Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Diphyllobothriasis epidemiology and demographics
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Diphyllobothriasis occurs in areas where lakes and rivers coexist with human consumption of raw or undercooked freshwater fish. It is particularly common in Japan, Scandinavia, Siberia, with sporadic cases in North and South America.
Epidemiology and Demographics
Epidemiology and Demographics
Diphyllobothriasis is more common in people eating raw or undercooked fish. Infection with the broad fish tapeworm is common in temperate and subarctic regions, wherever freshwater fish are eaten raw, as in Scandinavia, Siberia, the Great Lakes, Japan, central Europe, and Chile.
Prevalance
Worldwide, the prevalence of diphyllobothriasis was estimated in the early 1970s to affect 9 million humans globally. Most of the cases were in Europe and Asia with sporadic cases in America. More recent data indicate that 20 million people are infected worldwide but no recent estimation concerning the global prevalence of this parasitosis has been done.[1]
Incidence
Diphyllobothriasis is endemic in Japan and 100 cases are reported every year since the 1970s.[1]
Age
There is no age predilection for diphyllobothriasis.
Gender
There is no gender predilection for diphyllobothriasis.
Race
There is no racial predilection for diphyllobothriasis.
Developed Countries
It is endemic in Japan and Russia. Sporadic cases are reported in Europe and America.[1]
Developing Countries
Sporadic cases are reported in the developing countries of Asia. NO reports are present to suggest the presence of diphyllobothriasis in Africa.[1]
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Furqan M M. M.B.B.S[2]