A Case of Severe Anemia by Necator americanus Infection in Korea

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.Lee MK, 2010, J KOREAN MED SCI, V25, P1272, DOI 10.3346/jkms.2010.25.9.1272Reddy SC, 2008, GASTROINTEST ENDOSC, V67, P990, DOI 10.1016/j.gie.2007.10.001HONG ST, 2006, KOREAN J PARASITOL, V44, P177HOTEZ PJ, 2005, PLOS MED, V2, P67Brooker S, 2004, ADV PARASIT, V58, P197, DOI 10.1016/S0065-308X(04)58004-1*KOR ASS HLTH PROM, 2004, 7 KOR ASS HLTH PROMYONG TS, 1992, KOREAN J PARASITOL, V30, P59HONG ST, 1986, KOREAN J PARASITOL, V24, P213JOO KH, 1978, KOREAN J PARASITOL, V16, P103RIM HJ, 1975, KOREAN J PARASITOLOG, V13, P97