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Hookworm Infection

Hookworm is an intestinal parasite that infects humans through skin contact with contaminated soil. It causes iron-deficiency anemia through blood feeding in the small intestine. Heavy infections can cause weakness. Eggs are passed in stool and larvae develop, infecting a new host through the skin. Most infections are asymptomatic but may cause ground itch, cough, or weakness. Diagnosis is via stool microscopy detecting eggs. Treatment involves anthelmintics while prevention focuses on footwear, sanitation, and treating pets.

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21 views1 page

Hookworm Infection

Hookworm is an intestinal parasite that infects humans through skin contact with contaminated soil. It causes iron-deficiency anemia through blood feeding in the small intestine. Heavy infections can cause weakness. Eggs are passed in stool and larvae develop, infecting a new host through the skin. Most infections are asymptomatic but may cause ground itch, cough, or weakness. Diagnosis is via stool microscopy detecting eggs. Treatment involves anthelmintics while prevention focuses on footwear, sanitation, and treating pets.

Uploaded by

RichBieber
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Hookworm Infection

By: Richalyn Mae M. Dairo Host-Parasite Relationship (Infection)


• Direct effect:
 Symptoms and death due directly to the infection.
What is Hookworm Infection?
• Hookworm is a soil-transmitted helminth (STH) and one  In severe infection it may developed both physically and
of the most common roundworms of human. mentally
• Hookworm infection is an intestinal parasite of humans. - Lead to anemia (blood loss), the skin and hair may be
• The worm penetrates through unbroken/intact skin and dry, abdomen is swollen, also weakness.
lives in the small intestines, sucking blood. • Indirect effect:
**Heavy infection may evoke anemia and iron deficiency.  Naturally increases the chance of death in case a person
• Parasitism is a +/- form of symbiosis. is infected at the same time with some other disease in
which good nourishment is important to recover.
The two species of hookworm that predominantly infect
humans are: Clinical Manifestation of Infection
 Ancylostoma duodenale • Commonly asymptomatic
- Prevalent in Southern Europe, North Africa, Northern • Ground itch
Asia (North China). • Fever
 Necator americanus • Coughing
- Predominant species in the Western hemisphere and • Wheezing
equatorial Africa (South China). • Anemia
• Weakness
Morphology • Pallor
 Morphology: Adults Ancylostoma duodenale (OLD HOOKWORM) • Abdominal pain
• Female is mm in length by 0.6 mm in diameter. • Nausea
• Males are 8-11 mm by 0.4 mm. • Anorexia
• Posterior end has an umbrella-shaped bursa with riblike
rays. Laboratory Diagnosis
• Two pairs of curved teeth on the ventral wall of its
SAMPLE
buccal capsule.
• Feces
Morphology: Adults Necator americanus (NEW HOOKWORM)
Females are 9-11 mm in length by 0.4 mm in diameter. MICROSCOPY
• Males are 7-9 mm by 0.3 mm. • Egg
• Smaller than A. duodenale. • Number and Shape
• A pair of semilunar cutting plates on the ventral wall of WORMS IN FECES
the buccal capsule EOSINOPHILIA

Epidemiology Treatment
Location: • Albendazole or mebendazole is usually
• Worldwide (700 million people) especially tropical used; pyrantel pamoate is an alternative.
• Endemic in Ethiopia • For iron deficiency anemia, iron supplements
Predisposing Factors:
• Poor sanitation
Prevention & Control
• Walking barefoot
Hookworm infection prevention involves the following:
• Warm weather
• Impoverished children disproportionately affected  Using sanitary toilet facilities
 Preventing the skin from directly contacting the soil (for
How is hookworm transmitted? example, by wearing shoes and using a tarp or other
• It is fecal-soil-skin transmission barrier when seated on the ground)
 by coming in contact with stool from an infected person  Treating dogs and cats for hookworm to prevent them
and through contact with infected soil. from spreading animal hookworms to people
 Walking barefoot

Lifecycle of Intestinal Hookworm


 Eggs are passed in the stool (1), and under favorable
conditions (moisture, warmth, shade), larvae hatch in 1
to 2 days.
 The released rhabditiform larvae grow in the feces
and/or in the soil (2), and after 5-10 days they become
filariform (third stage) larvae that are infective (3)
 These infective larvae can survive 3-4 weeks in
favorable environmental conditions. On contact with
the human host, the larvae penetrate into the skin &
carries through the veins to the heart and then to the
lungs. They penetrate into the pulmonary alveoli, ascent
the bronchial tree to the pharynx, and are swallowed
(4).
 The larvae reach the small intestine, where they reside
and mature into the adults. Adult worms live in the
lumen of the small intestine, where they attach to the
intestinal wall with the resultant blood loss by the host
(5). Most adult worms are eliminated in 1-2 years.

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