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Case Reports
. 2025 May 21:12:1541099.
doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1541099. eCollection 2025.

Case Report: Endoscopic examination improves the diagnosis of inconspicuous helminth infections in adults in Shanghai

Yang Si #  1 , Hongjiao Cai #  2 , Brett D Hambly  3   4 , Yuli Wang  1 , Yanfang Zhang  1 , Shisan Bob Bao  3   4
Affiliations
Case Reports

Case Report: Endoscopic examination improves the diagnosis of inconspicuous helminth infections in adults in Shanghai

Yang Si et al. Front Med (Lausanne). .

Abstract

With advancements in medical care and improved public health in China, the incidence of hookworm infections has significantly decreased, particularly in first-tier cities. We report a case of severe microcytic hypochromic anaemia caused by hookworm disease. The patient received multiple blood transfusions for unexplained anaemia, with negative faecal smear results. GI endoscopic examination revealed hookworms in the pyloric ring, antrum, and duodenum, which were removed using biopsy forceps. Morphological analysis identified the worms as Ancylostoma duodenale. The patient was treated with a single dose of 400 mg albendazole and hematinics. Follow-up haemoglobin testing 3 months later showed an improvement to 126 g/L (115-150 g/L). This case highlights the importance of GI endoscopy diagnostics in identifying a typical presentations of hookworm disease, particularly in first-tier cities. Timely and accurate diagnosis of hookworm infections is essential for preventing long-term health consequences and reducing associated healthcare costs.

Keywords: adult; endoscopic; hookworm; inconspicuous; metropolitan.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Endoscopic detection of hookworm in the pyloric ring from the patient.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Typical hookworm infection was confirmed through microscopic examination of the worm captured via endoscopy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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