[Study on the transition of intestinal parasites in Korea from 1913 to 1989]

This study was performed to review the transition of infection rate and major factor in decreasing pattern of intestinal parasites infection in Korea. The results of this review study are as follows: 1) The first study on the intestinal parasites of Korean was performed by Muta (1913): he reported egg positive rate of A.lumbricoides 80%; that of T.trichiura 93%; that of Hook worm 65%. 2) After then the egg positive rates of A.lumbricoides among Korean people has been higher than 80% until and after Korean war. Owing to the biannual mass chemotherapy for 20 years by K.A.P.E. (Korea Association for Parasite Eradication), a decreasing pattern was recognized after 1960's. 3) The nationwide egg positive rate A.lumbricoides was estimated by M.H.S.A. (Ministry of Health and Social Affairs) and K.A.P.E. (1971, 1976, 1981, 1986) to be 54.89%, 41.0%, 13.0%, 2.1%. 4) The causal ageants in decreasing pattern of intestinal parasites in Korea are multifactorial such as mass chemotherapy, environmental sanitation, public education, improvement in socio-economic status, development in antihelminths, increase in use of chemical fertilizer, acceleration in national industrialization and so forth. 5) The infection rate of Korea is still higher than that of Japan and Taiwan but lower than any other countries in Southeast Asia. Nevertheless it is apparent that the present situation is not satisfactory and in this sense more effective and efficient control program is desirable.