Intestinal Helminths
Intestinal helminths, a type of intestinal parasites, reside in the human gastrointestinal tract. They represent one of the most prevalent forms of parasitic disease. Scholars estimate over a quarter of the world’s population is infected with an intestinal worm of some sort, with roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms infecting 1.47 billion people, 1.05 billion people, and 1.30 billion people, respectively. Furthermore, the World Bank estimates 100 million people may experience stunting or wasting as a result of infection.
Because of their high mobility and lower standards of hygiene, school-age children are particularly vulnerable to these parasites. Overall, an estimated 400 million, 170 million, and 300 million children are infected with roundworm, hookworm, and whipworm, respectively. Children may also be particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of helminth infections due to their incomplete physical development and their greater immunological vulnerability.
Read more about this topic: Parasitic Worm
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