How can a person get worms from a dog? - briefly
A person can get worms from a dog through contact with the dog's feces or soil contaminated by the dog's feces. This is particularly common with roundworms and hookworms, which can be present in the dog's stool.
How can a person get worms from a dog? - in detail
Humans can contract intestinal parasites, commonly known as worms, from dogs through several routes of transmission. This occurrence is more common in children and individuals with compromised immune systems due to their increased susceptibility.
One primary method of transmission is through fecal-oral contamination. Dogs infected with worms such as roundworms (Toxocara canis) or hookworms (Ancylostoma caninum) may shed eggs in their feces. If a person comes into contact with the infected feces, either directly or indirectly through contaminated soil or surfaces, and then touches their mouth without proper hand hygiene, they can ingest the eggs. These eggs hatch in the human intestine, leading to an infection known as toxocariasis.
Another route of transmission is through contact with the dog's fur or skin. Dogs that have been rolling in contaminated soil or have licked their infected paws can transfer worm eggs to their fur. When a person pets or plays with the dog and then touches their face, mouth, or eyes, they risk ingesting or coming into contact with the parasite eggs.
In rare cases, humans can also contract worms from dogs through the larval stage of certain parasites. For instance, the larvae of roundworms can penetrate human skin and migrate to various parts of the body, causing a condition called visceral larva migrans. This occurs when people come into contact with contaminated soil or surfaces where infected dog feces are present.
To mitigate the risk of contracting worms from dogs, it is essential to maintain good hygiene practices. Regularly washing hands after handling dogs or their environments, preventing dogs from licking faces, and ensuring that pets receive regular deworming treatments can significantly reduce the likelihood of transmission. Additionally, keeping public areas clean, such as playgrounds and parks, where dogs may defecate, is crucial for minimizing the risk to the general population.