Roundworms

Caused by: Ancylostoma duodenale, Ancylostoma ceylanicum, or Necator americanus. Initial symptoms include itching and a rash. People with heavy infection (high number of worms) may experience abdominal pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, and anemia. Some people infected may have a few symptoms or none at all. Hookworm eggs are passed in the stool of an infected person. Infection occurs when larvae penetrate exposed skin from contaminated soil, or less commonly, through ingestion. Incubation is typically 4 to 12 weeks; eggs can appear in stool 5 to 8 weeks from the time of infection. Larvae in soil are infectious for about 3-4 weeks. Untreated hookworm infections can last 1 to 5 years, but treatment reduces the infectious period to just 1 to 2 weeks. A follow-up stool test is recommended to confirm the infection has cleared. This is not a reportable illness. 

Exclusion: There is no exclusion from school settings.

Prevention: Do not walk barefoot in areas where hookworms are common or where stool contaminates the soil. Consider wearing gloves if gardening in areas where feces are in the soil. Regularly wash your hands, using soap and water, to prevent further spread. Do not use human stool as fertilizer for crops.

The most common worm infection in the U.S. Caused by: Enterobius vermicularis. They primarily cause intense itching around the bottom, especially at night, but are generally considered a nuisance rather than a severe health threat. Some infected individuals will experience no symptoms. Pinworms spread when an uninfected person swallows stool from an infected person. Stool can be on surfaces like bedding, bathroom fixtures, clothes, or toys. In a household, an infected child can spread pinworms by contaminating their fingers and touching the environment. It takes one to two months for someone to experience symptoms and start spreading pinworms through their stool. Someone is contagious as long as female pinworms are depositing eggs around the infected person’s anus. This is not a reportable illness. 

Exclusion: Students should be excluded from Child care or schools 24 hours after treatment is started. 

Prevention: Frequent, careful hand washing by child care staff, children, and household members. When a child wakes up, you may see worms around the rectum or in the stool. If you suspect pinworms, contact your healthcare provider. He/she may advise examining the whole family. Avoid scratching or touching the bare rectal area or biting nails. It is important to keep fingernails short, groomed, and clean. For several days after treatment: Bathe every morning (shower preferred), using a clean washcloth and towel, followed by a clean change of underclothing. Change bedding and clothing daily, and wash in hot water. Do not shake bedding to prevent spreading eggs through the air. Clean and vacuum the house daily.

Hookworms

Pinworms