My little brother is always playing with the dog in the floor. My mom says he can get a worm from the dog so just in case she's not letting him play anymore with the animal.
Is it true? Can people get worms from their pets?
Yes. Roundworms and hookworms can be transmitted from pets to humans. Thousands of people in the U.S. become infected with roundworms and hookworms every year.
Ascarids are common intestinal parasites of dogs. They are also well-known causes of larva migrans syndromes in humans, especially children.
The most common worm that is of concern is the round worm. Not all worms are the same. The ones that infect animals or people are either round worms or flat worms (tape worms and flukes). What you commonly hear called 'puppy worms' is an infestation of ascrids.
Infants and small children are more susceptible to catching worms from pets as they have immature immune systems and often poor hygiene.
It is important to teach your children to wash their hands before eating. Equally important is to regularly treat your pets for worms.
Yes, humans can get worms and other "zoonotic" diseases from pets and pet parasites. The CDC says 14 percent of the U.S. population has internal roundworms. Learn more at a nonprofit Web site, www.petsandparasites.org. Washing hands after contact with a pet, removing pet waste from yards/sandboxes/etc. and administering year-round pet parasite control are keys to prevention.
