Hookworm is a condition caused by roundworms that affects the small intestine and lungs. Hookworm disease (also called uncinariasis), a helminthic infection of the upper intestine, is chronic and debilitating. Two types of hookworm are responsible for hookworm disease in humans. Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale have similar life cycles and similar methods of causing illness. The adult worm of both Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale is about 10 mm long, pinkish-white in color, and curved into an S-shape or double hook.
Cause of Hookworm:
The parasitic roundworm, known as hookworm, causes hookworm disease. Necator americanus is the most common type of hookworm that causes infection in the United States.
- Hookworm eggs are passed in human feces onto the ground where they develop into infective larvae (immature worms).
- When the soil is cool, the larvae crawl to the nearest moist area and extend their bodies into the air.
- The larvae stay in the soil—waving their bodies to and fro—until they come into contact with human skin, usually when stepped on by a bare foot, or until they are driven back into the ground by the heat.
Symptoms And Signs:
Itching and a rash at the site of where skin touched soil or sand is usually the first sign of infection. These symptoms occur when the larvae penetrate the skin. While a light infection may cause no symptoms.
- Abdominal discomfort
- Blood in the stool
- Bloody sputum
- Cough
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Gas
- Itchy rash
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea, vomiting
- Pallor
Exams And Tests:
Tests that can help diagnose the infection include:
- Complete blood count (CBC) with differential
- Stool ova and parasites exam
- This disease may also affect the results of a D-xylose absorption test.
Treatments of Hookworm:
The goals of treatment are to:
- Cure the infection
- Treat complications of anemia
- Improve nutrition
Chemotherapeutics available for treatment of hookworm disease include the benzimidazoles, mebendazole and albendazole, and pyrantel pamoate. Benzimidazoles are an effective chemotherapeutic option with cure rates greater than 90% after a full course of treatment. Oral penicillin is usually prescribed for children.
When given during the late stages, high-dose ceftriaxone I.V. may be a successful treatment.Symptoms and complications of anemia are treated as they arise. The doctor will likely recommend increasing the amount of protein in your diet.Anemia is treated with iron supplements. In severe cases, blood transfusion may be necessary. You might also be given an iron supplement with this treatment.
To prevent hookworm, do not walk barefoot or contact the soil with bare hands in areas where hookworm is common or there are likely to be feces in the soil or sand.