Effect of worms on humans

How do hookworms and roundworms infect people?

Dogs and cats infected with these worms contaminate their surroundings by passing eggs or larvae in their faeces (dung). Because pets will pass faeces anywhere, they may contaminate a large area quickly.{{more}} These eggs and larvae are resilient and can survive in areas such as parks, playgrounds and yards, even inside homes.

People get roundworm and hookworm infections through direct contact with infected faeces. This usually happens by chance ingestion of contaminated soil, sand, or plant life.

Hookworm larvae will penetrate the skin of humans as well as dogs and cats. Children are more vulnerable to infection than adults, perhaps because they play on the ground with dirt that may be contaminated. Maybe it’s because kids are more likely to put objects to their mouths. Some children pass through a stage in which they eat dirt (Pica). Thus they are more prone to get these infections.

How do roundworms harm people?

Roundworms enter the body when ingested as eggs that soon hatch into larvae. These larvae travel through the liver, lungs, and other organs. In most cases, these “wandering worms” cause no symptoms or apparent damage. However, in some cases, they produce a condition known as visceral larva migrans. The larvae may cause damage to tissue and sometimes affect the nerves or even lodge in the eye. In some cases, they may cause permanent nerve or eye damage, even blindness.

How do hookworms harm people?

Hookworm larvae typically move about within the skin, causing inflammation in the affected skin. This is called cutaneous (skin) larva migrans. The lesions appear as red lines under the skin and these sometimes break open at the skin’s surface. These lesions sometimes cause severe itching. One type of hookworm can penetrate into deeper tissues and cause more serious damage to the intestines and other organs.