[Field studies on different control schemes for hookworm infection].

ABSTRACT

Three different control schemes including selective chemotherapy, a combination of selective chemotherapy and management of fecal disposal and mass treatment with mebendazole-medicated salt were implemented for the control of hookworm infection in Luwo Town and Taiping Village, Wuming County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region during 1971-1990. Through ten years of selective chemotherapy, the results showed that the hookworm infection rate dropped from 42.6% to 3.9% and the infection intensity from 425.6 eggs per gram faeces to 1.6 eggs per gram faeces. After seven years of selective chemotherapy combined with management of fecal, the hookworm infection rate dropped from 58.7% to 10.9% and the infection intensity from 111.5 eggs per gram faeces to 8.5 eggs per gram faeces. However, 3 years after the termination of the combined treatment, the hookworm infection rate increased to 14.5%. As for the implementation of the third scheme, mebendazole-medicated salt was given at 100 mg daily for 30 consecutive days or at 50 mg daily for 30 consecutive days. Stool examination was made one year after the treatment, the results showed that the infection rate of the inhabitants dropped from 36% and 36% to 2% and 1.3%, respectively, and the infection intensity dropped from 110.3 and 246 eggs per gram faeces to 1.3 and 0.24 eggs per gram faeces. After three years, the infection rate of inhabitants remained under 2% and the infection intensity under 1 egg per gram faeces. It was concluded that mass treatment with mebendazole-medicated salt might be the most practical scheme for the control of hookworm infection.