Helminthiasis

This article is about the infection. For the organisms, see Helminths.
Helminthiasis
Other namesWorm infection, helminthosis, helminthiases, helminth infection
Ascaris worms (one type of helminth) in the small bowel of an infected person (X-ray image with barium as contrast medium)
Pronunciation
SpecialtyInfectious diseases Edit this on Wikidata

Helminthiasis, also known as worm infection, is any macroparasitic disease of humans and other animals in which a part of the body is infected with parasitic worms, known as helminths. There are numerous species of these parasites, which are broadly classified into tapeworms, flukes, and roundworms. They often live in the gastrointestinal tract of their hosts, but they may also burrow into other organs, where they induce physiological damage.

Soil-transmitted helminthiasis and schistosomiasis are the most important helminthiases, and are among the neglected tropical diseases.[1] These group of helminthiases have been targeted under the joint action of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies and non-governmental organizations through a project launched in 2012 called the London Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases, which aimed to control or eradicate certain neglected tropical diseases by 2020.[2]

Helminthiasis has been found to result in poor birth outcome, poor cognitive development, poor school and work performance, poor socioeconomic development, and poverty.[3][4] Chronic illness, malnutrition, and anemia are further examples of secondary effects.[5]

Soil-transmitted helminthiases are responsible for parasitic infections in as much as a quarter of the human population worldwide.[6] One well-known example of soil-transmitted helminthiases is ascariasis.

  1. ^ "Neglected Tropical Diseases". cdc.gov. 6 June 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  2. ^ London Declaration (30 January 2012). "London Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases" (PDF). Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  3. ^ Report of a WHO Expert Committee (1987). Prevention and Control of Intestinal Parasitic Infections. World Health Organization, Technical Report Series 749.
  4. ^ Del Rosso, Joy Miller and Tonia Marek (1996). Class Action: Improving School Performance in the Developing World through Better Health and Nutrition. The World Bank, Directions in Development.
  5. ^ WHO (2012). "Research priorities for helminth infections". World Health Organization Technical Report Series. 972 (972): xv–xvii, 1–174, back cover. PMID 23420950.
  6. ^ "Soil-transmitted helminth infections". Fact sheet N°366. May 2015. Archived from the original on August 20, 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2015.