Dog worm in humans: symptoms, treatment and how to avoid

Dog worm in humans is an infection caused by some parasites that can cause symptoms such as red lines on the skin, nausea, swelling in the abdomen and difficulty seeing, depending on the parasite involved and the location of the affected body.

This infection is also known as cutaneous larva migrans or geographic bug, when it is caused by parasites such as Ancylostoma braziliense or Canine hookwormand visceral or ocular larva migrans, when caused by Toxocara sp. Understand better what the geographic animal is.

If you suspect dog worm, it is recommended to consult an infectious disease specialist, dermatologist, in case of skin symptoms, or ophthalmologist, if changes in vision appear. Treatment is usually done with antiparasitic medications, such as albendazole and mebendazole.

Main symptoms

The main symptoms of dog worm in humans are:

• Small red dot or ball on the skin;
• Red, tortuous lines on the skin, forming a path that increases over time;
• Intense itching of the skin, which worsens at night;
• Fever;
• Nausea;
• Vomiting;
• Abdominal pain;
• Persistent cough;
• Wheezing in the chest;
• Bumps in body parts;
• Swelling in the abdomen, due to enlargement of the liver and spleen.

Symptoms vary according to the part of the dog’s body affected by the worm and the type of worm, being more common on the skin of the feet or legs when the parasite enters the body through skin contact with contaminated soil.

In some cases, the parasite can reach the eyeball, causing difficulty in seeing, redness, pain and itching in the eye, the appearance of white spots in the pupil and, in the most serious cases, loss of vision. See more symptoms of dog worm in the eye.

How to confirm the diagnosis

The diagnosis of dog worm in humans is normally made by an infectious disease specialist or general practitioner taking into account the symptoms present and the results of blood tests, such as blood counts and testing for antibodies against the parasite.

Make an appointment with your nearest doctor, using the following tool, to investigate the possibility of worms in your dog:

In addition, it is also possible to consult a dermatologist, in case of changes in the skin, or an ophthalmologist, if changes in vision appear, to confirm the diagnosis.

How transmission happens

When the parasite is the Toxocara sp.transmission of the dog worm occurs through the consumption of offal or undercooked meat from other infected animals, such as rabbits or birds, or accidental ingestion of parasite eggs that are released with the feces of the sick animal.

In the case of parasites such as Ancylostoma braziliense e Canine hookworm, the dog worm is transmitted by direct contact with larvae present in the soil, which are capable of penetrating the skin. These larvae form from eggs released in the sick animal’s feces.

How the treatment is carried out

Treatment for dog worm in humans must be guided by a doctor, and it is important to continue treatment even if there are no more symptoms. Typically, treatment involves the use of antiparasitic drugs, such as albendazole, thiabendazole or mebendazole for 5 days. Understand better how dog worms are treated.

When the infection affects the eyes, the doctor usually also recommends the use of corticosteroids in the form of eye drops or tablets to reduce inflammation and prevent the progression of the disease.

How to avoid getting worms from your dog

To avoid catching the worm from your dog, you must:

• Do not walk barefoot in places that may be contaminated with animal fecessuch as beaches, gardens, parks or streets;
• Wash hands, always after playing with animals and before preparing or consuming food;
• Do not consume untreated or filtered waterdue to the risk of contamination;
• Avoid eating meat or offal from animals such as rabbit or undercooked poultry.especially when you are not sure of its quality.

Furthermore, anyone who has a pet should always collect the poop when taking the animal outside, for example, as well as carry out regular deworming.