ABSTRACT
The parasites of humans are classified into five major divisions: Protozoa (amebae, flagellates, ciliates, sporozoans, coccidia, microsporidia); Platyhelminths (cestodes, trematodes), Acanthocephela (thorny headed worms); Nematodes (roundworms) and Arthropods (insects, spiders, mites, ticks). Geohelminths are a sub-group of soiltransmitted intestinal nematodes with similar epidemiological characteristics. They include Strongyloides, hookworm, Ascaris and Trichuris.1
In this chapter, we focus on the common protozoa, nematodes and trematodes which affect the intestine (Table 11.1). Out of the large numbers of children infected by these parasites in the developing world, most are asymptomatic and do not present to the health services for treatment.
