Florida Teen Contracts Painful Hookworm Infection After Being Buried in Sand
Michael Dumas, a 17-year-old from Memphis, Tennessee, never imagined that a day at the beach would turn into a serious medical issue. While on a missionary trip to Florida with a group of 17 boys from his church, Michael visited Pompano Beach on June 18 for a day of fun in the sun. At some point during the outing, Michael and his friends buried each other in the sand — a common beach activity. Unfortunately, this is likely when he became infected with hookworms.
After returning home, Michael first experienced a painful earache. A few days later, red bumps began to appear on his feet, followed by lesions on other parts of his body. Concerned by the unusual symptoms, his mother, Kelli Mulhollen Dumas, took him to their pediatrician. The diagnosis was surprising: Michael had a hookworm infection. Kelli, who is a dentist with a degree in biology, was shocked by the news. Although she is familiar with science and biology, the idea of parasites living and growing inside her son was deeply upsetting. Doctors discovered one of the parasites…
Michael Dumas, a 17-year-old from Memphis, Tennessee, never imagined that a day at the beach would turn into a serious medical issue. While on a missionary trip to Florida with a group of 17 boys from his church, Michael visited Pompano Beach on June 18 for a day of fun in the sun. At some point during the outing, Michael and his friends buried each other in the sand — a common beach activity. Unfortunately, this is likely when he became infected with hookworms.
After returning home, Michael first experienced a painful earache. A few days later, red bumps began to appear on his feet, followed by lesions on other parts of his body. Concerned by the unusual symptoms, his mother, Kelli Mulhollen Dumas, took him to their pediatrician. The diagnosis was surprising: Michael had a hookworm infection. Kelli, who is a dentist with a degree in biology, was shocked by the news. Although she is familiar with science and biology, the idea of parasites living and growing inside her son was deeply upsetting. Doctors discovered one of the parasites…
