Intestinal Worms Can Reach the Brain, Warns Dr Anil Aggarwal on National Deworming Day
Surgeon highlights risks of anaemia, malnutrition and serious complications, urges families not to ignore symptoms or delay treatment
Intestinal worms are often dismissed as a routine stomach problem, with many people assuming that the infection affects only children. However, untreated parasitic infections can lead to anaemia, malnutrition and, in certain cases, serious complications involving the brain and other organs. On the occasion of National Deworming Day, award-winning surgeon Dr Anil Aggarwal of Aggarwal Hospital, Jagadhri, urged people not to take intestinal worm infections lightly and to seek timely medical advice.
Dr Aggarwal said that thousands of children and adults continue to suffer from worm infections, but embarrassment, lack of awareness and negligence often prevent them from getting timely treatment. He said the consequences can go beyond abdominal pain, affecting nutritional health, physical development and overall well-being.
How Certain Worm Infections Can Affect the Brain
Explaining a serious complication, Dr Aggarwal referred to infection caused by the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium. He explained that when a person accidentally swallows the parasite’s eggs through food, water or hands contaminated with human faecal matter, the larvae can spread through the bloodstream and form cysts in body tissues, including the brain. The condition is known as neurocysticercosis.
According to the doctor, the infection may cause seizures, severe headaches, vomiting, dizziness and memory-related problems, depending on the location and extent of the cysts. He cautioned families against attributing seizures or unusual neurological symptoms to superstition or supernatural causes, and advised prompt medical evaluation. Such symptoms need assessment by qualified medical professionals and should not be treated as proof of a particular infection.
Dr Aggarwal said people should understand how infections spread and take basic precautions, including washing hands properly, cleaning fruits and vegetables, drinking safe water and ensuring that meat is thoroughly cooked. Maintaining sanitation and preventing contamination of food and water are important steps in reducing the risk of infection.
Symptoms That Should Not Be Ignored
The doctor listed several symptoms that may be associated with intestinal worm infections. Persistent or recurring complaints should be discussed with a healthcare professional. These include:
- Repeated abdominal pain, bloating or discomfort.
- Loss of appetite or unusually increased hunger without healthy weight gain.
- Paleness, tiredness, breathlessness or other signs that may indicate anaemia.
- Poor weight gain, delayed growth or difficulty concentrating in children.
- Itching around the anus, particularly at night.
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea.
- Worms visible in the stool.
Explaining the link between worms and anaemia, Dr Aggarwal said hookworms attach themselves to the intestinal wall and feed on blood, which can gradually contribute to iron deficiency and anaemia. Prolonged infection may lead to weakness and nutritional deficiencies. Children and women can be particularly vulnerable to the effects of anaemia, while poor nutrition during childhood may affect healthy physical and cognitive development.
Persistent abdominal symptoms, unexplained anaemia, poor growth or seizures should never be ignored. Seek medical advice instead of relying on assumptions or self-medication.
Hygiene and Timely Treatment Are Essential
Dr Aggarwal advised families to adopt simple preventive measures in daily life. These include washing hands with soap before eating and after using the toilet, wearing footwear while walking outdoors, washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly, drinking clean water and avoiding open defecation. Parents should keep children’s nails trimmed and discourage them from putting soil or dirty objects in their mouths.
He also highlighted the importance of deworming programmes for children and said families should follow the schedule and dosage recommended by health authorities or qualified healthcare professionals. Albendazole is used in public deworming programmes, but the appropriate timing and dose should be followed according to official guidance and a child’s age and medical circumstances.
Pet owners, he added, should consult veterinarians about regular deworming of their animals so that their health and hygiene are also properly maintained.
Surgical Cases Highlight the Need for Awareness
Recounting cases from his professional experience, Dr Aggarwal said he had operated on an eight-year-old child whose intestine had become blocked by a mass of worms. He said nearly one kilogram of roundworms was removed during the operation.
In another case, he removed a hydatid cyst weighing around two kilograms from a patient’s liver. He also recalled removing a tapeworm measuring approximately 10 feet from a patient’s intestine.
The cases, he said, underline why symptoms should not be dismissed and why timely diagnosis and treatment matter. He urged parents to pay attention to recurring stomach complaints, poor growth, unexplained weakness or other persistent symptoms in children, and to seek medical advice rather than relying on home remedies or assumptions.
“Do not take intestinal worms lightly. Follow medical advice, take prescribed treatment on time and maintain cleanliness. Prevention, awareness and timely care can protect children and families from avoidable complications,” Dr Aggarwal said.
National Deworming Day promotes awareness and prevention of intestinal worm infections. Follow official deworming guidance, maintain hand and food hygiene, and consult a healthcare professional if symptoms persist or seizures occur.
