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It is an infection caused by parasites known as helminths, which lodge in the human gastrointestinal tract. These helminths include worms such as pinworms, ascaris, whipworms, hookworms, tapeworms and others.
The cause is due to ingestion of helminth eggs or larvae that are present in undercooked food, contaminated water or soil.
Symptoms include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss and fatigue. In severe cases, the disease can lead to malnutrition and growth retardation.
Diagnosis is based on patient evaluation and testing for the presence of parasite eggs, larvae or parasite segments in stool samples.
Treatment is based on the use of anthelmintic drugs that help eliminate the worms from the body.
- Intestinal helminth infections among school children in the Serian District of Sarawak. Med J Malaysia 1999; 54 (1): 996-101.
- CDC-Centers for Disease Control, & Prevention. (2010). CDC - Soil-Transmitted Helminths.
- Soil-transmitted helminth infections. (s/f). Who.int. Recuperado el 28 de agosto de 2023, de https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/soil-transmitted-helminth-infection
- Mishra, P. K., Palma, M., Bleich, D., Loke, P., & Gause, W. C. (2014). Systemic impact of intestinal helminth infections. Mucosal Immunology, 7(4), 753–762.
Dr. Abel Andrés Orelogio
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