hookworm

Thân thiện

A doctor uses a microscope to examine a slide for hookworm eggs.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A parasitic nematode worm: A type of small, slender roundworm with hook-like mouthparts used to attach to the intestinal lining of a host.
   • The disease caused by this worm: An infection, often of the intestines, resulting from infestation by these parasites.

Usage and Examples

• Noun (Parasite):
  • The doctor identified the cause of the anemia as a hookworm.
  • Hookworms are a major concern in areas with poor sanitation.
• Noun (Disease):
  • He was diagnosed with hookworm after returning from his trip.
  • Hookworm can cause abdominal pain and fatigue.

Advanced Usage

• Medical/Public Health Context: The term is frequently used in medical and epidemiological discussions about neglected tropical diseases and parasitic infections.
  • Mass drug administration is a strategy to control hookworm in endemic regions.

Variants and Related Words

• Hookworm disease: Another term for the illness caused by the parasite.
• Ancylostoma duodenale & Necator americanus: The scientific names for the two main species of human hookworm.

Synonyms

• Nematode (specifically a parasitic one)
• Roundworm (though this is a broader category)

Notes on Meaning

The word "hookworm" primarily refers to the parasitic organism itself. The meaning referring to the disease (hookworm infection) is a direct extension, as the name of the causative agent is used to name the resulting condition.

Học thuật

Noun

1. infestation of the intestines by hookworms which enter the body (usually) through the skin
2. parasitic bloodsucking roundworms having hooked mouth parts to fasten to the intestinal wall of human and other hosts

Từ đồng nghĩa

• hookworm disease