Hookworm
Introduction
Source: NHS
In this topic (5)
Hookworms are parasitic worms that can infect humans in countries with poor sanitation and a warm, moist climate.
The hookworm larvae (immature worms) are found in soil that's been contaminated with human faeces. The larvaecan infect people if their bare skin comes intocontact with the soil for example, if you're walking barefoot.
Most hookworm infections occur in Africa, the Americas, China andsoutheast Asia.
Articles for Hookworm
Diagnosing and treating a hookworm infection
Hookworm infections can be diagnosed by inspecting a stool sample under a microscope in a laboratory and looking for the eggs. If there's an infection, the number of eggs will be counted to see how se
Introduction
Read about the symptoms of a hookworm infection, and how it's spread, diagnosed, treated and prevented.
Preventing hookworm infections
If you're travelling to a tropical or sub-tropical region of the world where hookworm infections are common, avoid walking barefoot in areas where there may be contaminated soil, and don't touch soil
Symptoms of a hookworm infection
Most people infected with hookworm don't have any symptoms. The larvae of animal hookworms sometimes get into the skin, usually after lying on sand contaminated by animal faeces while on a beach holi
The hookworm life cycle
The larvae and adult worms live in the small intestine (small bowel) of an infected person or animal. If an infected person defecates outside (for example, near bushes or in a field) or if their stoo
