Hookworm infection
. HOOKWORM INFECTION
Hookworms are parasites. This means they live off other living things. Hookworms affect your lungs, skin, and small intestine. Humans contract hookworms through hookworm larvae found in dirt contaminated by feces.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hookworm infections occur in an estimated 576 to 740 million people worldwide. It mainly affects people in developing nations in the tropics and subtropics due to poor sanitation. These infections rarely occur in the United States.
You might not have any symptoms from the infection if you’re otherwise healthy, have a low parasite burden, and eat foods with plenty of iron.
If you do experience symptoms, they generally start with itchiness and a small rash caused by an allergic reaction in the area that the larvae entered your skin. This is generally followed by diarrhea as the hookworms grow in your intestine. Other symptoms include:
- abdominal pain
- colic, or cramping and excessive crying in infants
- intestinal cramps
- nausea
- a fever
- blood in your stool
- a loss of appetite
- itchy rashes
You might not have any symptoms from the infection if you’re otherwise healthy, have a low parasite burden, and eat foods with plenty of iron.
If you do experience symptoms, they generally start with itchiness and a small rash caused by an allergic reaction in the area that the larvae entered your skin. This is generally followed by diarrhea as the hookworms grow in your intestine. Other symptoms include:
- abdominal pain
- colic, or cramping and excessive crying in infants
- intestinal cramps
- nausea
- a fever
- blood in your stool
- a loss of appetite
- itchy rashes
What causes hookworm infections?
Parasitic hookworms cause these infections. The two major types of hookworms that cause infection are Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale.
The eggs of these hookworms end up on the ground after passing through human feces. They hatch into larvae, which stay in the soil until they have a chance to break through human skin.
Parasitic hookworms cause these infections. The two major types of hookworms that cause infection are Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale.
The eggs of these hookworms end up on the ground after passing through human feces. They hatch into larvae, which stay in the soil until they have a chance to break through human skin.
How are hookworm infections spread?
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. Fully grown, they can live in your small intestine for a year or more before passing through your feces.
People who live in warm climates in areas with poor hygiene and sanitation are more at risk of developing hookworm infections.
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. Fully grown, they can live in your small intestine for a year or more before passing through your feces.
People who live in warm climates in areas with poor hygiene and sanitation are more at risk of developing hookworm infections.
Can my pet make me sick?
Hookworm infections can occur in pets, especially puppies and kittens. If your pet has an infection, you can get it indirectly. You won’t get it from petting your dog or cat. The eggs are passed in your pet’s stool and hatch into larvae. The eggs and larvae are found in the dirt where your pet leaves stool. You can get a hookworm infection by touching contaminated dirt with your bare hands or feet. You can also get it by accidentally eating contaminated soil.
To reduce your risk, make sure your pets are vaccinated and dewormed by your veterinarian. Also, avoid walking barefoot in areas where pets leave feces. This is especially important when you might come in contact with animal feces from pets whose health conditions are unknown, such as at a park.
Hookworm infections can occur in pets, especially puppies and kittens. If your pet has an infection, you can get it indirectly. You won’t get it from petting your dog or cat. The eggs are passed in your pet’s stool and hatch into larvae. The eggs and larvae are found in the dirt where your pet leaves stool. You can get a hookworm infection by touching contaminated dirt with your bare hands or feet. You can also get it by accidentally eating contaminated soil.
To reduce your risk, make sure your pets are vaccinated and dewormed by your veterinarian. Also, avoid walking barefoot in areas where pets leave feces. This is especially important when you might come in contact with animal feces from pets whose health conditions are unknown, such as at a park.
If you have a hookworm infection that lasts a long time, you could become anemic. Anemia is characterized by a low red blood cell count, which can contribute to heart failure in severe cases. Anemia results from hookworms feeding on your blood. You’re more at risk of having severe anemia if you also don’t eat well, are pregnant, or have malaria.
Other complications that can develop from these infections include nutritional deficiencies and a condition known as ascites. This condition is caused by serious protein loss and results in fluid buildup in your abdomen.
Children who have frequent hookworm infections can experience slow growth and mental development from losing iron and protein.
If you have a hookworm infection that lasts a long time, you could become anemic. Anemia is characterized by a low red blood cell count, which can contribute to heart failure in severe cases. Anemia results from hookworms feeding on your blood. You’re more at risk of having severe anemia if you also don’t eat well, are pregnant, or have malaria.
