Worms can be effectively controlled by periodic chemotherapy (deworming) with safe, cheap and single-dose drugs. Treatment should ideally be implemented alongside improvements in sanitation and health education. Deworming can improve children's growth and benefit their learning by increasing primary school attendance.

How do you know if you have helminths?

Generally flu-like symptoms are common, including a high temperature and muscle aches. Symptoms may also include a skin rash, cough and abdominal pain. In more chronic infections, inflammation occurs in areas of the body where eggs have lodged, such as the bladder, intestine, lungs, liver and even the brain.

Which is the best way of controlling human intestinal worms?

Albendazole and mebendazole are effective drugs to treat all species. Levamisole is effective against S. lumbricoides and hookworm, and pyrantel pamoate is effective against A. lumbricoides.