Diseases Caused by Worms

Introduction

Intestinal parasites are widespread among immigrant workers and international workers. Even in cold areas, some worm illnesses, such as ascariasis or enterobiasis, are common in youngsters. Only a severe infection generates clinical signs in cases of ascariasis. 

The diagnosis is made by looking for eggs in the faeces, much like all other worm infections are determined by a stool test. Piperazine derivatives are particularly effective against Ascaris, and Pyrantel-Pamoate is another beneficial medication.

Diseases Caused by Worms

Toxocara Canis, which generally infects only canines, can also afflict people on rare occasions. Granulomas are caused by their larvae migrating across the body. Itching around the anus is the most common clinical indication of threadworms (enterobiasis).

Pyrvinium-Pamoate can be used to kill this parasite. When a patient has taeniasis, the first symptom they notice is proglottids, which are worm pieces that pass through the faeces. Niclosamide is the treatment of choice for all types of diseases caused by tapeworms. In tropical countries, hookworms are common. 

Severe anaemia can be caused by serious infections, especially in children. Antiparasitic medicines such as bephenium-naphthoate and bitoscanate are effective against this parasite. In warm countries, whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) is fairly common.

Thiabendazole and, more recently, Mebendazole, which is nearly atoxic, can be used to treat it. Strongyloides stercoralis infections are difficult to remove due to multiple mechanisms of reinfection. When Strongyloides infection is combined with other serious conditions, cachexia and even death have been reported.

Causes

• Parasites can be transmitted to mammals through contaminated food or drink insect bites or sexual interaction. Giardia infections can be contracted by drinking contaminated water

• Normally, parasites enter the body through the skin or the mouth. Because dogs and cats are hosts to numerous parasites, close contact might result in parasite infestation

• Walking barefoot, improper excrement disposal, lack of hygiene, close contact with someone carrying specific parasites, and eating undercooked meals, unwashed fruits and vegetables, or foods from contaminated regions are dangers that can lead to parasite infection

• The bite of an insect vector, such as a mosquito, bed bug, or flea, can also transmit parasites to their host

Types of Worms 

There are many different types of intestinal worms; which thereby results in various diseases caused by worms:

1. Tapeworm and diseases caused by tapeworm

A tapeworm is a flatworm that lives in the intestine and attaches itself to the intestine wall. There can be various diseases caused by tapeworms. The majority of persons with tapeworms have no or very mild symptoms.

Tapeworms come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Because some tapeworms live in water, ingesting contaminated water may allow them to enter the body. Other tapeworms can be found in foods like beef or pork, and swallowing filthy or uncooked meats might make a person vulnerable to them.

Tapeworms are flat and normally have a length of 3 to 10 metres, depending on the worm species. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Management (CDC) Trusted Source, there are less than 1,000 new cases of tapeworms in the United States each year.

2. Hookworm

Hookworm is a parasitic worm that enters the body through contaminated soil. The worm’s name refers to how one end of its body tapers off to form a needle or hook shape.

According to the CDC, 576 to 740 million people worldwide have hookworm infection, according to estimates. Hookworms take up residence in the small intestine, where eggs are excreted in the faeces.

When the eggs hatch, the larvae may enter through another person’s skin. People are at risk if they come into contact with faeces or soil that has been fertilised with contaminated excrement. The majority of persons who have hookworms show no symptoms. The disease caused due to worms is gastrointestinal symptoms that may appear in some persons, which is particularly likely with first-time infections.

3. Fluke

Flatworms are sometimes known as flukes. Flukes are parasitic worms that are more commonly seen in animals, although they can also infect people. Flukes have a rounded leaf form and are tiny. Humans receive them via eating or ingesting them by mistake, either in drinking water or from freshwater plants like watercress.

Adult flukes infect the bile ducts and liver once inside the body. Some people have no symptoms, while others may have signs months or even years after consuming the parasite. Inflammation of the bile ducts or total obstructions may occur in these persons. They may have an excessively big liver or abnormal liver test results.

4. Pinworm

A pinworm is a small, roundworm around the size of a staple, approximately the size of a pin. Pinworms are little parasitic worms found in the colon and rectum of people. The worms can be passed from one person to another through direct contact or by sharing a contaminated object.

Itching around the anus is a frequent symptom of pinworms, and it can be strong enough to make sleeping impossible. The female pinworms crawl out of the anus at night to lay their eggs on the surrounding skin. Hence symptoms emerge at night. Other signs and symptoms are usually minor, and many people do not have any.

5. Ascariasis

Although only a few inches long, ascariasis resembles a hookworm. This worm dwells in the intestines of the human body. It thrives in contaminated soil and only enters people’s bodies when they eat the eggs. Ascariasis is a parasitic infection that causes minimal to no symptoms. On the other hand, severe infections might induce intestinal obstructions or stunts in children.

6. Trichinella

Trichinella worms are another form of roundworm that can be transmitted to humans by consuming undercooked or raw meats containing live larvae. After that, the larvae develop in the intestines.

Trichinella worms can exit the intestines and dwell in other tissues, such as the muscles, after they reach full size. A trichinosis infection can cause a variety of symptoms. Some persons may suffer the following symptoms in addition to common stomach problems:

Chills, muscle aches, joint discomfort, and swelling of the face or eyes are all flu symptoms. Severe infections can cause lung and cardiac difficulties and make it difficult for the individual to move. Severe cases may result in death. Trichinella infection is uncommon in the United States, although it is more common in those who consume wild meats such as bear, hog, or seal.

Conclusion 

Although the range of the disease caused due to worms is observed in temperate countries is fairly restricted, they are frequently disregarded, particularly when tourists or immigrants bring them in. Worms and their larvae can establish themselves in any organ or organ system. As a result, the mode of transmission, the level of involvement, and the type of therapy are all complex. In this article, we studied diseases caused by worms and other elements revolving around the same.