worm infestation is a major public health issue, particularly in developing countries. bBy health education, community can be made aware about various behavioral practices that may help in lowering its incidence.

1. LESSON PLAN FOR HEALTH
EDUCATION
TOPIC- WORM INFESTATION
BY- GEETA JOSHI
JNV NAINITAL

3. S
,
N
O
TOPIC CONTENT TIM
E
TEAC
HING
ACTIV
ITY
LEAR
NING
ACTI
VITY
A/
V
AI
DS
EVALUAT
ION
0
1
0
2
Introduc
tion
Definitio
n
Worm infections continue to be among the most common
diseases affecting children from low and middle income
countries. Major worm infections of public health importance
include Ascariasis, Trichuriasis, Hookworm, and Enterobiasis,
which are transmitted through contaminated soil. In India,
combined prevalence rates of worm infestation as per pooled
data of 127 surveys is over 20%. Although most helminthic
infections are mild and are often asymptomatic, but moderate
to heavy worm infestations are generally associated with growth
faltering, nutritional compromise, anemia and suboptimal
academic performance among children from endemic regions.
worm infection, is any macro- parasitic disease in which a part
of the body is infected with parasitic worms, known as
helminths.
2
minu
tes
2
minu
tes
Do you
have any
idea about
worm
infestation
?.
Define
worm
infestation
.

4. 0
3
0
4
Causativ
e
organism
s of
worm
infestati
on
Predispo
sing
factors
Types of helminths;
1. Whipworms
2. Roundworm
3. Flatworm
4. Hookworm
5. Guinea worm
6. Threadworm
7. Filarial worm
PREDISPOSING FACTORS;
 Unsanitary conditions
 Malnutrition
 Improperly cooked meals
 Improper hygiene
2
minu
tes
4
minu
tes
What are
the types
of worms?
What are
the
predisposi
ng factors
for worm
infestation
?

5. 0
5
Mode of
transmis
sion
>faecal-oral transmission of eggs or larvae passed in the faeces
of one host and ingested with food/water by another (e.g.
ingestion of Trichuris eggs leads directly to gut infections in
humans, while the ingestion of Ascaris eggs and Strongyloides
larvae leads to a pulmonary migration phase before gut
infection in humans).
>transdermal transmission of infective larvae in the soil (geo-
helminths) actively penetrating the skin and migrating through
the tissues to the gut where adults develop and produce eggs
that are voided in host faeces (e.g. larval hookworms
penetrating the skin, undergoing pulmonary migration and
infecting the gut where they feed on blood causing iron-
deficient anaemia in humans).
>vector-borne transmission of larval stages taken up by blood-
sucking arthropods or undergoing amplification in aquatic
molluscs (e.g. Onchocerca microfilariae ingested by blackflies
and injected into new human hosts, Schistosoma eggs release
miracidia to infect snails where they multiply and form
cercariae which are released to infect new hosts).
>predator-prey transmission of encysted larvae within prey
animals (vertebrate or invertebrate) being eaten by predators
where adult worms develop and produce eggs (e.g. Dracunculus
larvae in copepods ingested by humans leading to guinea worm
05
minu
tes
How are
worms
transmitte
d?

6. 0
6
Clinical
manifest
ations of
worm
infestati
on
infection, Taenia cysticerci in beef and pork being eaten by
humans, Echinococcus hydatid cysts in offal being eaten by
dogs)
CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS:
 Loss of appetite
 Abdominal pain & discomfort
 Itching around the anus
 Irritation and sleeplessness
 Unexplained weight loss and failure to gain weight
 Worms visible in stool
 Blood in stool
 Anaemia
 Nausea and vomiting
 Diarrhoea and dysentery
10
minu
tes
What are
the signs
and
symptoms
of worm
infestation
?

7. 0
7
Treatme
nt of
worm
Mebendazole- 100 mg chewable tablet
5
minu
tes Which
medicines
are used
to treat
worm
infestation
?

8. infestati
on
Albendazole- 400 mg tablet
Diethyl carbamazine for filarial worm- 2mg/kg TDS
Pyrantel for pin worm- 10mg/kg

9. 0
8
Preventi
on from
worm
infestati
on
 Avoid open defecation- as the larva and eggs of helminths
are excreted in faeces, open defecation results in
transmission of worms via faeco- oral or skin route.
 Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before
consumption- developmental stages of worms may enter
the food chain from soil to the fruits and vegetables.
 Keep nails clean and short- may act as a transporter of
worms or their eggs from the environment to the inside
of the body.
 Keep food covered- flies may act as a vector for
transmission of worms.
 Always wear slippers outside and wash your feet after
coming from outside- worms may get access directly
through the skin such as hookworm.
10
minu
tes
How can
you
prevent
transmissi
on of the
worms?

10.  Cook meat thoroughly before consumption- Raw or
undercooked meat is a way, tapeworms and flukes can find
their way into people.
 Drink clean water- tapeworms can enter the body by
drinking water contaminated with their eggs or larvae.

11. 5
minu
tes
What are
the WHO
recommen
dations
for
deworming
?

12. 0
9
National
dewormi
ng day
DEWORMING-
RECOMMENDATIONS BY WORLD HEALTH
ORGANISATION-
Preventive chemotherapy (deworming), using annual or biannual
single-dose albendazole (400 mg) or mebendazole (500 mg) is
recommended as a public health intervention for all young
children 12–23 months of age, preschool children 1–4 years of
age, and school-age children 5–12 years of age (in some settings
up to 14 years of age) living in areas where the baseline
prevalence of any soil-transmitted infection is 20% or more
among children, in order to reduce the worm burden of soil-
transmitted helminth infection.
a
Biannual administration is recommended where the baseline
prevalence is more than 50%.
b
A half-dose of albendazole (i.e. 200 mg) is recommended for
children younger than 24 months of age.
 Whe
n is
nati
onal
dew
ormi
ng
day
cele
brat
ed?
 Wha
t is
the
obje

13. REFERENCES
 F. Kayser, K. Bienz, J. Eckert, R, M, Zinkernagel- Color atlas of medical microbiology,
Thieme Stuttgart, 543- 605
 K. D. Tripathi- Essentials of Medical Pharmacology, 7th
edition, Jaypee Brothers medical
publishers, 850-852
National Deworming Day
With the aim to spread awareness and eradicate intestinal
worms among children in India, the Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare, observes the National Deworming Day (NDD)
twice a year on February 10 and August 10 across the nation,
since 2015. The NDD is followed by Mop-Up Day (MUD) a few
days later, with the intent of deworming children who missed
the dose on the main day. The activity is carried out in all
government and government aided schools as well as Anganwadi
centres throughout the country.
ctiv
e of
mop
- up
day?

14.  https://www.who.int/intestinal_worms/more/en/
 https://parasite.org.au/para-site/contents/helminth-intoduction.html
 https://www.nhp.gov.in/national-deworming-day_pg
 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov