But did you know that adults require the same as well?
The world’s first case of a live worm found in an Australian woman’s brain may stop you in your tracks. The 8cm-long parasitic worm was discovered following her complaints of abdominal pain, forgetfulness and depression.
“The common worms that infect humans are the round, tape and hook worms,” Dr Nadzri Mokhtar, an anti-ageing and functional medicine practitioner, told FMT Lifestyle. These are parasitic worms or organisms that live in or feed off a living host.
A worm infestation can happen in adults in various ways. “A person plays on the ground, scouring the earth with his bare fingers or goes barefoot without knowing that the earth is contaminated with faeces or parasites’ spores,” added Nadzri, who is also the founder of Apollo Men’s Wellness Centre.
Sometimes, eating food that was not prepared and cooked hygienically could also lead to a worm infestation. Other possible ways include consuming raw food or unwashed vegetables and fruits.
“Or, if you swam in water with parasites and you aspirated the water, this can cause an infestation in your lungs. So, you can get an infestation anywhere such as the respiratory system or bloodstream, although it mainly happens in the gut.”
Pet owners, he added, should also exercise caution. Pets’ claws are often dirty as they spend so much time walking or playing on the ground. And should you get scratched by a cat or a dog, you could get infected with worms as well.
“That is why pregnant women are not encouraged to play with cats and dogs for fear of the transmission of the toxoplasmosis (a parasite infection),” he shared, adding that rodents and snakes can also put humans at risk.
Among the common symptoms of a worm infestation are:
- Malaise or tiredness
- Fatigue
- Indigestion
- Malnutrition
- Abdominal bloating
- Rashes
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Nose itching
- Anal itching
- Abdominal pain
Less common symptoms, he added, include joint pains, visual disturbances or bruxism, a condition where a person grinds their teeth, possibly due to stress.
Diagnosis and treatment options
A worm may be small, but a worm infestation should never be left untreated. “If you have a worm infestation in the gut, it can cause an obstruction. This can affect a person’s bowel movement and cause constipation and vomiting,” said Nadzri.
He added that if there’s a worm infestation in a person’s liver and spleen, it could lead to jaundice, blood loss, anaemia and low iron levels.
As such, if you sense something amiss, it is advisable to see your doctor immediately. Among the methods to diagnose a worm infestation, Nadzri said, include a blood or stool test.
“A blood test is done to see if the person has high eosinophilia, a form of white cell that is produced by parasite infections. A stool test is conducted to examine for the presence of ova (eggs) and worms.”
“Treatment options are usually anti-parasite medications, with the most common being Albendazole. Adults could also be prescribed additional medications such as Praziquantel, Nitazoxanide and Levamisole.”
At the end of the day, however, prevention is better than cure. “Cook and wash your food thoroughly. Don’t walk barefoot or play on the ground with your hands,” he advised.
Pet owners are advised to deworm their cats or dogs regularly, keep them clean and avoid getting scratched by them. Hygiene, above all, remains a priority and it is key to keep your hands clean and have a good sewage system.
“Don’t take things for granted. We do eat out and enjoy sushi, sashimi and raw meats. There are always chances that we can develop a worm infestation, so seek advice, undergo a deworming process and get better,” he concluded.
Learn more about Dr Nadzri Mokhtar and Apollo Men’s Wellness Centre here.