Main ContentSoil Transmitted Helminths (STH)
What are Soil Transmitted Helminths?
Helminths are parasitic intestinal worms that can be transmitted to humans from contaminated soil. They can cause infection that can result in tiredness, low blood counts, and even trouble with growth!
Examples of STHs include:
Other Helminth:
Prevention:
- Wash your hands after playing outside or playing with animals.
- Make sure your animals are dewormed and healthy.
- See your health care provider if your child has symptoms of tiredness.
- Wear shoes when outdoors.
- Wash, peel, or cook all raw vegetables and fruits before eating.
- Ensure your sewage disposal system is connected, operating properly, and well maintained.
- Teach children the importance of washing hands to prevent infection. Learn about handwashing. (external site)
Research Opportunity
Treatable parasitic diseases may still be prevalent in the American South but nobody has looked in a long time.
Researchers from UMMC are conducting a study to see if parasitic infections are a health problem for children ages 2-18 living in select counties of Mississippi:
- Alcorn
- Itawamba
- Lee
- Monroe
- Prentiss
- Tippah
- Tishomingo
- Union
Please contact us to see if your child qualifies for participation and a free STH screening. Participants will be compensated for their time.
University of Mississippi Medical Center: FW400003630
Protocol: 2016-0111
Approved: 02/20/2022
Expires: 02/11/2024
Research Leaders
Lisa A. Haynie, PhD, RN, FNP-BC Principal Investigator
Charlotte Hobbs, MD
Co-Investigator
For more details and to enroll, please call (601) 815-8419 or send email to MSParasiteProject@umc.edu.
Learn more
View the video below for more details about soil transmitted helminths and this research project.
References cited in the video:
How Four Once Common Diseases Were Eliminated From The American South: https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.28.6.1734
USAID – Neglected Tropical Diseases Program - STH: https://www.neglecteddiseases.gov/about/usaid-targeted-diseases/soil-transmitted-helminths/
Mississippi History Now – The Importance of Wearing Shoes: Hookworm Disease in Mississippi: https://www.mshistorynow.mdah.ms.gov/issue/hookworm-disease-in-mississippi%3A-the-importance-of-wearing-shoes
World Health Organization – Fact Sheet - STH: Source: https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/soil-transmitted-helminth-infections
DPDx – Laboratory Identification of Parasites of Public Health Concern – Hookworm (Intestinal): https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/hookworm/index.html
Rockefeller Archive Center – Public Health: How the Fight Against Hookworm Helped Build a System: https://rockfound.rockarch.org/rockefeller-sanitary-commission