Hookworms And Allergies - Doctor Infects Himself For Experiment

Ancylostoma caninum, a type of hookworm, attached to the intestinal mucosa. Source:CDC's Public Health Image Library Image #5205 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In the first experiment of its kind to test the suggestion that hookworm infection can reduce some allergic responses, a UK doctor who specializes in medical entomology, infected himself with the parasite and then swallowed a pill camera to film the effect on his intestines.

Although the infection gave him some pain, Logan said for the first time in years, he was able to eat bread without feeling ill.

At the end of the 60-day experiment, Logan removed his "guests" with the help of the anti-worming drug albendazole.