Abstract
Peripheral blood pictures and functions of pituitary-adrenal system (by means of Thorn's method) were examined before and after administration of vermifuges in 38 inpatients, who had no other complications than hoakwoim infection.
By means of liver function test, effects of vermiguges and their secondary reactions on liver functions were also investigated.
Results were as follows:
1) Subjective symptoms decreased by two or three days after administration of vermifuges, 7 days at the latest and in most cases symptoms were completely released by one month.
2) Since all the cases had slight anaemia. no clear relations were found between decrease of blood cells or haemoglobin, and number of worm eggs or worms in excrements. Relation between increase of eosinophile cells and number of hookworm eggs or hookworms in excrements was hardly seen, however, eosinophile cells seemed to resume their normal conditions generally six weeks after discharge of hookworms in excrements.
3) A low correlation was seen between reaction of occulte blood and number of hookworm.
4) No relation was seen between pituitary-adrenal functions and number of discharged worms or worm eggs, or perecentage of increased eosinophile cells.
5) Liver functions were generally slightly damaged and resumed normal conditions by one week after discharge of worms.
6) No differences in effects between tetrachloraethylen and tetren (derivative of tetrachlcraethylen) were observed, however, tetrachloraethylen gave less secondary reactions against liver than tetren.
Therefore, tetrachloraethylen may be preferable as a vermifuge. The results were concerning to Dubini hookworm cases, and further studies on Necator Americanus cases are under research by the authors.
