Write An Essay On Hookworm Disease

Hookworms are small and short worms. They live in the small intestines of man. They are called hookworms because each of them has hooks on its head around the mouth. The worm attaches itself to the inside wall of the intestine by these hooks. Hookworms feed on blood. They suck this from the wall of the intestine to which they are attached. There are often several hookworms at the same time in the child's tummy. All of them feed on the blood of the child. Therefore, one of the major effects of hookworm disease is shortage of blood (anaemia). This can be very serious and make the child weak and ill for a long time. If the anaemia is not treated properly, it can kill the child.

How does hookworm get into the body?
There are male and female hookworms. The female lays its eggs in the intestine and these pass out in the stools. The eggs hatch in the soil and mud, into young worms (larvae- singular - larva) .It is the larvae which infest the child (person). Each larva is capable of penetrating the skin of a person. Therefore, if a child (person) walks barefooted in an area where there are such larvae, they will penetrate the person's feet and ankles. The point at which the larva enters the skin becomes sore. From the skin, the larvae go to the bloodstream to the heart …show more content…
The adult worm causes anaemia leading to weakness and general ill-health. They can cause diarrhoea, poor health and even death. The larvae passing through the lungs can cause pneumonia with cough. In some cases, however, the hookworm gives no problem to the child; it is only discovered by examination of the stool.
Diagnosis:
Identification is by examination of the stool under the microscope.
Treatment: Anaemia will require to be treated. This should be done first before any medicine is given to remove the worms. There are particular anti-hookworm medicines for