Worms (helminths) are parasitic worms that penetrate the human body, causing harm to his health, and the diseases caused by them are helminthiasis. More than 300 species of these parasites have now been identified. Helminth infections are widespread, but mainly in areas with a warm and humid climate. The risk group for them includes children 5-15 years old. They often have roundworms and worms. This is explained by the desire of children to get to know the outside world, low immunity to helminths, as well as insufficient acidity of gastric juice. The main habitat of helminths is the intestines.
They enter the human body through the integral tissue, when eggs, larvae of worms are swallowed with water and food. From mature eggs, larvae are formed in the digestive tract. They enter the bloodstream through the intestinal mucosa and are carried to the liver, gall bladder, bronchi, lungs, heart and brain. In the process of coughing up saliva and swallowing saliva, the worms again end up in a person's intestines. There, after 70-75 days, they will be able to reproduce.
From damage by eggs or larvae to the appearance of mature helminths takes up to 3 months - the early stage of the disease. From the moment the adult is formed, the late stage begins. Worms in the human body live in the intestines for up to a year and lay eggs there, which pass into the environment through feces.
Types of worms
There are several types of worms:
- Roundworms (nematodes) - roundworms, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms.
- Tapeworms (cestodes) - pig tape, broad tape.
- Flukes (trematodes) - pulmonary and liver fluke, cat fluke.
Also, helminthiasis differs in the characteristics of development and infection:
Geohelminthiases. The eggs of the parasite are found in the soil and enter the human body with unwashed fruit and poor personal hygiene.
Biohelminthiasis. These types of worms have an intermediate host - dogs, fish and shellfish. The loss of humans, who are the last host of parasites, is related to the consumption of low-quality fish or contact with animals.
Causes of worms in humans
Often, worm eggs are carried into the home on the paws and fur of pets that are walked or let outside. The most common cause of helminthiasis is the violation of personal hygiene rules. For example, a person forgot to wash his hands after leaving the house, the toilet or before eating.
The risk of helminthiasis increases if you have a habit of sucking your fingers, biting your nails or holding a pen or pencil in your mouth.
Poor quality washing of herbal products causes great harm to health.
Helminthiasis can occur when drinking raw water, as well as when washing food with water from an untested source.
The cause of helminthiasis can be fish or meat if the technology of their preparation is violated. If beef is not cooked properly, you can become infected with bovine tapeworm; if the fish is poorly processed, then infection with broad tape is possible; if the pork is not well cooked, there is a high risk of infection with pork tapeworm.
Worms can also be found indoors if it is rarely cleaned with moisture and people walk on it without removing their outdoor shoes.
Helminthiasis can be infected from a sick person through bed, dishes or close contact.
The causes of morbidity are associated with the violation of hygiene rules, poor care of domestic cats and dogs, and poor food hygiene. If you exclude these factors, then the likelihood of getting infected with helminths is minimal.
Signs of worms in humans
Helminthiases are acute and chronic. The first leads to an allergic reaction. The patient's complaints show signs of allergy and intoxication:
- weakness and fatigue;
- itching and redness of the skin;
- dyspnea;
- cough without sputum;
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- increased gas formation in the intestines.
In case of chronic infection by helminths, the manifestations are different and are related to the location of the worms, their number and the characteristics of the immune response of the human body. The most common symptoms of worms are:
- weakness, increased fatigue;
- increase in body temperature;
- darkening of the skin under the eyes;
- beehive;
- appetite disorders;
- nausea, vomiting;
- bad breath;
- abdominal pain;
- diarrhea or constipation;
- weight loss;
- perianal itching;
- the presence of fragments of worms in feces.
In addition, there may be disturbances in the functioning of organs affected by helminths. For example, when parasites are in the liver or gall bladder, pain in the right hypochondrium, nausea and yellowing of the skin are typical. If helminths have penetrated the lungs, then bronchitis and asphyxia are possible. Roundworms can cause myocarditis and heart failure. Children who have been repeatedly diagnosed with worms often suffer from ARVI, stomatitis, gingivitis, and girls have vulvovaginitis.
A characteristic symptom is bruxism (teeth falling out at night). With helminthiases, the nervous system suffers - a person experiences increased irritability, difficulty concentrating, reduced tolerance to physical activity and restless sleep.
Against the background of worms in the body, the immune defense suffers, so fungal, pustular skin diseases increase, caries, allergies and associated diseases are more severe.
If helminthiasis is not treated immediately, the larvae of the parasite will damage blood vessels, intestines and all vital organs. This affects the condition and well-being of the patient.
The products that the larvae secrete during their lifetime poison the human body. They provoke local allergies, urticaria, bronchial asthma and atopic dermatitis.
