Persistent itching due to hookworms in dogs and cats

The patient said that her family has two dogs, which are often let loose in the garden. She often goes out to the garden to weed but does not wear shoes or sandals.

PHOTO: THUY ANH

At the hospital, doctors diagnosed the patient with hookworm larvae migrating under the skin. The parasite is usually transmitted from cat and dog feces and can penetrate the skin when people come into direct contact with contaminated soil. The disease often appears in people who have the habit of walking barefoot on sandy soil, especially in places where cats and dogs defecate, or where animal feces contain worm larvae.

When entering the human body (larvae penetrate the skin surface in the hands and feet), although they cannot enter the blood (because the larvae do not have enzymes that decompose the blood vessels of humans), they still move in the subcutaneous and mucous membrane tissues, "traveling" throughout the body. At the place where the larvae penetrate, there are red, itchy papules, which later form blisters, then develop into one or more zigzag, raised lines, which are signs of the larvae's migration. Due to itching and scratching, people infected with larvae can become infected and pus-filled. The disease can last a long time if not detected and treated properly.

To prevent cutaneous larva migrans, experts from Dang Van Ngu Hospital recommend that people, especially in suburban and rural areas where the habit of raising free-range dogs and cats is still common, maintain personal hygiene, keep the environment clean, and protect the environment from fecal contamination; do not use fresh feces to fertilize fields and gardens; always wear shoes, boots or protective gear when in contact with soil and sand. For pets, it is necessary to periodically deworm dogs and cats, keep the caged area clean; do not let dogs and cats defecate indiscriminately, especially in living and gardening areas.

When there are signs of prolonged itching and red, zigzag streaks, you should go to a medical facility with a parasitology specialist for an accurate diagnosis.