Overview
Intestinal worms — such as roundworm, hookworm, threadworm and tapeworm — spread through contaminated soil, food or water and are far more common in regions with limited sanitation, though threadworm (pinworm) is also common in children worldwide. Many infections cause few symptoms but can quietly lead to poor growth and anaemia. They may also be picked up during travel.
Symptoms
- Abdominal pain or bloating
- Itching around the anus, especially at night
- Worms visible in stool
- Poor appetite or weight loss
- Tiredness or paleness (anaemia)
- Poor growth in children
Causes & risk factors
- Eating with unwashed hands or eating unwashed fruits and vegetables
- Walking barefoot on contaminated soil (hookworm)
- Drinking unsafe water
- Undercooked meat (tapeworm)
Treatment & self-care
Treatment is a short course of deworming tablets prescribed or recommended by a clinician, often repeated for the whole household. Handwashing, wearing footwear, washing produce and using safe water prevent reinfection. A doctor can advise whether and how often deworming is appropriate.
See a doctor urgently if
- Severe abdominal pain or vomiting
- Worms vomited up or a swollen abdomen in a child
- Persistent diarrhoea or blood in stool
- Marked weight loss or paleness