Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections
Unknown authors
Abstract
Over a quarter of the world's population is at risk of infection with the soil-transmitted helminths; Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus), Trichuris trichiura, and Strongyloides stercoralis.Infected children and adults present with a range of medical and surgical conditions, and clinicians should consider the possibility of infection in individuals living in, or returning from, endemic regions.Although safe and effective drugs are donated free to endemic countries, only half of at risk children received treatment in 2016.This seminar describes the epidemiology, life cycles, pathophysiology, clinical diagnosis and management, and the public health control of soil-transmitted helminths.Recent reviews questioned the impact of populationlevel deworming; however, it remains beyond doubt that treatment effectively reduces severe consequences of soil-transmitted helminthiasis.We highlight the need for refined diagnostic tools and more effective control options to scale up public-health interventions and to improve clinical detection and management of these infections.