Towards the eradication of hookworm in an isolated Australian community

Hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale) and other enteric parasites such as Giardia and Hymenolepis are common in Aboriginal communities in northern Australia, and their presence is associated with iron deficiency, anaemia, and failure to thrive. We report the outcome of a sustained, community-based contro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Lancet (British edition) 2001-03, Vol.357 (9258), p.770-771
Main Authors: Thompson, RCA, Reynoldson, JA, Garrow, SC, McCarthy, JS, Behnke, JM
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Albendazole
Albendazole - therapeutic use
Ancylostoma duodenale
Anemia
Anthelmintics - therapeutic use
Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents
Antiparasitic agents
Antiprotozoal Agents - therapeutic use
Australia - epidemiology
Biological and medical sciences
Chemotherapy
Child
Child, Preschool
Communities
Drug dosages
Education
Environmental Health
Environmental management
Epidemiology
Giardia
Giardiasis - ethnology
Health Education
Hookworm Infections - drug therapy
Hookworm Infections - ethnology
Hookworm Infections - prevention & control
Humans
Hymenolepiasis - ethnology
Infections
Iron
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Morbidity
Native peoples
Necator americanus
Nutrient deficiency
Parasites
Pathogens
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Population
Prevalence
Rural Health
Studies
Tropical medicine
Womens health
Worms
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Summary:Hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale) and other enteric parasites such as Giardia and Hymenolepis are common in Aboriginal communities in northern Australia, and their presence is associated with iron deficiency, anaemia, and failure to thrive. We report the outcome of a sustained, community-based control programme that used regular albendazole in one isolated community. Whereas hookworm has been effectively controlled by the programme, no sustained effect on the prevalence of Giardia and Hymenolepis was seen; the control of these parasites will depend on improvements in health education. This programme might serve as a model for community-based or population-based drug treatment programmes elsewhere.
ISSN:0140-6736
1474-547X
DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(00)04162-3