Hookworm
Symptoms Can Be Nonexistent, Mild or Serious
It is estimated that about 740
million people worldwide suffer from hookworm symptoms. While the
hookworm parasite is less common in the United States, hookworm
thrives in subtropical and tropical climates, especially in countries
where human feces contaminate the soil due to inferior bathroom
facilities and sanitation methods.
Once hookworm eggs are passed to the soil through human feces, the
eggs develop into larvae that can be passed on to people who expose
their bare skin to the soil. Typically, hookworms enter human skin
through bare feet. When they penetrate the skin, hookworms may produce
symptoms of itching, irrigation, and rash at the point of entry.
After hookworms enter the bloodstream and make their way to the
intestines, the following hookworm symptoms may be experienced:
- Abdominal pain
- Poor appetite
- Intestinal cramping and gas
- Nausea
- Weight loss
- Low red blood cell count, or anemia
- Diarrhea
In some cases, a hookworm infection won’t
cause any symptoms at all; in others, hookworm can result in substantial
blood loss and illness as the worms attach to intestinal walls and
feed off the blood of the host.
If you are visiting an area where hookworm is known to be present,
or you are in a place where human feces may be in contact with the
soil or sand, it is recommended that you always wear shoes outside
and avoid touching the soil with your bare hands.
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