The Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases has just received a case of patient V.T.N (57 years old, Bac Ninh) who came to the clinic with a digestive disorder that lasted for many months. The patient often had abdominal pain around the navel, had multiple bowel movements and lost about 2 kg. Through exploiting eating habits, the patient said that he often uses raw vegetables and some rare, raw dishes - factors that increase the risk of intestinal parasitic infections.
After a clinical examination and symptoms were assessed, doctors prescribed an endoscopy of the colon. During the implementation, the team of the Center for Digestive Endoscopy and Functional Examination suddenly discovered many white worms, about 0.30.5 cm long, residing in the colon.
The large number of worms shows that the patient has been infected with parasites for a long time but has not been detected due to atypical symptoms. Test results determined that this is hairy worm - a parasitic worm commonly found in the colon, transmitted through the digestive tract when food or hands come into contact with soil containing worm eggs.
Associate Professor, Dr. Le Tran Anh, Fungology - entomology expert (Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases) said: this is a case of severe intestinal worm infection with a large number of worms living in the colon, relatively rare in adults.
" Hair around appear in many countries, especially in warm, humid climates with limited hygiene conditions. Hair around can occur at any age but is more common in children due to frequent playing and direct contact with soil.
Prolonged hair worm infection can cause abdominal pain, anemia, malnutrition and affect the development of children. This parasite adheres to the intestinal lining to suck blood and nutrients, damaging the lining and leading to symptoms such as abdominal pain, digestive disorders, fatigue, micronutrient deficiency, anemia, and even rectal secretion.
"Dagnosis is based on worm egg feces or colunar endoscopy that directly detect worms in the intestines," said Associate Professor, Dr. Le Tran Anh.
Doctors recommend that people need to maintain personal hygiene and a clean living environment. Wash your hands with soap before eating and after going to the toilet. Eat cooked and drink boiled; Limit eating raw vegetables that are not washed and soaked thoroughly. Use safe domestic water sources. Keep your home clean; do not walk on dirt; do not let your children crawl or play directly on dirt. Proactively examine when there are signs of abnormality...
