Worm Infection Prevents Wheezing

In a discovery that could lead to new treatments for asthma, researchers have found that hookworm appears to protect its host from wheezing - a key symptom of the respiratory disorder. Study results showed that people infested with the hookworm were only half as likely to suffer from wheezing. Researchers believe that the hookworm, and possibly other intestinal parasites, may suppress immune reactions that are oversensitive in asthmatics. The team hope that their findings will help scientists develop new drugs to control asthma.

_{SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.bbc.co.uk on the2nd November 2001}

Regular Hand-Washing Dramatically Reduces Risk of Respiratory Infection

Regularly washing your hands can cut the risk of catching respiratory illnesses by nearly half, according to results of a recent study carried out by the Naval Health Research Center (NHRC). A campaign called Operation Stop Cough, where recruits were ordered to wash their hands at least 5-times a day, implemented by the NHRC to help reduce the number of naval recruits falling victim to respiratory infections has produced dramatic results. Researchers found that the incidence of respiratory illness was 45% lower than that seen in the year before the campaign was introduced. In an accompanying editorial to the study, Dr. Joel C. Gaydos, writes "Re-emphasizing handwashing in our daily lives may provide significant benefits with little effort or cost, especially during the respiratory disease season."

_{SOURCE/REFERENCE: American Journal of Preventive Medicine2001; 21(2): 79-83}