Worms feed on proteins, minerals and vitamins of the human body. In children, this can cause developmental delays. Roundworms and whipworms feed on the blood of the host, namely humans, and cause anemia.
In the case of massive reproduction of worms in the human body, it is possible to disrupt the intestinal microflora and incompletely close the intestinal lumen and bile ducts. This is a possible cause of appendicitis, cholecystitis and intestinal obstruction.
When you go to the doctor
Helminthiasis should be treated immediately. In the human body, worms interfere with the absorption of nutrients in the intestines. They secrete foods that are harmful to the digestive tract. Without treatment, the worms can invade the brain, lungs and other organs.
It is recommended to make an appointment with a qualified gastroenterologist if you have the following signs of pathology:
- lethargy, maltreatment;
- allergic reaction, for example, skin rash, bronchial asthma;
- a person eats too much or too little;
- nausea and vomiting appear, but there are no signs of poisoning;
- diarrhea, constipation;
- weight loss with good appetite;
- poor sleep;
- increase in body temperature;
- pain in muscles and joints without physical activity;
- enlargement, inflammation of lymph nodes;
- bruxism;
- worms in feces;
- itching in the perianal area.
If helminthic infection is suspected, then the liver, spleen and lymph nodes are felt. The organs listed can be enlarged.
In the case of helminthiasis, the general blood analysis shows leukocytosis, eosinophilia and increased ESR.
Helminthic diseases are most accurately detected after 3 months from the onset, when the helminths become sexually mature individuals. For the purposes of diagnosis and monitoring the effectiveness of therapy, laboratory tests are indicated:
- perianal itching for worm eggs;
- stool analysis for worm eggs;
- the co-program.
Saliva, urine, vomit, contents of the duodenum and parts of the skin are used as material for examination and diagnosis.
To identify intestinal helminthic diseases, allergy tests are performed. Changes in internal organs are detected using:
- X-ray of the lungs.
- Ultrasound examination of the liver.
- Computed tomography of internal organs.
- Colonoscopy.
- Esophagogastroscopy.
Sometimes it is not easy to identify helminthiasis in humans, as worms lay eggs irregularly. To detect them, it is important to obtain material for research during the breeding season of helminths. Antibodies against worms are detected in the blood 2 months after infection. Then they are not detected in the bloodstream, but accumulate in the intestinal walls. Diagnosis is also difficult given the variety of clinical signs. Often, specialists prescribe research and treatment based on indirect symptoms of helminthiasis.
Folk remedies against parasites
A popular method widely known for treating worms is pumpkin seeds. This product is suitable for children and adults. This product contains cucurbitins, which negatively affect the vital activity of helminths. However, it will not be possible to completely cure parasites with pumpkin seeds alone. If you don't go to the doctor or get checked, you can have complications because the worms multiply quickly. They are especially dangerous when they affect internal organs and the brain.
How to get rid of worms - traditional medicine can be used in addition to the treatment prescribed by a doctor.
Tansy infusion
Infusion of wormwood
To prepare the infusion, dried wormwood is ground in a coffee grinder. Then 2 teaspoons of plant material are poured into 300 ml of boiling water and left in a thermos for 6-8 hours. Then the infusion must be filtered. Take 100 ml in the morning before meals for 2-3 weeks. The product is stored in the refrigerator for no more than 2 days.
Infusion of cloves. This spice is widely used in folk medicine. The dried buds of this plant improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, normalize digestion and increase immunity. Clove infusion is effective against worms.
To prepare it, pour 500 ml of water into 30 g of buds and wait for the product to cool completely. Take 1 glass orally before breakfast.
Tincture of cloves. Pour 30 g of buds into 500 ml of vodka (alcohol). The juice is put in the dark for 2-3 weeks, then filtered. Take 1 teaspoon of solution before meals for 2-4 weeks.
Preventing
To prevent the appearance of worms in adults, it is important to follow the rules of personal hygiene. It is also necessary to introduce them to children from the first years of life. These rules include:
- Wash your hands with soap after going outside, contact with animals, using the toilet and before eating.
- Rinse fruits and herbs well with water and rinse with boiling water.
- Fish and seafood must be thermally processed for a long time.
- Use high quality and safe water for domestic purposes.
- You must use hygiene products, individual plates, towels and linen.
- For drinking, you can use boiled and filtered water.
- Indoors, you should regularly wipe surfaces with a damp cloth and wash floors.
- Once every 2 weeks you should wash the floors with detergent.
How to remove worms - in spring and autumn it is recommended to prevent helminthiasis with broad-spectrum anthelmintic agents. Pets should also undergo periodic anthelmintic therapy.
Are worms transmitted - if the rules of personal hygiene and prevention of helminthiasis are violated, all family members can become infected.