Worms are parasitic worms whose vital activity takes place in the human body. This results in helminthiasis. It is an acute disease of a chronic nature that leads to weakening of 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. Ultrasound, MRI and X-rays are used to assess the damage caused by worms to the internal organs. The 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 - it can be 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 it most often affects children between the ages of five and fifteen. During this period, the immune system is still developing, the acidity of gastric juice is lower than in adults, so the destruction of parasites is not as effective. Worms affect different organs, their main habitat is the intestines.
The parasites enter through the mucous membranes and the skin. Larvae or eggs can enter the body together with the food consumed. Mature eggs in the gastrointestinal tract receive optimal conditions for development, as a result of which larvae hatch, which enter the blood through the mucous membrane of the intestinal tract and can then freely pass through all organs with the bloodstream.
The liver, kidney, gall bladder, heart, bronchi and lungs suffer the most damage. When the body tries to get rid of the worms by coughing and sputum, they can remain in the saliva and return to the intestines if swallowed. Their further development takes place there, and after 75 days a mature individual appears.
The average time from the moment of entering the body to the development of a full-fledged worm is 60-90 days. This time coincides with the early intestinal phase of the disease. In a late stage, adult individuals actively develop and multiply throughout the body. Their place of residence is the intestines, where they lay the eggs, which are left during the stool.
Causes of worms
Parasites are most easily introduced through food and water containing eggs, or through contact with soil contaminated with feces. Worms can spread from an infected person to a healthy person on shared household items, clothing, dishes, etc.
Those who ignore the simplest hygiene rules are at risk: they don't wash their hands, they don't disinfect vegetables, and they don't properly heat animal meat and fish.
In a comment!
Parasitic eggs can also be applied to the paws and fur of pets returning from a street walk. That's why you need to take care of your pets, take them to the vet regularly for checkups, and don't forget to use deworming medications.
Types of worms
Depending on the environmental conditions in which helminths are present, three groups are usually distinguished.
Helminths – they live in the soil, they do not need a living organism for their development.Biohelminths - at least two organisms are needed for their development and reproduction.Contact with helminths. Through contact and everyday life, they can move from the owner to a new object (among people).
Scientists have identified about four hundred causative agents of helminthiasis, but only the following species can live in the human body:
Nematodes. These include roundworms and roundworms. They occur most often.Cestodes. This includes the cattle and pig tapeworm, echinococcus.Trematodes (fluff). Liver fluke and cat fluke belong to this group. They become the cause of fascioliasis and clonorchiasis.Spiny Heads: The giant acanthocephalan provokes acanthocephalosis.
According to the site of parasitism, worms are divided into intestinal and extraintestinal. The second group includes species that perform their vital functions in other organs, such as the liver or kidney.
Symptoms of helminthiasis
The symptoms are very extensive and vary depending on the organ affected, the type and number of parasites. In addition, a person's age, the initial state of all systems and organs, and immunity have a great influence. The acute stage of the disease lasts 14-60 days, the chronic stage can last more than a year.
The acute stage of poisoning and allergic manifestations is characterized by:
- weakness;
- chills;
- fever;
- skin rashes, often itchy;
- cough without phlegm;
- difficult breathing;
- abdominal pain;
- bloating.
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 stage, symptoms related to the organs as a whole can be observed. Disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, which are manifested in malfunctions of the system, are particularly striking manifestations.
Those infected with the 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 are formed in these organs and simultaneous diseases appear - obstructive jaundice and hepatitis. Cylindrical worms lead to bronchitis, heart failure, and myocarditis (the heart lining of the muscle tissue becomes inflamed).
If the central nervous system is damaged by an intestinal worm, the 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 tooth decay are more common, allergic manifestations become more severe.
Complications of helminthiasis
If helminthiasis is not treated in time, it can lead to serious damage to internal organs, disruption of their normal functioning and deterioration of the general well-being of a person.
The larvae's vital activity is accompanied by their secretions. High concentration causes poisoning, allergic reactions, rashes, bronchial asthma.
For their nutrition and development, helminths take nutrients and vitamins from the human body. This is particularly dangerous for the 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.
In the case of a large number of parasites, the development of dysbacteriosis, partial or complete blockage of the intestinal lumen and blockage of the bile ducts are possible. This can cause inflammation of the appendix and gallbladder.
Diagnosis of worms
If alarming signs appear, an examination by several specialists is necessary, including a gastroenterologist, an infectious disease specialist and others. An enlarged liver, spleen and lymph nodes can be felt on palpation. The usual blood test helps to confirm the presence of worms - if they are present, the number of leukocytes and eosinophils increases, and the sedimentation of erythrocytes increases.
The correct diagnosis can be made after three months from the moment of infection, when the larvae have grown up.
Laboratory methods will be useful for this:
- scraping from the anus to check for fungal eggs;
- stool analysis for the presence of helminth eggs;
- coprogram (detailed analysis of feces to assess the quality of the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract).
The biological material can be urine, feces, sputum, a piece of skin or the contents of the duodenum.
To determine the state of the internal organs, instrumental diagnostic methods are used, which include:
- X-ray examination of the lungs;
- Ultrasound of the liver;
- CT examination of internal organs;
- colonoscopy (intestinal probing using a camera);
- gastroscopy and esophagoscopy (endoscopy of the gastrointestinal tract).
It can be very difficult to accurately determine the presence of worms, as these parasites lay eggs irregularly. They are found only in adulthood. Blood antibodies are produced only in the first 60 days, then disappear from the bloodstream and accumulate in the intestinal wall. The extensive clinical manifestations make it difficult to make an accurate diagnosis, 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 medicine and the duration of treatment are determined by the symptoms present and the type of parasite. Antinematodal, anticestodal and extended-spectrum drugs are often prescribed.
Symptoms associated with respiratory system disorders are alleviated by the use of glucocorticosteroids, antihistamines and antispasmodics. In order to normalize the condition and microflora of the intestines, prebiotics are prescribed. To normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract - enzymatic agents. Different cyst types of growths are surgically removed.
After 14 days and another month (when the therapy is completed), it is necessary to repeat the presence of parasite eggs in the feces three times. Immunocompromised or compromised patients should be screened for worms at regular intervals.
Reference
If a disease is detected in one or more family members, then everyone who shows indirect symptoms needs treatment.
Preventive measures against worms
To prevent the appearance of worms, you need to follow simple measures.
- Be sure to wash your hands after eating, using the toilet, being outside, or playing with pets.
- Follow the rules of a healthy lifestyle to have a strong immune system.
- Carry out the mandatory heat treatment of meat and fish, wash vegetables and fruits.
- Avoid drinking raw water - prefer boiled, bottled or filtered water.
- Clean the house at least once every two weeks.
Twice a year - in spring and autumn - when the immune system is weakened, anthelmintic drugs should be used as a preventive measure. Pets also need to take special anti-worm medication.