Are people with HIV / AIDS more susceptible to worms?? I had a bad reaction to worm tablets some years ago when I was quite healthy. I am too scared to try tablets again. I believe some of the itching I get could be from worms. Are there any treatments that are easily tolerated?? What about anything that can be used externally to relieve the itching?? What about if I took a small amount of the medication to see if I had any reaction, or could this be worse than not taking any?? If left untreated do they cause any problems?? Thank you.

certain worms, like Strongyloides stercoralis, can cause opportunistic infection. Most do not. I am not aware of any data that say that HIV+ people are more at risk for ordinary worm infestations, although in truth these are relatively uncommon in the U.S. anyway, where I practice HIV medicine. If you live in the developing world, you should consult a local physician about this.