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A Necator americanus larva. Helminthic therapy, an experimental type of immunotherapy, is the treatment of autoimmune diseases and immune disorders by means of deliberate infestation with a helminth or with the eggs of a helminth. [1]
Furthermore, children with the highest counts of blood flukes also had the most malaria attacks. [25] Based on this study, Hartgers et al. drew a "cautious conclusion" that helminths make humans more susceptible to contracting malaria and experiencing some of its lighter symptoms, while actually protecting them from the worst symptoms. [26]
Children Without Worms is a public-private partnership between The Task Force for Global Health and Johnson & Johnson, who donated the mebendazole medication. [51] Intestinal helminths are a major problem in Nicaragua with 73% of rural households lacking clean drinking water and 73% lacking sanitation. [51]
Anthelmintics are used to treat people who are infected by helminths, a condition called helminthiasis. These drugs are also used to treat infected animals, particularly small ruminants such as goats and sheep. [1] Anthelmintic medication is also used in mass deworming campaigns of school-aged children in many developing countries.
Protozoa and helminths are usually endoparasites (usually living inside the body of the host), while ectoparasites usually live on the surface of the host. Protozoa are single-celled, microscopic organisms that belong to the kingdom Protista. Helminths on the other hand are macroscopic, multicellular organisms that belong to the kingdom Animalia.
It is well established that T helper 2 cells are the central players of protective immunity to helminths, [12] while the roles for B cells and antibodies are context-dependent. [13] Inflammation leads to encapsulation of egg deposits throughout the body. Helminths excrete into the intestine toxic substances after they feed.
When the helminth ova are in sludge, processes such as alkaline-post stabilization, acid treatment, and anaerobic digestion are used to reduce the amount of helminth ova in areas where there is a large amount. These methods make it possible for helminth ova to be within the healthy requirements of ≤1 helminth ova per liter.
Over 270 million preschool-age children and over 600 million school-age children live in areas where these parasites are intensively transmitted, and need treatment and preventive interventions. Latest estimates indicate that more than 880 million children need treatment from STH infections. [3] [18] [31] By type of parasitic worm, the ...