Overview
Intestinal worms increase your risk for anemia and intestinal blockages, as well as malnutrition. Complications occur more frequently in older adults and in people who have suppressed immune systems, such as people with hiv/aids infection. Intestinal worm infections can pose a higher risk if you’re pregnant.
Causes
Types of worms and how they enter the body
Tapeworm is a type of flatworm that lives in the intestine, where it attaches itself to the intestinal wall.
Hookworms live in the small intestine.
Flukes are a type of flatworm.
You can get infected by touching objects or surfaces with worm eggs on them. If someone with worms doesn’t wash their hands. Touching soil or swallowing water or food with worm eggs in it, mainly a risk in parts of the world without modern toilets or sewage systems.
Severe or persistent threadworm infections can cause loss of appetite, weight loss, skin infection around the anus if bacteria enter any scratches caused by itching. Wearing cotton gloves while sleeping may help prevent this.
