Worms are parasitic worms whose vital activity takes place in the human body. Its result is helminthiasis. This is an acute disease of a chronic nature, which leads to weakening of immunity, damage to internal organs, interruption of their functions and exhaustion. Diagnostic methods include stool analysis for the presence of worm eggs, blood culture and saliva analysis using a microscope. To assess the damage caused by worms in the internal organs, ultrasound, MRI and X-ray examination are used. Therapy is selected depending on the type of parasite.
A disease caused by parasites - helminthiasis
Helminthiasis is an infection caused by worms. It is very common - found in most countries, but the vast majority of cases are recorded in regions with a warm climate and high humidity.
The risk of the disease exists at any age, but children between the ages of five and fifteen are most often affected. During this period, the immune system is still developing, and the acidity of the gastric juice is lower than in adults, so the destruction of parasites is not as effective. Various organs are affected by worms and their main habitat is the intestines.
The routes of penetration of parasites are the mucous membrane and the skin. The entry of larvae or eggs into the body can occur together with the food consumed. Mature eggs in the gastrointestinal tract receive optimal conditions for development, as a result, larvae emerge from them, which penetrate through the mucosa of the intestinal tract into the blood, and then can freely pass through all organs with the bloodstream.
The liver, kidneys, gall bladder, heart, bronchi and lungs are the most affected. When the body tries to get rid of the worms by coughing and expelling sputum, they can remain in the saliva and, if swallowed, end up back in the intestines. Their further development takes place there and after 75 days a mature individual appears.
The average time from the moment it enters the body to the formation of a full worm varies from 60 to 90 days. This time coincides with the early intestinal phase of the disease. At a late stage, adult individuals develop and actively reproduce throughout the body. Their residence is the intestines, where the eggs are laid, which leave it during defecation.
Causes of worms
The easiest way for parasites to enter is through food and water containing eggs, or through contact with soil contaminated with feces. Worms can be transmitted from an infected person to a healthy person through shared household items, clothing, utensils, etc.
At risk are people who ignore the simplest rules of hygiene: they do not wash their hands, do not disinfect vegetables and perform poor heat treatment of animal meat and fish.
On a note!
Parasite eggs can be carried on the paws and fur of pets when they return from a walk on the street. Therefore, you should take care of pets, take them regularly for examinations to the veterinarian and do not forget to use anthelmintic drugs.
Types of worms
Depending on the environmental conditions where helminths exist, it is customary to distinguish three groups.
helminths - live on land; they do not need a living organism to develop.Biohelminths - at least two organisms are needed for their development and reproduction.Contact worms. They can move from the owner to a new object (between people) through contact and daily life.
Scientists have identified about four hundred pathogens of helminthiasis, but only the following species can live in the human body:
Nematodes. These include roundworms and worms. They happen more often.Cestodes. This includes cattle and pig worms, echinococci.Trematodes (flukes). This group includes liver flukes and cats. They become the cause of fascioliasis and clonorchiasis.Spiny head: Giant acanthocephalan provokes acanthocephalosis.
According to the site of parasitism, worms are divided into intestinal and extraintestinal. The second group includes those species that perform their vital functions in other organs, such as the liver or kidneys.
Symptoms of helminthiasis
The symptoms are very broad and vary depending on the organ affected, the type of parasites and their number. Also, the age of a person and the initial state of all systems and organs and immunity have a great impact. The acute phase of the disease lasts from 14 to 60 days, and the chronic phase can last more than a year.
The acute phase is characterized by features of poisoning and allergic manifestations:
- weakness;
- chills;
- fever;
- skin rash, often itching;
- cough without sputum;
- tired breathing;
- stomach ache;
- swelling.
Bruxism - teeth grinding - can also indicate the presence of parasitic worms in the body. Most often it manifests itself in a dream. Irritation of the anus and infection of the external genitalia may occur.
In the chronic phase, symptoms related to the organs as a whole are observed. Particularly surprising manifestations are disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, manifested in system malfunctions.
Those infected with parasites experience:
- pain in the lower abdomen;
- decreased appetite;
- nausea;
- frequent belching;
- the appearance of food allergies that were not observed before;
- weight loss;
- unstable stool - constipation alternates with diarrhea.
