Your Friendly Neighborhood Hookworms

Your Friendly Neighborhood Hookworms

From Radiolab by WNYC Studios

May 15, 2026 · 46 min · Episode 693

About this episode

This episode explores the complex relationship between humans and hookworms, questioning the benefits of deworming in light of rising chronic diseases.

For most of human history, people went about their daily lives with a worm or two (or fifty) in their guts. Only in the past century, with pharmaceuticals and sanitation practices, have we made significant strides towards deworming the whole of humanity. And that’s typically been thought of as a good thing, because having too many worms in your body can–quite literally–suck the life out of you. But is it possible to have… too few worms? Science wonders if deworming ourselves has actually led to an increase in certain chronic diseases. On this episode, we dive into Necator americanus, a.k.a. the American Hookworm, and its mysterious relationship with each of us. We trace the hookworm’s 118-year journey from a demonized economic depressant, to its use as a desperate D.I.Y. immunosuppressant, to its potential as a medical treatment for a number of chronic diseases, everything from asthma to MS. We’re bringing back two stories from our 2009 episode Parasites plus new research on hookworms and autoimmune diseases, reported by Molly Webster Special thanks to Ethan Hein for the use of his remix of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21. Plus, Doris Pierce, and Dan and Alice Hadley. EPISODE…

Topics covered

  • hookworms
  • chronic diseases
  • immunosuppression
  • deworming
  • autoimmune diseases
  • human history
  • medical treatment

Keywords

  • hookworm
  • Necator americanus
  • chronic diseases
  • asthma
  • MS
  • immunosuppressant
  • deworming
  • autoimmune diseases
  • human history
  • pharmaceuticals

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: WNYC Studios

Books & works: Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21, Parasites

Places: America

More episodes of Radiolab

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Radiolab podcast page.