals working in primary health care, as well as school nurses, teachers, public health doctors, health promotion/education officers and environmental health officers. Its authors say in the Introduction that because there is no coherent public health strategy to deal with parasitic diseases, training of health care professionals in how to deal with these conditions is often inadequate, leading to inappropriate and expensive responses. The Guide aims to fill this gap, they say.

With this in mind, the book aims to help the user identify the parasite concerned; consider the role played in transmission by the social activity of humans and possibly pets; initiate preventive action; and work towards appropriate allocation of responsibilities within an up‐dated legal framework.

The first chapter, by Joanna Ibarra, is on head lice infestations (pediculosis). This presents information on the epidemiology of head lice infestation, the life cycle of the louse, how it is transmitted, symptoms of infestation, diagnosis and treatment. This chapter, like those which follow, features photocopiable panels which provide clear and accurate information which can be inserted in public information leaflets, posters and the like.

The section on legal considerations summarises the legislation relevant to the topic of pediculosis. It explains, for example, that the exclusion of a pupil on the grounds that he or she is verminous′′ (i.e. hair or clothes infested with head or body lice respectively) can only be carried out on the authority of a medical officer, not at the discretion of a teacher. Likewise, it points out that there is no specific statutory obligation placed on health or local authorities to control lice or scabies in schoolchildren by providing inspections.

Chapters on the body louse and crab louse follow, but the next chapter of great interest to those concerned with how parasitic diseases affect schoolchildren is on scabies. The numbers of reported cases of scabies have been increasing since 1991, and a third of them are in children aged under 14, with a half in those aged 15‐44. Colour plates are included to aid diagnosis of this condition.

An account of pesticides for topical use is contained in the next chapter. This provides a comprehensive account of the types of pesticides in use, and the evidence on their efficacy and toxicity. There is a useful table summarising the brand names, active ingredients, manufacturers, administration and contraindications of various pesticides. As might be expected from Community Hygiene Concern, this chapter recommends that the increasing cost of treatment with pesticides, and concerns about the toxicity of these chemicals, make it prudent to offer the choice of Bug Busting for infestations of head lice or pubic lice.

The chapter on toxocariasis gives a succinct summary of the life cycle of the worm Toxocara canis, its means of transmission, clinical features of infection, diagnostic tests, and treatment. An estimated 2‐3 per cent of the British population are infected with more than 100 diagnoses of eye disease made each year, mainly in children. A section of particular interest to health educators will be that outlining prevention and health promotion measures, together with a list of resources and useful addresses.

Finally, there is a chapter on toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease harboured by cats, and a glossary.

The authors of this Guide plan to produce a further and more comprehensive edition later this year, taking into account comments received about the first edition. The full Guidewill, they say, include additional sections on other parasitic diseases, including enterobiasis, cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis, fleas, house dust mite allergy, tapeworm infection and parasitic infection in relation to HIV infection. This publication can be ordered from Community Hygiene Concern at 160 Inderwick Road, London N8 9JT (Fax: 0181 292 7208).