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Updated: Jul 22, 2026
07:45
Soil Sampling and Isolation of Entomopathogenic Nematodes (Steinernematidae, Heterorhabditidae)
Published on: July 11, 2014
Soil-transmitted helminth infections: ascariasis, trichuriasis, and hookworm
Jeffrey Bethony1, Simon Brooker, Marco Albonico
1Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20037, USA.
Lancet (London, England)
|May 9, 2006
Summary
Soil-transmitted helminth infections like ascariasis, trichuriasis, and hookworm impact child development. While benzimidazole anthelmintics are common, concerns about resistance drive the search for new control tools.
Area of Science:
- * Medical Parasitology
- * Global Health
- * Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Background:
- * Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections, including ascariasis, trichuriasis, and hookworm, are prevalent in children in low-resource settings.
- * These infections can lead to significant impairments in physical, intellectual, and cognitive development.
- * STH infections represent a substantial global health burden, particularly affecting vulnerable populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To review the current landscape of STH infections and their management.
- * To highlight the role of benzimidazole anthelmintics in treatment and prevention.
- * To address emerging concerns regarding drug resistance and the need for novel control strategies.
Main Methods:
- * Literature review of STH epidemiology, clinical impact, and treatment modalities.
- * Analysis of data on the efficacy of benzimidazole anthelmintics (mebendazole, albendazole).
- * Examination of current challenges, including drug resistance and sustainability of control programs.
Main Results:
- * Benzimidazole anthelmintics are widely used for treating and preventing STH infections in children.
- * Deworming programs have demonstrated positive impacts on child health and educational outcomes.
- * Growing concerns exist regarding the sustainability of current deworming strategies and the potential for anthelmintic resistance.
Conclusions:
- * STH infections remain a critical public health issue, necessitating effective control measures.
- * While current anthelmintics are valuable, the emergence of resistance underscores the urgent need for alternative and complementary control tools.
- * Continued research and development of new interventions are crucial for long-term STH control and improved child well-being.
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