Hookworm is a type of intestinal infection caused by two different parasites--Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale--that are present in soil. Infection with this pathogen affects over 1.3 billion people throughout the world, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This infection develops most frequently in children who commonly handle or walk barefoot in contaminated soil. Talk with your pediatrician if your child develops any hookworm symptoms.
Anemia
Hookworm infection is the most common cause of iron-deficiency anemia worldwide, explain health officials at the World Health Organization (WHO). Initially, your child may exhibit no symptoms of hookworm infection. As the infection progresses, you can begin to notice that he appears abnormally pale or fatigued or has difficulty concentrating at school or home. Left untreated, anemia can lead to behavioral or learning problems in your child, reports the National Anemia Action Council.
Stomach Upset
Your child can experience severe stomach upset if she has been infected by hookworms. These intestinal parasites can irritate the delicate tissues that line your child's digestive tract, leading to persistent abdominal discomfort, nausea or vomiting. You child may also need to go to the bathroom frequently as a consequence of diarrhea symptoms caused by hookworm exposure, report medical professionals at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. A severe hookworm infection can lead to minor intestinal damage, which can cause small amounts of blood to appear in your child's stools. In combination, these stomach upset symptoms can contribute to a significant decrease in your child's appetite and can cause her to unintentionally lose weight.
Fever
When your child's body is infected by this pathogen, his immune system will attempt to fight off the infection by raising his body temperature. A fever helps slow the growth and spread of pathogens throughout the body and may occur in conjunction with sweating, fatigue or weakness.
Skin Discoloration or Rash
Hookworms enter your child's body either through the digestive tract or by burrowing beneath the skin. When a hookworm penetrates the skin, it can cause irritation and inflammation at the site of entry. As a result, your child can develop skin discoloration or a rash as a symptom of hookworm infection. The skin rash can appear red or irritated and can begin to itch, explain University of Maryland Medical Center doctors.
Cough
If your child's respiratory tract is exposed to hookworms, you can notice that he begins to develop a persistent cough. Your child's lungs can become significantly irritated or inflamed due to the presence of this pathogen within his sensitive lung tissue. As a result, doctors at the University of Maryland explain that you may observe that your child coughs up mucus or sputum that contains small amounts of blood.
Growth and Developmental Delays
Health officials at the CDC report that extensive hookworm infection can lead to significant growth and developmental delays in affected children. If this occurs, your child may be shorter or weigh less than healthy children in her age group. Developmental delays can lead to learning difficulties or poor performance in school, warns the WHO. To prevent the occurrence of these hookworm symptoms in children, it proves vital for your child to receive treatment as soon as possible after becoming exposed to this pathogen.
