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HOOKWORM

Men's Health, Women's Health / By

HOOKWORM

Hookworms are a parasite that causes an infection in the small intestine, skin, and lungs in human.

  • The two species of hookworm that predominantly infect humans are Necator Americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale.
  • Both species are prevalent and thrive in hot, moist areas of Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
  • Necator Americanus is present mainly in the Americas, Sub-Saharan African, Indonesia and China.
  • Ancylostoma duodenale is present in North Africa, the Middle East, and Indian.
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that hookworm infections occur in about 576 to 740 million people worldwide.
  • It mostly affects people in developing nations in tropics and subtropics due to poor sanitation and hygiene.
  • Children who frequently have hookworm infections can experience slow growth and mental development from losing iron and protein.

CAUSES

A hookworm infection is caused when a person gets in contact with a contaminated soil that carries their larvae. The eggs of the hookworm get to the soil through human feces. They hatch into larvae and stay in the soil until they have a chance to penetrate the human skin. After breaking through the skin, they enter the bloodstream and move up in the airspace of your lungs after which they are coughed up into the throat and swallowed back.  Once digested, they move to the small intestine where they grow into adults. They can live in the small intestine for a year or more before passing through your feces. A person can become infected by walking barefoot, sitting in contaminated soil or by ingesting soil particles that have been contaminated with their  larvae.

You can also get the infection through your pet’s stool if they have the infection .

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

People infected with hookworm can show some of the following symptoms:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Nausea
  • Fever
  • Itchy rash
  • Loss of appetite
  • A Fever
  • Weight loss
  • Diarrhea
  • Extreme tiredness and weakness
  • Anemia
  • Heart failure
  • In pregnant women, the fetus may not grow properly.

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

To make a proper diagnosis of hookworm infection, your health care provider may request certain examination including:

A microscopic examination of the stool to check for hookworm eggs.

Blood samples to check for the presence of anemia or a lack of certain nutrients.

TREATMENT

Some certain medications are used in treating a hookworm infection usually administered for 1 to 3 days. Albendazole and mebendazole may be given for treatment, iron supplements may be given for people with secondary anemia.

To effectively treat hookworm infection, a doctor prescribes albendazole, mebendazole, or pyrantel pamoate, taken orally. In pregnant women, because of possible adverse effects on the fetus, these drugs are used only if the benefits of treatment outweigh the risks.

To prevent a pet infection, make sure your pets are vaccinated and dewormed by your veterinarian.

Some developing nations practice preventive treatment. These involve treating some groups of people who are at higher risk of getting infected. These includes:

  • Young children
  • Pregnant women
  • People who are lactating
  • Adults that work in occupations that put them at risk for heavy infection
  • Women of age bearing age