Find out the cause of worm infection and effective treatment

Worm infections negatively affect health. Parasitic worms will absorb nutrients in the human body and cause many serious symptoms, affecting the patient's daily life.

Worms not only enter the body of children, but also adults. Poor hygiene and eating habits are a major contributor to this disease. Understanding the causes and treatment of worm infections is essential. Let's find out the causes and treatment of worm infections for both adults and children in the article below.

Causes of worm infections

There are many causes for you to get worms, most from living and eating unclean food. Here are some other causes of worm infections:

• Walking barefoot in the garden, playground or any infected ground, for example hookworm larvae burrow through the skin when you are barefoot
• Eating worm eggs through eating fruits, vegetables, grains, fish and meat containing roundworms or whipworms
• Wash fruits and vegetables with contaminated water
• Transmission of parasitic worms from pets to owners
• Contact with soil that has been contaminated with human feces from an infected person
• Do not wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet. Going to the bathroom outdoors also increases the risk of worm infections

Signs and symptoms of worm infection

Signs and symptoms of a worm infection can vary between children and adults, but children are more likely to have symptoms in the abdomen because their intestines are smaller, so the risk of blockages is higher. Your doctor will prescribe a dewormer when you or your baby has the following symptoms:

• There are worms in the feces
• Stomachache
• Loss of appetite
• Fever
• Wheezing or coughing
• Itchy
• Startled while sleeping
• Body discomfort and weakness

More serious symptoms may occur such as:

• Abdominal distention (swelling)
• Severe abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Shortness of breath;
• Weight loss (in case of tapeworm infection)
• Anemia (in case of hookworm infection)
• Tired

Deworming in infants and children

Worm infections can cause stomach pain and vomiting. The more developed worms will affect the normal growth of children, causing malnutrition. Doctors recommend deworming your baby every 6 months. Dewormers will kill the adult worms, not the eggs. Therefore, deworming every 6 months is extremely important.

Pyrantel Pamoate is another medicine prescribed for babies with worms such as roundworms. Dosage depends on the baby's weight (10 mg/kg). The drug is usually prescribed in a single dose. Side effects may include vomiting, dizziness, or headache. Medicines are not effective against tapeworms.

Praziquantel and Niclosamide are two medications prescribed to remove tapeworms. Dosage depends on the weight or age of the baby, for example 500 mg of Niclosamide for children under 2 years of age, 1,000 mg for children 2 to 6 years of age and 2,000 mg for children over 6 years of age.

Deworming in adults

The process of deworming in adults is the same as in children, only the dosage is different. For example, the most common medication that doctors will prescribe for adults is the 400 mg Albendazole tablet. You will take the pill for 2 weeks, 1 pill each week.

You should consult your doctor before using a dewormer if you:

• Have liver problems?
• Pregnant or breastfeeding
• Are taking prescription or nonprescription medications, including supplements

Alternative remedies for worm infections

• Teucrium: solution for roundworms, treatment for itching
• Ignatia: used when the child has a creaking feeling near the anus
• Sabadilla: prescribed for people with symptoms of vomiting, nausea and abdominal pain
• Indigo: used to treat pinworms and roundworms, symptoms include severe pain around the navel area
• Cuprum oxydatum nigrum: can handle all types of worms, including tapeworms