Incidence
Trichuriasis is the third most common roundworm infection of humans. Worldwide, with infections more frequent in areas with tropical weather and poor sanitation practices, and among children. It is estimated that 800 million people are infected worldwide.
In Malaysia especially soil transmitted helminthic infection is common. Thus the prevalence and distribution of soil-transmitted helminthiases among Orang Asli children living in peripheral Selangor, Malaysia is studied thoroughly.
Soil-transmitted helminthiases are a public health problem in rural communities. A cross-sectional study of the prevalence and distribution of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworm was conducted in 281 Orang Asli children (aborigines) aged between 2 and 15 years, from 8 Orang Asli villages in Selangor, Malaysia. All the children were infected with soil-transmitted helminthes, with 26.3% of the children infected either with A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura or hookworm and 72.6% having mixed infection. The overall prevalences of A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura and hookworm were 61.9, 98.2 and 37.0%, respectively. Approximately 19.0, 26.0 and 3.0% of the children had severe infection of ascariasis, trichuriasis and hookworm infection, respectively. The prevalences and mean egg per gram (epg) counts for A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura were not significantly dependent on age, therefore age-dependent convexity was not seen in this study. However, the results of this study reveal an age-dependent prevalence and mean egg per gram count in children with hookworm infection.
Thus, the conclusion is ascariasis, trichuriasis and hookworm infection are still prevalent and therefore a public health concern in rural areas. Severe ascariasis and trichuriasis may lead to other health and medical problems.
References
1. (Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2006 Jan;37(1):40-7. Al-Mekhlafi MS, Azlin M,Nor Aini U, Shaikh A, Sa'iah A, Fatmah MS, Ismail MG, Firdaus MS, Aisah MY, Rozlida AR, Norhayati M.
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.
PMID: 16771211 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
the southern United States
2. (↑ Summers RW, Elliott DE, Urban JF Jr, Thompson R, Weinstock JV. Trichuris suis therapy in Crohn's disease. Gut. 2005 Jan;54(1):87-90.
↑ Bethony J, Brooker S, Albonico M, Geiger SM, et al. Soil-transmitted helminth infections: ascariasis, trichuriasis, and hookworm. Lancet. 2006 May 6;367(9521):1521-32
