Intestinal Parasitic Infections in 2023

Abstract

Intestinal parasites include intestinal protozoa and intestinal helminths. Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) pose a global health problem affecting over one billion people worldwide. Although these infections are predominantly seen in the developing world, they are frequently seen in the developed countries, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Patients’ clinical presentations generally include diarrhea, dysentery, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, nutritional deficiency, iron deficiency anemia, anal and perianal itching, and rarely intestinal obstruction. The intestinal parasites have similarities in their mode of transmission and life cycle. The stool test is the primary way of diagnosing IPIs. Treatment is given with various anti-parasitic agents. However, appropriate preventive measures are essential for successfully controlling the IPIs.

Intestinal parasitic infections among school children in northern Madagascar

“…Infections are widespread in tropical and subtropical areas, with the highest numbers occurring in sub-Saharan Africa, the Americas, and Asia [15]. According to studies, the prevalence of IPIs in Africa ranges from 6.6% -86% [4,16]. The present study, which was conducted in northern Madagascar, found that 71.0% of the participants were infected with intestinal parasites, and that 27% of those infections were caused by pathogenic parasites (5.8% helminthic and 21.2% protozoan infections), and 48.5% by the potentially pathogenic stramenopila.…”

Prevalence and Distribution of Geo-Helminths and Intestinal Protozoa Infections among School-Going Children in Nyeri County, Kenya

“…The most frequent intestinal protozoa transmitted through polluted water are E. histolytica and G. lamblia. Their cysts pollute the environment and water systems as well and can withstand environmentally harsh conditions, e.g., G. lamblia can survive at 21 °C for a month (Ahmed, 2023). Endolimax nana and Entamoeba coli are not harmful, although they can be indicators of fecal contamination in the environment.…”

Intestinal parasitic infections in children from marginalised Roma communities: prevalence and risk factors

“…Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs), also referred to as geohelminths, primarily afflict children who live in extreme poverty and predominantly also those who live in rural areas or communities with a lack of water, poor hygiene and low education [ 1 , 23 , 18 ]. Although patients with low-intensity infections caused by STHs may be asymptomatic, moderate- to high-intensity infections are associated with gastrointestinal symptoms, anaemia, as well as deterioration of the physical development of children [ 19 – 21 ].…”

“…Ascaris lumbricoides is the most frequent nematode infecting the small intestine of humans with a cosmopolitan distribution. Ascariasis is the most common helminthiasis in the world and occurs primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, China and the Indian subcontinent [ 2 , 18 , 23 ]. Ascariasis negatively affects the nutrition and cognitive development of preschool and school children [ 2 , 24 , 25 ]; the most vulnerable group comprises preschool-aged children [ 26 , 27 ].…”

“…Over the last decade, several studies have been conducted to investigate the impact of STHs on children’s health and cognitive functions [ 18 , 20 , 23 , 24 , 47 , 48 ]. Even though infections caused by intestinal parasites are not among the leading causes of death of children at the global level, they are important causes of children’s diseases, malnutrition, poor school performance, cognitive disorders, and consequently also, future economic losses [ 20 , 49 , 50 ].…”