Worms in Humans

Some types of worms can infect people.
Different types of worms can be caught in the UK, and also abroad.
Most worm infections are not serious and can be easily treated with medicine.

A pharmacist can help with worm infections

A pharmacist can provide help if you have:

• Small, white worms in your poo that look like pieces of threads
• Extreme itching around your anus, particularly at night

This is probably threadworms

They're common in the UK and can be treated with medicine from a pharmacy.
 

When should I see/speak to a GP?

You should see a GP if you:

• Find a large worm or piece of worm in your poo
• Have a red, itchy worm-shaped rash on your skin
• Have sickness, diarrhoea or a stomach ache for longer than 2 weeks
• You are losing weight for no reason

These could be symptoms of something like Roundworm, Hookworm or Tapeworm.

These infections are usually caught whilst travelling. They can take a long time to cause symptoms, so tell the GP if you have been abroad in the last 2 years.
 

What treatment do I use to get rid of worms?

All worm infections are treated in a similar way, no matter which type of worm ou have.

You might be asked to provide a sample of poo, so it can be tested for worm eggs.

If you have worms, a GP will prescribe medicine to kill the worms. You take this for 1 to 3 days, and the people in your house may also need to be treated.

Any worms in your gut will eventually pass out in your poo. You may not notice this happen.

To avoid becoming infected again or infecting others, it's very important during the weeks after starting treatment to wash your hands:

• After going to the toilet
• Before eating or preparing food
• Regularly during the day

IMPORTANT

Go back  to the GP if your symptoms do not get better in 2 weeks or you keep getting live worms in your poo.

How do I catch worms?

Worms are mainly spread in small bits of poo from people with a worm infection. Some are caught from food.

You can get infected by:

• Touching objects or surfaces with worm eggs on them - If someone with worms does not 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
• Walking barefoot on soil containing worms - Only a risk in parts of the world without modern toilets or sewage systems
• Eating raw or undercookd beef, pork or freshwater fish (Like salmon or trout) containing baby worms - more common in parts of the world with poor food hygiene standards

You can catch some worms from pets, but this is rare
 

How to prevent worm infections

Do

• Wash your hands before eating or preparing food, and after touching soil or using the toilet
• Only drink bottled or boiled water in high-risk areas (Places without modern toilets or sewage systems)
• Deworm pets (Dogs and cats regularly)
• Dispose of dog or cat poo in a bin as soon as possible
• Thoroughly wash garden-grown fruit and vegetables

Don't

• Do not let children play in areas where there's a lot of dog or cat poo
• Do not eat raw fruit and vegetables in high-risk areas
• Do not walk barefoot in high-risk areas
• Do not eat raw or undercooked pork, beef or freshwater fish
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