Worms are parasitic worms whose life activities take place in the human body. Its result is helminthiasis. This is an acute disease of a chronic nature, leading to impaired immunity, damage to internal organs, dysfunction and exhaustion. Diagnostic methods include stool analysis for the presence of worm eggs, blood cultures, and microscopic sputum analysis. To evaluate the damage caused by worms to internal organs, ultrasound, MRI and X-rays are used. Therapy is chosen depending on the type of parasite.
Disease caused by parasites - helminthiasis
Helminthiasis is an infection caused by worms. It is very common - found in most countries, but the majority of cases are recorded in regions with warm climates and high humidity.
The risk of the disease exists at all ages, but children between 5 and 15 years old are most often affected. During this stage, the immune system is still developing, the acidity of gastric juice is lower than that of adults, so the destruction of parasites is not effective. Many different organs are affected by worms and their main habitat is the intestines.
The route of entry of the parasite is the mucous membranes and skin. Penetration of larvae or eggs into the body can occur along with consumed food. Mature eggs in the digestive tract receive optimal development conditions, therefore, larvae come out of them, penetrate through the mucous membrane of the intestinal tract into the blood, and can then freely pass through all organs. following the blood.
The liver, kidneys, gallbladder, heart, bronchi and lungs are most severely damaged. When the body tries to eliminate worms by coughing and expectorating, they can remain in the saliva and, if swallowed, return to the intestines. There their further development takes place and after 75 days an adult individual appears.
The average time from entering the body until the formation of adult worms is from 60 to 90 days. This timing coincides with the early intestinal phase of the disease. In the late stage, the adult individual actively develops and reproduces throughout the body. Their habitat is the intestines, where they lay eggs and leave them when defecating.
Causes of worms
The easiest way for the parasite to enter is through food and water containing eggs or through contact with soil contaminated with feces. Worms can be transmitted from infected people to healthy people through shared household items, clothes, dishes, etc. v. .
At risk are people who ignore the simplest rules of hygiene: they do not wash their hands, do not sterilize vegetables, and poorly heat treat animal meat and fish.
On a note!
Parasitic eggs can stick to the feet and fur of pets when returning from a walk on the street. Therefore, you should take care of your pets, regularly take them for veterinary examinations and don't forget to use deworming medication.
Types of worms
Depending on the environmental conditions where helminths exist, three groups are usually distinguished.
- Helminths– lives in soil, does not need living organisms to grow.
- Biological helminths– to grow and reproduce, at least two organisms are needed.
- Contact with helminths.They can transfer from owner to a new object (between people) through contact and everyday life.
Scientists have identified about four hundred helminth pathogens, but only the following species can live in the human body:
- Nematode.These include roundworms and pinworms. They occur most often.
- Cestodes.These include beef and pork tapeworms, echinococcus.
- Trematodes (trematodes).This group includes liver flukes and cat flukes. They become the cause of fasciolosis and clonorchosis.
- Thorn head:Giant acanthocephalan causes acanthocephalan disease.
According to the place of parasite, worms are divided into intestinal and intestinal. The second group includes species that perform their important functions in other organs, such as the liver or kidneys.
Symptoms of helminths
Symptoms are broad and vary depending on the organ affected, the type of parasites and their number. In addition, a person's age and the initial state of all systems, organs and immunity also have a great influence. The acute phase of the disease lasts from 14 to 60 days, the chronic phase can last more than a year.
The acute phase is characterized by features of poisoning and allergic manifestations:
- weak;
- chills;
- fever;
- skin rash, often itchy;
- cough without phlegm;
- shortness of breath;
- stomach-ache;
- flatulence.
Teeth grinding - teeth grinding - can also indicate the presence of parasitic worms in the body. Usually it manifests itself in a dream. Irritation of the anus and infection of the external genitalia may occur.
In the chronic stage, symptoms involving the entire organ are observed. Particularly prominent manifestations are disorders in the functioning of the digestive tract, manifested in system malfunctions.
People infected with parasites experience:
- lower abdominal pain;
- decreased appetite;
- nausea;
- frequent belching;
- the occurrence of food allergies that have never been observed before;
- losing weight;
- unstable stools - constipation alternating with diarrhea.
