Hookworm Infection
What is Hookworm Infection?
Hookworm infection is a parasitic disease caused by tiny worms that live in your intestines. The two main types are Ancylostoma and Necator. These parasites enter your body through your skin, usually when you walk barefoot on contaminated soil.
Once inside, hookworms travel through your bloodstream to your lungs and eventually make their way to your small intestine. There, they attach to the intestinal wall and feed on your blood. A single worm can live for several years if left untreated.
Hookworm infection affects over 500 million people worldwide, mostly in tropical and subtropical regions. In the United States, it is less common but still occurs in warm, humid areas with poor sanitation. The infection can cause iron deficiency anemia because the worms consume your blood every day.
Symptoms
- Fatigue and weakness from blood loss
- Abdominal pain and cramping
- Diarrhea or loose stools
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Itchy rash where the worms entered your skin
- Cough or wheezing during larval migration
- Pale skin from anemia
- Shortness of breath with physical activity
- Nausea after eating
Many people with mild hookworm infections have no symptoms at first. The signs become more noticeable as the worms multiply and cause ongoing blood loss over weeks or months.
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Causes and risk factors
Hookworm infection happens when larvae penetrate your skin, usually through bare feet walking on soil contaminated with human feces. The larvae mature as they travel through your body and eventually reach your intestines. Poor sanitation, lack of proper sewage systems, and using human waste as fertilizer spread the infection in communities.
Risk factors include living in or traveling to warm, humid climates where hookworm is common, walking barefoot outdoors, working with soil such as farming or gardening, and living in areas with inadequate sanitation. Children who play in contaminated dirt and people with weakened immune systems face higher risk of severe infection and complications.
How it's diagnosed
Doctors diagnose hookworm infection by analyzing a stool sample for parasite eggs. The ova and parasites test looks for hookworm eggs under a microscope using concentration and permanent smear techniques. Multiple stool samples may be needed because egg shedding can vary day to day.
Blood tests help identify hookworm by detecting elevated eosinophils, a type of white blood cell that increases during parasitic infections. High eosinophil levels combined with iron deficiency anemia strongly suggest hookworm in people from areas where the parasite is common. Rite Aid offers testing that includes eosinophil counts to help screen for parasitic infections and monitor your response to treatment.
Treatment options
- Antiparasitic medications like albendazole or mebendazole to kill the worms
- Iron supplements to treat anemia caused by blood loss
- Protein rich foods to help your body recover from nutrient depletion
- Wearing shoes outdoors to prevent reinfection
- Improving sanitation and using proper toilets
- Follow up stool testing to confirm the worms are gone
- Treating all household members if multiple people are infected
Concerned about Hookworm Infection? Get tested at Rite Aid.
- Simple blood draw at your nearest lab
- Results in days, not weeks
- Share results with your doctor
Frequently asked questions
The first sign is often an itchy red rash where the larvae entered your skin, usually on your feet. This appears within a few days of exposure. As the larvae migrate through your lungs, you may develop a cough or mild chest discomfort. Intestinal symptoms like abdominal pain and diarrhea appear weeks later once the worms mature.
Hookworm infections do not resolve without treatment. The worms can live in your intestines for several years, continuously feeding on your blood. Without medication to kill the parasites, the infection will persist and cause progressive anemia. Treatment with antiparasitic drugs is safe, effective, and necessary to clear the infection.
Blood tests show elevated eosinophils, white blood cells that increase during parasitic infections. Hookworm also causes low iron levels and anemia from chronic blood loss. While blood tests suggest parasitic infection, stool tests are needed to confirm hookworm specifically by finding eggs under a microscope.
Hookworm does not spread directly from person to person through casual contact. The infection requires larvae in contaminated soil to penetrate your skin. However, if an infected person defecates outdoors, their feces can contaminate soil and spread the infection to others who walk barefoot in that area.
Antiparasitic medication kills hookworms within a few days. However, recovering from anemia takes longer. Your energy levels improve over several weeks as your body rebuilds iron stores and red blood cells. Most people feel significantly better within one to two months after treatment, especially with iron supplementation.
Yes, hookworm infection still occurs in warm, humid parts of the United States, particularly in the Southeast. It is less common than in developing countries but remains a risk in areas with poor sanitation or where people walk barefoot outdoors. Rural communities and agricultural workers face higher risk.
Eat iron rich foods like red meat, poultry, fish, beans, and dark leafy greens to rebuild your blood after hookworm infection. Include vitamin C sources like citrus fruits to help your body absorb iron better. High protein foods such as eggs, dairy, and legumes support tissue repair and immune recovery.
Always wear shoes when walking outdoors, especially in soil or sand. Use proper toilets and ensure sewage is disposed of safely. Wash your hands after handling soil and before eating. If you work with soil regularly, wear gloves and boots to prevent larvae from entering through your skin.
Chronic hookworm infection causes severe iron deficiency anemia that can affect your heart, brain, and overall development. In children, ongoing infection impairs physical and mental growth. Pregnant women with hookworm face higher risk of complications. However, with prompt treatment, most people recover completely without lasting damage.
Yes, follow up stool testing is recommended two to four weeks after finishing antiparasitic medication. This confirms the treatment killed all the worms. Your doctor may also recheck blood counts to ensure your anemia is improving. Repeat testing helps catch any persistent infection that needs additional treatment.