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Hookworm Disease - Symptoms & Treatment
Hookworm Disease is an illness caused by one of two types of S-shaped worms that infect the intestine of humans. After about 48 hours, the immature larval form hatches out of the eggs. These larvae take about six weeks to develop into the mature larval form that is capable of causing human infection. The larvae are then pumped into the lungs. Their presence within the lungs usually causes enough irritation to produce coughing. The larvae are coughed up into the throat and mouth, and are then swallowed and passed into the small intestine. It is within the intestine that they develop into the adult worm, producing illness in their human host. Hookworms cause trouble for their human host when the worms attach their mouths to the lining of the small intestine and suck the person's blood. Patient may have a fever, cough, and some wheezing. Some people, however, have none of these symptoms. Two types of hookworm are responsible for hookworm disease in humans. Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale have similar life cycles and similar methods of causing illness. These eggs are passed out of the host's body in feces.
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