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Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis

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Neglected Tropical Diseases - North America

Part of the book series: Neglected Tropical Diseases ((NTD))

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Abstract

Globally, almost one billion people are infected with soil-transmitted helminths (STH). The global prevalence of STH is closely associated with degree of poverty and insufficient sanitation and disproportionately affects children. Most infected individuals are asymptomatic, but children with heavy  parasite burdens are at the highest risk for impaired physical development. The most important human STH species are hookworm (Necator Americanus, Ancylostoma duodenale), Ascaris lumbricoides, and Trichuris trichuria. During the early 1900s, the prevalence of these parasites was higher in rural areas of the Southeast United States; their prevalence has decreased greatly due to the economical and sanitation improvement. However with the increase in international travel and migration, healthcare providers in non-endemic regions like the United States and Canada should be aware of these diseases. The detection of eggs in stool samples by light microscopy is the most common method for diagnosis but has limited sensitivity. Treatment with benzimidazole is effective; however, reinfection can occur frequently in endemic regions. A holistic approach to social determinants of health is needed and recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), which includes access to appropriate sanitation, hygiene education, and preventive chemotherapy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jacobi Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA

    Jannet A. Tobon Ramos, Cesar G. Berto & Christina Coyle

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  1. Jannet A. Tobon Ramos
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  2. Cesar G. Berto
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  3. Christina Coyle
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Correspondence to Christina Coyle .

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  1. National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA

    Jill E. Weatherhead

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Tobon Ramos, J.A., Berto, C.G., Coyle, C. (2021). Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis. In: Weatherhead, J.E. (eds) Neglected Tropical Diseases - North America. Neglected Tropical Diseases. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63384-4_1

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