Review: An overview of the most recent studies on the prevalence of intestinal parasites among Saudi society, with an emphasis on expatriate workers

Abstract

Parasite infection is a frequent ailment in many places across the world, particularly in developing nations. Intestinal parasites, which can be worms, infect the gastrointestinal tract and cause diseases, which spread through contaminated food or drink via the fecal-oral route. Parasitic infection is either symptomatic or asymptomatic in some infected patients. The economic boom led to a large influx of expatriate workers infected with intestinal parasites from endemic regions, particularly Asia and Africa. Therefore, their presence is a source of infection for the local population. This research presents what is known about previous studies related to intestinal parasites, different methods of diagnosis, types of intestinal parasites that were discovered among Saudis and expatriates in various regions of Saudi Arabia, and methods of treatment and prevention.