PRUDELEINE F. OBIENA, R.N., PAD

Infest the intestine

hookworm, roundworm,

pinworm, and tapeworm

Causes faulty digestion,

intestinal inflammation,

intestinal obstruction, and

anemia

Small, less than 1 cm (0.3 in) long

Have teeth that hook the head into

the mucosa and enable it to gain

nourishment from the blood

Transmitted by:

a. soil contaminated with the larvae

that comes in contact with the

skin (eg, when a person walks

barefoot)

b. Contaminated food or water that

is ingested

Hookworm eggs are passed in

the feces of an infected person. If

an infected person defecates

outside (near bushes, in a

garden, or field) or if the feces

from an infected person are used

as fertilizer, eggs are deposited

on soil.

Once in the body, the larvae are carried by the blood

to the lungs. They then pass into the throat and are

swallowed, thus reaching the intestines. Here the

female hookworm lays about 30,000 eggs a day.

These pass from the body as waste, hatching into

larvae on the ground in one or two days.

o Itching and a localized rash are often the first

signs of infection. These symptoms occur

when the larvae penetrate the skin.

o A person with a light infection may have no

symptoms.

o A person with a heavy infection may

experience abdominal pain, diarrhea, loss of

appetite, weight loss, fatigue and

anemia. The physical and cognitive growth of

children can be affected.

Do not walk barefoot in areas where

hookworm is common and where there

may be fecal contamination of the soil.

Avoid other skin-to-soil contact and avoid

ingesting such soil.

Do not use human feces as fertilizer.

Do not defecating outdoors and by

effective sewage disposal systems.

Longer than hookworms, 25 cm (10

in)

Cylindrically shaped body

Enters the body through

contaminated food or drink

Children are more prone to

contracting the worm since they often

play in dirt and then put their hands

into their mouth

SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN:

nervousness and irritability

colic

poor or ravenous appetites

failure to thrive

allergic reactions

dry or wheezing cough,

restlessness at night

itching or irritation of the nose or anus

oral pallor

lactose intolerance

Malnutrition (characteristic of a heavy ascaris

infection because the worms compete for the

nutrients.)

ADULTS can exhibit vague

symptoms including the

following:

abdominal pain

edema of the lips

allergic reactions

insomnia

anorexia

weight loss

HOW TO PREVENT AN INFESTATION OF

ROUNDWORMS Practice good hygiene.

Wash your hands often, especially after handling any animals, handling

feces of any kind, using the toilet (home or public), or when out of the

country.

Do not eat undercooked beef, pork, or fish.

Wash all utensils and surfaces that come in contact with raw

beef, pork, or fish with antibacterial soap.

Change bed linens and towels daily.

Always wear shoes in soiled areas.

Keep cats and dogs away from children's play areas.

Make sure to have dogs and cats dewormed.

Make sure all fruits and vegetables are washed thoroughly before eating

them.

Dispose of garbage and waste properly in specified areas.

Drink bottled or boiled water (one minute), and do not drink fountain

drinks.

1.2 cm (0.5 in) long

Most common worm parasite

infesting children

Female pinworms moves through

the anal opening at night

deposits ova in the surrounding

area itchy scratching

contamination of the fingernails

reinfection by mouth

Pinworms enter the body by

swallowing or inhaling the

eggs. The eggs are very

resiliant and can live on your

skin, cloths and toys for

example, for up to two weeks!

The best way to keep from getting

pinworms is to wash your hands with

warm, soapy water before you eat, after

you play outside, and after you use the

toilet.

Try to keep your fingernails short and

clean, and don't scratch around your

bottom or bite your nails.

Because pinworm eggs can hang around

in clothes, be sure to change your

underwear every day and always put on a

clean pair.

Flat, segmented, large worms

10 inches long

Suckers embed the head into

the intestinal mucosa

Commonly transmitted by

uncooked beef or pork

upper abdominal discomfort

diarrhea

loss of appetite

Anemia may develop in people with the fish tapeworm

Rarely, worms may cause obstruction of the intestine

And very rarely, T. solium larvae can migrate to the brain causing severe headaches, seizures and other neurological problems. This condition is called neurocysticercosis. It can take years of development before the patient has those symptoms of the brain.