Alternative Names & Classifications:
Ancylostomiasis (CLINICAL), Hookworm Infection (CLINICAL)
Description
Ancylostomiasis is acquired when hookworm larvae present in contaminated, moist soil actively penetrate bare human skin, eventually migrating through the cardiopulmonary system to the small intestine. The adult worms utilize specialized cutting teeth to latch onto the intestinal villi, feeding directly on host blood and tissue fluids. This continuous blood loss frequently leads to significant iron-deficiency anemia and systemic protein loss, heavily impacting populations in tropical climates.