ground itch: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareMedical / Technical
Quick answer
What does “ground itch” mean?
An itchy skin infection caused by the larvae of hookworms penetrating the skin, typically the feet.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An itchy skin infection caused by the larvae of hookworms penetrating the skin, typically the feet.
A pruritic, papular, or vesicular rash, usually on the feet, resulting from cutaneous larva migrans; the initial stage of hookworm infection.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference; the term is identical and equally technical in both varieties.
Connotations
Purely clinical; evokes tropical medicine, parasitology, and public health contexts.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language. Used almost exclusively in medical, veterinary, and public health literature.
Grammar
How to Use “ground itch” in a Sentence
The patient presented with ground itch.Ground itch is a common problem in regions with poor sanitation.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in medical and parasitology papers discussing helminth infections.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation outside endemic regions.
Technical
Standard term in tropical medicine, dermatology, and veterinary science.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “ground itch”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “ground itch”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ground itch”
- Using it to describe a generic itch from grass or plants.
- Confusing it with athlete's foot or other fungal infections.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not directly contagious. It requires skin contact with soil contaminated with hookworm larvae.
It is very rare in temperate climates like the UK or mainland US, but can occur in warmer, humid regions (e.g., southern US) or be imported by travellers.
It is usually treated with topical or oral anti-parasitic medications (anthelmintics) to kill the larvae, along with anti-itch creams.
Ground itch refers to the initial localised itchy rash at the site of larval entry. 'Creeping eruption' describes the later, characteristic serpiginous tracks as the larvae migrate under the skin.
An itchy skin infection caused by the larvae of hookworms penetrating the skin, typically the feet.
Ground itch is usually medical / technical in register.
Ground itch: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡraʊnd ɪtʃ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡraʊnd ɪtʃ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine itchy feet from walking on GROUND where hookworms ITCH to get in.
Conceptual Metaphor
INFECTION IS AN INVASION (larvae 'invade' the skin).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'ground itch' primarily associated with?