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SOIL-
TRANSMITTED
HELMINTHIASIS

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SOIL-TRANSMITTED
HELMINTHIASIS
Soil-transmitted helminthiasis refer to the intestinal
worms infecting humans that are transmitted
through contaminated soil, and caused by different
species of parasitic worms.
STHs infections are among the most common
infections worldwide with an estimated 1.5 billion
infected people or 24% of the worlds population.
It is found mainly in area with warm and moist
climates
STHs are considered "Neglected tropical diseases
(NTDs)"
It is the highest prevalence reported from Sub-
Saharan Africa, China, South America and Asia.
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ESTIMATED INFECTED/
TRANSMITTED CASES
OF STH

108 million
260 million 654 million adolescent girls,
preschool-age school-age and 138.8 million
children children pregnant and
lactating women

A large part of the world's population is infected with one or

more of these soil-transmitted helminths:

Approximately 807-1,121 million with Ascaris

Approximately 604-795 million with Whipworm Page | 03
Approximately 576-740 million with hookworm
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STH TRANSMISSION

Note: No direct person-to-

person transmission.

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INFECTIVE
STAGE

The infective stage occurs when the eggs of the

parasites are passed in the stool of an infected
individual and contaminate the soil. The eggs then hatch
into larvae, which can survive in the soil for several
weeks or months and can infect humans when they
come into contact with contaminated soil.

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TYPES OF
SPECIES

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ASCARIS (ROUNDWORM)

Ascaris or Ascaris lumbricoides, the causative

agent of ascariasis, it is large parasitic and most
common parasitic worms in humans. Ascariasis
can be asymptomatic, causing only malnutrition
and growth retardation, or it may present with
abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, bloating and
diarrhea.
Ascariasis is caused by infecting infective eggs.
An estimated 807-1,221 million people in the world
are infected.
Longest intestinal nematode (20-25 cm)
Transmitted Fecal-orally
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WHIPWORM
Whipworm or also known as Trichuris Trichiura is
an intestinal parasite of humans.
The larvae and adult worms live in the intestine
of humans and can cause intestinal disease.
An estimated 604-795 million people in the world
are infected.
People with light infections usually have no signs
or symptoms. People with heavy infections can
experience frequent, painful bowel movements
that contain a mixture of mucus, water, and
blood. The diarrhea typically smells worse than
usual.

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HOOKWORM
Hookworm is an intestinal parasite of humans. The larvae
and adult worms live in the small intestine can cause
intestinal disease.
Hookworm infection is found in many parts of the world,
and is common in areas with poor access to adequate
water, sanitation, and hygiene.
People are infected when animal hookworm larvae
penetrate the skin, causing a local reaction that is red and
itchy.
The two main species of hookworm infecting humans are
Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus.
An estimated 576-740 million people in the world are
infected.
The symptoms are abdominal pain, colic or cramping and
excessive crying in infants, intestinal cramps, nausea,
fever, blood in stool, loss of appetite, and itchy rash.

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SYMPTOMS
People with infections of light intensity (few worms) usually do not
suffer from the infection or No symptoms
Heavier infection can cause a range of symptoms including:
Intestinal manifestations (diarrhea and abdominal pain)
Malnutrition
General malaise
weakness
Impaired growth
physical development

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NUTRITIONAL
EFFECTS
Soil-transmitted helminths impair the nutritional status of the people
they infect in multiple ways.
The worms feed on host tissues, including blood, which leads to a loss of
iron and protein.
Hookworms in addition cause chronic intestinal blood loss that can
result in anaemia especially in adolescent girls and women of
reproductive age.
The worms increase malabsorption of nutrients. In addition, roundworm
may possibly compete for vitamin A in the intestine.
Some soil-transmitted helminths also cause loss of appetite and,
therefore, a reduction of nutritional intake and physical fitness. In
particular, T. trichiura can cause diarrhea and dysentery.

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LABORATORY
DIAGNOSIS
Infection with STH can be readily diagnosed by detection of helminth eggs in stool
samples using microscopic techniques.
The most widely used approach is the "Kato-katz" technique, which is also
recommended by the World Health Organization.

Other Laboratory Diagnosis:

Direct Fecal smear
Fecal examination
molecular method/test
Formalin-ether concentration technique (FECT)

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LABORATORY
TESTS

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KATO-KATZ
TECHNIQUE

Used for qualitative and semiquantitative

diagnosis of intestinal helminthic infections.

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FECAL
EXAMINATION

Fecal examination or Stool

Analysis is a series of tests done
on a stool.

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MOLECULAR
METHOD/TEST

Laboratory method that uses a

sample of tissue, blood, or other
body fluid to check for certain genes,
proteins, or other molecules that
may be a sign of a disease or
condition.

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DIRECT
MICROSCOPIC
EXAMINATION OF
FECES
Detect parasitic elements such as
the larvae of Strongyloides
stercoralis which are motile.

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FORMALIN-ETHER
CONCENTRATION
TECHNIQUE

It is widely used sedimentation

technique for the diagnosis of
intestinal protozoa in preserved stool
samples.

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PREVENTION AND
CONTROL
The WHO recommends periodic medicinal treatment like deworming and
preventive chemotherapy, without previous individual diagnosis to all at-risk
people living in endemic area s. The intervention reduces morbidity by reducing
the worm burden.

Health and hygiene education reduces transmission and reinfection by

encouraging healthy behaviors
Provision of adequate sanitation is also important

Periodical treatment aims to reduce and maintain the intensity of infection low,
and to protect infected at-risk populations from morbidity.

Deworming can be easily integrated with child health days or vitamin A

supplementation programs for preschool children, Human Papilloma Vaccine
(HPV) program for adolescent girls or integrated with school health programs.
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TREATMENT/MEDICATION
In accordance with the WHO, the recommended drugs or treatment for use in
public health interventions , which are drugs specially designed to eliminate
parasitic worms or to control STH infections are:

Albendazole (400mg) tablets given in a single dose, reduced to 200mg for

children between 12 and 14 months. It is effective against all major types of
STH.
Levamisole (40mg) tablets given in a single dose by weight (2.5 mg/kg). The
drug levamisole at a dose of 80mg has been successfully used in primary
school-age children.
Mebendazole (500mg) tablets given in a single dose of 100 mg twice daily for
three consecutive days.
Pyrantel pamoate (250mg) tablets given in a single dose by weight (10mg/kg).
A combined preparation of pyrantel-oxantel has been proved to be more
effective than pyrantel alone in treating T. trichiura infection.
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THANK YOU!
GROUP 1 :

ALDANA, ALTHEA
BALASABAS, KRENCYL RHAE
BAYLON, ASHLEY
CANONIZADO, ALTHEA
GOMEZ, ANGELICA FRANSCINE
MARTEL, MARY LEIMAR
MOLDEZ, JOHN DAVE
SAMBALILO, KRISTINE
TEJADA, MERYCRIS
VIZCARA, KRIZYLYN CAITH
WAGAN, FRANCHESKA NICOLE