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| '''Ancylostomiasis''' is a [[hookworm disease]] caused by infection with [[Ancylostoma]] [[hookworm]]s. The name is derived from Greek ancylos αγκύλος "crooked, bent" and stoma στόμα "mouth".
| | {{Short description|A parasitic disease caused by hookworms}} |
| | {{DiseaseDisorder infobox |
| | | Name = Ancylostomiasis |
| | | Image = Hookworm_larvae.jpg |
| | | Caption = Hookworm larvae |
| | | Field = Infectious disease |
| | }} |
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| Ancylostomiasis is also known as '''miner's anaemia''', '''tunnel disease''', '''brickmaker's anaemia''' and '''Egyptian chlorosis'''. [[Helminthiasis]] may also refer to ancylostomiasis, but this term also refers to all other [[helminths|parasitic worm]] diseases as well. In the United Kingdom, if acquired in the context of working in a mine, the condition is eligible for Industrial Injuries Disability Benefit. It is a prescribed disease (B4) under the relevant legislation.§<ref>{{cite book |chapter=14. Appendix 1: List of diseases covered by Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit: B4 Ankylostomiasis... |chapterurl=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-injuries-disablement-benefits-technical-guidance/industrial-injuries-disablement-benefits-technical-guidance#appendix-1-list-of-diseases-covered-by-industrial-injuries-disablement-benefit |title=Guidance: Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefits: technical guidance |date=20 May 2015 |work= |publisher=UK Department for Work & Pensions |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-injuries-disablement-benefits-technical-guidance/industrial-injuries-disablement-benefits-technical-guidance}}</ref>
| | '''Ancylostomiasis''' is a parasitic infection caused by hookworms, primarily affecting the small intestine. The most common species responsible for this condition are ''[[Ancylostoma duodenale]]'' and ''[[Necator americanus]]''. These parasites are prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, where they thrive in warm, moist environments. |
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| Ancylostomiasis is caused when hookworms, present in large numbers, produce an [[iron deficiency anemia]] by sucking blood from the host's intestinal walls.
| | ==Pathophysiology== |
| | Hookworms are transmitted through contact with contaminated soil. The larvae penetrate the skin, usually through the feet, and migrate through the bloodstream to the lungs. From the lungs, they ascend the trachea and are swallowed, eventually reaching the small intestine where they mature into adult worms. The adult worms attach to the intestinal wall, feeding on blood and causing significant blood loss. |
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| ==Signs and symptoms== | | ==Symptoms== |
| Depending on the organism, the signs and symptoms vary. ''[[Ancylostoma duodenale]]'' and ''[[Necator americanus]]'' can enter the blood stream while ''[[Ancylostoma braziliensis]]'' cannot. Signs and symptoms of ''Ancylostoma duodenale'' and ''Necator americanus'' are given in corresponding page. {{citation needed|date=July 2019}}
| | The clinical manifestations of ancylostomiasis can vary depending on the intensity of the infection. Common symptoms include: |
| | | * [[Iron deficiency anemia]] due to blood loss |
| In ''Ancylostoma braziliensis'' as the larvae are in an abnormal host, they do not mature to adults but instead migrate through the skin until killed by the host's inflammatory response. This migration causes local intense itching and a red [[serpiginous]] lesion. Treatment with a single dose of oral [[ivermectin]] results in cure rates of 94–100%.<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Hochedez P, Caumes E|title=Common skin infections in travelers.|journal=J Travel Med |date=July 2008|volume=15|issue=4|pages=252–62 |doi=10.1111/j.1708-8305.2008.00206.x |pmid=18666926|doi-access=free}}</ref>
| | * [[Fatigue]] and weakness |
| | | * [[Abdominal pain]] |
| ==Causes==
| | * [[Diarrhea]] |
| The infection is usually contracted by people walking barefoot over
| | * [[Weight loss]] |
| contaminated soil. In penetrating the skin, the larvae may cause an allergic
| | * [[Itchy rash]] at the site of larval penetration, known as "ground itch" |
| reaction. It is due to the itchy patch at the site of entry that the early
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| infection gets its nickname "ground itch". Once larvae have broken through the skin,
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| they enter the bloodstream and are carried to the lungs (however, unlike ascarids, hookworms do not usually cause pneumonia). The larvae migrate from
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| the lungs up the windpipe to be swallowed and carried back down to the
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| intestine. If humans come into contact with larvae of the dog hookworm or the
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| cat hookworm, or of certain other hookworms that do not infect humans, the
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| larvae may penetrate the skin. Sometimes, the larvae are unable to complete their
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| migratory cycle in humans. Instead, the larvae migrate just below the skin
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| producing snake-like markings. This is referred to as a creeping eruption or
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| cutaneous larva migrans.
