When last have you dewormed?
If you have made it thus far, it means that someone you know, love and care about, is suffering from a possible worm infestation.
Did you know?
Some preventative tips on how to keep your family worm-free.
Worm infestations
Quite often, there are no evident symptoms, yet very common symptoms may still occur.
- Paleness
- Swelling around the eyes
- Foul smelling breath or gas
- Grinding of teeth
- Loss of appetite
- Weakness
- Vomiting
- Tiredness
- Itchy bottom, especially at night
- Restlessness
1
2
3
4
5
1
When you suspect your child has threadworms
Use a torch, whilst looking for minute worms moving around the anus, close up and recheck after an hour, after the child has gone to bed. Stick a piece of tape over the anus. Any existing eggs will stick to the tape. Look for evident worms on the outside surface of faeces or around anus.
2
How contagious are threadworms?
Worms are highly contagious and are more prominent in crèche/school children. Children are more inclined to innocently share food, toys and stationery. It is here where invisible worm eggs are carried and transferred. Threadworms are simply spread by the ingestion of their tiny eggs. They often found gathering under fingernails, so keep fingernails short & clean and keep fingers out of the mouth.
3
Can I catch worms from my pets?
Worms cannot directly be transferred from pets to humans. It is possible however for the roundworm of dogs to infect humans indirectly. Human infection can occur if any kind of material containing pet excretion is swallowed. This can prove to be harmful and a serious medical problem, since the larvae of this worm can invade human tissues such as the liver, the brain or the eyes.
4
When contracting threadworms, are children the only ones who need treatment?
No, the entire family, Mom, Dad, siblings and pets, should be treated (with Cipex) simultaneously, to reducethe risk of re-infestation from one person to the next. Note that, not everyone with Threadworms will show symptoms. Always remember, after treatment, do an intensive ‘spring’ clean and vacuum in your home. Wash all worn clothes and bedding in hot water, killing any remaining eggs.
5
Can I do anything to prevent threadworm re-infestation?
- For several days after treatment, shower rather than have a bath to remove any remaining eggs from the anal region.
- Keep fingernails short and encourage thorough hand washing.
- Wash all worn clothes and bedding in hot water, killing any remaining eggs.
- Bathrooms and showers should be disinfected.
- Discourage children from sharing food and placing objects in their mouths.
- Rather encourage hand washing with soap & water.
- Keep fingernails short & clean and keep fingers out of the mouth.
- Deworming products do not protect humans from re-infestation and treats only the adult worms.
- Check roughly 2-4 weeks after initial dose and retreat if necessary.
- Disturbed sleep
- Gas-filled belly
- Loose stool or diarrhoea
- Mucus in the stool
- Blood in the stool
- Weight loss
- Bed wetting
- Visible worms may leave the body through the mouth, nose or anus while sleeping
- Itchy skin rash
- Swollen itchy bump on the site of the parasite entry (usually on the foot)
Pets and worms
Worms can be passed on from pets to children. The tapeworm, roundworm and hookworm can be transmitted from your pet, to you – the whipworm however, does not live in humans and can therefore not be transferred to you.
Worms can spread when your child:
- Touches or eats your pet’s stool
- Puts an object in their mouth, after the pet had it in its mouth
- Was licked through the face by your pet
What you need to know
About worms
Types of worms
Threadworm
Hookworm
Whipworm
| Worms found in Humans | Worms found in Dogs (found mainly in faeces) | Worms found in Cats (found mainly in vomit) |
|---|---|---|
| Threadworms (Strongyloides stercoralis) / Pinworms (Enterobiasis) – most common (not found in animals) | Tapeworms (Taenia spp) – common | Tapeworms (Taenia spp) – common |
| Flatworms (feed on blood, tissue & cells inside the body) Tapeworms (Taenia spp) (feed on partially digested food in the intestines) | Hookworms (Ancylostoma duodenale / Necator americanus) – most common (can be transmitted to humans) | Roundworms (Ascariasis) – most common (several kinds) |
| Roundworms (Ascariasis) such as Threadworms (Strongyloides stercoralis) Pinworms (Enterobiasis) Hookworms (Ancylostoma duodenale / Necator americanus) – most common | Roundworms (Ascariasis) – most common (can be transmitted to humans) | Hookworms (Ancylostoma duodenale / Necator americanus) – less common |
| Flatworms (invades lungs & liver) | ||
| Whipworms (Trichuriasis) – less common (do not live in humans) | ||
| Ringworms (not a worm, but a fungal infection) |
Tapeworm
Roundworm
Strongiloyd
Eradicate Worms
Cipex comes in orange flavoured chewable tablets & banana flavoured suspension, ideal for both children & adults.
Cipex is available at your nearest pharmacy
Downloadable activities for the kids
Cut-out Mask
Color-in
Worms & Ladders
