After the girl's nostril leech: More nasty animals

A hookworm: They infect 600 million people worldwide

Hookworm
An infestation of hookworm can cause nasty blisters and lesions on the skin. You might also get a fever and vomit a lot. It's really not pleasant - and they infect over 500 million people a year.

Candiru
The candiru – or toothpick fish – is a native to the Amazon River in Brazil and has a vicious way of feeding. Attracted by chemicals emitted from the gills of fish it preys upon, the candiru – which can grow to 15cm – sneaks into the gills and uses two spikes in its head to hook itself in place. Then it sucks the blood of its victim. It poses little danger to humans – unless you pee in the river. The candiru is thought to be attracted to our urine and there was a case in 1997 when someone got one of these spiky beasts lodged somewhere rather sensitive…

Human Botfly
These nasty little critters capture mosquitoes, drop their eggs on them, then let the mozzies go to work. When they bite, the eggs go in through the hole and grow under the skin – for eight weeks. Then the 2cm long larva fall out and hatch into botflies.

Whipworm
These can grow to 31cm in length – in your stomach! And sometimes they try to get out through your nose or mouth. Infection is often caused by eating beans or rice containing eggs, or through soil contaminated with human feces.
The fish tapeworm
Like something out of a horror film – and a particularly horrific horror film at that – the fish tapeworm can grow to 30 feet. Inside you. You can be infected by eating raw or undercooked fish – and the tapeworm can be found wherever bears or other fish-eating mammals, including humans, defecate. You'll know you've got one because you'll be constantly hungry, as the tapeworm is eating all the food!