Ancylostomiasis Is an important public health problem in the world

1. Ancylostomiasis
Dr Paul T Francis, MD
Community Medicine
College of Medicine, Zawia

2. Mouth of an
Hookworm
Hooks in
the mouth

3. Mouth of a
Hookworm

4. Ancylostomiasis
 Is an important public health problem in the
world
 It is a very rare disease in Libya

5. Epidemiological features
 Reservoir – Man
 Infective material – feces containing ova
 Source of infection – soil containing larvae
 Occupation – common in farmers

7. Hookworms
in the
intestine

8. Mouth of a Hookworm

9. Epidemiological factors
 Mode of transmission – larvae enter the body
by penetrating the skin
 Human habits – open air defecation, walking
bare feet (without shoes/sandal), using
untreated sewage for irrigation leads to
spread of disease

10. Hookworm
larvae
under the
skin

11. Public health importance
 Hookworm lives in the intestine of humans
and drink blood
 It leads to Iron deficiency anemia
 Iron deficiency anemia leads to poor health,
inability to work, increased risk to infection,
low birth weight etc.

12. Prevention and control
 Primary prevention
 Sanitary disposal of excreta
 Health education
 Proper treatment of sewage before using for
irrigation
 Secondary prevention
 Early diagnosis and treatment