Learn more about the common parasites which call the human body home (and their pets). Research about the parasite life-cycles and the stages of their development in the body.
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Dec 6, 2023 · Why are the majority of worm infections in adults asymptomatic? How do pinworms transmit and what are the key symptoms? What are the health risks associated with chronic hookworm infections?...
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https://www.findatopdoc.com/Medical-L... - The most common type of intestinal worm infection worldwide is the pinworm infection. Visit www.FindaTopDoc.com today to learn more about Pinworms.
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In this video Doctor O'Donovan explains how to recognise and treat PINWORMS (aka threadworms). Threadworms – also called pinworms - are tiny white worms in y...
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- Doctor O'Donovan
Aug 5, 2024 · The only way to diagnose intestinal worm parasites is to see eggs, larvae, or adult worms in the stool or collect eggs from the perineum in the case of pinworms. The fecal (stool) exam, also called an ova and parasite test, detects the presence of intestinal worms and other gut parasites.
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Causes and risk factors
- Types of worms and how they enter the body
- When to contact a doctor
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Complications
- Prevention
- Frequently asked questions
Intestinal worms are organisms that feed off the human body. Tapeworm, hookworm, pinworm, and other types of worms enter the body and affect it in different ways. A person may notice worms in stool. Treatment can get rid of all types of worms.
Types of intestinal worms include tapeworm, hookworm, liver fluke, threadworm, Ascaris, which causes ascariasis, and Trichinella, which causes trichinosis.
Other common parasites are Giardia lamblia, which causes beaver fever, and Entamoeba histolytica, which causes amoebic dysentery. These are not worms, but they are intestinal parasites.
Intestinal worms can cause many symptoms, and some of these resemble the symptoms of other gut conditions. A prompt, accurate diagnosis can lead to early treatment and prevent complications. Most cases respond well to treatment, which usually involves medication.
Symptoms will vary between individuals and will depend on the type of worm present.
However, common signs and symptoms include:
•loss of appetite
•fatigue
•abdominal pain
•bloating
Worms can enter the body in various ways, depending on the type. Sanitation problems often play a role, but intestinal worms can happen anywhere.
Common types in the United States are the pinworm Enterobius vermicularis and the hookworms Necator americanus (N. americanus) and Ancylostoma duodenale (A. duodenale).
Factors that increase the risk of infection due to a worm include:
•having a weakened immune system, for example, due to older age or HIV
•living in a hot or tropical climate
•having a low income
Tapeworm
A tapeworm is a type of flatworm that lives in the intestine, where it attaches itself to the intestinal wall. There are several types, including the following: •Taenia solium (T. solium) comes from raw or undercooked pork. It is more common in Latin America, Eastern Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, India, and Asia, but it also occurs in the U.S. •T. asiatica comes from beef or pig liver and mostly occurs in Korea, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Thailand. •T. saginata comes from beef or pig liver and occurs mainly in places where people eat raw beef, such as Eastern Europe, Russia, eastern Africa, and Latin America. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), only T. solium has a significant impact on health. Without treatment, T. solium larvae can cause cysts in the skin, eyes, muscles, and CNS. In the brain, they can lead to: •a severe headache •vision loss •seizures •death Experts believe that in areas where it occurs, it is responsible for up to 70% of epilepsy cases. Tapeworm eggs can also be present in water and may enter the body if a person consumes contaminated water. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that fewer than 1,000 new cases of tapeworms occur each year in the U.S. Praziquantel (Biltricide) can remove a tapeworm. This drug paralyzes the worm, forcing it to detach from the intestinal wall. It then helps dissolve the worm so it can pass through the digestive system and leave the body during a bowel movement.
Hookworm
Hookworms live in the small intestine. Their name refers to how one end of the body tapers off into a needle or hook shape. Two types — N. americanus and A. duodenale — only occur in humans. Hookworms enter the body through the skin — for instance, if a person walks barefoot on contaminated soil. Once inside, they lay eggs in the small intestine. A person can pass them on through defecating outdoors, for example, in bushes or by using feces as fertilizer. One kind can also enter the body if a person consumes the larvae, for instance, on food or the hands. According to the CDC, hookworm affects around 576–740 million people worldwide. In the past, hookworm was common in the southeastern U.S., but numbers have fallen due to improvements in living conditions. Most people with hookworm have no symptoms. Some individuals may have gastrointestinal symptoms, especially with a first-time infection. More serious complications include protein loss and anemia due to blood loss. Doctors may prescribe medications such as albendazole and mebendazole to treat hookworm, usually for 1–3 days.
Fluke
Flukes are a type of flatworm. They can affect the lungs, intestines, liver, and other parts of the body. Liver flukes affect the liver, gallbladder, and bile duct. Two types, Clonorchis and Opisthorchis, can enter the body when a person eats contaminated raw or undercooked: •fish •crabs •crawfish Most people will not have symptoms, but an infection that lasts a long time can lead to severe symptoms and complications. Without treatment, infection can last for up to 25–30 years, which is the life span of these parasites. If a person with Opisthorchis has symptoms, they may experience: •indigestion •abdominal pain •diarrhea or constipation •nausea Another type, Fasciola, can occur anywhere there are sheep or cattle. The larvae can enter the body if a person eats contaminated watercress or other water plants.
A person should seek medical advice if they:
•have abdominal symptoms, such as diarrhea, lasting more than 2 weeks
•lose weight unexpectedly
•have itching around the anus
A doctor may ask about:
•signs and symptoms
•dietary factors, such as whether a person may have recently eaten undercooked meat
•recent travel
Various tests can help diagnose intestinal worms, such as:
•stool tests
Treatment will depend on the type of worm.
A doctor may recommend OTC or prescription medication. People should follow the guidelines for treatment to prevent the worm from coming back.
Intestinal worms can sometimes lead to complications. How these affect the body will depend on the worm, but possible complications include:
•anemia and other nutritional deficiencies, due to difficulty absorbing nutrients
•intestinal blockage
•problems with lung and heart function
•human cysticercosis, which can result in vision loss and seizures
In some cases, the complications stemming from untreated parasites can be life threatening.
People can take steps to reduce the risk of having worms.
Essential measures include:
•washing the hands regularly, especially after using the bathroom and before handling food or eating
•avoiding sharing clothing, bedding, and other personal items
•avoiding defecating in fields and other open places, where possible
Many intestinal worms enter the body through the food that a person eats. Some safe food practices can help prevent infection:
What does poop look like when you have worms?
In some cases, a person may have diarrhea or constipation or notice a worm or part of a worm on feces. Often, however, there are no symptoms.
How do you treat intestinal parasites and get rid of worms?
A doctor will recommend medication after identifying which type of worm is present.
How do adults get worms?
Depending on the type of worm, people of any age can get worms from eating raw or undercooked meat or seafood, swimming in or drinking contaminated water, and walking barefoot in places where worms are present. Sharing objects such as clothing or bedding and not washing the hands regularly also pose a risk.
Aug 12, 2024 · Don’t panic—intestinal worms are pretty easy to detect on your own. We’ll help you recognize some of the most common symptoms of a worm infestation, as well as the typical warning signs for tapeworms, pinworms, hookworms, whipworms, and roundworms.
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Intestinal parasites include worms and one-celled organisms that hatch, grow and thrive in your intestines. Antiparasitic medicines can clear most infections.
