Epidemiological study on the hookworm infections in Korea

Joo, Kyoung Hwan; Rim, Han Jong

Abstract

This study was undertaken to evaluate the present status of hookworm infections in Korea from October 1976 through September 1978. The stool specimens of 5,632 persons(male 3,689: female 1,943) collected from primary and middle schools, foundling asylums, and the general populations of various parts in Korea were examined The methods employed were brine floatation technique for the prevalence rate of hookworm infections, Kato's cellophane thick smear technique for the other helminthic infections, and Stoll's dilution egg counting technique for the intensity of hookworm infections. Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus infections were classified by polyethylene tube coproculture method and by the evacuated adult worms after administration of anthelmintics against the patients infected with hookworms. The following results were obtained in this study. The prevalence rate of hookworm infections in rural area was higher than in urban area in the ratio of 2.4:1. And in the age group of over 20, the prevalence rate in significantly higher than that in urban area in the ratio of 5.8:1. In the urban area, difference in the prevalence rate of hookworm infections between the age group of over 20 and that of under 19 was not observed. But in the rural area, the ratio of the prevalence rate between the age group of over 20 to that of under 19 was 8:1. The prevalence rate of hookworm infections in female was higher than that in male in all age group except the age group of under 9 and 20-29. The ratio of the prevalence rate between female to male was 1.5:1 in total population. The area which showed the mean E.P.G. of over 1,000 was not found and almost all of the patients who were infected with hookworms gave the mean E.P.G. between l-999. Necator americanus was newly found in Dangjin Gun, Boseong Gun, Habcheon Gun and Weonseong Gun. In these 4 newly found areas, Dangjin Gun and Boseong Gun showed the composition rate of 25.5 percent and 83.4 percent respectively.