How do hookworm larvae enter the human body?

Hookworm larvae typically enter the human body through direct contact with contaminated soil. When infective, threadlike larvae come into contact with human skin—most commonly the feet—they penetrate the deeper skin layers, often entering through hair follicles and sweat glands.12

Once they have breached the skin, the larvae invade the lymphatic and blood vessels. They are then carried through the circulatory system to the lungs, where they migrate up the respiratory tract to the mouth. Finally, they are swallowed and travel to the small intestine, where they anchor themselves to the intestinal mucosa to mature into adult worms. While it is possible for larvae to develop in the intestine if swallowed directly, this mode of transmission is considered uncommon in nature.12