Intestinal worms
Intestinal worms are parasites that live in the gut, such as roundworms, pinworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms. They are very common in children in Afghanistan and spread through soil, unwashed hands, dirty water and undercooked meat. Worms can cause tummy pain, poor growth and anaemia, but they are easy to treat and prevent.
Symptoms
- Belly pain and bloating
- Poor appetite or constant hunger
- Weight loss or poor growth in children
- Itching around the bottom, especially at night (pinworms)
- Tiredness and pale skin from anaemia
- Worms seen in the stool
Causes
- Worm eggs in soil contaminated with human stool
- Not washing hands after the toilet or before eating
- Eating unwashed fruit and vegetables
- Walking barefoot on contaminated soil (hookworm)
- Eating raw or undercooked beef (tapeworm)
- Drinking unsafe water
Prevention
- Wash hands with soap after the toilet and before eating or cooking
- Keep children nails short and clean
- Wash fruit and vegetables with clean water
- Use a latrine; do not defecate in the open
- Wear shoes outside
- Cook meat well
- Regular deworming of school-age children as advised by health services
Treatment
- Deworming medicine such as albendazole or mebendazole, usually given as a short course
- Pinworms: treat the whole family and repeat after 2 weeks
- Tapeworm needs a different medicine prescribed by a doctor
- Iron-rich foods, and iron if a doctor advises it, for anaemia
- Use medicines as advised by a doctor or pharmacist, especially for children under 1 year and pregnant women
Common questions
How often should children be dewormed?
In areas where worms are common, health services often give deworming medicine to children every 6 or 12 months. Follow the advice of your local clinic.
Does eating sweets cause worms?
No. Worms come from eggs in soil, dirty water, unwashed hands and food, or undercooked meat, not from sugar or sweets.