Where are worms a problem?

Worms are a problem throughout low and middle income countries—in sub-Saharan Africa, South and East Asia, and some parts of Latin America and the Caribbean. Though illness caused by worms was once common in areas of high income countries, public health programs have eliminated it. While soil-transmitted helminths, like hookworm and roundworm, can be found almost everywhere where inadequate water and sanitation conditions prevail, schistosomes are most prevalent near water bodies containing infected freshwater snails, as snails are required for transmission.

Children in almost all low and middle income countries are infected or at risk of becoming infected with soil-transmitted helminths. The conditions of poverty and poor sanitation increase the likelihood of being infected and children, because of their hygiene and habits, are more likely to be infected. The following map shows where worms are the greatest problem. Schistosomiasis tends to infect children who live close to water as it is a water-borne disease.

See where worms are a particular problem.