Helminthiasis

Helminthiasis is a disease in which the human body is infected with parasites.This problem often affects children (80%), but adults can also become infected.The symptoms of the disease can vary, depending on the method of penetration and the number of parasites.

Helminthiasis is a disease caused by infection with worms.

Description of the disease

Parasitic worms (worms, helminths) are individuals that take root almost everywhere.The most common types of worms that infect the human body are pinworms, tapeworms and roundworms.Each infected adult or child is a carrier of over 400 different types of helminths, each of which has several classes.Therefore, only a doctor can determine which worm is parasitizing a particular organism, as well as prescribe the correct treatment.

They are most often localized in the intestines, but they can affect other areas as well.Worms affect the brain and eyes, causing allergies and metabolic disorders.Their distribution is influenced by living conditions and climate.Thus, in European countries, in urban areas, the percentage of disease is significantly lower.

The most dangerous are the larvae of worms, because they move throughout the body, causing additional damage to many important organs.Adult parasites settle in one spot and affect only a certain place.Intestinal helminthiasis do not live permanently in the human body, and depending on the species, they die sooner or later.

However, this does not mean that the problem should not be solved.The parasites themselves and the products of their decomposition are also dangerous.Worms worsen the general condition of the human body, lower immunity and worsen chronic diseases in the patient.In addition, helminths in the body reduce the effectiveness of various types of vaccines and medicines.The most dangerous signs of helminthosis are for the heart and eyes.

Irritating factors of the disease

Very often the carrier of the helminth is the patient (more than half of the cases of infection): female parasites come out on the anal folds and lay eggs there (about 5 thousand eggs per female).An infected person feels itchy, scratches the affected area and spreads the parasites further: on items of his own clothing and things he touches during the day.

Worms enter the body through food, but there are other ways of transmission: through the skin (dust particles with the virus remain under the nails) or droplets in the air.Because of this, patients who do not follow the necessary hygiene rules, eat dirty vegetables and fruits, drink non-distilled water from the tap are exposed to the risk of getting this disease.

You can get worms if you drink tap water.

Therefore, helminthiasis most often affects people who live in a private house, pet owners, gourmets who prefer medium-roasted, smoked and dried meat.Frequent carriers of parasites are dogs and cats (domestic and stray).This parasite is called "taxacara" and can penetrate another organism;the risk of infection is especially high for a person with a weak immune system.The following varieties are distinguished:

1. Contact.Transmitted from person to person, they are the most common type of infection.
2. Geohelminthiases.It is transmitted by land or water;in some cases, infection is possible through a sick animal.The infection vector contains the eggs of adult worms, which reach humans through the feces of an animal, insect or person.People working on the ground are at risk, especially without gloves.
3. Biohelminthiasis.Worms that enter through poorly fried food: fish or meat.
4. Worms that penetrate through the bites of insects (most often mosquitoes).

Worms can enter the body together with food without heat treatment.

Forms of the disease

Depending on the location, the following types are distinguished:

• luminal – localized in the intestines;
• persons with hepatobiliary system;
• affect the lungs;
• penetrating tissue;
• ophthalmic infections with helminths.

Among the most common types of worms are roundworms and tapeworms.

The most common types of helminthiasis:

1. Roundworms.
2. Pinworms.
3. Whipworm.
4. Wide band.
5. Trichinella.
6. Bull tapeworm.

The first type enters the intestines through the mouth, and from there into the lymph.Passing into the lungs and other organs, roundworms cause fever, weakness and cough.The virus enters the stomach, where an adult is formed.The patient develops allergies and the infected person suddenly loses weight.Often, patients come to the hospital with other diseases (for example, pneumonia, which has similar symptoms).

Pinworms are most often localized in the large intestine, where they grow within 2 weeks.They penetrate through unwashed food, dirty hands and soil.The most striking symptom is anal itching, which worsens at night.If there are a large number of worms, the patient is constantly itchy.

Whipworm enters through food.An infected person experiences abdominal pain, lack of appetite and anemia.Often, when the whip penetrates, the infected person is prescribed the wrong therapy and offered to remove acute appendicitis.

The fourth variety inhabits freshwater crustaceans or fish, and then localizes in the human body through infected freshwater fish or its eggs.The patient feels constant stomach discomfort.

Trichinella enters through improperly thermally processed meat, which contains parasite eggs.The muscles of the face, arms and legs, joints are affected.First, a person feels nauseous, suffers from diarrhea, after a few days the temperature rises, the face swells, and a rash appears on the body.After a month, the larvae die due to the active work of the body.

Bovine tapeworm enters humans through pork or beef.This has a bad effect on the gastrointestinal tract, because they stop functioning normally (intestinal and digestive pathologies).

Signs of illness

Symptoms have 2 stages of development.Acute lasts about 2 weeks, when the parasite develops there.The symptoms are mostly similar, which is absolutely independent of the type of worm.This form of the disease is characterized by the following symptoms:

1. General symptoms.They appear a few weeks after infection: the temperature rises, a rash forms, the face swells, there is a sudden weight loss, pallor and itching.Breathing problems are common in children.

