Protecting the family from worms

Dr Monda Ang’awa

Intestinal worms take a heavy toll on your health because they rob you of nutrients, sap your energy and weaken your immune system. They are an amazing cast of characters that come in all shapes and sizes — from the tiny pin worms, which can be as contagious as the flu and usually infect several members of one family, to the over 10-foot-long tapeworms.

We often assume that those who live in unsanitary conditions are those affected by these freeloaders. Not true. These parasites know no social barriers and can infect anyone across the board. They are prolific little creatures laying tens of thousands of eggs at a time.

It is the eggs or the freshly hatched larvae that we inadvertently pick up in a number of ways — eating poorly cooked food, changing a baby’s diaper, shaking hands with someone who used the toilet and did not wash his hands, houseflies, cockroaches and even breathing in contaminated dust.

Symptoms include constipation, diarrhoea, bloating, and hyperacidity, allergic reactions including food sensitivities, headaches, depression, anaemia, persistent cough, pneumonia, intestinal obstruction and appendicitis.

A heavy worm load can cause stunted growth and malnutrition in children as they rob the body of nutrients by either reducing appetite or preventing food from being absorbed properly once it has been eaten. They can also cause skin rashes that many people confuse with ‘mashilingi’ or ringworm, which is not a worm at all. Ringworm is caused by a fungus similar to one that causes athlete’s foot and is given its name because of the ring-shaped rash it causes.

The incidence of worm infection in a population of human beings is inversely proportional to the number of functioning toilets: the more the functioning toilets, the less the incidence of the infections.

Parasite-proofing yourself

Keep Reading

We obviously would be much happier without having these parasites around, but they are widespread throughout the world, affecting hundreds of millions of people. However, most intestinal worms can be avoided by practising good hygiene:

Wash your hands regularly throughout the day before eating and after using the toilet, especially if you are visiting, live or work with children. They are more prone to infection and spread worm infections to their family and friends.

Teach children proper hygiene — washing hands after going to the toilet, playing outside and before preparing or eating food.

Boil and filter your drinking water.

Cook food especially meat, chicken and fish thoroughly.

Eat curried food regularly because the spices used are highly anti-parasitic.

Do not use a microwave to cook meat, chicken or fish because microwaves do not heat foods completely.

Wash your hands, cutting boards and kitchen counter tops with hot soapy water after cutting or handling raw meat, chicken or fish.

Wash your fruits and vegetables in plenty of clean running water.

Avoid raw foods like salads when eating out.

Keep your pets free of parasites and fleas by de-worming any pets you have like cats or dogs regularly.

Wear gloves when changing the cat litter box or washing out the dog kennel

Do not swim in infected water and avoid swallowing river, stream or lake water when swimming in them. Better yet, avoid swimming in them altogether.

Always wear shoes or slippers outside to prevent infection by worms like hookworm.