Hookworms have long been a parasite inside the human body. Ever since the creation of the out-house, however, the worms have been struggling for their place in our bodies. How could these worms have been inside our body so long and yet humans not only survived, but flourished? Could there be a mutualistic relationship between the hookworms and the human body?
In the late 1980s, a scientist by the name of David Pritchard went to Papua New Guinea to do field work when he noticed something rather odd. The native inhabitants were infected with hookworm, and amongst those infected with hookworm, none of them suffered from common illnesses such as Hay-fever and asthma. His theory was that allergic reactions came about to get rid of these parasites, but that the parasite had found a way to turn off allergic reactions.
In the early 2000s, an entrepreneur developed a treatment where one could give him or herself hookworms in order to stop their chronic or seasonal allergies. This, however, was an unproven treatment in the United States and the FDA shut him down. The battle is still going on for the people that want this treatment.
Hay-fever inside your nose (http://www.celtnet.org.uk/medicine/hay_fever.html)
Hookworm inside your small intestine (http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_hookworms.html)
In the late 1980s, a scientist by the name of David Pritchard went to Papua New Guinea to do field work when he noticed something rather odd. The native inhabitants were infected with hookworm, and amongst those infected with hookworm, none of them suffered from common illnesses such as Hay-fever and asthma. His theory was that allergic reactions came about to get rid of these parasites, but that the parasite had found a way to turn off allergic reactions.
In the early 2000s, an entrepreneur developed a treatment where one could give him or herself hookworms in order to stop their chronic or seasonal allergies. This, however, was an unproven treatment in the United States and the FDA shut him down. The battle is still going on for the people that want this treatment.