Tapeworms vs. Pinworms: Which is more dangerous?

Does your little one complain about scratching his bottom at night? Or does he often complain about a stomach ache? Sometimes the cause of this can be a very common, but often overlooked, worm infection. Today, we will talk about two types of worms that are common among our people. They are pinworms and tapeworms.

Who are these pinworms and tapeworms?

Simply put, both are parasites that like to live in our digestive system, especially in the intestines. However, their appearance, behavior, and effects are slightly different.

Pinworms

Some people also call pinworms threadworms because they look like small white threads. Imagine a long, thin white worm as long as your stapler pin. This worm disease is the most common worm infection in the world, especially among school-age children .

Tapeworms

Tapeworms are a type of flatworm that looks like a ribbon. Their bodies are made up of small segments that are like a grain of rice . What's amazing is that a fully grown tapeworm can grow to be as long as 30 feet , which is as long as a school bus . However, tapeworm infections are not very common in our country.

How do these parasitic diseases enter our bodies?

The way these two enter our bodies is slightly different. It is very important to be aware of this.

How milk worms reproduce

This is very easy to spread. This happens when the worm eggs in the feces somehow enter our mouths. Think of it this way...

At night, when a child sleeps, the female pinworm comes out of the intestines and lays eggs in the skin around the anus. This causes the area to itch a lot. So, when a child scratches that area, thousands of tiny, invisible worm eggs can be found under the nails and on the fingertips .

Then, when you eat food with those dirty hands or put your fingers in your mouth, the eggs get back into your body. Also, these eggs can live on toys, tables, bedding, doorknobs, and other surfaces that are touched by those hands for up to 3 weeks. So, someone else who touches those things can also get the disease this way. This is where it spreads quickly, especially in preschools, where there are young children.

How tapeworms reproduce

Tapeworms are mainly transmitted by eating dirty, undercooked food .

• Raw or undercooked meat: Eating raw or undercooked beef , pork, or fish that may contain tapeworm eggs or larvae is a major cause.
• Contaminated water and food: This disease can also be transmitted by drinking water contaminated with worm eggs or by eating unwashed vegetables and fruits that have been washed in that water.

When a tapeworm enters the body, its head attaches to the wall of our intestines, feeding on the food we eat and continuing to grow. The old, egg-filled segments break off and are passed out in the feces.

What are the symptoms of these worm diseases?

Most of the time, these infections can be present without any symptoms. However, some people do show these symptoms. Let's see the difference between the two.

How is the disease diagnosed and treated?

If you or your child has these symptoms, see your doctor immediately . They are the ones who can properly diagnose the disease and prescribe treatment.

Diagnosis

• For pinworms: The doctor will tell you to do a "tape test." This means that when you wake up in the morning, before you go to the bathroom, you should put a piece of tape around your anus and then remove it. If there are any pinworm eggs, they will stick to it. Then they will look at them under a microscope in a lab to confirm.
• For tapeworms: A stool sample is tested to see if there are any worm eggs or worm fragments. Sometimes a blood test is done. If a condition such as cysticercosis is suspected, an MRI or CT scan may be done.

Treatment

There are antiparasitic medicines available as treatments for both of these worm diseases . It is essential to use these medicines as per the doctor's instructions.

• For tapeworms: The doctor will prescribe a medication like `Mebendazole` or `Albendazole`. The most important thing is that everyone in the household takes the medication on the same day. This is essential to prevent re-infection, even if symptoms disappear. Usually, you will be asked to take another dose of medication in two weeks.
• For tapeworms: Medications such as `Praziquantel` or `Albendazole` can kill the worms or cause them to pass out in the stool. In more complex cases such as `(Cysticercosis)`, hospitalization may be required for other medications (e.g. `Corticosteroids`) or even surgery.

How can you protect yourself from these worm diseases?

It's much easier to prevent illness than to treat it. Following these simple habits can make a big difference.

To prevent pinworm infections:

• Keep your nails short and clean.
• Take a shower every morning (this helps wash away the eggs you lay at night).
• Avoid scratching around the anus.
• Change underwear and bedding daily.
• Wash clothes, towels, and bedding in hot water.

To prevent tapeworm infections:

• Never eat meat or fish raw or undercooked. Cook until well cooked inside.
• Wash and clean vegetables and fruits thoroughly before eating.
• Thoroughly wash and clean cutting boards, knives, etc. used to handle raw meat.
• Placing meat and fish in the deep freezer for about 7 days can kill worm eggs.
• Drink only clean water. If you drink water from outside, use bottled water or water that has been boiled thoroughly for about a minute.

Worms, Pinworms, Tapeworms, Stomach aches, Children's Health