Ancylostomiasis (Hookworm disease)

ICD-10 B76
3.9.1 Identification

Hookworm disease (Ancylostomiasis, Uncinariasis, Necatoriasis)

Case classification
• Suspect case: A common chronic parasitic infection with a variety of symptoms, usually in proportion to the degree of anemia.
• Probable case: heavy infections, leads to iron deficiency and hypochromic, microcytic anemia, the major cause of disability. Children with heavy long-term infection may have hypoproteinemia and may be retarded in mental and physical development. Occasionally, severe acute pulmonary and GI reactions follow exposure to infective larvae.
• Confirmed case: finding hookworm eggs in feces; early stool examinations may be negative until worms mature. Species differentiation requires microscopic examination of larvae cultured from the feces, or examination of adult worms expelled by purgation following a vermifuge. PCR-RFLP techniques allow species differentiation.

3.9.2 Infectious agent

Ancylostoma duodenale, A. ceylanicum, A. braziliense, A. caninum and Necator americanus.