THERE are several worms living as parasites in humans. They may live in the intestines, blood and liver. Usually, transmission is by the faecal-oral route where the persons ingest the eggs that were originally in faeces. It takes up to eight weeks for the the adult worm to form. These eggs can be found in dust, door handles, coins, paper money, fruits, vegetables, undercooked meat, fingers, and furniture.

Symptoms and signs

The greater the worm load is the more pronounced the symptoms become. Symptoms can range from being asymptomatic to more severe cases where intestinal obstruction and damaged bowel can occur. Someof the various symptoms seen on presentation. include: worms in stool; loss of appetite; fever; vomiting; severe abdominal pain; diarrhoea; abdominal distension or swelling of the abdomen; itching around the anus; constipation; Pica, which is an abnormal craving for substance that are not nutritive for example dirt and chalk; generalised weakness; nutritional deficiency; affects growth and development; coughing up worms; shortness of breath; and wheezing.

Treatment

There are different worm medications used in treating worm infections. Please be advised by your doctor which medication and how long, as this depends on the type of worm. Nutritional supplementation might be needed, for example with iron, where anaemia is present. Children with severe anaemia will require blood transfusion. Surgery is rarely done and is indicated for severe cases such as intestinal obstruction.

Prevention

Good, hygenic practice is key. All vegetables and fruits should be washed thoroughly. Drinking water should be boiled or filtered, and ensure drinking water does not get contaminated. Do not eat undercooked meat. Eggs can travel in the fingernails so it is advised to keep them short.

Parents need to supervise their children’s hygiene practices, especially after passing stool, playing outside, playing with pets, and making sure hands are washed before and after eating. Children should avoid walking barefooted because eggs can be found in the soil. Ensure all these preventative methods are practised as this would decrease the need for worm medication.