Specialist's Corner
Intestinal worms can pose serious problems
Intestinal worms, also known as parasitic worms, are one of the main types of intestinal parasites. A person with intestinal worms may also experience dysentery. Dysentery is when an intestinal infection causes diarrhea with blood and mucus in the stool. Intestinal worms can also cause a rash or itching around the rectum or vulva. In some cases, you will pass a worm in your stool during a bowel movement. Some people may have intestinal worms for years without experiencing any symptoms.
Common types of intestinal worms include: flatworms, which include tapeworms and flukes roundworms, which cause ascariasis, pinworm, and hookworm infections. Common symptoms of intestinal worms are: abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting gas/bloating fatigue unexplained weight loss abdominal pain or tenderness. One way to become infected with intestinal worms is eating undercooked meat from an infected animal, such as a cow, pig, or fish. Other possible causes leading to intestinal worm infection include: consumption of contaminated water, consumption of contaminated soil, contact with contaminated feces, poor sanitation, and poor hygiene. Roundworms are typically transmitted through contact with contaminated soil and feces. Once you’ve consumed the contaminated substance, the parasite travels into your intestine. Then they reproduce and grow in the intestine. Once they reproduce and become larger in amount and size, symptoms may appear.
Once a person is infected with a parasite, it’s very easy to pass it along. If you have a parasite and don’t wash your hands after using the restroom, you can easily pass microscopic parasite eggs onto anything you touch: the bathroom door handle, salt shaker, your phone or anyone you touch. Traveling overseas is another way that foreign parasites can be introduced to your system. It’s also very easy to contract a parasite when handling animals.
Risk factors
Children are particularly susceptible to intestinal worms. That’s because they may play in environments with contaminated soil, such as sandboxes and school playgrounds. Older adults are also at increased risk due to weakened immune systems. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 10 percent of people in the developing world are infected with intestinal worms. People in developing countries are at the highest risk due to drinking water from contaminated sources and because of decreased sanitation levels.
Diagnosis
If you have any of the above symptoms, and especially if you have traveled out of the country recently, you should make an appointment with your doctor. Your doctor may then carry out an examination of your stool. It may take several stool samples to confirm the parasite’s presence. Another test is the “Scotch tape” test, which involves applying tape to the anus several times in order to retrieve pinworm eggs, which can be identified under a microscope. If worms or eggs are not detected, your doctor may carry out a blood test to look for antibodies your body produces when it’s infected with a parasite. Additionally, your doctor may take an X-ray or use imaging tests such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) depending on the extent or location(s) of disease suspected.
Treatment
Some types of intestinal worms, such as tapeworms, may disappear on their own if you have a strong immune system and healthy diet and lifestyle. However, depending on the type of intestinal worm infection, one may require treatment with an antiparasitic medication. Serious symptoms shouldn’t be ignored. See your doctor if you have blood or pus in your stools, if you are vomiting daily or frequently, have an elevated body temperature, are extremely fatigued and dehydrated. Your treatment plan will be determined based on the type of intestinal worm you have and your symptoms. Tapeworm infections are usually treated with an oral medication, such as praziquantel (Biltricide), which paralyzes the adult tapeworm. The praziquantel (Biltricide) causes the tapeworms to detach from the gut, become dissolved, and then pass out of your body through your stool. Common treatments for a roundworm infection include mebendazole (Vermox, Emverm) and albendazole (Albenza). Symptoms typically begin to improve after a few weeks of treatment. Your doctor will most likely take and analyze another stool sample after treatment is complete to see if the worms have disappeared.
Alternative treatments may also be helpful alongside conventional medications. However, your doctor must find out what kind of organism is causing your problems before you start treatment. Nutritional guidelines to help keep parasites from growing: Avoid simple carbohydrates, such as those found in refined foods, fruits, juices, dairy products, and all sugars, except honey. Eat raw garlic, pumpkin seeds, pomegranates, beets and carrots, all of which have been used traditionally to kill parasites. Drink a lot of water to help flush out your system. Eat fiber, which may help get rid of worms. Probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacilus plantarum, Saccharomyces boulardii and bifidobacteria) help keep your digestive tract healthy but they may not be appropriate in some severely immune compromised patients. Digestive enzymes will help restore your intestinal tract to its normal state, which makes it inhospitable to parasites. Vitamin C supports the immune system. Lower the dose if diarrhea develops. Zinc supports the immune system but may interact with certain medications, particularly some antibiotics, and it may not be appropriate for people with HIV/AIDS. Herbs are a proven, effective way to strengthen the body’s systems. As with any therapy, you should work with your doctor to diagnose your problem before starting treatment. You can take herbs as dried extracts (capsules, powders or teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts).
Complications
Intestinal worms increase your risk for anemia and intestinal blockages. Complications occur more frequently in older adults and in people who have suppressed immune systems, such as people with HIV or AIDS infection. Intestinal worm infections can pose a higher risk if you’re pregnant. If you’re pregnant and are found to have an intestinal worm infection, your doctor will determine which antiparasitic medication therapy is safe to take during pregnancy and will monitor you closely while you are treated during pregnancy.
Prevention
To prevent intestinal worms, regularly wash your hands with soap and hot water before and after using the toilet and before preparing or eating foods. You should also practice food safety: Avoid raw fish and meat, thoroughly cook meat to temperatures of at least 145°F (62.8°C) for whole cuts of meat and 160°F (71°C) for ground meat and poultry, let cooked meat rest for three minutes before carving or consuming, freeze fish or meat to –4°F (–20°C) for at least 24 hours wash, peel, or cook all raw fruits and vegetables, wash or reheat any food that falls on the floor.
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