Woman in Her 40s Has ‘Something’ Attached to Her Intestines... Ongoing Bloody Stool Explained [Health Talk]

[Financial News] Bloody stool, in which blood is mixed with feces, can occur for a variety of reasons. Although relatively rare, infection caused by parasites can also be one of the underlying causes.
According to a case reported in the Mexican Journal of Gastroenterology, a 43-year-old woman visited a medical institution with bloody stool that had persisted for three years. She did not complain of other symptoms such as abdominal pain, but she did report accompanying signs of anemia. The medical team performed an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, but no clear cause of bleeding was identified.

A more detailed examination was then carried out using capsule endoscopy, which revealed a parasite attached to the mucosal surface of the small intestine. Capsule endoscopy is a test in which the patient swallows a pill-sized miniature camera that takes images of the gastrointestinal tract, particularly the inside of the small intestine. It was determined that ulcers and bleeding had been triggered as the parasite fed on the host’s blood.
The woman was treated with deworming medication along with iron supplementation therapy, after which both the bloody stool and anemia completely resolved. Follow-up monitoring over the subsequent year showed no recurrence, and she remained in good health. At the time, the medical team emphasized, “Parasitic infection is an uncommon cause of bloody stool, but it should be suspected when risk factors such as living in rural areas are present.”

Although the specific parasite in this case was not identified, American hookworm is often cited as a representative parasite that inhabits the intestines. American hookworm typically lives in tropical and subtropical climates and is widespread in the American South, Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Infection usually occurs when the body comes into contact with contaminated soil or water, allowing larvae to penetrate the skin and enter the body.
When infected with American hookworm, the parasite can suck blood and cause anemia. As a result, patients may experience severe fatigue and, in some cases, ongoing bleeding. If infection is suspected, treatment is carried out with deworming medication.
hsg@fnnews.com Han Seung-gon Reporter