J Korean Med Sci.  2010 Dec;25(12):1802-1804. 10.3346/jkms.2010.25.12.1802.

A Case of Severe Anemia by Necator americanus Infection in Korea

• Hyun HJ
• Kim EM
• Park SY
• Jung JO
• Chai JY
• Hong ST

• KMID: 1792907
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2010.25.12.1802

Abstract

This report describes clinical and parasitological findings of an 82-yr-old female patient who lived in a local rural village and suffered from severe chronic anemia for several years. She was transferred to the National Police Hospital in Seoul for management of severe dyspnea and dizziness. At admission, she showed symptoms or signs of severe anemia. Gastroduodenoscopy observed hyperemic mucosa of the duodenum and discovered numerous moving roundworms on the mucosa. Endoscopy isolated seven of them, which were identified as Necator americanus by characteristic morphology of cutting plates in the buccal cavity. The patient was treated with albendazole and supportive measures for anemia, and her physical condition much improved. This case suggests the possibility that hookworm N. americanus is still transmitted in a remote local mountainous area in Korea.

Keyword

Necator americanus; Anemia, Hypochromic

MeSH Terms

Aged, 80 and over
Albendazole/therapeutic use
Anemia/*diagnosis/parasitology
Animals
Anthelmintics/therapeutic use
Duodenoscopy
Female
Gastroscopy
Humans
*Necator americanus/isolation & purification
Necatoriasis/*diagnosis/drug therapy
Republic of Korea

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Gastroduodenoscopy findings of the duodenum and hookworms. (A-C) Hyperemic mucosa and numerous movable blood tinged roundworms were found in the duodenum.

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  Fig. 2 Gross view of a N. americanus recovered by gastroduodenoscopy.

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  Fig. 3 Scanning Electronic Microscopy photographs of N. americanus. (A, B) Head part of a worm, showing the buccal cavity with one pair of cutting plates. (C) Tail part of a female worm.

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