The presence of worms in the abdomen and intestines is one of the most common health problems that afflict adults and children, and it also has symptoms that may not be noticed by many, but you should actually be careful of them because they may cause many health complications. Know the intestinal worms, their symptoms and how to treat them.
What are intestinal worms?
Worms are also called parasitic worms, and they are one of the most famous parasites that infect the human body and feed and multiply inside it. It is an infectious disease that is transmitted from one person to another. The types of intestinal parasitic worms are
Symptoms of intestinal worms
Symptoms usually vary from person to person and may differ from one species to another, but there are general symptoms of stomach worms that may be similar to the symptoms of other digestive disorders and general symptoms include:
* Anorexia.
* Feeling tired and exhausted.
* Tummy ache.
* Worms cause flatulence and gas.
* Nausea
* Weight loss.
* diarrhea.
* Stomach disorders.
Causes of intestinal worms infection
The main and primary cause of infection is eating undercooked meat from animals infected with parasites such as cows and fish, and once it enters the human body, it moves to the intestine and multiplies and grows to cause signs of disease, and there are several other possible reasons:
* Using contaminated water and food.
* Dealing with contaminated soil.
* Dealing with contaminated feces.
* Being in unclean places.
* Lack of personal hygiene.
Risk factors
* Children are more likely to become infected by handling contaminated surfaces such as soil contaminated with pet feces and playing in school playgrounds and gardens.
* According to the World Health Organization, 10% of people living in developing countries are infected with intestinal worms and parasites due to their exposure to and contact with contaminated water and poor hygiene.
Complications of intestinal worms
- Anemia and weakness due to lack of nutrients in the blood.
- Bowel obstruction due to the inability of the intestine to pass digested food.
- Cysticercosis is a serious condition that requires treatment because it affects the eyes and causes seizures.
Diagnosis of intestinal worms
When you go to the doctor and you or your child have these symptoms, he will ask you for several tests and analyzes, including
* Stool analysis to look for parasites.
* Blood tests to detect the presence of certain types of parasites.
* Colonoscopy.
* X-rays of other organs to look for any damage caused by these parasites.
* Tape test It is used on the anal area by placing tape on the skin so that pinworm eggs stick to it, if any.
Treating intestinal worms
Fortunately, worms can be treated and eliminated, and in some mild cases, they may not require any treatment because the worms come out with stool on their own or because of the strength of the immune system, which can easily fight them, and your doctor may prescribe some anti-parasite medicines that work to kill the worms.
It may also require other treatments if other symptoms associated with the worms appear, such as blood in the stool, fever, dehydration, vomiting, and stool color change.
As for medications, they differ according to the type of worms that the doctor will determine after the tests, such as:
* Praziquantel for treating tapeworms.
* Mebendazole or Albendazole for hookworm treatment.
* Other medicines that can be dispensed from the pharmacy without a doctor's prescription to treat different types of worms
Diet for patients with intestinal worms
You can follow some nutritional advice while treating worms to get rid of them:
- Temporarily avoid caffeine, refined sugar and grains.
- Add a pinch of black seeds(kolonji) in your food while cooking. Black seeds are very effective for killing worms.
- Add garlic to your food.
- Eat more beta-carotene rich foods like carrots, sweet potatoes and squash.
- Eat foods rich in probiotics, such as yogurt.
- Eat foods rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin B.
- Avoid eating undercooked fish and meat.
Prevention of intestinal worms
- Wash your hands thoroughly before eating and preparing food, and after using the bath and cleaning your pet.
- Drink well bottled or boiled water if you live in an area where there is contaminated water.
- Always check your pets to make sure they are free of worms and parasites.
- Get rid of pet feces on the go.
- Wash fruits and vegetables well after purchasing them or after picking them in your own garden.
- Don't let your child play in places with a lot of dogs and cats.
- Do not walk barefoot in places where parasite infections are common.
- Do not eat undercooked meat and fish.
Finally, you must take good care of your personal hygiene not only to protect you, but to protect those around you from infection with intestinal worms that may be tired for a lifetime without knowing their presence, and be sure to go to the doctor in case you feel any of the symptoms.
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