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Helminths
Citation:
Lindquist, Alan. Helminths. Chapter 195, Jonathan Cohen, William G Powderly and Steven M. Opal (ed.), Infectious Diseases 4th Edition. ELSEVIER, AMSTERDAM, Holland, 2(8):1763-1779.e1, (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-7020-6285-8.00195-7
Impact/Purpose:
This is a chapter in a textbook about infectious diseases. This chapter provides the information on the nature and life cycle, epidemiological characteristics, diagnosis, prevention and control, and some other relevant aspects of helminths (worms) of significance in humans. The purpose of the book is to serve as a reference to scientists and medical practitioners.
Description:
Helminths are the most common parasites infecting humans. While the world population numbers approximately 6 billion, there are probably a similar number of helminthes infections occurring in humans. Helminths are transmitted to humans through food, water, soil, and by arthropod and molluscan vectors. The helminths infect every organ and organ system. They are prevalent in the intestines, but are also found in the liver, lungs, blood and occasionally in the brain and other organs. This chapter describes some of the human parasitic worms, their biology, epidemiology, pathogenicity, clinical aspects of helminthic infection, diagnosis and prevention.
