Worm Infestation and Deworming

Children are especially prone to worms than adults. The worms enter our body due lack of hygiene. There are many kind of worm types that enter our body like the round worm, hook worm, tape worms etc., The most common of the worms is the round worm. It enters the body via contaminated food. The hook worm which holds on to our intestines like a hook structure on its head enter our body when we walk bare feet or use the unclean public toilets. The tape worms also enter the body from contaminated food. The filarial worms enter the body through mosquito bites.

The most common symptoms of worm infestation are lack of appetite, tiredness, anemia, loose bowels, vomiting etc., The worms thrive on the nutrients that are available in the our food intake and lead to nutritional deficiency and their activities in the body may upset our stomach. The hook worms cause bleeding and ulcers in the intestine. The round worms can grow to a size of 10 cm in length and if large in number they gather like a ball and cause blockages in the intestine that leading to acute abdominal pain and constipation. The tape worms are the most dangerous. They may even enter our brain and cause fits in extreme cases. The thread worms are most common and they live in our colon and rectum. In this case the child scratches its anal region especially in the nights. These worms can cause abdominal discomfort too. Filarial worm infestations are usually accompanied with high fevers and shivering.

The doctors suggest deworming every four to six months in order to avoid any damages done by the worms as our current life style forces people to eat at fast food joints frequently. The deworming medications do not have any kind of side effects as these drugs are non-absorbable. The deworming should be done regularly are prescribed intervals to destroy the subsequent hatching. Children below 2 years of age need not under this routine. However, the deworming has no effect on Filarial and tape worms. The Filarial and Tape worm infestations require prolonged treatments and periodic tests.

To summarize to keep away from worm infestations one has to maintain certain personal hygiene. Avoid walking on bare foot, eating too much in fast food joints, using unclean toilets etc., Keep your nails short and trim them often, drink boiled water, guard from mosquito bites.