Hookworm Infection

Submitted By: Desarey C. Dela Cruz (BSN-1C)

Submitted To: Emerson G. Parcon, RMT

Overview

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.
Hookworm infection is acquired through skin exposure to larvae in soil contaminated by
human feces. Soil becomes infectious around 5-10 days after contamination and
remains so for 3-4 weeks, depending on conditions.

Worldwide, hookworms infect an estimated 576-740 million people. Although

most of those affected are asymptomatic, some may experience anemia and other
complications.   Hookworms may persist for many years in the host and impair the
physical and intellectual development of children and the economic development of
communities.

Historically, hookworm infection has disproportionately affected the poorest

among the least-developed nations, largely as a consequence of inadequate access to
clean water, sanitation, and health education. The frequent absence of symptoms
notwithstanding, hookworm disease substantially contributes to the incidence of anemia
and malnutrition in developing nations. It occurs most commonly in the rural tropical and
subtropical areas of Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America.

Individual hookworm treatment consists of iron replacement and anthelmintic

therapy. Community eradication has proven difficult, even with intensive, yearly, school-
based programs. Part of the difficulty may be failure to clear infection from adults with
high worm burden. Despite this, successful control and eradication of hookworms is a
worthy goal for new methods that could offer huge economic and social benefits to
much of Africa and Asia.

Almost half of the world's population is infected with hookworm, which is responsible for over 4
million disability-adjusted life years. The main challenge is that people can't remove hookworm
parasites from their small intestine . Although anthelmintic medicines are frequently used to combat
hookworm infections, their effectiveness depends. Therefore, effective methods for controlling the
disease are needed.

Pathophysiology

The reproductive cycles of hookworms that develop in the human intestine are
identical. Eggs secreted in stool develop in 1 to 2 days (if planted in a warmer, wet
environment on loose soil) then produce rhabditiform larvae, which remodel first and
mature into fine string worms within 5-10 days.

Unless the climatic conditions seem to be suitable for them to survive,

the larvae could continue living for 3 to 4 weeks. As individuals wander barefoot or
come into close touch with polluted soil, filariform worms penetrate to their skin.

Etiology

Hookworms infections are nematodes in the famlily of ancylostomatoidea class.

People are typically infected by Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus, both
of which are present in a host of individuals. Hookworm larvae, which usually develop in
animal digestive systems, can induce cutaneous larva migrans in humans.the only
species of its genus found to invade people, it is a tiny, cylindrical, off-white worm.

Signs and Symptoms

Hookworm infection is often asymptomatic. However, a transient pruritic

papulovesicular rash (ground itch) may develop at the site of larval penetration,
usually on the feet. Migration of large numbers of larvae through the lungs
occasionally causes Loffler syndrome , with cough, wheezing, eosinophilia , and
sometimes hemoptysis. During the acute phase, adult worms in the intestine may
cause colicky epigastric pain, anorexia, flatulence, diarrhea, and weight loss.