In two years, hookworms drained 22 litres of blood from a 14-year-old body
In a shocking incident, doctors at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH) found out that hookworms have been hiding inside in small intestine of a 14-year-old boy. What was even more shocking was that the hookworms sucked 22 litres of blood over the two years.
The boy who hails from Haldwani in Uttarakhand was suffering from major weight loss and stunted growth. He was later sent to Delhi for the treatment as the doctors were clueless about his blood loss.
The doctors later performed capsule endoscopy, during which they found hookworms buried in the mucosa of the small bowel, actively sucking blood.
It is learnt that Hookworm manifestation if not diagnosed timely can not only lead to their multiplication but also significant blood loss and complications.
What
is
hookworm
infestation?
Hookworms
are
parasites.
This
means
they
live
off
other
living
things.
Hookworms
affect
your
lungs
and
small
intestine.
Humans
contract
hookworms
through
roundworm
eggs
and
larvae
found
in
dirt
contaminated
by
faeces.
How
do
you
know
if
you
have
hookworms?
According
to
the
experts,
the
hookworm
infestation
is
found
commonly
in
the
Asian
population.
These
worms
mostly
enter
the
individual's
body
through
contaminated
drinking
water,
unhygienic
food,
dirty
hands
and
walking
barefoot
on
the
soil.
Symptoms:
There
are
no
specific
symptoms
or
signs
of
hookworm
infection,
but
they
give
rise
to
a
combination
of
intestinal
inflammation
and
progressive
iron-deficiency
anaemia
and
protein
deficiency.
OneIndia News