Helminthiasis

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

Helminthiasis is a disease in which a worm infection occurs.

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.Any infected adult or child is a carrier of more than 400 different types of helminths, each of which has several classes.Therefore, only the attending physician can determine which worm is a parasite in a particular organism, as well as prescribe the correct treatment.

They are most often localized in the intestine, but can also affect other areas.Worms affect the brain and eyes, causing allergies and metabolic disorders.Their prevalence is influenced by living conditions and climate.Therefore, in European countries, in urban areas, the percentage of this disease is much lower.

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

However, this does not mean that the problem should not be eliminated.Both the parasite itself and its decay products are dangerous.Worms worsen the general condition of the human body, lower immunity and worsen chronic diseases in patients.In addition, helminths in the body reduce the effectiveness of various vaccines and drugs.The most dangerous signs of helminthiasis are for the heart and eyes.

Irritating factors of the disease

Most often, the carrier of helminths is the patient (more than half of the cases of infection): the female parasite comes out to the anal fold and lays eggs there (about 5 thousand eggs per woman).The infected person feels itchy, scratches the affected area, and spreads the parasite further: to his own wardrobe and things he touches during the day.

Worms enter the body through food, but there are other routes of transmission: through the skin (dust particles with the virus remain under the nails) or through airborne droplets.That is why patients who do not follow the necessary hygiene rules, eat dirty vegetables and fruits, and drink unpurified tap water are at risk of getting this disease.

You can get worms by drinking tap water.

Therefore, helminthiasis most often affects people living in private houses, pet owners, gourmets who prefer moderately grilled meat, smoked and sushi.Frequent carriers of the parasite are dogs and cats (both domestic and stray).This parasite is called "taxacara" and can penetrate into other organisms;the risk of infection is high especially for someone with a weak immune system.The following varieties are distinguished:

1. Contacts.Spread from person to person, they are the most common type of infection.
2. Geohelminthiases.Sent by land or water;in some cases, infection through sick animals is possible.The infection vector contains the eggs of adult worms, which reach humans through the feces of animals, insects or people.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 insect bites (most often mosquitoes).

Worms can enter the body with food without heat treatment.

Form of disease

Depending on the location, the following types are distinguished:

• luminal - localized in the intestine;
• individual hepatobiliary system;
• affects the lungs;
• penetrating tissue;
• ophthalmic helminth infection.

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

The most common types of helminthiasis:

1. Ringworm.
2. pinworms.
3. whipworm.
4. Wide tape.
5. Trichinella.
6. Bull tapeworm.

The first variety enters the intestine through the mouth, and from there to the lymph.Passing through the lungs and other organs, roundworms cause fever, weakness and cough.The virus enters the stomach, where adults are formed.The patient suffers from 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 noticeable symptom is anal itching, which is worse at night.If there is a large number of worms, the patient is constantly bothered by itching.

Whipworms enter through food.Infected people feel stomach ache, lack of appetite and anemia.Often, when whipworms penetrate, the infected person is prescribed the wrong therapy and offered to remove acute appendicitis.

The fourth variety settles in freshwater crayfish or fish, and is then localized in the human body through infected freshwater fish or its eggs.The patient feels constant abdominal pain.

Trichinella enters through improperly thermally processed meat, which contains parasite eggs.Facial muscles, arms and legs and joints are affected.First, a person feels nauseous, has 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 tapeworms enter humans through pork or beef.This has a bad effect on the gastrointestinal tract, because they stop working normally (intestinal and digestive pathology).

Signs of illness

Symptoms have 2 stages of development.Acute lasts about 2 weeks, when the parasite develops there.These symptoms are largely similar, which is completely 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, paleness and itching.Breathing problems are common in children.

2. Malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract.Diarrhea suddenly gives way to constipation, the patient is diagnosed with vomiting and abdominal pain near the navel, and the possibility of active gas formation.These symptoms can be mild or severe depending on the type of parasite.
3. Nervous system problems.Parasites release toxic substances.The more they are in the body, the more actively they work.Patients often experience headaches, nausea and dizziness.Further, the symptoms develop to a high temperature, as a result of which the body and joints ache.The patient gets tired quickly, cannot sleep enough and rest well.Due to lack of sleep, irritability appears and work productivity decreases.
4. Allergies.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 distinctive feature is the cracked heel.

5. Weak immunity.Helminthiasis significantly reduces immunity and a person becomes sick more often.Some internal organs may be damaged.

Symptoms in the next stage, the chronic stage, are more varied.Here, different organ disorders will appear depending on the quantity, location and type of worms.If there are few helminths in the body, they do not manifest themselves in any way;various symptoms can be seen only when the worms are actively breeding.

Disease diagnosis

The diagnosis of helminthiases consists of a general blood test, where 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 worms are not always visible.In some cases, additional analysis for helminth infection is required.For such purposes, bile, sputum and muscle tissue are examined.

During laboratory diagnostics, fragments of worm larvae or eggs are looked for in the object of analysis.If symptoms are more erratic, additional blood tests may be ordered.Other diagnostic methods: ultrasound, x-ray, endoscopy and computed tomography.

Worms will absorb food that enters the human body, so laboratory tests will show significant vitamin and mineral deficiencies.Microscopic examination is prescribed if roundworms or pinworms are suspected.If symptoms indicate problems with the digestive system, fibrogastroduodenoscopy is prescribed.

Disease treatment

All complex treatments are prescribed only by the attending physician, because it is necessary not only to destroy the parasite itself, but also all the consequences it causes.If certain types of worms are detected, anthelmintic drugs are prescribed.Most often, 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.

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 skin condition.
2. If the level of hemoglobin or red blood cells in the blood is low, drugs containing iron, B vitamins or folic acid will be prescribed.
3. In addition, treatment will consist of taking vitamins and following a special low-carbohydrate diet.
4. The room where the infected person lives, as well as his personal belongings, are thoroughly processed.
5. The diagnosis of helminthiases is indicated for all family members or people who interact directly with the patient.
6. Treatment requires nail care.They should be cut short and cleaned thoroughly.
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 juice and elecampane.Vegetable juice (carrot) will also help eliminate the symptoms of helminthiasis.Pomegranates, pumpkin seeds, mint or garlic are suitable for treatment.

Enemas with herbal decoctions help get rid of 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 one or as a preventive measure, such natural preparations will benefit the body.

Treatment of children is often done as an inpatient, because in them the disease is more severe and lasts longer.When choosing a drug to treat a child, doctors often adjust it along the way, because the initial drug 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 soil, wash your hands and also take care of your nails, as this is the most common way parasites enter the body.You should always wash your hands before eating anything, after going out, and after visiting a public toilet.Also, sometimes you can 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 carry infections on their wings.This is especially true in spring and summer.

You should always wash your pet after a walk.After a long stay of the animal on the street (for example, in the summer in a summer cottage), the fur of the animal is treated with a special anti-parasitic agent.It is necessary to carry out all pet vaccinations on time.

You should only drink boiled or filtered water, and avoid water from wells or open reservoirs.The springs may contain intestinal helminth infections.Individual dishes, towels and personal hygiene items are provided for each family member.Fry meat and fish well before eating.Sushi lovers can try to find dishes that do not include raw products.

Once every 6 months, a preventive course of anthelmintic drugs should be given.

You can carry out drug prophylaxis twice a year: 1 tablet of 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 the medicine.