Why it is crucial to get children dewormed, especially in India - Firstpost

Why it is crucial to get children dewormed, especially in India - Firstpost

Why it is crucial to get children dewormed, especially in India - Firstpost

Posted: 27 Sep 2019 12:06 AM PDT

At least 241 million children below the age of 14 years are at high risk of getting stomach worms in India. Researchers say this is because our soil quality and temperature are conducive to worm growth - poor sanitation also adds to the risk.

Looking at this, the government of India had launched a National Deworming Drive in 2015. As part of this initiative, all children aged 8-19 are given deworming tablets at schools and in Anganwadi centres.

Why it is crucial to get children dewormed, especially in India

Representational image. Image source: Getty Images.

Now, a study in The Lancet — a well-regarded science journal — has again drawn attention to the importance of deworming in tropical countries. According to the study, maternal education and wealth are big determinants of whether young children get proper treatment for parasitic intestinal worm infections.

Here is why it is important to ensure that every child in the high-risk age group gets deworming tablets, regardless of whether they have an infection or not.

Soil-borne parasites

Intestinal worms or soil-borne helminthic infections (STH) are among the most common parasitic infections in humans. The worms thrive in the hot and humid soils of tropical regions and enter the human body through contaminated soil and food.

Adult worms grow and reproduce inside the intestines, producing thousands of eggs every day. Some types of helminth larvae can actively penetrate the skin and travel to the intestines through the lungs.

Once inside the body, they start to feed on body tissues and damage intestinal walls. They also lead to malabsorption of nutrients in the gut, loss of appetite and diarrhoea. As a result, children who have a worm infection tend to be anaemic and experience fatigue and weakness.

Long-term health effects

Helminth infections impair the mental and physical development of growing children. Most children with worm infections are underweight and stunted, and they also have difficulty concentrating on day-to-day activities. Some children also find it difficult to memorise new things. As a result, they find it difficult to attend school. In the long term, this can lead to losses in education and, therefore, quality of life in older age.

Symptoms of worm infections

STH symptoms have a direct association with the number of worms - the more the number of worms inside the body, the more severe the symptoms. So while light infections are usually asymptomatic, heavier infections lead to abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, malnutrition, loss of appetite and growth stunting.

STH is not life-threatening.

Preventive steps

The National Health Portal of India lists the following prevention methods to avoid intestinal worms:

  • Maintain good hygiene
  • Use sanitary toilets and do not defecate in the open
  • Wash your hands every time you use the toilet
  • Always wear shoes or slippers
  • Wash fruits and vegetables well before eating them
  • Keep your food covered
  • Use clean drinking water

Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, India's first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health. For more information, please read our article on Ascariasis.

Updated Date: Sep 27, 2019 12:36:30 IST

Tags : Deworming, Deworming Tablets, India Deworming, National Deworming Drive, NewsTracker, Parasitic Infections, Preventing Worms, Soil-Borne Helminthic Infections, Stomach Worm Prevention, Stomach Worms, Symptoms Of Worm Infections

Enfield dog owners warned after outbreak of deadly lungworm infection - Hertfordshire Mercury

Posted: 29 Sep 2019 01:57 AM PDT

Dog owners in Enfield have been issued an urgent warning after an outbreak of a potentially deadly infection.

There have been 1545 cases of lungworm infection reported within a 50-mile radius of the area already, as the parasite continues to endanger the lives of dogs.

Of these, 12 have been reported in Enfield itself, with two reported in Bush Hill Park, two in Winchmore Hill, one in Freezy Water and one in Waltham Abbey.

Vets4Pets has reportedly said that nine per cent of all infected dogs will die, and pharmaceutical company Bayer has produced an interactive map to show you exactly where cases have been reported.

 

What is lungworm?

Lungworm is a potentially fatal parasite if left undiagnosed and treated, and causes serious health problems in dogs.

Multiple animals are used during its life cycle, with dogs being the main primary host for lungworms, and snails, slugs and frogs acting as intermediate hosts.

It differs from intestinal worms like roundworm or tapeworm as it lives in dogs' circulatory and respiratory systems - the heart, blood vessels and lungs.

Infection occurs when dogs eat infective lungworm larvae, which can be found:

  • In the slimy coating of slugs and snails. There are 20,000 slugs and snails in the average UK garden.
  • These larvae can survive for a short time off hosts such as slugs and snails, so larvae can also be found on toys and in water bowls where slug or snail contamination might not be obvious.
Lungworms can be found in the slimy coat of snails
 

Coughing, struggling to breathe, changes in breathing and going off food are all common symptoms of lungworm.

The infection can also cause stomach upsets, with vomiting and/or diarrhoea, loss of weight, tiredness and depression, unexplained or excessive bruising, pale gums and bleeding.

Dogs suspected of suffering from the infection should be taken to the vet immediately for teatment.

Join our Hertfordshire Traffic and Travel Facebook Group

Join the Hertfordshire Traffic and Travel group for the latest on the roads, airways and train lines.

The group provides information to its members on the latest traffic and travel updates from across the region - from the M1 to the M11 to Greater Anglia train updates.

Please feel free to comment with any updates you have, as well as invite your friends.

 

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