How is hookworm spread? Hookworm eggs are passed in the feces of an infected person. If an infected person defecates outside (near bushes, in a garden, or field) or if the feces from an infected person are used as fertilizer, eggs are deposited on soil. They can then mature and hatch, releasing larvae (immature worms).
How do hookworms move?
They move through your blood vessels to your heart and then your lungs. You cough up the larvae from your lungs and swallow them. The larvae follow the digestive tract into the small intestine, where they attach to the walls, grow and mature.
How do hookworms get into the body where are they found outside of the body?
If an infected person poops outside or their poop is spread outside later, those hookworm eggs end up in the soil. 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.
Can hookworms live in your carpet?
However, they are resistant to several conditions and can live in the carpet for several months even up to 3 years. In moist conditions like soil, they can survive even longer. If adult roundworms got onto your carpet, they would not survive.
Can hookworms live in my house?
Unless animals or people have defecated in your home, it is not necessary to disinfect your home from hookworms. Hookworms aren't directly contagious because the eggs must mature into larvae before another person can contract the infection. If disinfection is necessary, use diluted bleach to clean surfaces.
