Signs and Symptoms of Exposure to Worms from Puppies

Common Types of Worm Infections from Puppies

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends being aware of the most common signs and symptoms of human exposure to worms from puppies, including fever, skin irritation, itching, abdominal pain, eosinophilia, respiratory symptoms like cough and wheeze, and in some cases, urticarial rash 1, 2
Toxocara canis (Dog Roundworm) causes visceral larva migrans (VLM) when larvae penetrate the gut mucosa and enter the bloodstream, and is most common in children under 5 years old, though adults can be infected through raw meat consumption 3
Symptoms of Toxocara canis infection include respiratory symptoms (dyspnea, wheeze, cough), abdominal pain and hepatosplenomegaly, and urticarial rash 3

Direct contact with puppies carrying parasites is a risk factor for infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1, 5
Ingestion of soil or materials contaminated with puppy feces is a risk factor for infection, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2, 6
Poor hand hygiene after handling puppies is a risk factor for infection, as noted by the American Academy of Pediatrics 4

Respiratory symptoms may be misdiagnosed as asthma, according to the Journal of Infection 3

Avoiding allowing puppies to lick faces, especially of children, is a recommended prevention strategy, as suggested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1, 5

For suspected or confirmed Toxocara infections, the Infectious Diseases Society of America recommends Albendazole 400mg twice daily for 5 days 3
In cases where no specific worm is identified, empirical treatment with single-dose ivermectin 200 μg/kg and albendazole 400 mg may be considered, as reported by the Journal of Infection 3
For hookworm-related skin conditions, supportive care and antiparasitics may be needed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1, 2