Most people infected with hookworms have no symptoms. Some have gastrointestinal symptoms, especially persons who are infected for the first time. The most serious effects of hookworm infection are blood loss leading to anemia, in addition to protein loss.
How does a person know if they have hookworm?
Itching and a localized rash are often the first signs of infection. These symptoms occur when the larvae penetrate the skin. A person with a light infection may have no symptoms. A person with a heavy infection may experience abdominal pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue and anemia.
Can you feel hookworms in your body?
At first, you might have an itchy rash where the hookworms entered your skin. If the infection is mild, you may not have any other symptoms. But when it's more severe, it can cause: Belly pain.
Can you have hookworms for years?
Will hookworms in humans go away on their own? It could take many years for hookworms to go away on their own. In that time, they can cause serious health problems like anemia and malnutrition.
How long does it take for hookworms to show up in humans?
After 5 to 10 days of development, larvae are able to cause infection and can penetrate the skin. A person can become infected by walking barefoot or sitting in contaminated soil. Larvae of Ancylostoma duodenale can also cause infection when people consume food that contains the larvae.
