| Abstract
| - Abstract. 6 Gambian villages were surveyed for haemoglobin level. Male villagers with haemoglobin of less than 10·0 g. per 100 ml. in 4 villages and less than 12·0 g. per 100 ml. in 2 villages were studied further, together with groups of less anaemic men from the same villages, making a total of 86 anaemic and 109 less anaemic men. The maximum period of observation was from April 1962 to December 1965, including a period of no iron treatment, during which the relapse rate was measured. The all-important anaemia proved to be an iron deficiency anaemia in which the haemoglobin level was significantly associated with the hookworm egg count and the numbers of hookworms passed after worming, in 2 separate areas. It is suggested that there is a common mild but debilitating iron deficiency anaemia in the Gambia, amenable to iron treatment. Although it is very desirable to eliminate hookworm infection, the villagers would benefit from iron treatment alone. The main indication for hookworm treatment is unusually severe anaemia—such patients had the the heavier hookworm loads and relapsed more quickly when iron treatment was stopped.
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