Other complications that can develop from these infections include nutritional deficiencies and a condition known as ascites. This condition is caused by serious protein loss and results in fluid buildup in your abdomen.
Children who have frequent hookworm infections can experience slow growth and mental development from losing iron and protein.
Treatment for hookworm infections aims to get rid of the parasites, improve nutrition, and treat complications from anemia. Your doctor will prescribe medications that destroy parasites, such as albendazole (Albenza) and mebendazole (Emverm). These medications are generally taken once to treat the infection.
Your doctor might also have you take an iron supplement if you have anemia. Your doctor will also help you recover from any nutritional deficiencies you have. If you have ascites, they’ll ask you to add additional protein to your diet.
Epidemiology of hookworm
Disability-adjusted life year for hookworm disease per 100,000 inhabitants in 2002.
no data
less than 10
10–15
15–20
20–25
25–30
30–35
35–40
40–45
45–50
50–55
55–60
more than 60
It is estimated that between 576 and 740 million individuals are infected with hookworm.[30][13] Of these infected individuals, about 80 million are severely affected.[18] The major cause of hookworm infection is N. americanuswhich is found in the Americas, sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia.[8] A. duodenaleis found in more scattered focal environments, namely Europe and the Mediterranean. Most infected individuals are concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and East Asia/the Pacific Islands with each region having estimates of 198 million and 149 million infected individuals, respectively. Other affected regions include: South Asia (50 million), Latin America and the Caribbean (50 million), South Asia (59 million), Middle East/North Africa (10 million).[13] A majority of these infected individuals live in poverty-stricken areas with poor sanitation. Hookworm infection is most concentrated among the world’s poorest who live on less than $2 a day.[8]
While hookworm infection may not directly lead to mortality, its effects on morbidity demand immediate attention. When considering disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), neglected tropical diseases, including hookworm infection, rank among diarrheal diseases, ischemic heart disease, malaria, and tuberculosisas one of the most important health problems of the developing world.
It has been estimated that as many as 22.1 million DALYs have been lost due to hookworm infection. Recently, there has been increasing interest to address the public health concerns associated with hookworm infection. For example, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation recently donated US$34 million to fight Neglected Tropical Diseases including hookworm infection.[31] Former US President Clinton also announced a mega-commitment at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) 2008 Annual Meeting to de-worm 10 million children.[32]
Many of the numbers regarding the prevalence of hookworm infection are estimates as there is no international surveillance mechanism currently in place to determine prevalence and global distribution.[8] Some prevalence rates have been measured through survey data in endemic regions around the world. The following are some of the most recent findings on prevalence rates in regions endemic with hookworm.
- 42.8% infection rate of predominantly N. americanus although with some A. duodenale infection
- Both hookworm infection load and degree of anemia in the mild range
- 60% infection rate of predominantly N. americanus
- Important trends noted were that prevalence increased with age (plateau of about 41 years) and women had higher prevalence rates than men
- 52% of a total of 526 tested households infected
- Could not identify species, but previous studies in North Vietnam reported N. americanus in more than 95% of hookworm larvae
Minas Gerais, Brazil (Fleming et al.2006)
- 62.8% infection rate of predominantly N. americanus
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Mabaso et al. 2004)[37]
- Inland areas had a prevalence rate of 9.3% of N. americanus
- Coastal plain areas had a prevalence rate of 62.5% of N. americanus
- 34.5% infection rate of predominantly N. americanus
There have also been technological developments that may facilitate more accurate mapping of hookworm prevalence. Some researchers have begun to use geographical information systems (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) to examine helminth ecology and epidemiology. Brooker et al. utilized this technology to create helminth distribution maps of sub-Saharan Africa. By relating satellite derived environmental data with prevalence data from school-based surveys, they were able to create detailed prevalence maps. The study focused on a wide range of helminths, but interesting conclusions about hookworm specifically were found. As compared to other helminths, hookworm is able to survive in much hotter conditions and was highly prevalent throughout the upper end of the thermal range.[40]
Improved molecular diagnostic tools are another technological advancement that could help improve existing prevalence statistics. Recent research has focused on the development of a DNA-based tool that can be used for diagnosis of infection, specific identification of hookworm, and analysis of genetic variability in hookworm populations. Again this can serve as a major tool for different public health measures against hookworm infection. Most research regarding diagnostic tools is now focused on the creation of a rapid and cost-effective assay for the specific diagnosis of hookworm infection. Many are hopeful that its development can be achieved within the next five years
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0R2Wfw9VQlrCFfp3yzQKWA
Youtube: Vmk publication /truth media ct
Treatment for hookworm infections aims to get rid of the parasites, improve nutrition, and treat complications from anemia. Your doctor will prescribe medications that destroy parasites, such as albendazole (Albenza) and mebendazole (Emverm). These medications are generally taken once to treat the infection.
