How can roundworms harm humans

Here are a few places you could pick up roundworms. Puppies and Kittens All puppies and kittens are considered infected with roundworms. Pet Waste Roundworms can cause disease in humans if we unknowingly eat the microscopic eggs that infected cats and dogs shed in their feces. Soil Roundworm eggs can survive in soil for years, and people can come in contact with them by eating improperly washed food, such as salad greens or root vegetables.

Learn more. Tapeworms Tapeworms are long, segmented worms that live in the intestine. Humans can get tapeworms from their pets in a few ways. Ingesting Tapeworm Eggs Humans can become infected with one type of tapeworm, called Echinococcus, if they unknowingly ingest eggs that have contaminated an area through a dog's feces.

Hookworms Pets can pick up hookworms — thin, short worms with sharp mouths that hook into the lining of the intestine and feed off blood — by eating the small, worm-like infective stages found in the soil. Contact with Contaminated Soil Hookworms can also affect people. Dealing with Worms Pet owners can choose from a range of worming products for their dog or cat , including spot-on treatments and tablets.

What Causes Toxocariasis? What Happens in Toxocariasis? Symptoms depend on what part of the body is affected, and can include: fever coughing or wheezing belly pain an enlarged liver loss of appetite a rash that sometimes looks like hives enlarged lymph nodes "swollen glands" vision problems.

The eye can be red and painful, the eyes can look crossed, or vision can get blurred or cloudy. If not treated, it can lead to blindness in the affected eye.

How Is Toxocariasis Diagnosed? How Is Toxocariasis Treated? Can Toxocariasis Be Prevented? To help protect your kids from exposure to the eggs or larvae that cause toxocariasis: Take your pets to the veterinarian to be dewormed, especially puppies younger than 6 months old.

Since so many puppies and kittens are already infected at birth, it is very important that all of them are given appropriate worming medication at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of age.

Likewise all new pets regardless of age should receive treatments as soon as possible. The goal is not just to try to avoid infection but also to stop the shedding of eggs in the stool before they contaminate your environment and become an ongoing source for infection for your pets and your family.

A single adult, female roundworm can lay hundreds of thousands of eggs in one day; and the eggs are very difficult to kill in the environment and can survive for years.

Remember, however, that the eggs that are shed in the feces are not yet capable of causing infection. Depending on environmental conditions, it can take 1 to 4 weeks or so for that development to occur.

Therefore, be diligent about cleaning up after your pets. Dispose of all feces promptly - at least once a week. Wash vegetables well to remove any dirt, do not let your children eat dirt, and discourage your pet from hunting.

And see your veterinarian for parasite testing and to discuss appropriate products for year round prevention and control of parasites in order to protect your pets and your family. If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian — they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.

Learn more about zoonotic diseases. However, there's a risk of permanent vision loss if one of the eyes is affected. Toxocariasis is rare in the UK, although it's hard to determine exactly how many cases occur every year, as the condition is often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed.

Many people are likely to have been exposed to the parasites without knowing it. Page last reviewed: 13 June Next review due: 13 June Overview - Toxocariasis Contents Overview Prevention.

However, cases have been reported in people of all ages. Signs and symptoms For most people, an infection with these roundworm larvae causes no symptoms and the parasites die within a few months. However, some people experience mild symptoms, such as: a cough a high temperature of 38C or above headaches stomach pain In rare cases, the roundworm larvae infect organs such as the liver, lungs, eyes or brain and cause severe symptoms, such as: fatigue loss of appetite or weight loss skin rashes wheezing or breathing difficulties seizures fits blurred or cloudy vision, usually only affecting one eye a very red and painful eye When to see your GP See your GP as soon as possible if you think you or your child have symptoms that may be caused by toxocariasis.

Why it happens The roundworm parasites responsible for toxocariasis called Toxocara live in the digestive system of dogs, cats and foxes. Reducing your risk The best way to reduce the chances of developing toxocariasis is to practise good hygiene. Read more about preventing toxocariasis.