Hookworm infection is mainly acquired by walking barefoot on contaminated soil. One kind of hookworm can also be transmitted through the ingestion of larvae.
Can you get hookworms through your feet?
When the eggs hatch, they release young hookworms, or larvae. If you walk barefoot over this soil, the young worms can enter your body through the skin on your feet and cause an infection. This is the most common way that people get hookworms.
Can parasites enter through feet?
Yes, a parasite that enters people through bare feet, called Strongyloides, is in the U.S. Most people infected with the parasite don't experience any symptoms, but infection can be deadly for others, primarily people with suppressed immune systems.
Can you get hookworms through your skin?
Most animal hookworm infections result in a skin condition called cutaneous larva migrans. People are infected when animal hookworm larvae penetrate the skin, causing a local reaction that is red and itchy.
How is hookworm transmitted?
Hookworm infection is transmitted primarily by walking barefoot on contaminated soil. One kind of hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale)can also be transmitted through the ingestion of larvae.
More useful articles on a similar topic 👇
Do hookworms move in poop?How long do hookworms live without a host?
