Intensifying responsiveness towards neglected intestinal helminth infections in a resource-constrained setting

Abstract

Neglected intestinal helminth infections afflict the marginalized communities in Asia. Since 2004, growing body of evidence in Myanmar indicated high prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths (STH) infections (30-40%) among school children. Co-existence of STH (23%) with food-borne trematodes was noted among 383 pregnant women in a selected township in 2012-2014 followed by molecular verification of very low prevalence of schistosome infection (<5%) in the same study site in 2016. The success of transmission elimination plans may depend upon sensitive diagnostic tools to detect persistent infections and polyparasitism. Addressing the research gaps in vulnerable sites requires an increased investment in resource-constrained settings.