What is hookworm infection?
Hookworm infection is an infection of the intestines that can cause an itchy rash, respiratory and gastrointestinal problems, and eventually iron deficiency anemia due to ongoing loss of blood. People can become infected when walking barefoot because hookworm larvae live in the soil and can penetrate the skin.
What is hookworm caused by?
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).
What is the most common symptom of a hookworm infection?
Itching and a localized rash are often the first signs of infection. These symptoms occur when the larvae penetrate the skin. A person with a light infection may have no symptoms. A person with a heavy infection may experience abdominal pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue and anemia.
What bacteria causes hookworm infections?
Human hookworm disease is a common helminth infection worldwide that is predominantly caused by the nematode parasites Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale; organisms that play a lesser role include Ancylostoma ceylanicum, Ancylostoma braziliense, and Ancylostoma caninum.
Is hookworm a bacterial infection?
Hookworm infection is an infection by a type of intestinal parasite known as a hookworm. Initially, itching and a rash may occur at the site of infection. Those only affected by a few worms may show no symptoms. Those infected by many worms may experience abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and tiredness.
How do you know if you have a hookworm?
People with a hookworm infection may show some of the following symptoms: a skin rash in one area that is typically red, raised, and itchy. weight loss. loss of appetite. breathing complications, such as wheezing and a cough. fever. stomach pain.
Can hookworm be cured?
Hookworm infection can be treated with local cryotherapy when the hookworm is still in the skin. Albendazole is effective both in the intestinal stage and during the stage the parasite is still migrating under the skin.
How is human infected by a hookworm?
You can become infected with hookworms by coming into contact with soil that contains their larvae. The larvae enter your skin, travel through your bloodstream, and enter your lungs. They are carried to your small intestine when you cough them out of the lung and swallow.
How do people get hookworms?
Hookworm infection is mainly acquired by walking barefoot on contaminated soil. One kind of hookworm can also be transmitted through the ingestion of larvae. Most people infected with hookworms have no symptoms.