The public health importance of hookworm disease.
The public health significance of hookworm disease is briefly reviewed. The latest evidence confirms that blood loss caused by the worms' feeding activity in the gut is a contributing factor in the development of poor iron status leading to iron-deficiency anaemia. The World Health Organization has identified adolescent girls and women of child-bearing age as high-risk groups regarding the impact of hookworm disease. The merits of treating pregnant women with anthelminthic drugs after the first trimester are discussed.
Crompton
D W
DW
WHO Collaborating Centre for Soil-transmitted Helminthiases, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Scotland.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000209:etiology; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006725:Hookworm Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000188:drug therapy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011634:Public Health; D014944:World Health Organization
D000871:Anthelmintics