Worms are parasitic worms whose life activity takes place in the human body. Its result is helminthiasis. This is an acute disease of a chronic nature, which leads to weakened immunity, damage to internal organs, disruption of their functions and exhaustion. Diagnostic methods include stool analysis for the presence of worm eggs, blood culture, and sputum analysis using a microscope. To assess the damage caused by the worms to the internal organs, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and X-ray are used. The treatment is chosen according to the type of parasite.
A disease caused by parasites - helminthiasis
Helminthiasis is an infection caused by worms. It is very common - it is found in most countries, but the vast majority of cases are recorded in regions with warm climates 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 fluid is lower than in adults, so the destruction of parasites is not as effective. Various organs are affected by the worms and their main habitat is the intestines.
The routes of penetration of the parasites are the mucous membranes and the skin. Entry of larvae or eggs into the body can occur along with the food consumed. Ripe eggs in the gastrointestinal tract receive optimal conditions for development, as a result, larvae emerge from them, which penetrate through the mucous membrane 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 suffer the most damage. When the body tries to get rid of the worms by coughing and expectorating, they can remain in the saliva and, if swallowed, end up back in the intestines. There their further development takes place 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 ranges from 60 to 90 days. This period coincides with the early intestinal stage of the disease. In late stage, adults are actively growing and reproducing throughout the body. Their place of 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 common household items, clothes, dishes, etc.
People who ignore the simplest rules of hygiene are at risk: they do not wash their hands, do not disinfect vegetables and carry out poor heat treatment of animal meat and fish.
On a note!
Parasite eggs can be transferred to the feet and fur of pets when they return from a walk on the street. Therefore, you should take care of your pets, take them regularly for check-ups to the vet and don't forget to use anthelmintic drugs.
Types of worms
Depending on the environmental conditions where helminths are present, it is customary to distinguish three groups.
Helminths – they live in the soil; they don't need a living organism to grow.Biohelminths – for their development and reproduction at least two organisms are needed.Contact helminths. They can move from the owner to a new object (between people) through contact and everyday 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 pinworms. They appear more often.Cestodes. These include beef and pork tapeworm, echinococcus.Trematodes (tripods). This group includes liverworts and cattails. They become the cause of aponeurosis and clonorchiasis.Spinyheads: Giant acanthocephalus causes acanthocephalia.
According to the location 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 extensive and vary according to 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 influence. The acute phase of the disease lasts from 14 to 60 days, and the chronic phase can last more than a year.
The acute stage is characterized by features of poisoning and allergic manifestations:
- weakness;
- chills;
- fever;
- skin rashes, often itching.
- cough without phlegm;
- labored breathing;
- stomach ache;
- inflation.
Bruxism - teeth grinding - can also indicate the presence of parasitic worms in the body. Most often it manifests itself in a dream. Anal irritation and infection of the external genitalia may occur.
In the chronic stage, symptoms related to the organs as a whole are observed. Particularly impressive manifestations are the disorders in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, which manifest themselves in malfunctions of the system.
Those infected with parasites experience:
- lower abdominal pain;
- decreased appetite;
- motion sickness;
- frequent belching;
- the appearance of food allergies that were not observed before;
- weight loss;
- loose stools - constipation alternates with diarrhea.
If the worms are located in the liver and gall bladder, then cysts are formed in these organs and accompanying diseases appear - obstructive jaundice and hepatitis. Roundworms lead to bronchitis, heart failure, myocarditis (the heart's lining of muscle tissue becomes inflamed).
When the central nervous system is destroyed 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 frequent, and allergic manifestations become more intense.
Complications of helminthiasis
If helminthiasis is not treated in time, this can lead to serious damage to internal organs, disruption of their normal functioning and deterioration of the general well-being of a person.
The vital activity of the larvae is accompanied by their secretions. High concentrations lead to intoxication, start allergic reactions, rashes and bronchial asthma.
For their nutrition 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 anemia - these types of worms suck blood. Weakened immunity due to helminthiasis leads to frequent colds and other diseases.
Great!
Helminthic contamination adversely affects the efficacy of vaccine protection.
With a large number of parasites, the formation of dysbacteriosis, partial or complete obstruction of the intestinal lumen and obstruction 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 enlarged liver, spleen and lymph nodes will be felt. A standard blood test will help to 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 time of infection, when the larvae have reached adulthood.
Laboratory methods will be useful for this:
- Scraping from the anus to check for pinworm eggs.
- stool analysis for the presence of helminth eggs.
- coprogram (detailed stool analysis to assess the quality of gastrointestinal tract function).
The biomaterial can be urine, feces, sputum, a piece of skin, or the contents of the duodenum.
To determine the condition of internal organs, organic diagnostic methods are used, which include:
- X-ray of the lungs.
- Ultrasound of the liver?
- Computed tomography 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 the spawning of these pests is irregular. They can be found only in adulthood. Blood antibodies are produced only in the first 60 days, after which they disappear from the bloodstream, accumulating in the intestinal wall. Establishing an accurate diagnosis is also complicated by extensive clinical manifestations, so treatment can be prescribed only based on the presence of indirect signs.
Treatment methods for helminthiasis
In the treatment of 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. Anti-nematodes, anticestodals and extended-spectrum drugs are often prescribed.
Symptoms associated with disorders of the respiratory system are relieved by the use of glucocorticosteroids, antihistamines and anticonvulsants. To normalize the condition of the intestines and its microflora, prebiotics are prescribed. To normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract - enzymatic agents. Various cyst-like growths are surgically removed.
After 14 days and another month (when the treatment is completed), repeated tests are required three times for the presence of parasite eggs in the feces. Patients who are immunocompromised or at risk should be screened for worms periodically.
Report
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 need to follow simple measures.
- Be sure to 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 heat treatment of meat and fish, wash vegetables and fruits.
- Avoid drinking raw water - prefer boiled, bottled or filtered water.
- At least once every two weeks, wet clean the house.
The use of anthelmintic drugs as preventive measures is required twice a year - in spring and autumn, when the immune system is weakened. Pets should also be given special worming medication.