If the worms are localized in the liver and gall bladder, then cysts form in these organs and associated diseases appear - obstructive jaundice and hepatitis. Roundworms lead to bronchitis, heart failure, myocarditis (the cardiac lining of muscle tissue becomes inflamed).
When the central nervous system is damaged by helminths, a person becomes irritable, attention and performance deteriorate, and sleep is disturbed.
Helminthiasis affects the immune system - the body becomes more susceptible to diseases, fungal skin diseases and caries are more common, and allergic manifestations become more severe.
Complications of helminthiasis
If helminthiasis is not treated in a timely manner, it can lead to serious damage to internal organs, disruption of their normal functioning and deterioration of a person's general well-being.
The vital activity of the larvae is associated with their secretions. High concentrations lead to intoxication, allergic reactions, rashes and bronchial asthma begin.
For their food and development, helminths receive nutrients and vitamins from the human body. This is especially dangerous for a child, as the risk of developmental delays increases. If the infection occurs with hookworms and whipworms, then there is a high probability of developing anemia - these types of worms suck blood. Weakened immunity due to helminthiasis leads to frequent colds and other diseases.
Important!
Helminthic infection negatively affects the effectiveness of vaccine protection.
With a large number of parasites, the formation of dysbacteriosis, partial or complete blockage of the intestinal lumen and blockage of the bile ducts is possible. This can cause inflammation of the appendix and gallbladder.
Diagnosis of worms
If alarming signs appear, an examination by several specialists is required, including a gastroenterologist, an infectious disease specialist and others. On palpation, an enlargement of the liver, spleen and lymph nodes will be felt. A standard blood test will help confirm the presence of worms - if they are present, the number of leukocytes and eosinophils will increase and the sedimentation of erythrocytes will increase.
The correct diagnosis can be made after three months from the moment of infection, when the larvae have grown.
Laboratory methods will be useful for this:
- itching from the anus to check for worm eggs;
- fecal analysis for the presence of helminth eggs;
- coprogram (detailed stool analysis to assess the quality of the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract).
Biomaterial can be urine, feces, sputum, a piece of skin or the contents of the duodenum.
To determine the condition of the internal organs, instrumental diagnostic methods are used, which include:
- X-ray examination of the lungs;
- Ultrasound of the liver;
- CT scan of internal organs;
- colonoscopy (intestinal examination using a camera);
- gastroscopy and esophagoscopy (examination of the gastrointestinal tract using an endoscope).
It can be very difficult to accurately determine the presence of worms because egg laying of these parasites is irregular. They can only be found in adulthood. Blood antibodies are produced only in the first 60 days, after which they disappear from the bloodstream, accumulating in the intestinal walls. Establishing an accurate diagnosis is also complicated by extensive clinical manifestations, so therapy can only be prescribed based on the presence of indirect signs.
Methods of treatment of helminthiasis
When treating helminthiasis, anthelmintic drugs are usually prescribed. The type of medication and the duration of treatment are determined by the symptoms present and depending on the type of parasite. Antinematodal, anticestodal and extended-spectrum drugs are often prescribed.
Symptoms related to disorders of the respiratory system are relieved with the use of glucocorticosteroids, antihistamines and antispasmodics. To normalize the condition of the intestines and its microflora, prebiotics are prescribed. To normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract - enzyme agents. Various cyst-type growths are surgically removed.
After 14 days and another month (when the therapy has ended), repeated analyzes are required three times for the presence of parasite eggs in the feces. Immunocompromised or at-risk patients should be screened periodically for worms.
Reference
When a disease is detected in one or more family members, treatment is required for all those who show indirect signs.
Preventive measures against worms
To prevent the appearance of worms in the body, you should follow simple measures.
- Make sure you wash your hands after eating, going to the bathroom, being outside or playing with pets.
- Follow the rules of a healthy lifestyle to have a strong immune system.
- Carry out mandatory thermal treatment of meat and fish, wash vegetables and fruits.
- Eliminate raw water from consumption - give priority to boiled, bottled or purified through filters.
- At least once every two weeks, wet clean the house.
The use of anthelmintic drugs as a preventive measure is required twice a year - in spring and autumn, when the immune system is weakened. Pets should also receive special anti-worm medication.