Hookworm, also called hookworm or, popularly, known as yellowing, is an intestinal parasitosis caused by worms that infect humans. The main symptoms of this disease are skin irritation, diarrhea and pain in the belly, in addition to causing anemia.
The causative agents of hookworm are Ancylostoma duodenale or Necator americanus , which are nematode worms. The disease can be transmitted through the penetration of the parasite through the skin, when walking barefoot on contaminated soil, especially in countries with hot and humid climates, or through the ingestion of food contaminated with the parasite.
Treatment is done with antiparasitic remedies such as Albendazole for 3 days in a row, it is also very important to adopt measures to prevent this contamination, such as avoiding walking barefoot and having good hygiene habits, such as always washing your hands and sanitizing food before eating.
Main symptoms
Hookworm signs and symptoms include:
- Injury to the skin site where the larva penetrated with redness, itching and irritation; Cough; Breath with noise; Belly pain; Diarrhea; Loss of appetite and weight loss; Anemia and pallor; Stunted growth and mental development in children.
This disease is known as yellowing, because anemia caused by the action of worms in the intestine can cause a pale or yellowish skin tone. Check out other symptoms that may also indicate worms contamination.
To confirm the diagnosis of hookworm, it is necessary to go to the consultation with the general practitioner or family doctor, who will analyze the symptoms, the physical examination and request stool tests, which detect the presence of worms in the intestine.
Biological cycle of hookworm
Hookworm transmission occurs as follows:
- The larva of the parasite penetrates through the skin, at which point small skin lesions, itching and redness may appear; the larvae reach the bloodstream, where they migrate through the body, reaching the heart and then the lungs; then, fall into the lung secretions, reaching the bronchi, trachea, mouth and being swallowed until reaching the stomach and, finally, the small intestine; In the intestine, the larva undergoes a process of maturation and differentiation in adult male and female worms, with reproduction and formation of eggs, which are eliminated in the feces; in humid soils, especially in tropical locations, the eggs hatch, releasing the larvae in the soil, which develop in their infectious forms and can infect more people
Individuals living in rural areas are more likely to be infected due to constant contact with the ground when walking barefoot, or due to lack of basic sanitation in the region.
How the treatment is done
The initial treatment for hookworm is aimed at treating anemia, and the use of iron supplements may be recommended. When anemia is already under control, the doctor may recommend the use of antiparasitic remedies, such as Albendazole or Mebendazole, which must be used for 3 days, to eliminate the parasite from the body.
Also check out some home remedies to fight this worm, in the following video:
Prevention forms
To avoid contamination with this worm it is important to avoid walking barefoot, in order to avoid direct contact with the soil. See other worms and diseases that can be transmitted through the soil.
It is also important to have good personal hygiene and food habits, such as washing food well before consuming it and washing your hands before handling food, for example.
