Different Types of Intestinal Worms

Intestinal worms are a type of parasitic infection that you can get by eating or drinking contaminated foods or beverages, swimming in contaminated water or walking on contaminated soil barefoot. Worms that infect your intestines can cause serious illness and medical complications if left untreated, although infections can be prevented through careful hygiene and other measures of protecting yourself. According to the Centers for Disease Control and the Mayo Clinic, the types of intestinal worms include tapeworms and hookworms.

Ascaris

• Ascaris is the most common type of intestinal worm that may infect you, and the females can grow up to 12 inches long inside of your intestines.

Dracunculiasis

• Dracunculiasis is a disease caused by the Dracunculus medinensis worm, and is caused by drinking contaminated water and results in worms that grow in your intestines and exit through your skin.

Hookworms

• Hookworms can infect you after you walk through contaminated soil, and establish residence in your intestines, causing symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal cramps.

Pinworms

• Enterobius vermicularis are more commonly known as pinworms and can infect the intestines of anyone, especially children and people with chronic illnesses.

Schistosomiasis

• Schistosomiasis is a disease caused by worms that come into contact with your skin through exposure while swimming or walking through lakes or rivers.

Tapeworms

• You can become infected with tapeworms by eating undercooked meat such as pork or beef that contains either the worms or their eggs.