A REVIEW OF PARASITIC INFESTATION IN PREGNANCY

Infection with pathogenic protozoa exerts an enormous toll on human suffering, notably but not exclusively in the tropics. The most important of the life threatening protozoal diseases is malaria, which is responsible for at least one million deaths annually, mostly in young children in developing countries. Pathogenic parasites are generally classified into four types: sporozoa, amoebae, flagellates, and others. Most of these organisms cause infections by being ingested in the form of eggs or larvae, usually present on contaminated food or clothing, while others gain entry through skin abrasions or by mosquito bite. Common parasitic infestations in Infection with pathogenic protozoa exerts an enormous toll on human suffering, notably but not exclusively in the tropics. The most important of the life threatening protozoal diseases is malaria, which is responsible for at least one million deaths annually, mostly in young children in developing countries. Pathogenic parasites are generally classified into four types: sporozoa, amoebae, flagellates, and others. Most of these organisms cause infections by being ingested in the form of eggs or larvae, usually present on contaminated food or clothing, while others gain entry through skin abrasions or by mosquito bite. Common parasitic infestations in pregnancy include malaria, hookworm, amoebiasis and tapeworm infestations. Once in the body, parasitic worms may go unnoticed if they cause no severe symptoms. However, if they multiply rapidly and spread to a major organ, they can cause very serious and even life-threatening conditions. Pregnancy can be disrupted at the maternal, fetal and placental levels by parasitic infestations. The diagnosis of intestinal nematodes is usually made after demonstration of eggs in the faeces or passage of the worms themselves, or in the case of malaria by blood film. Antihelminthic drugs are prescribed to treat these infestations. They function either by destroying the worms on contact or paralyzing them, or by altering the permeability of their plasma membranes. The dead worms then pass out of the body in the faeces. Most pregnant patients with intestinal parasite infections may be managed without anti parasitic chemotherapy. There is research evidence reporting that some antihelminthic drugs cause birth defects or miscarriage in animal studies. However, no human birth defects have been reported with antihelminthic drugs. Parasitic infections in pregnancy directly or indirectly lead to a spectrum of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, and effects on the placenta. Their consequences in chronically under nourished or anaemic women of reproductive-age are considerable.in the body, parasitic worms may go unnoticed if they cause no severe symptoms. However, if they multiply rapidly and spread to a major organ, they can cause very serious and even life-threatening conditions. Pregnancy can be disrupted at the maternal, fetal and placental levels by parasitic infestations.