Grossed out by intestinal worms
QI am grossed out by all the horror stories I recently heard about (intestinal) worms and the complications that can occur. The issue of worms is certainly a big topic at my son’s preschool. My kids love being outside and enjoy sandpits, even tasting the soil. They love digging and building and I simply cannot be a 24-hour watchdog to prevent this.
I have an 18-month-old and a fouryear-old who spend lots of time in my garden and visiting friends for play dates. I am becoming increasingly worried that they they may get worms and other infections. I may be a bit paranoid, but is this a rational fear? How will I know early enough if they are infected?
The pictures I have seen on Google are scary, and apparently worms can be lifethreatening. My other worry is that other parents at school may not be as careful and that their kids spread the infection. Are my fears warranted?
At home I try my best with the whole handwashing ritual – and we reward for good practices. So much time is spent (by the children) on the floor, so I try to use good household detergents, as well as antiseptic sprays. Is worm infection contagious?
Kindly offer me some help and guidance, as well as additional precautionary measures.
AThe topic is a very challenging one – for most parents and children alike. Your questions are not unreasonable and I think many parents are just too busy to ask them, or to stop to think about the issue. It’s exactly the same with the topic of head lice – people’s reactions are very dramatic. Remember that an informed parent is a safe parent.
So why all the hype about worms?
It remains a contentious issue due to the dramatic nature of how people can present in extreme cases. Things like worms crawling out of your nose and ears at night time – and then even the surprise in your child’s nappy when you are greeted by a worm protruding from the anus. The sad part is that most people do not know how we contract them.
My first exposure as a clinician was when a parent thoughtfully brought me a gift of a worm in a shopping bag.
It looked like a white cord the length of a full ruler and the mother proudly declared that she caught it and pulled it from her four-year-old son’s nose. I got a bit dizzy at the thought and asked for my own brown paper bag.
What is a parasite?
These are small creatures (animals) which invade and infect (infest) the body. They are dependent on other life forms for survival.
We classify them broadly into external parasites which live on or in the skin, like scabies and sandworms, or internal parasites which live in the body.
These parasites commonly live in the bowel (ie intestinal parasites such as worms). Other parasites live in the blood but are dependent on their host for survival.
Complications of worm infections
Lung infections. Intestinal obstruction. Liver congestion. Anaemia.
How do we get infected?
More common in children due to their habit of playing on the ground. In this way it is easier to ingest infested soils and faecal material deposited in sand pits and gardens, among others.
Parasites enter the human body through the mouth or nose, as well as through the skin.
Children love playing in close proximity with pets and often are licked by dogs or cats that transfer the larvae or eggs orally.