Reducing Burden of Hookworm Disease in the Management of Upper Abdominal Pain in the Tropics

Abstract

A prospective study of the stool samples of 129 rural patients with symptoms of upper abdominal pain, tenderness and indigestion was carried out from 2 February 1998 to 31 December 1998 and followed up to June 1999. The age range was 11–85 years, female: male ratio 2.4:1: 102 specimens were positive for helminths — Ancylostoma duodenale (hookworm) 80 (62%); Trichuris trichuria (threadworm) 12 (9.3%); Ascaris lumbricoides (large roundworm) 10 (7.76%); Strongyloides stercoralis three (2.3%); Taenia saginata (tapeworm) three (2.3%). The female: male ratio for hookworm was 3:1. Treatment with appropriate anthelminthic agents were given serially at each visit according to the result of faecal examination. At 6 months follow up 88 patients were free of symptoms, 60 of which were caused by helminths the hookworm group. Stool ‘test and treat’ strategy appears to be a cost-effective approach in the management of these patients.