Warning: Hook worms can kill you

MORE THAN one billion people worldwide have been diagnosed with hookworms and 20,000 infected people have died, according to pharmaceutical representative Joset Nkoy, who yesterday addressed a seminar on fungal infections/parasites at the Chamber of Commerce, Westmoorings. Nkoy noted that while death may be the worst case scenario, the infection, if left untreated for too long, can also affect a person’s brain.

Based on these staggering statistics, Nkoy noted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised that people should de-worm at least twice a year, and that this process should be done by the entire family unit, since worm infections are highly contagious. She noted that since family members usually shared items such as towels, sheets, and other household items, it was possible for the infection to be transported from one person to another. Looking at the symptoms associated with worm infection, Nkoy explained that quite a few people do not have any symptoms. However, she said the regular symptoms include itchy nose and anus, anemic irritability, loss or gain of appetite and loss of concentration.

Nkoy went on to explain that contrary to belief, worm infection is not caused by lack of cleanliness in the home, or eating sweets too late, but rather from eating foods that are not clean or that have not been prepared under sanitary conditions. She also added that failure to wash vegetables and fruits well enough to kill off bacteria, was another way of contracting worm infection. She said worm eggs adhere to clothing and bed linens, eventually contaminating the hands, while other worms can be picked up off the fur of cats and dogs. Infection can also come from inhaling infected eggs, which may be floating around in the air, from swallowing infected eggs and larvae, can be picked up in the garden, sand pit, beach sand and playgrounds and may also enter the skin through the feet of people who walk barefooted.

Nkoy explained that Vermox is one of the few drugs that can be used to totally destroy the infection. She explained that Vermox disintegrates the worms once it has killed them, so there is no passing of dead worms. Another area targeted was fungal infections such as severe thrush in babies, contagious nail fungus, dry and itchy scalp dandruff and athletes foot. The one-day seminar was hosted by Jassen-Cilag and Kappa Drugs.