Soil-transmitted helminths

Abstract

Helminths currently infect over two billion people worldwide. A quarter of world’s population has been infected at some time in their lives. Sobering statistics from a World Health Organization (WHO) March 2008 report that 80% of the “Bottom Billion” impoverished population of the world have Ascaris, 60% have Trichuris and 57% have hookworm. This would only be a matter of pharmacologic distribution were it not for additional disturbing reports that standard therapy has a 50% failure to clear Trichuris and 90% failure to clear hookworm. These reports challenge tropical physicians who have had years of confidence in mebendazole and albendazole to adequately treat children. This is even more of a challenge to physicians in temperate climates who may be less familiar with standard treatment. This article presents the recent data, the approach to treatment failure, and concepts of new therapeutic approaches.