Pilot program for the diagnosis and treatment of strongyloidiasis in Orán, Salta

Strongyloidiasis is an intestinal parasitosis that affects men, women and particularly children, and which can provoke reinfections in humans and remain in the body for more than 60 years. This parasitosis causes malnutrition, digestive disorders, immunologic alterations, and developmental and growth delays in children. The larvae dwell in contaminated soils, and they can penetrate the body through the skin or the mouth.

This program, developed by Fundación Mundo Sano, the Institute of Tropical Diseases of the National University of Salta and the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases, tackles this parasitosis at a community level. The program proposes the disease treatment by means of an innovative combination in one single dose of two drugs already proved for the treatment of various parasitosis: ivermectin and albendazole, which will be administered to all the inhabitants of Orán.

For the diagnosis of strongyloidiasis, specialists will use a new method whose implementation is much simpler than the reference technique. By means of a blood test, they will detect the antibodies produced by the body in response to the presence of the parasite. The project requires the collaboration of neighbors who will voluntarily undergo the diagnostic tests.
Since strongyloidiasis is one of the so-called neglected diseases, the program not only examines the epidemiologic, diagnostic, therapeutic and biological aspects of the parasitosis but also addresses the cultural and socio-economic factors of the urban and rural areas affected by the disease.

With a population of around 125 thousand people, Orán is a strongyloidiasis-endemic region. However, its prevalence is underestimated due to the lack of specific clinical symptoms and its difficult diagnosis.