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Why can hookworm infection lead to iron-deficiency anemia?

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trypanosome — parasitic disease *Trypanosoma brucei* in a blood smear (Giemsa-stained light photomicrograph).

Hookworm infection leads to iron-deficiency anemia primarily because these parasites are bloodsucking organisms. After migrating through the body and maturing, adult hookworms attach themselves to the mucosal lining of the small intestine.12

Once attached, the worms sustain their life by feeding on the host's blood. When a person is host to a large number of these worms over an extended period, this persistent blood loss depletes the body of essential nutrients, resulting in chronic iron-deficiency anemia. In cases of heavy infestation, this condition can manifest in symptoms such as fatigue, pallor, and stunted growth. Recovery typically involves the use of anthelmintic medications to remove the parasites, combined with iron supplementation to restore healthy blood levels.12