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These Are The Health Disorders Caused By Parasitic Worms

Parasitic worms cause a number of disorders in the human body. Read on to know more.

By Lekhaka

It is believed that more than three million people across the world suffer from disorders caused by parasitic worms. Generally, these worms target the intestinal tract, although a rise in number might force some of the worms to attack certain organs and systems in the body.

The severity of the disorders due to parasitic worms is determined by the kind of worm, as well as the affected body part. While in the intestinal tract, parasitic worms can cause abdomen pain, stomach discomfort, cramps and stomach tenderness.

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Other people might experience fever and fatigue, especially when they start suffering from bouts of diarrhoea. If one does not take adequate water during such times, one may readily start suffering from dehydration.

Other conditions caused by parasitic worms include chest pain, skin irritations, bloody diarrhoea, anaemia, bowel obstruction and malabsorption. Since they suck nutrients from foods consumed, people rarely get to enjoy the nutritious advantages of the foods they eat. In kids, parasitic worms make the stomach distended, which may easily be confused with malnutrition symptoms.

Apart from the digestion tract, the liver is the next typical place of attack for parasitic worms. One might suffer from an enlarged liver, which is frequently because of localized swelling. Most of the time, an enlarged liver can go hand-in-hand with a swollen spleen.

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In humans, when the parasitic worms attack the nervous system, neurological problems can be observed. Eye symptoms, like itching, red and teary eyes can also indicate the presence of worms, while other individuals might suffer from malaise. Parasitic worms could also attack the lungs, and once such is the case, coughing is generally observed as a symptom.

Headaches, itchy skin, itchy anus and irritation will also be some of the issues. A few of the other diseases caused by parasitic worms include elephantiasis, lymphatic filariasis, trichuriasis, ascariasis, among others. Unless, of course, parasitic worms are treated in good time, they continue to reproduce in the human body, thus increasing in numbers.

Story first published: Monday, November 14, 2016, 15:21 [IST]
Read more about: diseases