Hepatitis C Screening and Gender Disparities in Positivity Rates in Argentina: A Multicenter Study.
Authors: Barbero M, Roca I, Navarro L, Domínguez N, Galdame O, Puente MDC, González L, Guillén L, Gustincic MV, Cairo F
Journal: Acta gastroenterologica Latinoamericana
mental health
psychology
open access
Abstract
Hookworms are intestinal parasites that pose a major public health problem, particularly in developing countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately half a billion individuals are infected with hookworms globally, mainly in tropical and subtropical regions, including Southeast Asia, Papua New Guinea, most of Africa, and Central and South America
. Hookworm infection has also been one of the most common soil-transmitted helminthiases in China. Most infected individuals are asymptomatic, although a minority develop anemia and malnutrition
. In rare cases, hookworm infection may lead to Löffler syndrome, which is characterized by severe cough, wheezing, eosinophilia, hemoptysis, and other signals and symptoms
. The diagnosis of hookworm infection is straightforward and can be performed using basic laboratory facilities, even in low-income countries. Traditionally, diagnosis relies on microscopic examination of stool samples for hookworm eggs. However, because egg excretion may be intermittent, this method has limited sensitivity and is highly dependent on the expertise of the microscopist. Nevertheless, stool microscopy remains a highly valuable diagnostic tool for suspected parasitic infections because it is widely available, cost-effective, and capable of detecting a range of intestinal parasites. Studies have demonstrated that, in high-prevalence areas, microscopic examination can effectively identify multiple intestinal parasites and, in some cases, detect infections that may be missed by certain molecular diagnostic methods. A study conducted in South Korea, for example, found that routine stool parasitology tests detected a significant number of occult worm infections, underscoring the importance of microscopic examination in health screenings. Therefore, stool microscopy should remain a first-line diagnostic approach in patients with suspected parasitic infections. Here, we report the case of a 45-year-old woman presenting with chest pain and eosinophilia caused by hookworm infection. Additionally, we briefly review the literature on hookworm infection to discuss the key clinical findings, diagnosis, and treatment strategies. Ethical approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (process No. 2021-L-20).
. Hookworm infection has also been one of the most common soil-transmitted helminthiases in China. Most infected individuals are asymptomatic, although a minority develop anemia and malnutrition
. In rare cases, hookworm infection may lead to Löffler syndrome, which is characterized by severe cough, wheezing, eosinophilia, hemoptysis, and other signals and symptoms
. The diagnosis of hookworm infection is straightforward and can be performed using basic laboratory facilities, even in low-income countries. Traditionally, diagnosis relies on microscopic examination of stool samples for hookworm eggs. However, because egg excretion may be intermittent, this method has limited sensitivity and is highly dependent on the expertise of the microscopist. Nevertheless, stool microscopy remains a highly valuable diagnostic tool for suspected parasitic infections because it is widely available, cost-effective, and capable of detecting a range of intestinal parasites. Studies have demonstrated that, in high-prevalence areas, microscopic examination can effectively identify multiple intestinal parasites and, in some cases, detect infections that may be missed by certain molecular diagnostic methods. A study conducted in South Korea, for example, found that routine stool parasitology tests detected a significant number of occult worm infections, underscoring the importance of microscopic examination in health screenings. Therefore, stool microscopy should remain a first-line diagnostic approach in patients with suspected parasitic infections. Here, we report the case of a 45-year-old woman presenting with chest pain and eosinophilia caused by hookworm infection. Additionally, we briefly review the literature on hookworm infection to discuss the key clinical findings, diagnosis, and treatment strategies. Ethical approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (process No. 2021-L-20).