title: Small bowel parasitosis as cause of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding diagnosed by capsule endoscopy.
abstract: Hookworm infection is a relatively common cause of anemia in endemic areas. However, it is rarely encountered in Europe. In this report we describe the case of a 24-year old patient originating from an endemic area who was admitted due to severe anemia, with an Hct of 15.6% and eosinophilia (Eosinophils: 22.4%). While both esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy were non-diagnostic, capsule endoscopy revealed a large number of hookworms infesting his small bowel and withdrawing blood. The patient was successfully treated with Albendazole. Capsule endoscopy was proven an important tool in diagnosing intestinal parasitosis.
authors.affiliation: Dimitrios K Christodoulou, Dimitrios E Sigounas, Konstantinos H Katsanos, Epameinondas V Tsianos, Hepato-Gastroenterology, 1st Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Ioannina, Medical School of Ioannina, Ioannina 45100, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Christodoulou
authors.forename: Dimitrios E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Sigounas
authors.forename: Konstantinos H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Katsanos
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dimos
authors.forename: Epameinondas V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Tsianos