$Unique_ID{BRK01506}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Is it Possible For Someone to Have Worms in Them?}
$Subject{worms cause treatment infection parasite parasites Digestive System
intestine intestines Ascaris lumbricoides worm eggs anthelmintic agents stool
infections egg treatments hookworm pinworm tapeworm fluke flatworm roundworm}
$Volume{A-12, I-12}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Is it Possible For Someone to Have Worms in Them?


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QUESTION:  Is it possible for someone to have worms in them?  Our daughter
wrote to tell us that our granddaughter has been examined and the doctor says
she has them.  We are very worried.  How did he know, where did they come from
and what should be done?  Please put your answer in the column so we can mail
it back to our daughter.

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ANSWER:  Most certainly, humans may become infected by worms.  The most common
is called Ascaris lumbricoides, which is found in warm, moist climates such as
the tropics, Southeast Asia, Central and South America, and some parts of the
United States.  The worm lives in the intestines, where a female worm may lay
as many as 200,000 eggs daily.  These eggs pass through the intestines, and in
some places come to rest in the soil.  There they may survive for months, even
years.  When youngsters of the ages of 1 to 2 begin to explore their outdoor
surroundings, they may put dirty and contaminated materials containing the
eggs into their mouths and become infected.  In many cases they cause no
symptoms, but when a physician suspects the disease, the stool is examined,
and the eggs of the worm may be found there.  The good news is that there are
several medications available that kill these worms (they are called
"anthelmintic agents").  Some are quite easy to take, and may only require a
single dose, while others are given for two or three days.  The worms are
either paralyzed or killed by the medications and then pass out through the
stool.  Any symptoms that are present disappear rapidly and improvement is
quickly noted.  However, there is no lasting immunity to the disease, once it
has been cured, and so a great deal of education must be provided to the
family to prevent recurrence.  Other members of the family may require
treatment, and they must be taught how to avoid additional infections.
Frequent stool checks are a good method for finding the infection at an early
stage, where it can be dealt with before serious complications arise.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.