II. Hookworm infection and anaemia in Mauritius

1) In Mauritius, hookworm infection and hypochromic microcytic anaemia are extremely common and appear to be similarly distributed in the island. 2) Hookworm infection was found in 88 per cent. of 284 anaemic subjects and in 92 of these the average load was 84 hookworms per person. 3) The anaemia responded well to iron therapy and significant improvement was obtained with supplements of 6.6–10.0 mg. of iron/head/day without prior anthelmintic treatment. 4) The diet was found to be low in iron and because of this it was considered that even moderate hookworm loads could cause sufficient blood loss to precipitate anaemia. 5) Enrichment of the national diet with iron was recommended as likely to be the most effective single public health measure against anaemia in Mauritius.