Parasitic Infestations of Surgical Importance in Children

Introduction The term “parasitic infestation” is used to refer to those infections caused by protozoa, helminthes, and arthropods. They are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in infants and children. However, parasitic infestations have received relatively little attention compared with infections due to viral, bacterial, and fungal agents. Parasitic infestations are a worldwide problem in children, the prevalence and variety of organisms being greatest in areas with a warm, moist climate and in communities where standards of hygiene are low. But parasitic diseases are now occurring more frequently in developed countries due to immigration and increased foreign travel. This cosmopolitan distribution, in addition to the complications that often attend these infestations, make this subject an important surgical problem. Of the parasitic diseases, those of surgical interest in children are: 1. Protozoan infections • Amoebiasis