Think only animals get worms? Meat, cat feces and poor sanitation are the underlying contributers to parasitic infections in humans. Toxoplasmosis, trichuriasis, ascariasis, trichinosis and hook worm are infections caused by parasites which can invade the human body.
Wherever unsanitary conditions exist in the world, worms can infect humans.
Toxoplasmosis is a parasite that is a single cell. This type of infection can be caused by eating undercooked meat and handling cat feces. Pregnant women should not clean litter boxes or otherwise handle cat feces because the infection can be passed on to their fetus and cause miscarriages or still births. Symptoms of toxoplasmosis are inflamation of the eyes, yellowing of the skin or jaundice, bruising and convulsions.
Trichuriasis is a roundworm infection that occurs in warmer climates. This condition is caused by unsanitary toileting, lack of good hygienic practices and unwashed vegetables and fruit. Trichuriasis causes severe abdominal pain as the parasites damage the intestines.
Ascariasis is another round worm that can infect people in warm, moist subtropical areas where sanitation and and a person's personal hygiene is poor. This infection can cause blockage in the intestines and biliary tract.
Hookworm infections are rare in the United States but are still prevalent in asian countries like Japan and China. Symptoms of a hookworm infection are severe abdominal pain, blood in the stool, anemia and low levels of protein. This type of infection can cause bleeding and eventually lead to heart failure in children.
Trichinosis is no longer a huge problem in the United States. Undercooked pork is often cited as the cause for this infection. The trichinosis parasite can cause fever, sweating and even heart failure.
Pork and beef tapeworm infections can be caused by eating undercooked meat. Tapeworms can cause severe weight loss, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Tapeworms rarely infect people living in the United States. When traveling abroad always ensure that any meat you consume is well cooked. Cooking will kill the tapeworms before they reach your intestines.
Worms can infect people. The best defenses against parasite infections are to not handle animal feces, practice good hygiene and sanitation, wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly and utilize good toileting techniques.
