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Progress in paediatric parasitology: a preface to a topic focusing on ever younger subjects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 September 2011

J. RUSSELL STOTHARD ,
PETER CHIODINI  and
MARK BOOTH
J. RUSSELL STOTHARD*
Affiliation:
Centre for Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, L3 5QA, United Kingdom
PETER CHIODINI
Affiliation:
Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Mortimer Market, London, WC1E 6JD, United Kingdom
MARK BOOTH
Affiliation:
Wolfson Research Institute, University of Durham, Stockton-on-Tees, TS17 6BH, United Kingdom
*
*Corresponding author: Tel: + 44 151 7053724; E-mail: jrstoth@liverpool.ac.uk
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Summary

Without realizing it perhaps, the research activities of many parasitologists are often focused upon the study of parasites most commonly found in children. Though there is little recognition of paediatric parasitology as a separate topic within medical parasitology, with the global interest in promotion of maternal and child health, alleviation of diseases associated with poverty and requirements of ‘child-sized’ medicines, a more formal consideration is now timely. Recent research, for example, has highlighted that defining precisely the ‘first-age’ at which parasites interfere with a child's health, or normal developmental processes, is being revised. Attention is now drawn towards ever younger subjects, for parasites have the capacity to also influence the health of the foetus within the in utero environment, altering immune-development. These subtle, yet evolutionary profound interactions perhaps manifest themselves as to why some children are more prone to infection(s), develop overt disease and sadly die while others do not. Here, we address the growing importance of paediatric parasitology and its applications within disease control strategies as highlighted in the 2010 Autumn Symposium of the British Society of Parasitology.

Keywords

millennium development goalsmaternal and child healthinfancychildhoodadolescencediseasesparasites
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 138 , Special Issue 12: Symposia of the British Society for Parasitology Volume 47 , October 2011 , pp. 1453 - 1458
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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