Internal Body Parasites- Grade 5

Hymsco Library
Oct 27, 2024
3 min read

Updated: Oct 27, 2024

Common internal parasites

They are parasites such as roundworms that live within the body, especially in the intestines.

Roundworms

A roundworm is an internal body parasite that infects the small intestine of a human being. It gets nutrients from the small intestine of the infected person.

It is a soil- transmitted parasite. Human faeces can cause contamination if an infected person passes faeces on soil or near a source of water. A person gets infected if he or she eats or drinks contaminated food or water.

Signs and symptoms of roundworm infection

Abdominal pain
Worms visible in faeces
Slow growth in children
Diarrhoea
Loss of appetite
Vomiting
Weight loss

Prevention and management of roundworm infection

Wash food properly before cooking. Also wash hands after using the toilet
Wash any utensils and cooking surfaces after using them.
Filter and boil water before drinking it
Wash hands with soap and warm water before handling or eating food.
Avoid common bathing areas, especially if they are dirty.
Clean hands with soap and water after playing outside
Roundworms are treated with medicine.

Pinworms

Swallowing pinworm eggs causes a pinworm infection. The eggs are found in contaminated food or drink. If you do not wash your hands well, your fingers can carry pinworms.
The eggs then hatch in the intestines. Female pinworms move to the anal area to lay their eggs, which often results in anal itching.
When you scratch the itchy area, the eggs cling to your fingers and get under your fingernails.
The eggs then get transferred to other surfaces, such as toys, bed linens or toilet seats. The eggs can also be transferred from contaminated fingers to food, liquids, clothes or other people.

Signs and symptoms of pinworm infection

Disturbed sleep
Loss of appetite
Itching of the anal area, especially at night
Severe irritability
Abdominal pain
Weight loss

Prevention and management of pinworm infection

Take a bath in the morning and wash the anal area
Change underwear and bed sheets daily
Wash bed sheets, night clothes, underwear and towels in hot water to kill pinworm eggs.
Avoid scratching the anal area. Trim your nails so eggs do not collect. Avoid biting your nails.
Thoroughly wash your hands after visiting the toilet and before eating
Visit the doctor for treatment.

Tape worms

Tapeworms are intestinal parasites that are shaped like a tape measure.
Tapeworm eggs normally enter the human body from animals through food, especially raw or undercooked meat.
People can also become infected if there is contact with animal faeces or contaminated water.

Signs and symptoms of tapeworm infection

Abdominal pain
Vomiting
Inflammation of the intestines
General weakness
Diarrhoea and weight loss
Lack of appetite and feeling dizzy
Eggs, larvae or segments from the tapeworm in stool.

Prevention and management of tapeworm infection

Visit a doctor for treatment
Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water after visiting the toilet and before eating.
Always wash all vegetables with clean water
Always wash all fruits with clean water
Properly dispose of animal and human faeces
Cook meat properly. This will kill larvae or eggs of tapeworms
Do not eat raw or uncooked mean
Treat pets, such as dogs for tapeworms
Make sure all work surfaces, especially in the kitchen, are regularly cleaned and disinfected.

Hookworms

● Hookworms are soil transmitted parasites. Human faeces can cause contamination if an infected person passes faeces on soil.

● When a person comes into contact with this soil, hookworm larvae can pass through the skin of the person.

● This can happen if the person walks barefoot on soil that contains the larvae or swallows contaminated soil particles for example on unwashed vegetable leaves.

Signs and symptoms of hookworm infection