Worms and other intestinal parasites which infect human being are found in all countries of the world. However, they are more common in tropical and sub-tropical areas and are widely prevalent during the rainy season. Children are more often infected with intestinal worms than adults.Worms and other intestinal parasites which infect human being are found in all countries of the world. However, they are more common in tropical and sub-tropical areas and are widely prevalent during the rainy season. Children are more often infected with intestinal worms than adults.

• Contaminated food, dirty fingers and food: Roundworms are caused by eating contaminated food. Threadworms may enter the body from dirty fingers and food.
• Enter the human body through bare foot: Hookworms enter the human body through bare foot walking on infected earth. Tapeworms are transmitted to the body through undercooked flesh foods or foods contaminated by dogs.
• Faulty living: The real cause of intestinal worms, however, is faulty living. The eggs of these worms, taken into the human body through food, and water, can breed in the intestines only if they find there are a suitable medium for their propagation. This medium is an intestinal tract clogged with morbid matter.

• Diarrhea, foul breath, dark circles under the eyes: The usual symptoms of intestinal worms are diarrhea, foul breath, dirk circles under the eyes, constant desire for food, and restlessness at night with bad dreams, anaemia and headaches.
• Inflammation of the intestine and lungs, nausea, vomiting: Round-worms may give rise to the inflammation of the intestine and lungs, nausea, vomiting, loss of weight, fever, nervousness and irritability.
• Anaemia and nutritional disorders, constipation: Threadworms may cause intense itching in the area around the rectum. They may also cause periodic bouts of diarrhea alternating with constipation, loss of weight, cough and fever. Hookworms may give rise to anaemia and nutritional disorders. The eggs of these parasites are introduced into the human system through the medium of food or water.

• Coconut: Among the numerous home remedies found beneficial in the treatment of intestinal worms, the use of coconut is most effective. It is an ancient remedy for expelling all kinds of intestinal worms. A tablespoon of freshly ground coconut should be taken at breakfast, followed by 30 to 60 ml of castor oil mixed with 250 to 375 ml of lukewarm milk after three hours. This process may be repeated till the cure is complete.
• Garlic: Both fresh garlic and its oil are effective. An ancient method of its administration was to place a couple of cloves fresh garlic in each shoe. As the person walked, the cloves got crushed, and the worm-killing garlic oil was absorbed by the skin and carried by the blood into the intestines easily, as it possessed a powerful penetrative force. This ancient method is worth a trial by those who do no not like the taste of garlic and cannot eat it. Those who can eat raw garlic, however, should chew three cloves of garlic every morning.
• Carrot: Carrots are valuable in the elimination of threadworms among children as they are offensive to all parasites. A small cup of grated carrot taken every morning, with no other food added to the meal, can clear these worms quickly.
• Papaya: The digestive enzyme papain in the milky juice of the unripe papaya is a powerful agent for destroying roundworms. Papaya seeds are also useful for this purpose. They are rich in a substance called caricin which is a very effective medicine for expelling roundworms. The alkaloid carpaine found in papaya leaves also has the power to destroy or expel intestinal worms.
• Pumpkin: The seeds of ripe pumpkin are useful in intestinal worms, especially tapeworms. One tablespoon of the seeds should be peeled and crushed, and then infused in 250 ml of boiling water and drunk. This will kill the parasites and help in expelling the tapeworms. It will be necessary to fast for a day and empty the intestines by taking the juice of boiled dry prunes. The next day, three or four tumblers of the pumpkin seed infusion should be taken.

• Good hand washing is important. Before and after bathroom; before and after dinner.
• Keep fingernails short and clean. Keep child from putting fingers into the mouth).
• Have all your four-legged pets checked and treated for worms.
• Cook meat thoroughly.
• Wash utensils that come in contact with raw meat with hot soapy water.
• Wear shoes where worms may live i.e., soil.