What Is Toxocariasis? Toxocariasis (tox-oh-keh-RYE-eh-sis) is a human infection caused by a type of worm that can live in the intestines of dogs and cats. It is most common in young children and pet owners, but anyone can get it.
Can my dog give my child worms?
The worms' eggs or larvae are passed from pets through stool. You can pick up hookworms through your skin from walking barefoot or playing outside. A young child might also accidentally eat the worm eggs, which may lead to roundworm.
Can kids get worms from dogs licking them?
Parasites like hookworm, roundworm, and giardia can be passed from dog to human through licking.
Can kids get worms from dogs that have worms?
Roundworms do pose a significant risk to humans. Contact with contaminated soil or dog feces can result in human ingestion and infection. Roundworm eggs may accumulate in significant numbers in the soil where pets deposit feces. Once infected, the worms can cause eye, lung, heart and neurologic signs in people.
How likely is it to get worms from your cat?
The transmission of intestinal parasites from pets to humans, predominantly children, is something we've been aware of for a long while. But until recently, quality information - backed by good science - was unavailable. Numerically, the odds of you or your children getting worms from your dog or cat are quite low.
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