Abstract

Dr. Govindarajalu Ganesan*

ABSTRACT

Objective: A detailed study was done to highlight the importance of eosinophilia as an important indicator of hookworm infection when stool examination is negative for hookworm ova. Methods: A study of 1307 patients who had undergone upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy for a period of 5 years and one month from May 2009 to May 2014 was carried out. In each of these 1307 patients, the first and second part of duodenum were carefully examined to find out the presence of hookworms. In all the patients found to have hookworms in duodenum, investigations were done to know about the presence of eosinophilia and severe eosinophilia. The results were found as given below. Results: Out of these 1307 patients, 14 patients found to have hookworms in duodenum while doing upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy were taken into consideration for our study. Out of these14 patients with hookworms in duodenum, severe eosinophilia was found in 4 patients. Out of these 4 patients with severe eosinophilia, stool examination was done for hookworm ova in one patient with severe eosinophilia. But stool examination was negative for hookworm ova in this patient with severe eosinophilia. In the other patients with severe eosinophilia, stool examination could not be done. Conclusion: Hence, even in patients with severe eosinophilia with hookworm infection stool examination can be negative for hookworm ova. Hence upper gastro intestinal endoscopy should be done to confirm the presence of hookworms in all patients with severe eosinophilia since stool examination can be negative for hookworm ova in such patients.