Then they reproduce and grow in the intestine. Once they reproduce and become larger in amount and size, symptoms may appear. Children are particularly susceptible to intestinal worms. Older adults are also at increased risk due to weakened immune systems. According to the World Health Organization WHO , about 10 percent of people in the developing world are infected with intestinal worms.
People in developing countries are at the highest risk due to drinking water from contaminated sources and because of decreased sanitation levels. If you have any of the above symptoms, and especially if you have traveled out of the country recently, you should make an appointment with your doctor.
Your doctor may then carry out an examination of your stool. Additionally, your doctor may take an X-ray or use imaging tests such as computed tomography CT or magnetic resonance imaging MRI depending on the extent or location s of disease suspected. Some types of intestinal worms, such as tapeworms, may disappear on their own if you have a strong immune system and healthy diet and lifestyle.
However, depending on the type of intestinal worm infection, one may require treatment with an antiparasitic medication. See your doctor if you:. Your treatment plan will be determined based on the type of intestinal worm you have and your symptoms. Tapeworm infections are usually treated with an oral medication, such as praziquantel Biltricide , which paralyzes the adult tapeworm.
The praziquantel Biltricide causes the tapeworms to detach from the gut, become dissolved, and then pass out of your body through your stool. Common treatments for a roundworm infection include mebendazole Vermox, Emverm and albendazole Albenza. Symptoms typically begin to improve after a few weeks of treatment. Your doctor will most likely take and analyze another stool sample after treatment is complete to see if the worms have disappeared.
Intestinal worms increase your risk for anemia and intestinal blockages. Complications occur more frequently in older adults and in people who have suppressed immune systems, such as people with HIV or AIDS infection. To prevent intestinal worms, regularly wash your hands with soap and hot water before and after using the toilet and before preparing or eating foods.
You also might see them on your underwear when you wake up in the morning. But the pinworm eggs are too tiny to be seen without a microscope.
The itching from the pinworms might wake you up in the middle of the night and make you squirm a lot. So if you're itchy and sore on your bottom, tell your mom or dad. And if you see worms in your underwear or in the toilet, you should tell a parent right away. You should know, though, that some people with pinworms don't have any symptoms at all. If you might have pinworms, your mom or dad will take you to the doctor so you can get medicine to get rid of the worms.
To see if you have pinworms, the doctor may have your parent help you do an easy test at home. Your parent will place a small piece of tape on the skin around your anus at night or when you first get up in the morning, then take it off and bring it to the doctor. It doesn't hurt at all, and the doctor will look at the tape under a microscope to see if there are any eggs on it. He or she might also take some samples from under your fingernails to see if there are any eggs.
If you have pinworms, don't worry. They don't cause any harm just itching! Your doctor will give you some medicine to take right away and then again 2 weeks later to be sure the worms are gone. The doctor can also give you a cream to help stop the itching. The hygiene method is usually recommended for pregnant or breast-feeding mothers, rather than medication. Neither mebendazole or albendazole should be taken during the first 13 weeks of pregnancy. During the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy and breast-feeding, medication can be used if necessary.
This decision should be made by a doctor. Talk to a doctor for children under 2 who need treatment. The hygiene method is often preferred.
Though uncomfortable and sometimes alarming, complications as a result of pinworm infection are rare. However, if they do occur, they can include:. Medication will be required for serious infections or complications.
Prevention is usually achievable through adequate hygiene measures. There are no serious or immediately life-threatening complications. As long as treatment occurs soon after symptoms appear, pinworms are parasites that can be easily handled. A parasite is an organism that lives in or on another organism. It depends on its host for survival, and it might cause disease or other types of harm.
Hookworm is an intestinal parasite that can cause infection at any age. People can catch it through contact with soil. It is rare in the United States,. What do white specks in stool indicate?
Are there other symptoms to consider? We find answers and discuss treatment and prevention. Learn more here. People report around 30, new cases of Lyme disease each year, and other tick-borne diseases can occur.
Avoiding ticks and removing them when…. The tapeworm is a parasite that lives in the gut. Humans become infected when we eat food that contains tapeworm eggs or come into contact with…. Everything you need to know about pinworms. Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M. Share on Pinterest Sleep disturbance is a common symptom of pinworms threadworms. Share on Pinterest Hygiene and cleaning is an effective method for removing pinworms in a home. Costs associated with obesity may account for 3.
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