Patients with a light infestation tend to be asymptomatic. The higher the worm burden the more likely that the patient will be symptomatic.
Clinical findings in hookworm:
(1) iron deficiency anemia
(2) hypoproteinemia progressing to protein malnutrition
(3) "ground itch" (pruritic and burning vesicular dermatitis) at site of skin penetration
(4) cutaneous larva migrans
(5) epigastric pain and dyspepsia
(6) diarrhea
(7) bloody stools
(8) pica (geophagy)
(9) pneumonitis
(10) dyspnea and breathlessness
(11) wheezing and nonproductive cough
(12) lassitude and mental apathy
(13) cognitive impairment
(14) tinnitus and vertigo
(15) palpitations
(16) heart failure
(17) braydcardia and hypothermia
(19) eosinophilia
A malabsorption syndrome is unusual and suggests another diagnosis.
The diagnosis is usually made by demonstrating hookworm eggs in the stool.
