ABSENCE OF BOTH ANAEMIA AND EOSINOPHILIA IN A PATIENT WITH HOOKWORM INFECTION IN OUR STUDY -AN EXTREMELY RARE FINDING.

Abstract

Objective: Many studies have shown the presence of anaemia and eosinophilia in hookworm infection. But so far detailed study was not done to know about the absence of anaemia and eosinophilia in hookworm infection. Hence a detailed study was done to know about the absence of anaemia and eosinophilia in hookworm infection diagnosed by doing upper gastro- intestinal endoscopy. Methods: A study of 1100 patients who had undergone upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy for a period of four and half years from May 2009 to October 2013 was carried out. In each of these 1100 patients,the rst and second part of duodenum were carefully examined to nd out the presence of hookworms. In all the patients found to have hookworms in duodenum,investigations were done to know about the presence or absence of anaemia and eosinophilia.The results were found as given below. Results: Out of these 1100 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, 5patients did not have anaemia. Out of these14 patients, 4 patients did not have eosinophilia . Out of these14 patients, one patient had absence of anaemia and also had absence of eosinophilia. Conclusion: Hence, upper gastro intestinal endoscopy is a very useful investigation to diagnose hookworm infection of duodenum even when there is absence of anaemia and eosinophilia.