The geographic worm, scientifically known as cutaneous larva migrans, is a skin disease caused by the entry of parasites through wounds or cuts on the skin, causing symptoms such as itching and redness.
These parasites are present in the intestines and feces of domestic animals such as dogs and cats, and the person is contaminated when the injured skin comes in contact with remnants of the faeces of these animals, which may be present in the backyard or on the beach, for example.
In most cases, the larvae are eliminated naturally from the body about 4 to 8 weeks after infection, but it is important to treat with the doctor to avoid complications on the skin and relieve the symptoms of the disease.
Main symptoms
The geographic bug symptoms may take a few weeks or months to appear, because in most cases the parasites fall asleep under the skin. However, when they arise, they generate symptoms such as:
- Itchy skin, which usually worsens at night;
- Sensation of movement under the skin;
- Redness in the skin similar to a tortuous path, which is where the larva passes;
- Swelling in the skin.
In the active form of the disease, it is common to observe that the lesion is advancing about 1 cm per day on the skin, and as soon as it is identified one should begin its treatment.
How to treat
The treatment for the geographical bug must be directed by a dermatologist and is usually done with the use of medicines such as thiabendazole, albendazole or mebendazole, which can be used in the form of ointment, when the disease is still in the beginning, or in the form of tablets, when the geographic bug is discovered later.
Generally the symptoms of the geographic bug reduce about 2 to 3 days after the start of the treatment, being important to follow the treatment until the end to ensure that the larva is completely eliminated from the body. Here's a homemade way to relieve the symptoms in: Geographic worm treatment.
Geographic Criterion Life Cycle
The life cycle of the geographic worm begins when domestic animals ingest food contaminated with the parasite Larva migrans. These larvae then reproduce in the intestine of the animal and release eggs that are eliminated in the faeces and that contaminate the soil where they are deposited.
In the soil, the larvae are released from the soil and contaminate the man when the injured skin of the body comes in direct contact with these larvae, which will cause the geographic bug infection.
How to protect yourself from geographic bugs
To prevent the geographic bug, one should avoid walking barefoot in places that have dogs and cats, and collect the faeces of the animals so that they do not contaminate the soil.
In addition, it is important to take the animals to the veterinarian so that they can also be treated by using medicines that fight Larva migrans and other parasites, preventing them from transmitting diseases to people.
