Why hookworms are harmful

See also Overview of Parasitic Infections Overview of Parasitic Infections A parasite is an organism that lives on or inside another organism the host and benefits for example, by getting nutrients from the host at the host's expense. Although this definition actually Worldwide, between and million people are infected with hookworms, which are intestinal roundworms.

The infection is most common in tropical areas where sanitation is poor. Hookworms thrive in warm, moist places. Both species are present in moist, hot areas of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Necator americanus is present mainly in the Americas and Australia. It once was common in the southern part of the United States but is now rare there. Finally, Ancylostoma ceylanicum , a hookworm of dogs, cats, and hamsters present in parts of Asia and some South Pacific islands, can complete its life cycle in humans and on occasion causes hookworm disease.

Hookworm eggs are passed in stool and hatch in the soil after 1 to 2 days if they are deposited in a warm, moist place on loose soil. Larvae emerge and live in the soil. The larvae can survive 3 to 4 weeks in the environment if conditions are favorable. After 5 to 10 days of development, larvae are able to cause infection and can penetrate the skin.

A person can become infected by walking barefoot or sitting in contaminated soil. Larvae of Ancylostoma duodenale can also cause infection when people consume food that contains the larvae. Once larvae enter the body, they move through the bloodstream to the lungs. The larvae pass into the air spaces of the lungs and move up the respiratory tract. They are coughed up into the throat and swallowed. About a week after penetrating the skin, they reach the intestine.

Once inside the intestine, the larvae develop into adults. They attach themselves by their mouth to the lining of the upper small intestine, where they feed on blood and produce substances that keep blood from clotting.

As a result, blood is lost, and anemia Overview of Anemia Anemia is a condition in which the number of red blood cells is low. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that enables them to carry oxygen from the lungs and deliver it to all parts Bird mites are found throughout the United States.

Although bird mites feed on the blood of birds, they also bite humans. Learn more about these mites,. Ear mites are common in pets, but it's possible for people to get ear mites, too. We'll discuss symptoms, treatments, and prevention.

Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Hookworm Infections. Medically reviewed by Daniel Murrell, M. Symptoms Causes Long-term effects Treatments Prevention We include products we think are useful for our readers. What is a hookworm infection? What are the symptoms of a hookworm infection?

What causes hookworm infections? How serious is a hookworm infection? How are hookworm infections treated? How can hookworm infections be prevented? Read this next. Ascariasis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments.

Medically reviewed by Saurabh Sethi, M. Can Home Remedies Treat Pinworms? Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.

The high-risk groups identified by the World Health Organization are preschool and school-age children, women of childbearing age including pregnant women in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters and lactating women and adults in occupations where there is a high risk of heavy infections. School-age children are often treated through school-health programs and preschool children and pregnant women at visits to health clinics. Since the drugs used are safe and inexpensive or donated, entire risk groups are offered preventive treatment.

Mass drug administrations are conducted periodically often annually , commonly with drug distributors who go door-to-door. Multiple neglected tropical diseases are often treated simultaneously using MDAs. This information is not meant to be used for self-diagnosis or as a substitute for consultation with a health care provider. If you have any questions about the parasites described above or think that you may have a parasitic infection, consult a health care provider.

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