Helminthes and Worms: Parasites

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Recommended: Antibiotic resistance as a global health risk

Helminthes or parasites, often called “worms” are among the most prevalence of chronic human infections worldwide. Soil-transmitted infections are caused by different species of parasitic worms. There are over 340 species of helminthes; most are rare in humans but may infect animals that can serve as a reservoir for infection but there are four main nematodes species of human soil-transmitted helminthes infections. Ascaris lumbricoides (round worm), trichuris trichura (whipworm), Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus (hookworm). These four helminthes are commonly associated with malnutrition, including anemia. Pregnant women are at risk of nutritional deficiencies caused by helminthes infections Soil-transmitted helminthes have been as causing impairment of growth and nutrition. The hookworm damage the intestinal mucosa leading to bleeding, loss of iron and anemia infections by trichuris trichura produce chronic reduction of food intake. During pregnancy, mild or several infections with hookworm can cause anemia to the mother and damage to the fetus, leading to low birth weight. Several large-scale studies have demonstrated that deworming and iron supplements reduced anemia among pregnant women and have led positive birth outcomes. At the global level it is estimated that intestinal parasite infections affect more than one-third of the world’s population with the highest rates in school-age children. These infections are most prevalent in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the developing world where adequate water...

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...lance and monitoring systems, inadequate systems to ensure quality and uninterrupted supply of medicines, inappropriate use of antibiotic medicines, poor infection prevention and control practices, insufficient diagnostic, prevention and therapeutic tools. WHO is guiding the response to antibiotic resistance through; fostering coordinated actions by all stakeholders; creating policy guidance, support for surveillance, technical assistance, knowledge generation and partnerships; fostering innovation, research and development. WHO calls on all key stakeholders, including policy-makers and planners, the public and patients, practitioners and prescribers, pharmacist and dispensers, and the pharmaceutical industry, to act and take responsibility for combating antibiotic resistance.

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