Species affecting humans in Thailand: Necator americanus, Ancylostoma ceylanicum, and less often Ancylostoma duodenale.
People most likely to have complications if infected with hookworms:
(1) children
(2) pregnant women
Risk factors for becoming infected with hookworms in central Thailand:
(1) walking barefoot, especially on soil
(2) having water buffalo living around the home
The risk can be reduced by:
(1) improvement in personal hygiene
(2) improvement in sanitation
(3) education about how the infection is acquired and how it can be avoided
(4) improvement in socioeconomic status
(5) wearing foot coverings
(6) control of hookworm in lifestock
(7) screening for the parasite in the stool, especially in someone with unexplained iron deficiency
(8) control of dogs in the community
A person who is found to be infected should:
(1) be treated with antihelminthic drugs
(2) receive iron replacement if needed
(3) be screened for protein malnutrition
(4) be educated about how to avoid infection
(5) be monitored for recurrent disease
