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Intestinal Parasitism

Diagnosis and Treatment¹

Of all the parasitic affections of man those caused by organisms inhabiting the intestinal tract are the most important. First, because they comprise the bulk of parasitic diseases, usually estimated at about two-thirds of the total number; secondly, because they are, generally speaking, much more widespread geographically than are other parasitic affections; thirdly, intestinal parasitism of late years has become an important factor in clinical differential diagnosis, especially in the more northerly latitudes, whereas heretofore they have been generally thought of as tropical affections; and lastly, because of the simplicity and efficiency with which they can be treated.

DIAGNOSIS In discussing the diagnosis of intestinal parasitism two factors must be considered: The first, that parasitic infestations, contrary to most bacterial infections, such as diphtheria, typhoid fever etc. are generally characterized by what may be called "silent lesions," that is, they are slow in their development and consequently when manifested as a rule have no definite clear cut symptoms.

¹ Read before the third Pan American Medical Congress, Mexico City, July, 1931.