Biological Therapy For Inflammatory Bowel Disease - Helminthic Therapy

Helminthic Therapy

Helminthic therapy is the treatment of autoimmune diseases and immunological disorders by means of deliberate infection with a helminth worm or with the ova (eggs) of a helminth. Helminths are parasitic worms, or nematodes, such as Trichuris suis or hookworms. Helminthic therapy is currently being studied as a promising treatment for several (non-viral) auto-immune diseases including Crohn's disease, and Ulcerative colitis.

In helminth therapy (or worm therapy), a doctor inoculates a patient with a nematode worm that infects the intestinal tract. There are currently two closely related treatments available, inoculation with Necator americanus, or hookworms, or with Trichuris suis ova, (TSO), the eggs of the pig whipworm.

Helminthic therapy emerged from the observation that people in less developed countries have more parasites and fewer autoimmune disorders and allergies. By comparison, highly industrialized countries with clean water and extensive sewage treatment systems (for example) have experienced a significant and sustained increase in autoimmune disorders. Current research and available therapy is targeted at, or available for, the treatment of Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) as well as Multiple Sclerosis, Asthma, Eczema, Dermatitis, Hay fever and food allergies. See Helminthic therapy for information regarding those conditions.