Major helminthic diseases of North America: a review.

Disease producing worms are worldwide in distribution. The worms of significance in North America are the nematodes and the cestodes. Diagnosis is rarely made on clinical grounds alone because the clinical presentation of infection varies widely. Examination of stool for ova is usually the definitive diagnostic step. Follow-up stool examination several weeks after treatment is mandatory. The clinical findings pertaining to each type of worm and the recommended treatment are delineated.