Soil Transmitted Helminthes

**11**

**Chapter 2**

**Abstract**

parasitic infection

**1. Introduction**

Pregnancy, Children and

by Geohelminthiasis

Inter-Relating Factors Affected

*Asher John Mohan, Neeraj Upmanyu and Silviya Sarah Lal*

A life-threatening parasitic infection arising in evolving countries, principally prevalent in children below 5 years and pregnant women, has led to the growing interest for understanding the condition acknowledged as geohelminthiasis. Decreased cell-mediated immunity (a necessity in fetal retention) leading to a compromised immunological response is what makes pregnant women more prone to the infection thereby increasing the risk of maternal anemia, preterm deliveries and stillbirths based on reports. An outcome of geohelminthiasis on children is its deteriorative effect on cognition. This chapter highlights the relationship between the helminthic infection with respect to pregnant women and children additionally focusing on other associated factors such as poverty, hygiene, etc. that further

contribute to the decline in quality of life in developing countries.

America, China and East Asia in tropical and subtropical regions [3].

most common chronic infection found in humans that contribute to STH [6].

**Keywords:** geohelminthiasis, cell-mediated immunity, cognition, pregnancy,

The general term used to describe a worm is referred to as a "helminth." These invertebrates fall under two categories, namely flatworms or Platyhelminthes (flukes and tapeworms) and roundworms or Nematoda [1, 2]. They either survive in aquatic and terrestrial environments as parasites or free of a host. Out of the various types, intestinal nematodes or soil-transmitted helminths (STH) also known as "Geohelminths" are the most common worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) claims that 1.5 billion people worldwide, constituting to 24% of the world's population, are infected by STH; with wide distributions in the Sub-Saharan Africa,

The major infection of STH originates from the attack of *Ascaris lumbricoides* (commonly called the large intestinal roundworm or the common roundworm) and *Trichuris trichiura* (whipworm) [4, 5]. Hookworm (Ancylostomatidae) affliction is also another

Children are the frequent victims to an STH attack as many of them are school aged, living in areas of extensive disease transmission; requiring treatment interventions and preventive measures [7]. Secondary victims of this infection are pregnant women reported every year, among which 44 million are estimated to be affected globally [8]. Improvements in potable water services, drainage, sanitary food control,

## **Chapter 2**
