Mommies, do you ever notice that your kids having the following symptoms such as poor appetite, always look lethargy and frequent stomach pain? If yes, your kid may be infected with helminthiasis. Helminthiasis, also known as worm infection, is an infection of one or more type of intestinal parasitic worm in host, both adult and children. When the parasitic worms infest in host, they will receive nourishment and protection. In simpler words, they will compete with host in absorbing nutrition, thus disrupting host’s nutritional status and cause a series of health problems such as impeded cognitive process, intestinal obstruction and ultimately lead to death if left untreated. Helminthiasis is one of the most common infections worldwide and affects the poorest and most deprived communities. Thus, it is important for us to get to know how to avoid this worm infection and learn how to deworm.
How Helminths Transmitted to Host ?
There are various ways which helmminths can be transmitted to host. The whole cycle will be started with the hosts infected with worm infection when they ingested raw vegetables or drinking water polluted with helminths egg. Besides, host especially children will accidentally ingest helminths egg if they play with the contaminated soil and then putting their hands into mouth before washing them. Interestingly, larvae of hookworm (one of he parasitic worm) can also infest the host as they actively penetrating into host’s skin if hosts are walking bare foot on the contaminated soil.
After being infected, the parasitic worm can multiply themselves by laying eggs in host’s intestinal tract. An infected host will contaminates the soil with stool containing helminth eggs if the host passing stool straight to the soil. Thus, another person will be infected if he touches the soil. In this way, the infection can be spread easily.
Symptoms of Helminths Infection ?
Initially, infected host may experience no or mild symptoms. However, in those heavier infection, host may have diarrhea, abdominal pain, general malaise and weakness, and impaired cognitive and physical development. It is well known that hook worm can cause anemia as hook worm can cause bleeding at the site where hook worm attached to in the intestinal tract.
Deworming
Deworming, is the giving of antihelminth drug to host to get rid of any parasitic worm. According to WHO, antihelminth should be given to children aged 1-14 years old once or twice a years (for area with infection rate among 20%-50% of child population, antihelminth is given once a year; for area with infection rate>50%, antihelminth is given twice a year) in order to reduce worm burden of helminths infection. The suggested dose is as stated in the table above.
How to avoid Helminth Infection ?
There is always some precaution can be taken to avoid helminth infection. Remember, always wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly with clean water before eating. Do not defecate on the soil but in toilet equipped with full facilities. This is to avoid soil contamination. Besides, remember to wash your hand everytime before meal and after toilet. Avoid touching soil with bare hand and always trim your nail. Lastly, do not walk barefoot during outdoor activities. With all these tips, you will be safe from worm infection!