Is Sneezing A Small White Worm A Cause For Concern?

Posted on Sat, 26 Mar 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 26 Mar 2016 Answered on

Tue, 31 May 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : My 17 year old daughter went canoeing in a river yesterday and today sneezed out a tiny white worm. Is this anything to be concerned about?

Answered by Dr. Noble Zachariah (45 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
May be an aquatic worm.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome and thanks for your query.
Please upload a picture of the worm if you have taken one.
Oligochaetes are aquatic worms found in fresh water like lakes, streams, marshes etc. They may cause a problem if aspirated into the lungs, otherwise they are not harmful usually.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar