Hookworm - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

The most significant risk of hookworm infection is anemia , secondary to loss of iron (and protein ) in the gut. Heavy infection with hookworm can create serious health problems for newborns, children, pregnant women, and persons who are malnourished. If not treated, Hookworm infection can lead to abdominal pain and iron-deficiency. Hookworm infection has several special features which are of interest to us as the caretakers of dogs:

The infection is most common in warm, moist places where sanitation is poor. It sounds strange and is repellant it is founded on sound science and it has one other virtue. Hookworm is a roundworm infestation affecting the small intestine and lungs. Hookworms can be transmitted to unborn pups. Here they mature into adult worms, mate and feed on the blood of the host. Adult hookworms may live up to ten years.

Symptoms of Hookworm

Some common Symptoms of Hookworm :

• Abdominal discomfort.
• Fever.
• Nausea.
• Blood in the stool .
• Pallor.
• Vomiting.
• Itchy rash.
• Cough.
• Loss of appetite.
• Diarrhea.
• Fatigue.
• Eggs in the stool .

Treatment of Hookworm

Find effective treatment methods of treating Hookworm

• For children under the age of 2, the decision to treat should be made by their health care provider.
• To prevent hookworm, do not walk barefoot or contact the soil with bare hands in areas where hookworm is common or there are likely to be feces in the soil or sand.
• Symptoms and complications of anemia are treated as they arise. There is often a recommendation made to increase the amount of protein in the diet to improve nutrition.
• The usual treatment for hookworm infection includes administering an anthelmintic, such as mebendazole, albendazole, levamisole, and pyrantel.