Ancylostomiasis natural history, complications and prognosis

Natural History

The symptoms of ancylostomiasis typically develop by direct contact of the skin with contaminated soil and the fecal-oral route.

Complication

The majority of the infected patients remain asymptomatic. The most common complications include:

• Iron deficiency anemia due to chronic blood loss

Children with moderate and heavy intensity hookworm infections include:

• impaired growth
• deficits in intellectual and cognitive development.

Women especially pregnant infected with hookworms include:

• severe anemia
• increased maternal morbidity and mortality
• premature birth
• neonatal anemia