Which worms bite

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. The pinworm, also known as threadworm, is a very common intestinal parasite. The medical condition associated with pinworm infestation is known as enterobiasis. They are parasites, meaning that they use the human body to survive and reproduce. Human pinworms cannot infect any other animals.

Adult worms are just 0. They are white or cream colored and look like small pieces of thread. Pinworms can live for up to 6 weeks. If an individual only has a small number of adult worms, the symptoms will be mild, or there may be no symptoms at all.

Symptoms are worse with heavy or moderate infections. About 4 weeks after ingesting pinworm eggs, the mature females make their way out from the intestine to the anal area, where eggs are laid in a jelly-like substance. It is this substance that is believed to cause a person to itch, which usually happens at night. During the maturing and reproduction stages, a person with pinworms may experience:. If somebody is found to have an infection, all other members of the household should be treated too, even if they have no symptoms.

Strict hygiene measures can remedy pinworm infection and significantly reduce the risk of re-infection. The worm has a life span of about 6 weeks, so any hygiene measures taken need to last at least that long. When the infestation has gone, good hand-washing practice and hygiene will help prevent re-infection.

Good hygiene can prevent another outbreak even if children pick up another pinworm infection from friends at school. Eggs are transferred from the anus of an infected person to either their own mouth, re-infecting themselves, or another surface. If somebody else touches that contaminated surface and then touches their mouth, they may have ingested the eggs and can become infected.

The female pinworm lays eggs around the anus and vagina. The female pinworm releases an itchy mucus when laying her eggs, triggering an urge to scratch the affected area of the anus or vagina. From the hands, the eggs may be transferred to anything that is touched, including:. The eggs can survive for up to 3 weeks on surfaces. If they are touched, they will be transferred to the hands.

The microscopic eggs may become airborne and then be breathed in and swallowed. This can happen when shaking towels or bed sheets, for example. The eggs hatch in the intestines 1 to 2 months after being swallowed. After hatching, a female pinworm can lay more eggs. Small children are more likely to become infected because they tend to be less thorough about hand washing.

Children may also have long-lasting infections because they are swallowing fresh eggs continually. Many worm-like animals are predators, and they have large mouth parts to capture prey. Bobbit worms Eunice aphroditois burrow in marine environments, and they can be unexpected aquarium pests.

The mouth is a pharynx that turns inside out to form hair-triggered pincers capable of slashing prey. Bristle worms Polychaete present poisoned hairs that can lodge in your skin, causing paralysis.

Slow worms Anguis fragilis are legless lizards resembling snakes, but they'll only bite for defense. The larvae of some insects resemble worms in appearance and behavior. Some of them, such as the screw-worm fly larvae, will invade the bodies of mammals and eat living flesh until they mature, then leave their hosts to pupate on the ground. They're named for their corkscrew movement through flesh. These attack humans and livestock, causing serious injury.

For centuries, leeches have been used all around the world in bloodletting. The practice faded in the 19th century, but it's still used in some cases, such as draining excess blood from reattached body parts.

Maggots will clean wounds of dead tissue, but they leave live tissue alone. Practiced since the times of the Mayas, this is called biodebridement. It's beginning to see more use, because more and more bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics.

An ecological blogger, technical writer and trainer, Alex Silbajoris also leads a nonprofit watershed group. These may include:. As trichinosis worms travel through the bloodstream and enter other tissue or muscles, they can cause:. The main treatment is prescription antiparasitic medication. This family of drugs can kill parasites and help pass them through your system. In very severe cases in which parasites have invaded other parts of the body, additional treatments like surgery and other medications to address additional problems caused by the parasites may be necessary.

Ask your doctor if you should follow a special diet or take nutritional supplements during this time. Follow up with your doctor as advised. Most people respond well to treatment and feel better within a few weeks. A full recovery can be expected in most cases. Shop for kitchen cleaning supplies.

Shop for hand sanitizers. Intestinal worms may clear up on their own, but you should see a doctor if you experience noticeable symptoms. Pinworms are the cause of a highly contagious intestinal infection in humans. Pinworm infection is most common in children between the ages of 5 and…. Hookworms are parasites that affect the small intestine and lungs. Learn more about symptoms and treatment options for this infection.

Roundworms are a type of parasitic worm. Infections caused by roundworms are relatively common. Ascariasis is the most common roundworm infection. You may know that heartworms are very dangerous for dogs. But what about heartworms in humans? There are many dangerous signs of infections, and you might not even realize you have been bitten or infested until some time later. A toxoplasmosis test toxoplasma test determines if the Toxoplasma gondii parasite has infected you.

Learn about testing during pregnancy and more. Trichinosis is a disease caused by a roundworm infection. Learn about its symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and how to prevent it. Bird mites are found throughout the United States. Although bird mites feed on the blood of birds, they also bite humans.

Learn more about these mites,. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect.