Risk Factors for Iron Deficiency Anemia in Hookworm Infection

 

Risk factors for iron deficiency:

(1) number of worms present (worm burden)

(2) nutritional iron intake

(3) other causes of iron loss (GI bleeding, menstruation, pregnancy, other)

(4) type of hookworm

 

Volume of blood consumed by different species:

(1) Ancylostoma duodenale: 0.15-0.20 mL per adult worm per day (55-73 mL per adult per year)

(2) Necator americanus: 0.03 mL per adult worm per day (11 mL per adult per year)

 

The iron deficiency may mask folate or vitamin B12 deficiency. These may become evident if the iron deficiency is corrected.