Helminthiasis is the most common parasitic infection affecting people of all ages. Doctors cannot give exact statistics on the number of cases, since many do not turn to a specialist when they detect alarming symptoms, but prefer to treat themselves. This approach can lead to serious complications becauseeven broad-spectrum drugs may be ineffective against certain types of helminth infestations, for example, filariasis - infection with nematodes.
In total, more than 400 varieties of helminths are known that can parasitize the human body, and it is possible to accurately determine which of them caused the disease only after laboratory examination of feces. It is necessary to consult a doctor (general practitioner, proctologist or infectious disease specialist) if signs of helminthic infestation are detected. The difficulty of early diagnosis in almost half of the cases lies in the absence of symptoms typical for helminthiasis, so it is important to know which signs may be indirect manifestations of helminthiasis. It is recommended that adults undergo a preventive stool test, as well as a scraping for enterobiasis, at least once a year.
How can you get infected?
Most patients believe that helminthic infestation is a "disease of dirty hands". This statement is only half true. Some varieties of worms, for example, tapeworms and other flatworms, can actually live in the soil and sand, therefore, in the absence of adequate hand hygiene, a person can become infected with helminthiasis, but this route of transmission is characteristic mainly for childrenyounger age group (from 1 to 6 years). In adults, the main source of contamination is poor-quality food (expired dairy products, poorly processed meat, stale eggs) and tap water.
How does a worm infection occur?
You can become infected with worms in open rivers and reservoirs. In rare cases, while swimming, a person can become infected with leeches - representatives of the class of annelids that cause irudinosis. The pathology is quite serious, since the main food for leeches is blood and its components, which leads to damage to blood vessels, rapidly developing anemia and blood poisoning in the context of systemic poisoning of the body. To avoid this, you should not swim in places that are not equipped with "Swimming Allowed" signs. Soil/water samples are taken periodically in specially designated places in the summer and the risk of contamination in such places is several times lower.
Other sources of infection for humans may include:
- street and domestic animals (it is necessary to clean the tray of the pet only with gloves, and the animal itself must be bathed regularly and treated with anthelmintic drugs 2 times a year).
- polluted air?
- blood-sucking insects (mosquitoes, ticks);
- dust (including household dust that accumulates on soft toys and upholstered furniture);
Note!Some types of worms can enter the human body through the skin, so physical contact with a person diagnosed with helminthiasis should be limited as much as possible.
Helminths quickly spread throughout the body.
Acute infection in adults: symptoms and signs
It is possible to diagnose or suspect helminthic infestation independently at home only during the period of the acute and subacute course of the disease. Depending on the type of worms, their number and the state of the immune system, it can vary from 1 week to 4 months. The symptoms of the pathology during this period are more pronounced, so the chances of timely treatment and reducing the risks of complications in the acute form are maximum.
The main symptoms of acute helminthiasis are disorders of intestinal function. The patient shows functional intestinal disorders in the form of diarrhea or prolonged absence of stool (constipation is 4 times less common compared to diarrheal syndrome). The consistency of feces when infected with worms is thin, watery, sometimes with the addition of foam. The smell is rough, spicy. The color can vary, but in most patients the stool becomes lighter and pale yellow. If there is a heavy worm infestation, the droppings may be brown or green. Sometimes they contain streaks of mucus and blood, which is released as a result of damage by worms to the blood vessels and capillaries located in the intestinal mucosa.
Among other signs from the gastrointestinal tract, the patient may have abdominal pain, unfair, sudden vomiting, loss of appetite against a background of constant nausea. Many patients lose weight during this period: weight loss can be up to 10% within 2-4 months of disease onset. The skin becomes pale and a polymorphic rash appears on it in the form of vesicles or nodules filled with exudate. The same rash can appear on the mucous membranes of the genitals, oral cavity and internal organs. About 10-20% develop acne, boils and comedones during this period. A pinpoint red rash may appear on the skin of the abdomen and elbows.
Other signs of an acute infection in an adult include:
- inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye (parasitic conjunctivitis).
- swelling of the face, limbs, neck (may be accompanied by dropsy of internal organs).
- feverish condition;
- fever and chills against the background of periodic increases in temperature up to 38°C and above.
Great!Itching of the anus, which is considered the main symptom of helminthiasis, is characteristic mainly of enterobiasis - pinworm infection. It occurs as a result of irritation of the skin in the anus area with the secretion secreted by female pinworms at night. For other acute forms of helminthic infestation, such a clinical picture is not considered typical.
