04.06.2021 – 10:53
“Ask the doctor” is the newest section, a platform that enables contact between doctor and patient.
If you have any questions about everything that concerns you in your health, here you will get answers from experienced doctors, without booking appointments and avoiding long queues.
Patients: What causes intestinal worms and how are they treated?
Doctor: Intestinal worms are small parasites that live in the intestines of some animals. Animals can be infected with these parasites while grazing in meadows or drinking contaminated water. Eating uncooked meat from infected animals is the main cause of the development of intestinal worm infection in humans. Although they usually cause few symptoms and can be easily treated, there are times when they can also cause serious, life-threatening problems. It is therefore important to know the symptoms of this disease and how to protect yourself and your family.
Causes of intestinal worms
6 types of worms can infect humans. They are usually identified by the animal from which they spread, for example, Taenia saginata from beef, Taenia solium from pork and Diphyllobothrium latum from fish.
Intestinal worms have a life cycle of 3 stages: egg, larva and in the stage where the worms can produce more eggs. Since larvae can enter the muscles of infected people, you can be affected by this infection when you eat uncooked meat from an infected animal. It happens that you get infected by these worms even when the food is prepared by a previously infected person. Because worm eggs pass through the feces, a person who does not wash his hands well and then prepares food can contaminate the latter.
Symptoms of intestinal worms
Intestinal worms can cause symptoms such as:
Mixed
weakness
Diarrhea
Stomach ache
Lack of appetite
fatigue
Weight loss
Lack of vitamins and minerals
There are cases when they do not cause any symptoms. The only sign may be a few small stripes on the stool. In even rarer cases, intestinal worms can cause even more serious complications, such as intestinal obstruction. If the larva crosses the intestine, it can go to other parts of the body and cause damage to the liver, eyes, heart and brain. These infections can be life threatening.
treatment
If you suspect you have intestinal worms, you should see a doctor. He or she may ask you to do a stool test to identify the type of worm. In rarer cases, the doctor may use imaging tests, such as MRI or CT, to check for damage outside the digestive tract.
The type and duration of treatment depends on the type of worm you have. Intestinal worms are usually treated with an oral medicine. The most commonly used drug in this case is praziquantel (Biltricide).
Prevent infection with these worms
You can reduce the risk of intestinal worm infection by washing your hands thoroughly before and after using the toilet, and by following these food safety tips:
Avoid uncooked meat and fish
Cook the meat well at high temperatures.
Wash your hands with soap before preparing food or eating.
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