Hookworms (Ancylostoma)

· Larvae which are the infective form are found in warm damp soil and infect the human by penetrating the skin or by drinking contaminated water or by soil pica.

Clinical manifestations

  · Exposure of the skin for the first time to the infective larvae may lead to pruritis.

  · Abdominal pain, indigestion and postprandial fullness.

  · Loss of appetite, diarrhea and blood in stool.

  · Edema and anemia may lead to heart failure and sudden death. 

Diagnosis

   Detection of eggs in stool.

Treatment

· In severe anemia (hemoglobin concentration less than 5 gm/dL), iron therapy should be  given before anthelmintic drugs in a dose of 6 mg/kg /day until anemia is corrected.

· In cases of anemia with heart failure, diuretics and slow transfusion of packed red cells are indicated.

· Albendazole: 400mg orally once for all ages, or

· Mebendazole:  100mg orally twice daily for 3 days or 500 mg as a single dose.