Hookworm infection

[rjeff90]

Has anybody experienced contracting Hookworm infection whilst living/holidaying in Thailand? Was wondering if anyone could share their experience and treatment plan

[d4dang]

go to a drug store/pharmacy/ hospital and get deworming medicine. It will eliminate hookworms in about 3 or four days. My neighbour's kids got them in the rainy season by being barefoot in the yard/concrete where their dogs sometimes crapped. The kids were fine and the yard was kept clean after that.

[internationalism]

mebendazole and albendazole.

try the first, less potent, but no side effects.

also ivermectin, but that one is expensive.

albendazole and ivermectin act synergistically 

 

[FritsSikkink]

See a doctor

[Lorry]

Never heard of it.

It's a disease of the locals (see above: walking barefoot in dog <deleted> is not what tourists usually do)

How would you know you have hookworm, anyway?

If you have any symptoms you would see a doctor for a stool exam,  and he would treat you (more or less the way outlined by the other posters).

 

[proton]

Filthy dog problem again ????

[internationalism]

When they enter through skin they can be seen under skin as pink channels under skin. So no need for poo test, which at this stage, and for many weeks, won't show anything. 
Dog's poo, or any other infected animal's, can be on the beach. People not only walk barefoot, but seat and lay down directly on sand. 
 

have to be treated asap.
Even as prevention after holiday in tropics. There are many parasites, including those in food, fruits, salads, sushi, uncooked seafod. They are asymptomatic or symptoms can be after months and years, and more difficult to get rid off

[connda]

Go to the drug store and buy Albens (albendazole).  One dose 400mg dose is around 30 THB (less then a buck USD).   If you live in the tropics, internal worms are a fact of life.  Taking once or twice a year as a propalaxis for internal worms is simply a caution. 
Don't wait to go back to you home country.  Treat yourself here.  A single dose of albendazole in the US can cost you between $200 to $800. 

https://www.drugs.com/dosage/albendazole.html

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32668456/

[connda]

2 hours ago, proton said:

Filthy dog problem again ????

Or a filthy human problem.

[KhunLA]

8 hours ago, Lorry said:

Never heard of it.

It's a disease of the locals (see above: walking barefoot in dog <deleted> is not what tourists usually do)

How would you know you have hookworm, anyway?

If you have any symptoms you would see a doctor for a stool exam,  and he would treat you (more or less the way outlined by the other posters).

 

Definitely a tourist issue ... Thailand - beaches - barefoot

 

My daughter's Uni class had a project thingy at Pranburi beach, almost all 12 classmates of hers got infected, except her, as always taught to wear water shoes at the beach.  One student had them on his face as the took a nap at the beach.

 

The Uni did a small case study out of it, since they had so many infected.  I won't walk my dog on some parts of the local surf, partly for that reason.

[proton]

24 minutes ago, connda said:

Or a filthy human problem.

No it's definitely from filthy dogs crapping all over the place, the human problem is having dogs in the first place. 

[Doctor Tom]

7 minutes ago, proton said:

No it's definitely from filthy dogs crapping all over the place, the human problem is having dogs in the first place. 

My dogs don't '<deleted> all over the place' and are treated for worms on a regular basis, nor do they roam all over, outside and out of control.  Not all dog owners are irresponsible. 

[Orinoco]

9 minutes ago, Doctor Tom said:

My dogs don't '<deleted> all over the place' and are treated for worms on a regular basis, nor do they roam all over, outside and out of control.  Not all dog owners are irresponsible. 

Had no idea you were a one percenter of Thailand. well done. 

 

 

Edited October 23, 2022 by Orinoco

[Mickeymaus]

What is often used here is shown in the picture. It costs next to nothing (about 30 Baht). Important is to chew it - this is why it has a flavour. You also should repeat it after 3 weeks to destroy new worms that hatched from eggs. 

 

If this doesn't help try Albendazole. It is more powerful but then of course not so good for your health. 

 

[rjeff90]

Thanks for all the replies, just wondered if you could follow up/add any other details about which part of Thailand and the setting where the example occurred. It's just I'm compiling research as a case study. Thanks in advance 

[Doctor Tom]

2 hours ago, Orinoco said:

Had no idea you were a one percenter of Thailand. well done. 

 

 

well thank you for the complement.  Actually, there are many thousands of responsible dog owners, both Thai and Farang in this country., i meet them often, not thousands of them, obviously, but a good many. 

[Lorry]

4 hours ago, internationalism said:

prevention after holiday in tropics

This is not good medical practice. 

 

2 hours ago, connda said:

Taking once or twice a year as a propalaxis for internal worms is simply a caution

This is not good medical practice.

 

23 minutes ago, rjeff90 said:

which part of Thailand and the setting where the example occurred

See, the posters talk a lot about cure and prevention.

But except KhunLA nobody quoted actual cases.  His daughter's  class hardly counts as tourists,  they are locals.

This is a problem of the locals. Let's  know how many infected tourists you find in your study, very interesting. 

 

[vandeventer]

I take Neem leaf for any worms, it's the natural way to go with little or no side effects.

[jak2002003]

1 hour ago, vandeventer said:

I take Neem leaf for any worms, it's the natural way to go with little or no side effects.

So do you get worms often?

 

 

[rjeff90]

21 hours ago, d4dang said:

go to a drug store/pharmacy/ hospital and get deworming medicine. It will eliminate hookworms in about 3 or four days. My neighbour's kids got them in the rainy season by being barefoot in the yard/concrete where their dogs sometimes crapped. The kids were fine and the yard was kept clean after that.

Thanks for the info, which part of Thailand was this? 

[d4dang]

57 minutes ago, rjeff90 said:

Thanks for the info, which part of Thailand was this? 

BKK Sukhumvit Soi 33. 

[vandeventer]

10 hours ago, jak2002003 said:

So do you get worms often?

 

 

If you read a little about Neem you will see that it has many uses.

https://food.ndtv.com/health/benefits-and-uses-of-neem-a-herb-that-heals-1231051

[jak2002003]

3 hours ago, vandeventer said:

If you read a little about Neem you will see that it has many uses.

https://food.ndtv.com/health/benefits-and-uses-of-neem-a-herb-that-heals-1231051

I know about Neem.  But you said you use it to get rid of worms.  So do you get worms often and where from ...if you have to keep using neem leaf?