What is a worm infection?
Worm infestation of the digestive tract by parasites may cause disruption of digestive processes. Worm infections in humans are commonly of two kinds – roundworm infection and pinworm infection. Roundworm infection: This infection is caused by an intestinal worm Ascaris lumbricoides. This worm lives in the intestines of humans where it breeds and completes its life cycle. A person is infected by this worm by ingesting its eggs, which may be present in contaminated food. The eggs hatch into larvae which penetrate the intestine and may also be transferred into the blood stream. An adult ascaris female produces about 200,000 eggs a day which are excreted from the individual’s stools. These eggs become infective after some days, and if they are accidentally ingested, they cause the infection. Pigs are often carriers of roundworm eggs. If their faeces are used as fertilizers, crops can become infected with the eggs.
