Worm Infection among Children in Malaysia

Abstract

Parasitic worm infections, particularly by soil-transmitted helminths (STHs), are considered a public health concern affecting millions of children in developing countries around the world. In Malaysia, various prevalence studies have been carried out since 1970s among children from diverse population ranging from the remote aboriginal communities in the Peninsular Malaysia to the rural interior tribes of Sarawak. However, the number of worm infection studies in Malaysia is still limited particularly in East Malaysia but overall, more studies should be conducted presently compared to 20 years ago. Focusing mainly on STHs, we reviewed the prevalence and intensity of worm infection among children between East Malaysia and West Malaysia, particularly from rural and urban settings