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Chapter 55 - Intestinal Helminths

from Section 8 - Helminth Infections

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 June 2025

By
Humphrey Mazigo ,
Michael Brown ,
Simon J. Brooker  and
Stella Kepha
Edited by
David Mabey ,
Martin W. Weber ,
Moffat Nyirenda ,
Dorothy Yeboah-Manu ,
Jackson Orem ,
Laura Benjamin ,
Michael Marks  and
Nicholas A. Feasey
David Mabey
Affiliation:
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Martin W. Weber
Affiliation:
World Health Organization
Moffat Nyirenda
Affiliation:
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Dorothy Yeboah-Manu
Affiliation:
Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana
Jackson Orem
Affiliation:
Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala
Laura Benjamin
Affiliation:
University College London
Michael Marks
Affiliation:
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Nicholas A. Feasey
Affiliation:
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
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Summary

There are approximately 25 major helminth (worm) infections of humans that all, to some extent, have public health significance, but amongst the most common of all human infections are the intestinal nematodes (also called soil-transmitted helminths; STH): the roundworm, Ascaris lumbricoides; the hookworms, Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale; and the whipworm, Trichuris trichiura. The burden of other intestinal nematodes, including Strongyloides stercoralis and Enterobius vermicularis, are ill-defined due to practical difficulties in diagnosing sub-clinical infections. Cestodes are also of major public health and economic importance.

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Principles of Medicine in Africa , pp. 535 - 543
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

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References

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