Chronic attack: what symptoms should you look out for?
The chronic form of helminthiasis is a very common pathology that develops in the absence of timely treatment in the acute period. Most clinical symptoms subside and lose their intensity during this period, but do not go away completely. A person may periodically experience mild pain in the abdominal area, nausea and possible vomiting immediately after eating or 1-2 hours after eating. Skin rashes usually persist. If the reaction is severe, the patient may experienceAngioedema is a fatal condition accompanied by laryngeal spasm and bronchospasm.
One of the main signs of chronic helminthic infestation (as well as its complication) is anemia. It manifests as abnormal pallor, weakness (chronic fatigue syndrome) and weakness. A person's performance decreases, he becomes lethargic and emotional instability can be observed.
If the hepatobiliary system is affected
The hepatobiliary system, which includes the liver, gallbladder and bile ducts, is the main target for parasite attacks. The worms can feed on liver parenchymal cells, blood, bile components and bile acids. This form of pathology is manifested by severe pain located under the right side in the upper abdomen. The pain can be stabbing, cutting or dagger-shaped, so many people confuse it with an attack of biliary colic (this condition is especially characteristic of patients with chronic diseases of the gallbladder and ducts).
Obstructive jaundice is another sign that requires prompt diagnosis. Yellowing of the sclera of the skin and eyes can be a manifestation of dangerous liver diseases (hepatitis, cirrhosis) or symptoms of organ tissue damage from parasites.
Great!Hepatobiliary helminthiasis is one of the most serious types of pathology. In the absence of appropriate and timely treatment, the patient may die from acute poisoning and necrosis of the liver tissue.
Clinical indicators - signs of helminthic infestation
A doctor may suspect parasitic infections if the results of three blood tests confirm that the patient has anemia - a low level of hemoglobin. For an adult, the hemoglobin norm is from 120 to 140 g/l. In some cases, for example, during pregnancy, this number can be slightly lower - up to 110 g/l. But the amount of hemoglobin should not fall below these values. Anemia in patients with helminthiasis develops rapidly, since almost 90% of parasites feed on human blood and damage small blood vessels.
Another stable clinical sign of long-term helminthiasis iseosinophilia - absolute or relative increase in the level of eosinophils in the blood. This is a type of granulocytic mass of leukocytes, which is the main indicator of the body's allergic readiness. When infected with parasites, it is always accompanied by itching of the skin and a polymorphic rash.
How to protect yourself from worm infection?
The main rule that helps protect the body from the penetration of worms is the strict observance of hygiene - first of all, hand hygiene. For washing, it is best to use soap with antibacterial ingredients or natural laundry soap with a fatty acid concentration of at least 72%. Laundry soap has a strong disinfecting and antimicrobial effect and provides excellent prevention of infectious diseases. If you have an intolerance to the smell of laundry soap, you can use a product with additional fragrance additives.
Food must be prepared according to hygiene and heat treatment standards. It is recommended to rinse vegetables and fruits with boiling water or wash them with soap and fry or boil meat at high temperature for at least 30-40 minutes. The minimum time for boiling eggs is 20 minutes. It is important to monitor the quality and freshness of products and carefully check expiration dates. If the product does not have the necessary information and marking, it is better to refuse the purchase.
If there are pets in the house, it is necessary to conduct a deworming course 2 times a year, even if the pet does not go outside, as worm eggs can be transferred to the apartment with outdoor shoes and clothes. The safest deworming agent for cats and dogs is chicken flavored tablets.
What to take for helminthiasis?
Treatment for helminthiasis should be prescribed only by a doctor, as all anthelmintic drugs are highly toxic and adversely affect the condition of the liver. The table lists the commonly prescribed drugs with a wide range of action, as well as their dosage, but they can be used only after laboratory diagnosis and consultation with a specialist.
Adult intestinal worms signs, treatment and symptoms
There are about 250 species of worms that live in the body of an adult. They arise as a result of the entry of parasitic worms into the human body, causing various diseases.
The presence of helminths in the intestines of people is covered under the guise of other diseases.
A person can be treated for years for a disease without realizing that there are worms in his body. And only after a course of treatment for helminths will he feel much better.
Classification of helminths
Parasites are divided into 3 groups:
- Roundworms;
- flatworms;
- stings.
