Sandbox worms
I received this question the other day:
I just bought sand for a sandbox that I bought new 3 weeks ago. My granddaughter and I were playing in it and I came across some 2 inch long worms. I had a cover on my sandbox from day one so no animals got into it. I would like to know how to treat the sand without infecting my grandchildren and are these worms harmless.
We often use the term "worm" loosely when referring to different types of parasites. An important point, however, is not all worms are parasites, and not all parasites are worms. Most worms that you find outside are just worms that have no relevance at all to human or animal health.
When it comes to concerns about "worms" and sandboxes, we're worried about roundworm eggs and hookworm larvae from the feces of infected animals. It's these microscopic eggs and larvae that are the problem, not any large worms you'd be able to see with the naked eye. Covering sandboxes is recommended to keep animals from defecating in them and contaminating the sand, but various types of non-parasitic worms can still certainly find their way into some outdoor sandboxes, even if they're covered. I don't know of any human or animal health concerns regarding these kinds of non-parasitic worms. (I don't recommend snacking on worms from the sandbox to prove the point, but I would not be concerned about having worms in a sandbox).
More information about sandboxes can be found on the Worms & Germs Resources page.
Sandbox season arrives!
We've had some beautiful warm days in southern Ontario lately, and spring - technically - arrives tomorrow (despite the fact that it's been trying to snow in Guelph even this afternoon! But hope springs eternal (pardon the pun)). The picture (right) is Erin, my youngest daughter, enjoying the warmer weather and playing in a sandbox at my parents' house yesterday. Allowing a child to play in the sand carries some degree of infectious disease risk, but the risk is very low and simple measures can reduce the risk even further.
The main diseases of concern with regard to sand in temperate regions (like Ontario) are spread via the fecal-oral route, meaning the diseases are transmitted by swallowing organisms that are passed in the stool. The most important of these diseases - visceral larval migrans and ocular larval migrans - are caused by parasites. These disease are uncommon in most places, and when they do occur they're not typically associated with sand from sandboxes specifically. However, while very rare, larval migrans can be a very serious condition. The risk is greatest in very young children and children with developmental problems who are more likely to eat sand. In warmer (more southern) regions, another parasitic disease called cutaneous larval migrans is much more common. This condition can occur after just skin contact with contaminated sand.
The main points regarding sandbox safety are:
- Keep sandboxes covered so animals don't use them as litter boxes.
- Check the sand regularly to make sure there is no evidence of animal stool or urine.
- Try to prevent children from putting their hands, or other objects, in their mouths while playing in a sandbox (and in general!).
- Don't give children snacks or drinks while they're playing in the sand.
- Wash (or make sure they wash) children's hands after they're done playing in the sand.
For the average child, the risks of infectious diseases from sandboxes are extremely low. I have no problem letting my children play in the sand... I just use these basic infection control precautions.
More information on sandbox safety can be found on the Worms&Germs Resources page. More information on larval migrans is also available in our archives.
Banning Bowser from the beach
Many dog owners love to take their canine companions to the beach with them during the summer. Unfortunately, other people (particularly non-dog owners) sometimes take exception to having Bowser on the beach. These individuals often cite potential infectious disease risks as a reason to ban dogs from the beach.
While there are some potential infectious disease risks associated with having pet dogs at the beach, they are minimal. Also, some simple, common-sense steps can greatly reduce the risks that do exist. The infectious disease risks from feral (wild) dogs and wildlife defecating in the sand are much greater.
- The biggest health risk is actually probably from dog bites. Bites can be avoided through proper handling and training of dogs that are brought to public beaches.
- Many different bacteria (e.g. Salmonella, Campylobacter) can be passed in the stool of even healthy dogs. Some of these can be harmful to people, but only under certain circumstances, such as if they are swallowed or if they contaminate an open wound.
- Promptly picking up any stool passed by a dog greatly reduces the risk of significant contamination of the sand. Also, sunlight is an excellent “disinfectant” and will help kill any residual bacteria left behind.
- Dogs can also have different kinds of zoonotic parasites in their stool.
- Some of these parasites (e.g. roundworms, hookworms) are passed in a form that takes days to become infectious to people. So promptly removing dog stool from the beach minimizes the risk of transmission.
- Other parasites, such as Giardia, are immediately infectious when passed in the stool, but must be swallowed to cause infection. Prompt removal of dog stool, good hand hygiene with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer before eating, and avoiding sand contamination of food and drink should largely eliminate this risk as well.
Overall, the risks of having dogs on beaches are very low if people behave responsibly, specifically properly restraining their dogs and promptly picking up stool.
More information about zoonotic diseases associated with contamination of sand and Sandboxes is available on the Worms & Germs Resources page.
Sandbox fun...
We really have no clue about how common sandbox exposure causes disease. While this skin disease is usually relatively minor, there are some other groups of parasites that can migrate through other parts of the body, including the brain, and cause devastating illness. All of these are very rare in northern climates like Canada, but measures should be taken to reduce the risk of exposure because of the potential severity of disease. Risks are much higher in warmer climates. These are a significant concern in warmer areas. It’s probably pretty uncommon but some of the diseases that can occur are very serious, so attention should be paid to these risks. The main things that can be done to reduce the risk are keeping animals out of sandboxes and handwashing after contact with sand. Check out our “Sandbox” information sheet for more details.
Information Sheets for Pet Owners
INFORMATION SHEETS specifically for KIDS, for VETERINARIANS, for PHYSICIANS and for PUBLIC HEALTH PERSONNEL are also available on the Worms & Germs RESOURCES page!
Click on the highlighted topics below for information sheets. Topics that are not highlighted are in development and coming soon. Sheets for other animal species and diseases are also under development and will be added when they are available.
| Animals | Diseases | Other |
| Dogs | Rabies | Litter Boxes |
| Cats | Giardia | Sandboxes |
| Turtles | Toxoplasma | Cat Bites |
| Hamsters | Leptospira | Raw Meat |
| Rabbits | Clostridium difficile | Petting Zoos |
| Pet Birds | Cryptosporidium | Needlestick Injuries |
| Reptiles | MRSA | |
| MRSP | ||
| Salmonella | ||
| Ringworm | ||
| Campylobacter | ||
| Bartonella henselae | ||
Please Remember:
- Your veterinarian and physician are your ultimate resource for information about the health of your pets or your family.
- Information provided here is accurate to the best of our knowledge, but infectious diseases can be unpredictable and these sheets are for general information purposes only.
- There can be great variation in disease risks in different geographic areas. The information provided was developed for Ontario, Canada, but most of the information is relevant for other regions as well.
