What are some effective treatments for hookworm?

The most effective treatments for a hookworm infection are medicines designed to destroy the parasites inside the body, such as albendazole or mebendazole, according to Healthline. Patients usually take these medicines for one to three days.

Doctors may also advise an infected person to take an iron supplement along with her treatment if she develops anemia as a result of the infection, states Healthline. People who have a hookworm infection for a long time are at greater risk of developing anemia as well as nutritional deficiencies. These people are also at a greater risk of developing a condition called ascites, which occurs when protein loss in the body causes excess fluid buildup in the abdomen.