Endoscopic diagnosis of hookworm disease of the duodenum: A case report

Keng Liang Wu, Seng Kee Chuah*, Chia Chang Hsu, King Wah Chiu, Yi Chun Chiu, Chi Sin Changchien

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Hookworm is one of the most common parasites in the world and usually high suspected from eosinophilia on blood examination or diagnosed from characteristic egg shape appearance on microscopic examination of faeces. A 78-year-old man complained of epigastric pain and intermittent black stool passage for 4 months. Laboratory data showed iron-deficiency anemia with microcytic hypochromic erythrocytes. Stool routine examination showed positive occult blood but there was no parasitic egg detected microscopically. Under the impression of peptic ulcer disease with chronic blood loss, upper endoscopy was performed. Many worms were found in the second portion of the duodenum incidentally by endoscopy. Necator americanus was diagnosed and eradicated successfully by mebendazole. It is always crucial to observe the distal duodenum carefully in upper endoscopy although parasite infestation is not suspected clinically, especially when a normal study for esophagus, stomach, and duodenal bulb.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)27-30
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Internal Medicine of Taiwan
Volume13
Issue number1
StatePublished - 2002
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Endoscopy
  • Hookworm
  • Iron-deficiency anemia
  • Necator americanus

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