Hookworm Diseases: (Ancylostomiasis /Miner'S Disease/Egyptian Chlorisis)

HOOKWORM
DISEASES
(ANCYLOSTOMIASIS/MINER’S
DISEASE/EGYPTIAN
CHLORISIS)
DEFINITION
 Hookworm disease is an infection caused by invasion

of the small intestines by a parasitic worm and
usually causes diarrhea or cramps.
 Hookworm infection occurs mostly in tropical and

subtropical countries.
 It is characterized by Anemia and mental and

physical weakness.
ETIOLOGY
Is distributed in Central and South Agent which is most prevalent in

America and West Africa Europe and Asia
 The adult hookworm lives in the small intestines of
the host; it sucks a portion of the mucous membrane
into its mouth cavity and hooks onto the intestinal
wall with its teeth or cutting plates.
 Through a duct opening into the mouth there comes
from the esophagus opf the worm a digestive enzyme
which destroys the tissue at the point of attachment.
 Bleeding occurs at this point and the hookworm
draws the blood into its digestive tract.
 The worm wanders and sets up new areas of
irritation
 The female worms lay great number of eggs, which
oass out in the feces and warm moist soil hatch into
larvae.
 The larvae attach themselves to the feet of a barefoot
person and bore through the skin, causing sores
which are known as Ground Itch.
 The common site of the primary lesion is the soft

skin between the toes
SOURCE OF INFECTION
 Soil contaminated with feces that contains

hookworm ova. A single hookworm may produce as
many as 5000 to 10,1000 eggs daily.
 Eggs deposited in moist soil, rich in oxygen will

develop into embryos withi 24-72 hours.
MODE OF TRANSMISSION
 The disease is usually contracted through entrance

of larvae into the skin
 May also be transmitted in drinking water

containing larvae, in contaminayed food, or by larvae
infested fingers carried to the mouth
 Bedclothes nd wearing apparel which remain damp

and unwashed for several days harbor the larvae.
PATHOLOGY
 The larvae will penetrate the unbroken skin of the

feet and legs of the host entering through the
sudoriferous glands and the hair follicles.
 The larva will then penetrate the blood and lymph
vessels, damaging them in the process, to the lungs
where they pierce the capillary walls and pass into
the alveoli.
 Some may be couged out and expectorated while
some are swallowed and reach the small intestine
where maturation occurs and egg production takes
place.
 The adult worm survives by attaching itself to the
duodenal and jejunal mucosa. From where it
continuosly sucks blood.
 Hemorrhagic spots in the intestinal mucus

membrane mark the site of the orevious worm
attachments.
 Death may result from severe anemia and cachexia.

INCUBATION PERIOD
 Hookworm ova appear in the stools about 4 to 6

weeks after the larvae penetrate the skin
 The incubation period is 40 to 100 days or 2-8

weeks
COURSE OF THE DISEASE
 Ground Itch- first indication that the disease is present
 Papular Eruption
 Pain and feeling of heaviness in the abdomen results
 Appetite is increased and the desire for bulky
foods may be perverted into a craving for eating
earth, paper, coffee grounds or ashes
 Potbellies resulting from dirt eating which causes

distention of alimentary tract.
 Edematous swelling of the tissues causing

Peculiar puffiness of the cheeks.
 Infected children tend to be malnourished and
undersized
 Infected children are lazy, have no enery and lack
ambition.
 The pupils of the patients eyes are more or less dilated.
 Pedal edema and edema in other portions of the body
 As the diseases progresses, the picture is one of
extreme anemia, physical exhaustion, cardiac failure,
and inability to concentrate.
PERIOD OF COMMUNICABILTY
 The disease is communicable as long as the

parasite or its ova are found in the feces of an
infested individual.
* The
symptoms of hookworm depends upon the
number of worms present in the intestine
DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES
 Microscopic examinations of feces for the eggs.
 Blood exam reveals eosinophilia

TREATMENT
 Pyrantel embonate (quantrel)

 Crystalline hexylresorcinol
 Carbon tetrachloride
 tetrachlorethylene
NURSING MANAGEMENT
 Isolation is not necessary

 The importance of washing the hands before eating
and after defecation should be emphasized.
 The nurse should watch for symptoms of reaction of
tetrachloride such as giddiness, vomiting and
drowsiness. The drugh should be given in the early
morning when the stomach is empty.
 Diet should be high in calories, vitamins and
minerals.
METHODS OF CONTROL
 Health education on proper disposal of excreta is

necessary.
 Regulations to prevent the pollution of streams and
lakes with human excreta should be adopted
 In areas where hookworm is endemic, all persons
should avoid walking barefoot.
 Good hygiene is extremely important.
 Animals should not be allowed to defecate on the
streets or beaches where people most likely linger.
 Purified or boiled water must be used for drinking
 Vegetalbes should not be eaten raw.
 Night soil and sewage effluent are dangerous to use
as a fertilizer.

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HOOKWORM

 Hookworm disease is an infection caused by invasion

 Hookworm infection occurs mostly in tropical and

 It is characterized by Anemia and mental and

Is distributed in Central and South Agent which is most prevalent in

 The common site of the primary lesion is the soft

 Soil contaminated with feces that contains

 Eggs deposited in moist soil, rich in oxygen will

 The disease is usually contracted through entrance

 May also be transmitted in drinking water

 Bedclothes nd wearing apparel which remain damp

 The larvae will penetrate the unbroken skin of the

 Hemorrhagic spots in the intestinal mucus

 Death may result from severe anemia and cachexia.

 Hookworm ova appear in the stools about 4 to 6

 The incubation period is 40 to 100 days or 2-8

 Ground Itch- first indication that the disease is present

 Potbellies resulting from dirt eating which causes

 Edematous swelling of the tissues causing

 The disease is communicable as long as the

 Microscopic examinations of feces for the eggs.

 Blood exam reveals eosinophilia

 Pyrantel embonate (quantrel)

 Isolation is not necessary

 Health education on proper disposal of excreta is

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