[One century of experience with the control of ancylostomiasis]

In the beginning of the XX century, ancylostomiasis was considered a serious public health problem and governments started the first systematic planning for the control of an endemic disease, in large scale. Thereafter, ancylostomiasis was considered a less important subject, because efficient anti-helminthic drugs were introduced, this in combination with the economic development in rich countries, reduced undernourishment and improved housing and sanitary conditions. Consequently, the residual cases of the infection became in general asymptomatic. However, in the third world the problem is still present, and must be considered with realism and managed accordingly. Various suggestions for controling the disease are presented in this paper.