Teenager infected with hookworms during a trip to South Florida



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MEMPHIS, Tenn (WATN) – A mother shares her son's story after contracting hookworms last month on a missionary trip to South Florida

Kelli Dumas says that his son and eight other boys went on a church trip. June. After returning from Memphis at the age of 17, his family discovered that he had contracted the parasite

Since the diagnosis, Dumas documented his son's battle

"J & # 39; have an entire album, "she says. "Right now, there are 47 photos."

The teenager currently rests at home with his elevated foot. He receives drugs worth $ 1,300. His lower body is covered with blisters, scabs and rashes.

"They are incredibly horrible and they are so graphic," said his mother. One of them measures three inches by three inches, it's a crater in the foot.

His son told him that he had noticed an itch after a day of relaxing on the beach after a volunteer job. The photos show Michael buried in the sand by friends on Pompano Beach where the parasite got into his foot.

"Since all this happened, I have done a lot of reading and research," Dumas said. "They enter your bloodstream, they enter your skin and they respond at a very fast pace."

Medical experts say that the hookworm parasite breeds in hot climates where sanitation is poor. Risk factors include walking barefoot in areas such as beaches where the parasite lives.

Michael being the only infected adolescent, at least five of his group reported similar symptoms

. Florida State Health Department and asks the authorities to act to prevent other infections. She also wants the leaders of Pompano Beach to place signs to warn other swimmers.

"It's horrible and it's so painful, it has gone through so much suffering," she said. "I never want anyone else to suffer like that, I posted this on Facebook to warn people that it can happen, I had no idea that it could to arrive, I'm 54 years old, I do not wear shoes on the beach, I wear flip flops, I drop my towel, I take off my flip flops, I do not put my flip flops before leaving the beach, I think that's what everyone does. "

Dumas says a woman from Florida's health department told her that it was common knowledge that" everyone knows you are supposed to wear shoes on the beach. "

News 8 WATN, a sister station, asked the other comment. As of our deadline, we have not heard from you.

If you suspect that you have been exposed to the hookworm parasite, see a doctor immediately.

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