ASCARIASIS: CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES ON EPIDEMIOLOGY,PATHOGENESIS, CLINICAL PRESENTATION, DIAGNOSIS, AND MANAGEMENT

Ascariasis is among the most prevalent parasitic infections in humans, caused by the nematode Ascaris lumbricoides. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 800 million people are currently infected worldwide, and the annual burden attributed to this disease runs into millions of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). The condition imposes a particularly heavy toll on children, in whom severe infections are associated with nutritional deficiency, impaired physical and cognitive development, and diminished academic performance. This article provides a systematic review of current knowledge on the epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of ascariasis, drawing on up-to-date WHO guidelines and recent scientific literature. Special attention is given to disease distribution in the Republic of Uzbekistan and the broader Central Asian region, as well as to contemporary strategies for antiparasitic control programs.