Helminth groups are also distinguished according to biological characteristics:
- Biohelminths- film, pork and cattle. As they grow into adulthood, they change their hosts, starting with insects and finally ending up migrating to humans.
- Geohelminthes— roundworms, whipworms and many other parasites immediately penetrate the body of an adult and begin their development from the initial stage.
- Contact- pinworms, tapeworms. Entry is made by an infected person.
Where can helminths live?
Parasites mainly infect the intestines of adults. But not everyone knows that there are types that can live in other organs:
- Ribbons, filaments and flagellathey live in the large intestine.
- Thermal- enter the liver and gall bladder.
- Pig movielives in any organ of an adult.
Types of microorganisms that live in the body of adults
In the body of an adult, helminths such as roundworms, tapeworms and tapeworms are mainly found. They actively absorb nutrients from the body of an adult, after which metabolic disorders, anemia, severe weight loss and other types of diseases appear.
Helminths in humans:
- Roundworms:Infection occurs after eating unwashed vegetables and fruits.
- Wide tape:When you eat raw fish.
- Pinworms:in contact with other people already infected with parasites and through the use of the same dishes and linens.
Helminths develop over a specific period of time, which generally lasts from 15 to 60 days, after which the chronic stage of the disease occurs.
After transitioning to the chronic stage, a person's immunity decreases. Inflammation begins immediately against the background of weakening the body.
Causes of worms
Helminth worms in humans cause severe poisoning of the body. If worms appear in an adult, the symptoms depend on the type of parasite, the habitat and the number of parasites, which multiply several times or even several thousand times each day.
How long does it take for the first signs to appear?
For example, for roundworms, two to three days are enough to notice a bad situation. Most often, infection with other types of parasites occurs in an adult; the first signs appear after 2-3 weeks, but the first symptoms of filariasis can be expected from 6 to 18 months.
The danger is that in some cases the disease with worms occurs without visible symptoms. Signs may appear when the parasite reaches a huge size.
- Pinworms— The main signs of the presence of these parasites in the body of an adult are itching, which intensifies at night. The frequency may last for one to two days and then not bother you for several weeks. And if the infection is severe, then itching can appear quite often.
- Trichocephaly— a sign of infection with this type of helminth is the development of anemia. Nausea, dizziness, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea and severe weight loss may occur.
- Roundworms- a rash appears all over the body, but it can also be in different parts of the body, nausea, abdominal pain, weight loss. If this parasite is not noticed in time, the integrity of the intestine can be compromised. If the roundworm penetrates the appendix, severe inflammation of this organ may develop.
If the number of helminths has increased several times, a high temperature may appear. But in rare cases, parasite infection is asymptomatic. But basically, helminth infection occurs with signs that are not difficult to notice.
At the initial stage of the appearance of worms, it is necessary to start the correct comprehensive treatment, so that this disease does not develop into chronic ones.
How parasites enter the human body. Contamination
There are four ways in which parasite infection occurs.
- Through earth and water with eggworms. Through contact with animals and when eating food and products on which a fly with helminth eggs has landed. Every time you touch soil, you must wash your hands thoroughly. Vegetables and fruits collected from the site must be washed with water using a special scraper or sponge. You should not drink water from springs, as parasite eggs usually live in water. You should not swallow water when swimming in lakes, rivers or other bodies of water.
- From a person suffering from parasites such as pinworms. Breeding takes place at night. A female person crawls out of the intestines and lays one or more eggs in the folds of the anal tract, after which itching naturally occurs, the person scratches, and helminth eggs remain on underwear, hands and surrounding objects. Without washing your hands properly, infection occurs by putting worm eggs in your mouth. This is the most common method of parasite infection.
- When you eat undercooked and raw meat, and through raw fish.
- Through mosquito bites, flies and so on.
When helminths enter the body, two stages of development may occur: acute and chronic.
The acute stage begins from the moment the helminths enter the human body and can last from two weeks to 2 months.
The second stage begins after a person does not get rid of the worms and lasts throughout life. When worms enter the body, poor absorption of nutrients occurs.
Where can helminths live?
Parasites mainly infect the intestines of adults. But not everyone knows that there are types that can live in other organs:
- Ribbons, filaments and flagellathey live in the large intestine.
- Thermal- enter the liver and gall bladder.
- Pig movielives in any organ of an adult.
Types of microorganisms that live in the body of adults
In the body of an adult, helminths such as roundworms, tapeworms and tapeworms are mainly found. They actively absorb nutrients from the body of an adult, after which metabolic disorders, anemia, severe weight loss and other types of diseases appear.
