Question

What are the diseases caused by worms ?

Answer 1

Some of the diseases caused by worms are:

1. Ascariasis is caused by parasitic roundworm Ascaris. It occurs by swallowing food contaminated with Ascaris eggs. It mostly infects intestines and may travel to lungs and other organs also.
2. Kala azar also known as leishmaniasis is a chronic and fatal parasitic disease caused by the parasite Leishmania donovani. It is transmitted by sandflies. It affects the internal visceral organs like liver, spleen, bone marrow, lymph nodes etc.
3. Teniasis is an infection of the intestines with the adult tapeworm Taenia saginata.Taeniasis is usually asymptomatic, although mild, non-specific abdominal symptoms including nausea, anorexia and abdominal pain are sometimes reported. The infection is transmitted by consuming food water etc. contaminated with tapeworm eggs.

4. Cysticercosis is an infection of any tissue, usually in the central nervous system or muscle, with the larval form of the parasite Taenia solium or Taenia saginata. Symptoms of Cysteriosis may be epileptiform attacks, headaches, learning difficulties and convulsions. The infection is transmitted by eating raw or uncooked pork meat.