140 Where There Is No Doctor 2011
WORMS AND OTHER INTESTINAL PARASITES
There are many types of worms and other tiny animals (parasites) that live in
people’s intestines and cause diseases. Those which are larger are sometimes seen in
the stools (feces, shit):
1. ROUNDWORM (Ascaris)
4. HOOKWORM
2. Pinworm
(threadworm)
3. whipworm
(Trichuris)
5. TAPEWORM
The only worms commonly seen in the stools are roundworms, pinworms, and
tapeworms. Hookworms and whipworms may be present in the gut in large numbers
without ever being seen in the stools.
Note on worm medicines: Many ‘worm medicines’ contain piperazine. These work
only for roundworms and pinworms and should not be given to babies and small
children. Mebendazole (Vermox) is safer and attacks many more kinds of worms.
Albendazole and pyrantel also work for many kinds of worms, but they may be
expensive. Thiabendazole attacks many kinds of worms, but causes dangerous side
effects and should usually not be used. See pages 373 to 375 for more information on
all these medicines.
Roundworm (Ascaris)
20 to 30 cm. long. Color: pink or white
How they are spread:
Feces-to-mouth. Through lack of cleanliness, the roundworm eggs pass from one
person’s stools to another person’s mouth.
Effect on health:
Once the eggs are swallowed, young worms hatch and enter the bloodstream;
this may cause general itching. The young worms then travel to the lungs, sometimes
causing a dry cough or at worst, pneumonia with coughing of blood. The young worms
are coughed up, swallowed, and reach the intestines, where they grow to full size.
Many roundworms in the intestines may cause discomfort, indigestion, and
weakness. Children with many roundworms often have very large, swollen bellies.
Rarely, roundworms may cause asthma, or a dangerous obstruction or blockage in the
gut (see p. 94). Especially when the child has a fever, the worms sometimes come out
in the stools or crawl out through the mouth or nose. Occasionally they crawl into the
airway and cause gagging.