Worm
Worm (Medicine)
Worm (/wɜːrm/), from the Old English wyrm, is a term used in medicine to refer to various types of parasitic organisms that can infect humans and other animals.
Etymology
The term "worm" comes from the Old English wyrm, which was used to refer to various types of serpentine creatures, including snakes and mythical dragons. In the context of medicine, the term has been used since at least the 16th century to refer to parasitic organisms that have a long, slender shape similar to that of a worm.
Types of Worms
There are several types of worms that can cause infections in humans. These include:
- Roundworms: These are a type of nematode that can cause infections such as ascariasis and hookworm disease.
- Tapeworms: These are a type of cestode that can cause infections such as taeniasis and cysticercosis.
- Flukes: These are a type of trematode that can cause infections such as schistosomiasis and fascioliasis.
Related Terms
- Parasite: An organism that lives in or on another organism (its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the host's expense.
- Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites that are not normally present within the body.
- Nematode: A type of worm that includes roundworms, threadworms, and hookworms.
- Cestode: A type of worm that includes tapeworms.
- Trematode: A type of worm that includes flukes.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Worm
- Wikipedia's article - Worm
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