Chronic ascariasis and malnutrition.

Malnutrition is the most widespread ill of mankind. Its global distribution coincides indistinguishably with that of the common roundworm. Ascaris lumbricoides is common - infecting about one-quarter of the world's population. Acute clinical ascariasis sometimes requires hospital treatment, but chronic infections contribute to long-term malnutrition. This alone should justify greater expenditure on the treatment and control of Ascaris.