But the hookworm and related parasitic worms, called helminths, may also have something to offer us. Infection can be protective in some circumstances, and Yale researchers are finding that the creatures can teach us how our immune systems self-regulate.
Can hookworms be good for you?
And it could be the key to making millions of people healthier. Writing in the journal Science Translational Medicine on Wednesday, scientists report that a protein produced by hookworms eases the symptoms of asthma in mice — and could one day be made into a pill to treat humans.
What parasites are beneficial to humans?
Summary: Intestinal parasites such as tapeworms, hookworms and a protist called Blastocystis can be beneficial to human health, according to a new paper that argues we should rethink our views of organisms that live off the human body.
What do hook worms cure?
Anthelminthic medications (drugs that rid the body of parasitic worms), such as albendazole and mebendazole, are the drugs of choice for treatment of hookworm infections. Infections are generally treated for 1-3 days. The recommended medications are effective and appear to have few side effects.
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