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- Have you or your children been having abdominal pain recently along with unexplained weight loss?
- Have you noticed worms in your or your children's stool recently?
What is worm infestation? - this is the presence of intestinal parasites like worms that feed off its host nutritional intake
Risk Group - most common in children due to their levels of activity
- people with weak immune systems
- older aged group more likely to catch than younger age group due to decrease in immunity.
- irritability
- weight loss (unexplained)
- stomach ache
- bed wetting
- blood present in stool
- Tapeworm infection symptoms:
- Jaunfice
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- loss of appetite
- frequent meal intakes and yet malnutrition
- Roundworm infection symptoms
- Diarrhoea
- worms in stool
- Dry cough with or without fever
- Pinworm
- itching around the anus
- painful urination
- Hookworm
- wheezing
- coughing
- fatigue
- anaemia
- Trichinella
- chills
- muscle aches
- joint pain
- swelling of face or eyes
- difficulty breathing and heart problems in severe infestations
- Death in very severe cases
Types of intestinal worms: - tapeworms
- pinworms or threadworms
- hookworms
- roundworms
- Flukes
- Ascariasis
- Trichinella
Causes - coming in contact with infected surfaces
- consuming food that may be contaminated
- consuming food that may not have been prepared hygienically.
- unhygienic habits like improprt hand washing and cleaning
- consuming unclean water
- consuming meat that may be raw or uncooked.
- ingesting freshwater plants like watercress
- eating wild meat like bear, pork and seals likely cause for Trichinella.
Lifestyle Alterations - avoid sharing personal items etc that may carry the worms or the larvae.
- Have clean and sanitary living conditions
- Keep proper footwear when going outside.
- Eat properly cooked food
- Avoid eating raw or undercooked meals
- Use water from clean and sanitary sources.
- Wash hands properly after visiting the washroom and toilets.
Treatment and alternatives - mebendazole
- albendazole
- can deworm every six months where there is risk of infestation
- other preparations may be available as advised by your pharmacist.
Prevention - proper hygiene and sanitation
- wash hands thoroughly before and after visiting the toilets
- wash and clean hands properly before cooking
- cook meat and fish thoroughly before eating
- Never consume undercooked and raw food
- Use separate cutting boards for meats and vegetables
- Use only clean water from hygienic sources
Complications - Anemia
- Intestinal blockage
- severe cases can be fatal if untreated.
All these and more are available at Health First pharmacy...visit us for all your health needs first...talk to us first!!!
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