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| <ref>{{cite web |
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| url=http://www.comeunity.com/adoption/health/parasites/hookworm-NIH.html |
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| title=Hookworm Disease |work=Adoption Health: Parasistes |publisher=ComeUnity | accessdate=2008-10-30 }}</ref>
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| ==Diagnosis== | | ==Diagnosis== |
| They commonly infect the skin, eyes, and viscera in humans.
| | Diagnosis of ancylostomiasis is typically made through the identification of hookworm eggs in a stool sample. Microscopic examination is used to detect the characteristic eggs, which are oval and have a thin shell. |
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| * [[Ancylostoma brasiliensis]] causes [[cutaneous larva migrans]].
| | ==Treatment== |
| * [[Toxocara]] causes [[visceral larva migrans]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/cgi-bin/omd?larva+migrans | title=Definition: larva migrans | accessdate=2008-10-30 }}</ref>
| | The treatment of choice for ancylostomiasis is the administration of anthelmintic medications such as [[albendazole]] or [[mebendazole]]. These drugs are effective in eradicating the adult worms from the intestine. In addition to anthelmintic therapy, iron supplementation may be necessary to address anemia. |
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| ==Prevention== | | ==Prevention== |
| Control of this parasite should be directed against reducing the level of
| | Preventive measures for ancylostomiasis focus on improving sanitation and reducing soil contamination. Key strategies include: |
| environmental contamination. Treatment of heavily infected individuals is one
| | * Wearing shoes to prevent skin penetration by larvae |
| way to reduce the source of contamination (one study has estimated that 60% of
| | * Proper disposal of human feces |
| the total worm burden resides in less than 10% of the population). Other
| | * Health education to raise awareness about the transmission and prevention of hookworm infections |
| obvious methods are to improve access to [[sanitation]], e.g. [[toilets]], but also
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| convincing people to maintaining them in a clean, functional state, thereby making
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| them conducive to use.
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| ==Treatment==
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| The drug of choice for the treatment of hookworm disease is [[mebendazole]] which
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| is effective against both species, and in addition, will remove the intestinal
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| worm Ascaris also, if present. The drug is very efficient, requiring only a
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| single dose and is inexpensive. However, treatment requires
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| more than giving the anthelmintic, the patient should also receive dietary
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| supplements to improve their general level of health, in particular iron
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| supplementation is very important. Iron is an important constituent of a
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| multitude of enzyme systems involved in energy metabolism, DNA synthesis and
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| drug detoxification.
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| An infection of ''N. americanus'' parasites can be treated by using [[Imidazole|benzimidazoles]], [[albendazole]], and [[mebendazole]]. A blood transfusion may be necessary in severe cases of anemia. Light infections are usually left untreated in areas where reinfection is common. Iron supplements and a diet high in protein will speed the recovery process.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hookworm Disease |date=2009 |website= |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica Online |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/271350/hookworm-disease}}</ref> In a case study involving 56–60 men with ''[[Trichuris trichiura]]'' and/or ''N. americanus'' infections, both albendazole and mebendazole were 90% effective in curing ''T. trichiura''. However, albendazole had a 95% cure rate for ''N. americanus'', while mebendazole only had a 21% cure rate. This suggests albendazole is most effective for treating both ''T. trichiura'' and ''N. americanus''.<ref>{{cite journal |first=B.R. |last=Holzer |last2=Frey |first2=F.J. |title=Differential efficacy of mebendazole and albendazole against ''Necator americanus'' but not for ''Trichuris Trichiura'' infestations |journal=European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology |volume=32 |issue=6 |pages=635–7 |date=February 1987 |doi=10.1007/BF02456002 |pmid=3653234}}</ref>
| | ==Epidemiology== |
| | Ancylostomiasis is a significant public health concern in many developing countries, particularly in areas with poor sanitation. It is estimated that over 500 million people worldwide are infected with hookworms, with the highest prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. |
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| == Epidemiology == | | ==Related pages== |
| [[File:Gotthardtunnel Bauzug.jpg|thumb|An epidemic of "miner's [[anaemia]]" caused by ''Ancylostoma duodenale'' among workers constructing the [[Gotthard Tunnel]] contributed to the understanding of ancylostomiasis.<ref name=Peduzzi/>]] | | * [[Helminthiasis]] |
| | * [[Parasitic disease]] |
| | * [[Soil-transmitted helminthiasis]] |
