Hookworms and whipworms in particular can cause anaemia, making children feel weak and tired. Some experts believe these worms can also lead to poor performance at school. Large roundworms, whipworms and hookworms worms are uncommon in urban Australia but rural Indigenous communities have relatively high rates. Threadworms can grow up to 13 millimetres long and look like small threads of white cotton, hence the name.
They attach themselves to the lining of the large intestine. Adult worms can sometimes be seen in feces or eggs may cling to the skin around the anus. Threadworm infections are often asymptomatic. When symptoms do occur they can include an itchy bottom, particularly at night, reduced appetite and feeling mildly unwell or irritable. In young girls, inflammation can occur around the vagina. Threadworm can be diagnosed in children using the sticky tape test using a kit from your general practitioner.
This test is best done in the morning prior to a bath, as worms can migrate during resting periods. The test involves separating the buttocks and applying a piece of sticky transparent tape to the area just outside of the anus and between the buttocks. Threadworms are usually acquired by ingesting the eggs. Humans are the only host of threadworms.
The adult worms live in the lower intestine, coming out of the anus at night to lay their eggs. Children with threadworms can get the eggs under their fingernails when scratching their itchy bottoms at night. The eggs can then be spread via bed linen, bathroom fittings and other items, even food.
The eggs can survive for around 2 weeks like this on surfaces. Some other types of worms enter humans when their larvae penetrate the skin, often through bare feet. Dog hookworms can be caught like this through the skin. This commonly happens by being barefoot outdoors and coming into contact with larval hookworms in soil or sand contaminated with stool from an infected dog.
Pork tapeworm Taenia solium and beef tapeworm Taenia saginata can be acquired from eating undercooked meat containing cysts of the tapeworm larvae. These infections are not common in Australia, and are usually only acquired overseas. Dog tapeworms Echinococcus granulosus are yet another type of tapeworm. A person may then ingest an egg and become infected. Patting an infected dog may be enough to get infected. Dwarf tapeworms Hymenolepsis nana are acquired by ingesting dwarf tapeworm eggs or are transmitted between people in areas of poor sanitation and hygiene.
Whipworm Trichuris trichiura infection happens if a person ingests the eggs from contact with infected soil, or by eating foods grown in soil that contains whipworm eggs.
The test detects threadworm eggs that are deposited around the anus at night. It involves using special sticky tape to take a sample first thing in the morning. The sticky tape is pressed onto the area around the anus, causing any threadworm eggs present to stick to the tape. The doctor or a laboratory will examine the tape under the microscope to look for the eggs. Other types of worms may be diagnosed in the laboratory from a fresh stool sample.
For example, tapeworms are diagnosed by finding worm segments or worm eggs in a stool sample. Other worms are diagnosed by the presence of eggs, larvae or the parasites themselves, in the stool sample. Dog hookworm may be diagnosed by finding the parasite on a gut biopsy specimen. The characteristic rash of larva migrans on the skin can also indicate infection with dog hookworm.
If this rash moves very quickly, e. Infection with some parasites, for example Strongyloides, may cause eosinophilia, an increase in the type of white blood cells known as eosinophils. The treatment for threadworms is worming tablets, which are available from the pharmacy.
All the family should be treated, even if they have no symptoms. When taking the medicine, you should also ensure you follow strict hygiene practices to prevent re-infestation. Other intestinal worm infections are also treated with medicines that kill the parasite without harming the person, such as albendazole, mebendazole, ivermectin and praziquantel.
Your doctor or a gastroenterologist will advise on the appropriate medicine and the dose. The worms are then usually passed out of the body. Hydatid disease, caused by dog tapeworm, is serious and potentially fatal. Read more about What to do about intestinal worms here.
Schedule An Appointment With Dr. Gastroenterologists may recommend several different tests to help them diagnose intestinal worms. These tests may include:. Although intestinal worms sound like a serious medical condition, treatment is often straightforward. In some cases, the person may not need any treatment or medication at all if they have a healthy immune system.
In other cases, gastroenterologists will sometimes choose to monitor the person first to see if their body can take care of the worm before moving on to medication.
In other cases, gastroenterologists will use one or more antiparasitic medications to get rid of the intestinal worm. For example, people should always wash their hands both before and after using the toilet to avoid possible exposure. Many intestinal worms enter the body through the food that a person eats. As a result, it is essential to follow some safe food and general cleanliness practices:.
Deworming is advised at least once a year. Everyone who is at risk of getting worm infestation is supposed to deworm. Also, grown-ups with poor body or food hygiene due to poor living conditions or unclean habits, people handling pets or raw meat and persons who walk barefoot ought to deworm.
The information on this website is to provide general guidance. In no way does any of the information provided reflect definitive medical advice and self-diagnoses should not be made based on information obtained online. Be sure to call a physician or call our office today and schedule a consultation. Book Appointment.
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