ABSTRACT

Iron deficiency anemia is probably the most widespread and intractable micronutrient deficiency in the world today and is a major public health problem for people living in developing countries. The cause of iron deficiency anemia is usually complex and multifactorial but several types of parasitic worms can make a significant contribution, usually by causing a loss of blood. This review will concentrate on these parasitic worms, usually called parasitic helminths by parasitologists, or simply helminths. The first section will describe the most important features of the biology and life cycles of these helminths and show how they can contribute to anemia. The second section will discuss the epidemiology of helminth infections and identify characteristics that influence whether and to what degree they contribute to anemia. The final section will describe the short and long term measures that can help to

prevent the transmission of helminths, as well as provide guidance on how control measures can be assessed.