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| Hookworm anaemia was first described by Wilhelm Griesenger in Egypt, Cairo in 1852. He found thousands of adult ancylostomes in the small bowel of a 20-year old soldier who was suffering from severe diarrhoea and anaemia (labelled at the time as Egyptian chlorosis).<ref>{{cite book |last=Grove |first=David I |date=2014 |title=Tapeworms, lice and prions: a compendium of unpleasant infections |location=Oxford |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=1-602 |isbn=978-0-19-964102-4 }}</ref> The subject was revisited in Europe when there was an outbreak of "miner's anaemia" in Italy.<ref>{{cite book |last=Grove |first=David I |date=1990 |title=A history of human helminthology |location=Wallingford |publisher=CAB International |page=1-848 |isbn=0-85198-689-7 }}</ref> During the construction of the [[Gotthard Tunnel]] in [[Switzerland]] (1871–1881), a large number of [[miner]]s suffered from severe [[anaemia]] of unknown cause.<ref name=Peduzzi/><ref name=Bugnion>{{cite journal |first=E. |last=Bugnion |title=On the epidemic caused by Ankylostomum among the workmen in the St. Gothard Tunnel |journal=[[British Medical Journal]] |volume=1 |issue=1054 |pages=382 |year=1881 |jstor=25256433 |doi=10.1136/bmj.1.1054.382 |pmc=2263460 |pmid=20749811}}</ref><ref name=Peduzzi>{{cite journal |first=R. |last=Peduzzi |first2=J.-C. |last2=Piffaretti |title=Ancylostoma duodenale and the Saint Gothard anaemia |journal=Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) |volume=287 |issue=6409 |pages=1942–5 |year=1983 |doi=10.1136/bmj.287.6409.1942 |jstor=29513508 |pmid=6418279 |pmc=1550193}}</ref> Medical investigations let to the understanding that it was caused by ''[[Ancylostoma duodenale]]'' (favoured by high temperatures and humidity) and to "major advances in [[parasitology]], by way of research into the aetiology, epidemiology and treatment of ancylostomiasis".<ref name=Peduzzi/>
| | [[Category:Parasitic diseases]] |
| | | [[Category:Tropical diseases]] |
| Hookworms still account for high proportion of debilitating disease in the tropics and 50-60,000 deaths per year can be attributed to this disease.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.earthtym.net/ref-hookworms.htm | title=Hookworms: Ancylostoma spp. and Necator spp. | accessdate=2008-10-30| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20081027170740/http://www.earthtym.net/ref-hookworms.htm| archivedate= 27 October 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>
| | [[Category:Neglected tropical diseases]] |
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| == References ==
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| {{Reflist}}
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| == External links ==
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| {{Medical resources
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| | DiseasesDB =
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| | ICD10 = {{ICD10|B|76|0|b|65}}
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| | ICD9 = {{ICD9|126.9}}
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| | ICDO =
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| | OMIM =
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| | MedlinePlus =
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| | eMedicineSubj = ped
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| | eMedicineTopic = 96
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| | MeshID = D000724
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| }}
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| {{Helminthiases}}
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| {{Portal bar|Medicine}}
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| [[Category:Parasitic infestations, stings, and bites of the skin]] | |
| [[Category:Helminthiases]] | |
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Ancylostomiasis is a parasitic infection caused by hookworms, primarily affecting the small intestine. The most common species responsible for this condition are Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus. These parasites are prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, where they thrive in warm, moist environments.
Pathophysiology
Hookworms are transmitted through contact with contaminated soil. The larvae penetrate the skin, usually through the feet, and migrate through the bloodstream to the lungs. From the lungs, they ascend the trachea and are swallowed, eventually reaching the small intestine where they mature into adult worms. The adult worms attach to the intestinal wall, feeding on blood and causing significant blood loss.
Symptoms
The clinical manifestations of ancylostomiasis can vary depending on the intensity of the infection. Common symptoms include:
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of ancylostomiasis is typically made through the identification of hookworm eggs in a stool sample. Microscopic examination is used to detect the characteristic eggs, which are oval and have a thin shell.
Treatment
The treatment of choice for ancylostomiasis is the administration of anthelmintic medications such as albendazole or mebendazole. These drugs are effective in eradicating the adult worms from the intestine. In addition to anthelmintic therapy, iron supplementation may be necessary to address anemia.
Prevention
Preventive measures for ancylostomiasis focus on improving sanitation and reducing soil contamination. Key strategies include:
- Wearing shoes to prevent skin penetration by larvae
- Proper disposal of human feces
- Health education to raise awareness about the transmission and prevention of hookworm infections
Epidemiology
Ancylostomiasis is a significant public health concern in many developing countries, particularly in areas with poor sanitation. It is estimated that over 500 million people worldwide are infected with hookworms, with the highest prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
Related pages
