A Case of Hookworm Infection in a Child Causing Severe Anemia Diagnosed by Endoscopy: A Neglected Tropical Disease
Romya Singh *
Department of Microbiology, SGPGIMS, Rae Barely Road, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Nidhi Tejan
Department of Microbiology, SGPGIMS, Rae Barely Road, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Sabba Mussadiq
Department of Microbiology, SGPGIMS, Rae Barely Road, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Awadhesh Kumar
Department of Microbiology, SGPGIMS, Rae Barely Road, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Shikha Singh
Department of Paediatrics, SGPGIMS Rae Barely Road, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Hookworm (Necator americanus, Ancylostoma duodenale) infection are common in tropical and subtropical countries. These are still an neglected tropical disease in rural areas,leading to severe iron deficiency anemia and even mortality. Here we present a case from a tertiary care center in northern India of a 3 year old child with progressive complaint of pallor and generalised body swelling. On upper gastrointestinal gastroscopy hookworms were visualised and recovered. Patients stool sample was sent to lab in which egg of hookworm was also seen on microscopy. The child was treated with albendazole and anemia was also cured
Keywords: Hookworm, child, endoscopy, severe anaemia, infection