If the worms settle in the liver and gallbladder, then cysts form in these organs and concomitant diseases appear - obstructive jaundice and hepatitis. Roundworms lead to bronchitis, heart failure, and myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle membrane).
When the central nervous system is damaged by helminths, people become irritable, have poor concentration and performance, and sleep is disrupted.
Helminth disease affects the immune system - the body becomes more susceptible to diseases, fungal skin diseases and tooth decay are more common, allergic manifestations become more severe.
Complications of helminth disease
If helminthiasis is not treated promptly, this can lead to serious damage to internal organs, disrupting their normal functioning and deteriorating the general health of a person.
The vital activity of the larvae is accompanied by their secretions. High concentrations lead to intoxication, allergic reactions, rashes and the onset of bronchial asthma.
For nutrition and growth, helminths take nutrients and vitamins from the human body. This is especially dangerous for children because the risk of developmental delays increases. If infected with hookworms and whipworms, there is a high possibility of anemia - these worms suck blood. Weakened immunity due to helminthiasis leads to frequent colds and other diseases.
Important!
Helminth infections negatively affect the protective effectiveness of vaccines.
With a large number of parasites, dysbacteriosis, partial or complete obstruction of the intestinal lumen and bile duct obstruction may form. This can cause inflammation of the appendix and gallbladder.
Diagnosis of worms
If alarming signs appear, examination by several specialists, including gastroenterologists, infectious disease specialists, and others, is required. When palpated, the liver, spleen and lymph nodes will be enlarged. A standard blood test will help confirm the presence of worms - if they are present, white blood cell and eosinophil counts will increase and erythrocyte sedimentation will increase.
An accurate diagnosis can be made three months after infection, when the larvae have matured.
Laboratory methods will be useful for this:
- anal scraping to look for pinworm eggs;
- stool analysis for the presence of helminth eggs;
- coprogram (detailed stool analysis to evaluate the quality of the gastrointestinal tract).
The biological material can be urine, stool, sputum, a piece of skin or the contents of the duodenum.
To determine the condition of internal organs, instrumental diagnostic methods are used, including:
- Chest X-ray examination;
- Liver ultrasound;
- CT scan of internal organs;
- endoscopy (exploration of the intestines with a camera);
- gastroscopy and esophagoscopy (endoscopic examination of the digestive tract).
It can be difficult to accurately determine the presence of worms because the egg laying of these parasites is irregular. They can only be found in adulthood. Antibodies in the blood are produced only during the first 60 days, after which they disappear from the blood, accumulating in the intestinal wall. Establishing an accurate diagnosis is also complicated by the wide range of clinical manifestations, so treatment can only be prescribed based on the presence of indirect signs.
Methods of treating helminths
When treating helminths, anthelmintics are often prescribed. The type of medication and duration of treatment is determined by the symptoms present and depends on the type of parasite. Antihelminthic, anthelmintic, and broad-spectrum medications are often prescribed.
Symptoms associated with disorders of the respiratory system are reduced with the use of glucocorticosteroids, antihistamines and antispasmodics. To normalize the condition of the intestines and its microflora, prebiotics are prescribed. To normalize the activity of the digestive tract - enzymatic agents. Different types of cystic growths are removed surgically.
After 14 days and another month (when treatment is completed), the test must be repeated three times to detect the presence of parasite eggs in the stool. Patients who are immunocompromised or at risk should be tested for worms periodically.
Authority to solve
When the disease is detected in one or more family members, all people with indirect signs must be treated.
Measures to prevent worms
To prevent the appearance of worms in the body, you must follow simple measures.
- Remember to wash your hands after eating, going to the bathroom, going outside or playing with pets.
- Follow the rules of a healthy lifestyle for a strong immune system.
- Carry out mandatory heat treatment of meat and fish, wash vegetables and fruits.
- Discard raw water from consumption - preferably boiled, bottled or filtered through a filter.
- At least every two weeks, clean your house with water.
The use of anthelmintics as a preventive measure is necessary twice a year - in spring and autumn, when the immune system is weakened. Pets also need special anti-worm medication.