How can you get Worms?
Since there is a wide spectrum of parasitical worms that you can get, there is a variety of ways in which you can get them. In many cases, personal hygiene does not play a role; it is your environment and what you consume what can make you ill:
- Worms and other parasites are often found in the water
- Drinking contaminated water is the most common way of getting worms and parasitic infections
- Swimming in contaminated water can also get you sick – from parasites that go into your eyes and skin
- Mosquito bites or in some cases ticks and other insects can also carry parasites
- Mammals and other animals may carry parasites
- Unless you eat a contaminated animal, the worms or parasites are more likely to infect a source of water than you directly
Keep in mind that you can also ingest worm eggs which will later develop into parasites.
What can you do to Avoid Getting Worms?
From the information above, you will see that there are some steps you can take to avoid getting worms or other parasitic infections. Here are some recommendations that can help you prevent an infection from those nasty parasites:
- Make sure the water that you use to drink and cook is clean
- If you are in a place where water treatment is poor or non-existent, boil your water thoroughly
- You can also use chlorine tabs, iodine drops, and other chemical treatment kits that are common in outdoor shops
- There are also UV light purifiers and water filters that you can purchase
- Try to avoid vegetables or other fresh produce from sources that you do not trust
- Wash produce as thoroughly as possible when you buy it at the store
- Cook your meat well, especially pork meat
- Wear water proof boots in muddy areas to avoid worms that infect you through your skin
- Treat your pets with anti-parasitic/de-worming medication according to your vet’s recommendations
Of course, none of these recommendations are absolutely bullet proof. You might take all the precautions necessary and still end up being the inadvertent host of a nasty worm – especially when they invade your body through your skin.
Treating Worm Infections
After reading about these parasitic infections, you might be disgusted or even scared by the prospects of getting worms. The good news is that clinicians nowadays have a wide range of treatments to kill all of these unwanted parasites in your body.
Treatments may vary and they might include medication beyond antiparasitic drugs. Your healthcare practitioner may prescribe the following medication in tandem with your worm medication:
- Steroids or anti-inflammatory drugs
- Pain killers
- Anti-seizure medicine
Information is Crucial to Diagnose a Worm Infection
Just remember, all the information you can give your clinician is crucial to diagnose a worm infection correctly. If you have been abroad to a tropical or less-developed place recently, or you have been in the countryside or on farmland, your clinician can use that information to order further tests that can show if you have worms or not.
Our healthcare practitioners here at Antidote.ai are avid listeners. They can help you with your worm infection. Make sure you inform your clinician about any recent travel outside the US during your online consultation.