The New Status of Parasitic Diseases in the COVID-19 Pandemic-Risk Factors or Protective Agents?

Overview

Journal J Clin Med

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2021 Jul 2

PMID 34200502

Citations 11

Authors

Kinga Gluchowska

Tomasz Dzieciatkowski

Aleksandra Sedzikowska

Anna Zawistowska-Deniziak

Daniel Mlocicki

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

It is possible that parasites may influence the course of COVID-19 infection, as either risk factors or protective agents; as such, the current coronavirus pandemic may affect the diagnosis and prevention of parasitic disease, and its elimination programs. The present review highlights the similarity between the symptoms of human parasitoses and those of COVID-19 and discuss their mutual influence. The study evaluated selected human parasitoses with similar symptoms to COVID-19 and examined their potential influence on SARS-CoV-2 virus invasion. The available data suggest that at least several human parasitoses could result in misdiagnosis of COVID-19. Some disorders, such as malaria, schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths, can increase the risk of severe infection with COVID-19. It is also suggested that recovery from parasitic disease can enhance the immune system and protect from COVID-19 infection. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected parasitic disease elimination programs in endemic regions and influenced the number of diagnoses of human parasitoses.

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