Helminths in humans:
- Roundworms:Infection occurs after eating unwashed vegetables and fruits.
- Wide tape:When you eat raw fish.
- Pinworms:in contact with other people already infected with parasites and through the use of the same dishes and linens.
Helminths develop over a specific period of time, which generally lasts from 15 to 60 days, after which the chronic stage of the disease occurs.
After transitioning to the chronic stage, a person's immunity decreases. Inflammation begins immediately against the background of weakening the body.
Causes of worms
Helminth worms in humans cause severe poisoning of the body. If worms appear in an adult, the symptoms depend on the type of parasite, the habitat and the number of parasites, which multiply several times or even several thousand times each day.
How long does it take for the first signs to appear?
For example, for roundworms, two to three days are enough to notice a bad situation. Most often, infection with other types of parasites occurs in an adult; the first signs appear after 2-3 weeks, but the first symptoms of filariasis can be expected from 6 to 18 months.
The danger is that in some cases the disease with worms occurs without visible symptoms. Signs may appear when the parasite reaches a huge size.
- Pinworms— The main signs of the presence of these parasites in the body of an adult are itching, which intensifies at night. The frequency may last for one to two days and then not bother you for several weeks. And if the infection is severe, then itching can appear quite often.
- Trichocephaly— a sign of infection with this type of helminth is the development of anemia. Nausea, dizziness, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea and severe weight loss may occur.
- Roundworms- a rash appears all over the body, but it can also be in different parts of the body, nausea, abdominal pain, weight loss. If this parasite is not noticed in time, the integrity of the intestine can be compromised. If the roundworm penetrates the appendix, severe inflammation of this organ may develop.
The first symptoms of worms in humans appear as follows:
- skin rash that causes constant itching.
- swelling, both in the whole body and in places.
- cough, choking;
- lymph node inflammation;
- weakness, fatigue;
- joint pain, lower abdomen;
- serious diseases?
- diarrhea, constipation, bloating, intestinal pain.
- central nervous system damage.
If the number of helminths has increased several times, a high temperature may appear. But in rare cases, parasite infection is asymptomatic. But basically, helminth infection occurs with signs that are not difficult to notice.
At the initial stage of the appearance of worms, it is necessary to start the correct comprehensive treatment, so that this disease does not develop into chronic ones.
Tests to detect parasites in adults
To diagnose the presence of worms in the body of an adult, a stool sample is collected for research. For some types of helminths, additional tests are collected:
- scrapings of the anal canal are collected for the presence of worm eggs in an adult.
- In women, scrapings are collected from the vagina, navel area and inguinal folds.
- perform an immunological test.
- urine and blood tests are collected.
If there are individual individuals of helminths in the body, then the symptoms appear unnoticed by an adult. If there is a large number of parasites in the body, then the symptoms appear in a rather complicated way. Especially with a certain type of worms, people suffer in the evening and at night.
To remove parasites from the human body, the doctor prescribes individual treatment.
Treatment of helminthic infestations
In the modern world, there are many preventive measures and treatment methods, which have their own specialization for the treatment of different types of pests.
There are about 70 species of helminths in our country. Only after examining the tests, accurate treatment and drugs are prescribed, as the drugs are highly toxic. In addition, for all types of pests, appropriate treatment is prescribed.
The course of treatment may be repeated as there is a risk of re-infection.
ethnoscience
Treatment can also be carried out with traditional methods. Time-tested methods are considered effective. These include eating pumpkin seeds and the tansy plant.
In the modern world, it is believed that pumpkin seeds are best eaten in the morning on an empty stomach. You need to eat 300 grams of seeds in an hour. It is recommended to grind and add honey. Do not eat anything for four hours and clean your stomach using a laxative and enema.
Repeated treatment is recommended after two weeks. It is also believed that carrots or carrot juice will help against parasites. A decoction of wormwood herb will help you get rid of the problem; it should be used orally or as an enema.
Prevention of worms. What is it useful for;
You must lead a healthy lifestyle, drink clean or boiled water, use personal hygiene items and your own dishes, linens and other personal items.
All pet vaccinations must be completed on time. Before consumption, you must wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly and heat meat and fish. For prevention, take antiparasitic drugs. You should not eat raw, dried or dried fish from freshwater bodies. To avoid infection with helminths, you just need to follow the rules of prevention.