Intestinal worms enter the human body through ingestion of the worm eggs in food or water via dirty hands or through injured skin when walking barefoot. Examples include: 
<b>Ascariasis Ascaris lumbricoides (round worm). Infests small intestines</b><br>yy Oro-faecal transmission yy Usually few or no symptoms yy Persistent dry irritating cough
yy Patient may pass out live worms through the anus, nose, or mouth yy Pneumonitis- Loeffler’s syndrome yy Heavy infestations may cause nutritional deficiencies yy Worms may also cause obstruction to bowel, bile duct, pancreatic duct, or appendix <br><b>Enterobiasis (threadworm) Enterobias vermicularis</b><br>yy Transmitted by faecal-oral route yy Mainly affects children yy Intense itching at the anal orifice <br><b>Hook worm Caused by Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale</b><br>yy Chronic parasitic infestation of the intestines yy Transmitted by penetration of the
skin by larvae from the soil yy Dermatitis (ground itch) yy Cough and inflammation of the
trachea (tracheitis) common during larvae migration phase yy Iron-deficiency anaemia yy Reduced blood proteins in heavy infestations <br>Strongyloidiasis Strongyloides stercoralis</b><br> yy Skin symptoms: Itchy eruption at the site of larval penetration
yy Intestinal symptoms e.g. abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and weight loss yy Lung symptoms due to larvae in the lungs, e.g. cough and wheezing yy Specific organ involvement, e.g. meningoencephalitis yy Hyperinfection syndrome: Occurs when immunity against auto-infection fails, e.g. in immunosuppressed cases<br><b>Trichuriasis Whip worm Infests human caecum and upper colon </b><br>yy May be symptomless yy Heavy infestation may cause bloody, mucoid stools, and diarrhoea
yy Complications include anaemia and prolapse of the rectum 