Your doctor might also have you take an iron supplement if you have anemia. Your doctor will also help you recover from any nutritional deficiencies you have. If you have ascites, they’ll ask you to add additional protein to your diet.
Epidemiology of hookworm
Disability-adjusted life year for hookworm disease per 100,000 inhabitants in 2002.
no data
less than 10
10–15
15–20
20–25
25–30
30–35
35–40
40–45
45–50
50–55
55–60
more than 60
It is estimated that between 576 and 740 million individuals are infected with hookworm.[30][13] Of these infected individuals, about 80 million are severely affected.[18] The major cause of hookworm infection is N. americanuswhich is found in the Americas, sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia.[8] A. duodenaleis found in more scattered focal environments, namely Europe and the Mediterranean. Most infected individuals are concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and East Asia/the Pacific Islands with each region having estimates of 198 million and 149 million infected individuals, respectively. Other affected regions include: South Asia (50 million), Latin America and the Caribbean (50 million), South Asia (59 million), Middle East/North Africa (10 million).[13] A majority of these infected individuals live in poverty-stricken areas with poor sanitation. Hookworm infection is most concentrated among the world’s poorest who live on less than $2 a day.[8]
While hookworm infection may not directly lead to mortality, its effects on morbidity demand immediate attention. When considering disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), neglected tropical diseases, including hookworm infection, rank among diarrheal diseases, ischemic heart disease, malaria, and tuberculosisas one of the most important health problems of the developing world.
It has been estimated that as many as 22.1 million DALYs have been lost due to hookworm infection. Recently, there has been increasing interest to address the public health concerns associated with hookworm infection. For example, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation recently donated US$34 million to fight Neglected Tropical Diseases including hookworm infection.[31] Former US President Clinton also announced a mega-commitment at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) 2008 Annual Meeting to de-worm 10 million children.[32]
Many of the numbers regarding the prevalence of hookworm infection are estimates as there is no international surveillance mechanism currently in place to determine prevalence and global distribution.[8] Some prevalence rates have been measured through survey data in endemic regions around the world. The following are some of the most recent findings on prevalence rates in regions endemic with hookworm.
- 42.8% infection rate of predominantly N. americanus although with some A. duodenale infection
- Both hookworm infection load and degree of anemia in the mild range
- 60% infection rate of predominantly N. americanus
- Important trends noted were that prevalence increased with age (plateau of about 41 years) and women had higher prevalence rates than men
- 52% of a total of 526 tested households infected
- Could not identify species, but previous studies in North Vietnam reported N. americanus in more than 95% of hookworm larvae
Minas Gerais, Brazil (Fleming et al.2006)
- 62.8% infection rate of predominantly N. americanus
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Mabaso et al. 2004)[37]
- Inland areas had a prevalence rate of 9.3% of N. americanus
- Coastal plain areas had a prevalence rate of 62.5% of N. americanus
- 34.5% infection rate of predominantly N. americanus
There have also been technological developments that may facilitate more accurate mapping of hookworm prevalence. Some researchers have begun to use geographical information systems (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) to examine helminth ecology and epidemiology. Brooker et al. utilized this technology to create helminth distribution maps of sub-Saharan Africa. By relating satellite derived environmental data with prevalence data from school-based surveys, they were able to create detailed prevalence maps. The study focused on a wide range of helminths, but interesting conclusions about hookworm specifically were found. As compared to other helminths, hookworm is able to survive in much hotter conditions and was highly prevalent throughout the upper end of the thermal range.[40]
Improved molecular diagnostic tools are another technological advancement that could help improve existing prevalence statistics. Recent research has focused on the development of a DNA-based tool that can be used for diagnosis of infection, specific identification of hookworm, and analysis of genetic variability in hookworm populations. Again this can serve as a major tool for different public health measures against hookworm infection. Most research regarding diagnostic tools is now focused on the creation of a rapid and cost-effective assay for the specific diagnosis of hookworm infection. Many are hopeful that its development can be achieved within the next five years
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0R2Wfw9VQlrCFfp3yzQKWA
Youtube: Vmk publication /truth media ct
Youtube: Vmk publication /truth media ct
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