Hookworm: Most people with hookworms don't

Most people with hookworms don't have symptoms, but infections can cause health issues like anemia and malnutrition. Medicines can get rid of hookworms, and treatment is crucial to avoid serious health problems. Hookworms are intestinal, blood-feeding, parasitic roundworms that cause helminthiases in many parts of the world, especially in areas with poor sanitation and hygiene. Learn about the species, life cycle, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of hookworm infection in humans and other animals. Hookworm is an intestinal parasite that can cause malnourishment and anemia, especially in young children. It disproportionately impacts poorer areas. 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 ...