Hookworm Infection

Hookworm infection is an intestinal parasite that usually causes diarrhoea or cramps. Heavy infestation with hookworm can be serious for newborns, children, pregnant women, and persons who are malnourished.

Hookworm infection is contracted from contact with soil contaminated by hookworm, by walking barefoot or accidentally swallowing contaminated soil.

The first signs of hookworm infection are itching and a rash at the site where the larvae penetrate the skin. These signs may be followed by abdominal pain, diarrhoea, loss of appetite and weight loss, and anaemia. Chronic heavy hookworm infection can damage the growth and development of children. The loss of iron and protein retards growth and mental development, sometimes irreversibly. Hookworm can also cause difficulty breathing, enlargement of the heart, and irregular heartbeat. Hookworm infections have been known to be fatal, particularly in infants.

They occur mainly in tropical and subtropical climates and affect about 1 billion people, about one-fifth of the world's population. One of the most common species of hookworm, Ancylostoma duodenale, is found in southern Europe, northern Africa, northern Asia, and parts of South America.

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Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hookworm
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