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Review
. 2021 Jun 7;10(11):2533.
doi: 10.3390/jcm10112533.

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

Kinga Głuchowska  1 , Tomasz Dzieciątkowski  2 , Aleksandra Sędzikowska  1 , Anna Zawistowska-Deniziak  3 , Daniel Młocicki  1   3
Affiliations
Review

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

Kinga Głuchowska et al. J Clin Med. .

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.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; diseases; pandemic; parasites; parasitosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Possible impact of parasites on COVID-19 infection in humans.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Species of parasites with symptoms mimicking COVID-19.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Estimated number of human cases of selected parasitic diseases (source: WHO/CDC).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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