Estimation of Ivermectin Treatment Demand for the Management of Strongyloidiasis Cases Worldwide: A Systematic Review

Background: Strongyloides stercoralis is an intestinal helminth that infects humans through contact with larval soil. The infection is often asymptomatic and can only be detected by eosinophilia in peripheral blood. Therefore, serology is the most reliable method for diagnosing the infection. The disease is treated with 2 × 200 μg/kg ivermectin administered orally at two-week intervals. However, the need for this medication to treat strongyloidiasis cases worldwide is unknown. All available data were systematically reviewed and summarized to estimate the global need for ivermectin treatment.