2. Disorders in the work of the gastrointestinal tract.Diarrhea suddenly turns into constipation, the patient is diagnosed with vomiting and pain in the abdomen near the navel, and possible active formation of gases.These symptoms can be mild or severe depending on the type of parasite.
3. Problems with the nervous system.Parasites release toxic substances.The more of them in the body, the more actively they work.The patient experiences frequent headaches, nausea and dizziness.Furthermore, the symptoms develop to an elevated temperature, which causes pain in the body and joints.The patient gets tired quickly, cannot get enough sleep and rest.Due to lack of sleep, irritability occurs and work productivity decreases.
4. Allergy.Symptoms of skin rash due to helminthiasis are similar to urticaria or allergic rhinitis.The skin begins to peel, nails and hair become thin and brittle.Another characteristic feature is cracked heels.

5. Poor immunity.Helminthosis significantly reduces immunity and a person gets sick more often.Some internal organs may be damaged.

Symptoms in the next phase, chronic, are more varied.Here, disorders of different organs will be visible depending on the amount, location and type of worms.If there are few helminths in the body, they do not manifest themselves in any way;various symptoms are noticeable only when the worms are actively reproducing.

Disease diagnosis

The diagnosis of helminthiasis consists of a general blood test, in which eosinophils (binding foreign proteins in the blood) are elevated.In addition, urine and feces are submitted for examination.A repeat test may be necessary after 3 days, as the worms are not always visible.In some cases, additional analysis for helminth infections is required.For these purposes, bile, sputum and muscle tissue are examined.

During laboratory diagnostics, fragments of larvae or worm eggs are searched for in the object of analysis.If the symptoms are more chaotic, additional blood tests may be ordered.Other methods of diagnosis: ultrasound, X-ray, endoscopy and computer tomography.

Worms will absorb food that enters the human body, so laboratory tests will show a significant lack of vitamins and minerals.A microscopic examination is prescribed if roundworms or pinworms are suspected.If the symptoms indicate problems with the digestive system, fibrogastroduodenoscopy is prescribed.

Treatment of diseases

All complex treatments are prescribed only by a doctor, because it is necessary not only to destroy the parasites themselves, but also all the consequences they have caused.If a certain type of worm is detected, anthelmintic drugs are prescribed.Most often, the treatment consists of a single dose of the drug, but in some cases it is possible to take the drug again after a short period of time.

In addition, the following drugs may be prescribed:

1. Antihistamines (anti-allergic drugs), which will remove all harmful substances from the body and normalize the condition of the skin.
2. If the level of hemoglobin or red blood cells in the blood is low, drugs containing iron, B vitamins or folic acid are prescribed.
3. In addition, treatment will consist of taking vitamins and following a specialized low-carbohydrate diet.
4. The room where the infected person lives, as well as his personal belongings, are processed in detail.
5. The diagnosis of helminthiasis is indicated for all family members or persons who communicate directly with the patient.
6. Treatment requires nail care.They should be shortened and thoroughly cleaned.
7. In more advanced cases, hormonal drugs are prescribed, as well as drugs with a high potassium content.

In addition, treatment may consist of folk recipes.Natural plants also have anthelmintic properties.For example, celandine and elecampane juice.Vegetable juices (carrots) will also help to eliminate the symptoms of helminthiasis.Pomegranate, pumpkin seeds, mint or garlic are suitable for treatment.

An enema with herbal decoctions helps to eliminate helminthiasis.

Wormwood decoction can be used as an enema or internally.Folk remedies are often used in combination with saline laxatives.Treatment of helminthiasis only with medical methods is unacceptable, however, in addition to the main or as a means of prevention, such natural preparations will benefit the body.

Treatment of children is often carried out in a hospital, because their illness is more severe and lasts a long time.When choosing medicines to treat a child, the doctor often adjusts them along the way, because the initial medicines will not always be effective for the child's body.

Disease prevention

Prevention of helminthiasis is quite simple and does not require much effort.After any work with the earth, wash your hands and treat your nails, because this is how parasites most often enter the body.You should always wash your hands before eating anything, after going outside and after visiting a public toilet.Additionally, you can sometimes use hand sanitizer.

Everything must be carefully processed and scalded with boiling water.Care should be taken to protect food from flies and other insects, as insects often transmit infection on their wings.This is especially true in spring and summer.

You should always wash your pets after a walk.After a long stay of the animal on the street (for example, in the summer season in a cottage), the animal's fur is treated with specialized means against parasites.All pet vaccinations must be done on time.

Drink only boiled or filtered water and avoid water from wells or open tanks.Sources may contain intestinal helminth infections.Each family member is provided with individual dishes, towels and personal hygiene products.Fry meat and fish well before eating.Sushi lovers can try to find a dish that does not include raw products.

A preventive course of anthelmintics should be applied every 6 months.

You can carry out drug prophylaxis twice a year: 1 tablet of an antiviral drug once a day after meals for 3 days.If the child is small, parents should consult with the pediatrician whether he can take such medicines.