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Hook Worms Treatment

An intestinal parasite occurring mostly in subtropical and tropical climates, hookworm infection causes abdominal pain and diarrhea in humans, according to the CDC website. Accidentally swallowing contaminated soil or walking barefoot on contaminated soil may cause a person to become infected with the hookworm parasite.

  1. Causes

    • Hookworm, a roundworm infestation, appears most often in the subtropics and tropic areas as it thrives in a moist climate, according to the "New York Times" website. The immature form of the hookworm, the larvae, enters the body through the skin and travels through the bloodstream to the airways via the lungs and may cause coughing. The larva is swallowed after migrating up the windpipe allowing them into the intestinal system where they develop into adult worms and are excreted in the feces.

    Symptoms

    • The usual first sign of infection is an itchy rash on the skin at the larvae entry site, according to the website cdc.gov. While a slight infection may cause no symptoms, moderate to heavy infections may cause abdominal pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, diarrhea and anemia. A stool sample is examined for the presence of hookworm eggs to diagnose the infection.

    Treatment

    • Treatment issues are to improve nutrition, treat complications of anemia and to cure the infection, according to the health.nytimes.com website. Mebendazole, albendazole or pyrantel pamoate, parasite-killing medications, may be prescribed by a physician. Increasing the amount of protein in the diet is also effective against the hookworm infection.

    Continued Care

    • Treatment of hookworm infections usually clears after one to three days with prescription medication. Another stool exam may be ordered by the physician to determine if any appearance of the worm still exists. The best way to avoid hookworm infection is to have no contact with bare feet or hands upon soil where fecal contamination may be present.

    Serious Conditions

    • If left untreated, hookworm infections may lead to serious health conditions, especially in children, according to the cdc.gov website. The hookworms attached themselves to the intestinal wall and suck blood. With enough blood loss, protein deficiencies and anemia may develop, which can retard mental development and growth in children. Difficulty breathing and tiredness are also serious health issues with a hookworm infection and can also lead to congestive heart failure.

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