Hookworm Infection and Anaemia

A guide to the many simple, effective, and inexpensive measures that can reduce the prevalence and severity of anaemia caused by hookworm infection. The main aim is to help practitioners, working in the field, know how to detect infection and associated anaemia, and then implement appropriate measures, whether for individual cases or entire communities. In view of the widespread tendency to underestimate the importance of hookworm infection and accord it low priority, the book also performs a persuasive function, documenting the major public health consequences of hookworm anaemia, illustrating the striking results of control measures, and encouraging scientists to take a greater interest in this challenging disease. To this end, descriptions of the simple measures available for control are placed within the context of the many complex factors that guide their selection and determine their effectiveness. Because confirmation of infection is so simple, chapters on prevention and control concentrate on information that can help health workers know when to suspect infection and then carry out the relevant detective work. Different control strategies described include standard case management, targeted treatment, mass treatment, and supplementary iron distribution. For standard case management, readers are given detailed advice on the best drugs and doses for iron therapy and anthelminthic treatment, which form the foundation for hookworm anaemia control.