title: Epidemiology of soil-transmitted helminthiases in Malaysia.
abstract: We reviewed the epidemiology of STH in Malaysia from the 1970s to 2009. High prevalence rates persist among the rural Aborigines, estate workers and in urban slums and squatter areas. Trichuris trichiura is the most prevalent helminth in Malaysia ranging from 2.1% to 98.2%. Ascaris lumbricoides follows closely with a prevalence rate of 4.6-86.7%, while hookworm is the least prevalent (0-37.0%). A countrywide control program with special emphasis on school-based intervention is highly recommended among aboriginal people.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Abdulhamid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Hesham M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Al-Mekhlafi
authors.forename: Johari
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Surin
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000818:Animals; D017164:Ascaris lumbricoides / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012987:Soil / Q000469:parasitology*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D014258:Trichuris / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D012987:Soil