Open AccessPrevention of soil-transmitted helminth infection
Author(s) -
Luciene Maura Mascarini-Serra
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of global infectious diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 0974-8245
pISSN - 0974-777X
DOI - 10.4103/0974-777x.81696
Subject(s) - necator americanus , ascaris lumbricoides , ancylostoma duodenale , sanitation , trichuris trichiura , environmental health , ascariasis , hookworm infections , hookworm infection , neglected tropical diseases , trichuriasis , helminthiasis , population , hygiene , helminths , medicine , immunology , public health , pathology
Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) form one of the most important groups of infectious agents and are the cause of serious global health problems. The most important STHs are roundworms (Ascaris lumbricoides), whipworms (Trichuris trichiura) and hookworms (Necator americanus or Ancylostoma duodenale); on a global level, more than a billion people have been infected by at least one species of this group of pathogens. This review explores the general concepts of transmission dynamics and the environment and intensity of infection and morbidity of STHs. The global strategy for the control of soil-transmitted helminthiasis is based on (i) regular anthelminthic treatment, (ii) health education, (iii) sanitation and personal hygiene and (iv) other means of prevention with vaccines and remote sensoring. The reasons for the development of a control strategy based on population intervention rather than on individual treatment are discussed, as well as the costs of the prevention of STHs, although these cannot always be calculated because interventions in health education are difficult to measure. An efficient sanitation infrastructure can reduce the morbidity of STHs and eliminates the underlying cause of most poverty-related diseases and thus supports the economic development of a country.