Hookworm infestation diagnosed by capsule endoscopy (with video) - 16/08/11
Doi : 10.1016/j.gie.2006.01.039
Tan-Hsia Chen, MD, Tzy-Yen Chen, MD
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
Chen-Kun Lin, MD, Chun-Che Lin, MD, PhD
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| Commentary It is estimated that 1 billion people are infected with hookworm, mostly Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale. After the third-stage larvae penetrate the skin and migrate to the lungs, they eventually penetrate alveoli and are swallowed, passing into the small bowel, where they mature. Mature worms mate and lay eggs: N americanus  10,000 per day and A duodenale 20,000 per day for more than 10 years! Hookworms graze on the mucosa, feeding on host blood. Blood consumption is estimated at up to 0.04 mL per day for N americanus and up to 0.3 mL per day for A duodenale; some hookworm species (Ancyclostoma caninum) also may cause eosinophilic enteritis and aphthae. In this case, the cause of the melena is unclear, especially because it wasn’t noted on the capsule endoscopy. I will look with interest for future evaluations of the small bowel in hookworm infection.Lawrence J. Brandt, MD Associate Editor for Focal Points |
© 2006
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Pubblicato da Elsevier Masson SAS. Tutti i diritti riservati.
Vol 64 - N° 2
P. 277-278 - agosto 2006 Ritorno al numero
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