Intestinal worms can appear in different ways in humans. The most common route of infection is contact with an infected animal or consumption of improperly processed food. No one is free of infection. Helminthic invasion (damage to the body with tape, round and flat worms) leads to poor health and, in some cases, to serious complications. You have to deal with the problem.
Modern medicines make it possible to remove worms from the small intestine and stop their negative effects on the gastrointestinal tract in the colon. It is very important to know how you can try to protect yourself from the infection.
Causes of helminthic invasion
The pathogens of invasion are worms in the intestines, which can be of different types. They enter the body and over time, the intestinal parasites grow more and more. These living beings take root in the human body, multiply in it, and feed on the substances that enter the body. Because of their fault, a person can get less important nutrients: proteins, fats and carbohydrates, trace elements, vitamins. During invasion, pathogens move from the larval stage to full-fledged worms, severely affecting the condition of the body. Parasites live in human intestines for a long time and do not disappear without therapy.
You can infect worms in the following ways:
- Through the edge.Worms are often found on the surface of unwashed vegetables and fruits. Some parasites (bovine and porcine tapeworm) leave larvae in the meat. If not baked, the larvae enter the human body and begin to develop there.
- Contact household mode. If a person touches handles, handrails and other items in public areas without observing hygienic skills, he / she is exposed to the risk of invasion. The method of contact involves infecting the disease by hand infection with an infected person, and the household method is infecting with dirty dishes or other household items.
- Through pets.Certain types of parasites in the rectum use four-legged friends as intermediate hosts. The larvae are transmitted by contact with a pet. This can happen when you hug, with an unexpected “kiss”. The dog can bring nailworm eggs to its paw by picking them up from the outside soil.
Symptoms and causes of intestinal parasites can vary. The main reason for the onset of infection is poor hygiene. With proper personal care, regular hand washing, and handling fresh food, the risk of infection is dramatically reduced.
Types of worms
What parasites live in the intestines? The body is not infected with one or two but with several different types of worms. They can coexist in the gut, but more often human worms are found separately.
The main classification of worms is according to their appearance. The parasites are intestinal and the symptoms are similar.
Important!Only a doctor can determine what type of worm has affected the gastrointestinal tract. You cannot try to diagnose the disease yourself.
There are three main types of worms:
- tape;
- flat;
- wheels.
Tapeworms in the intestines are distinguished by a segmented body and a semi-flat shape, hence the name of the worms (see photo). The round parasites found in human intestines are the closest to the usual earthworm. They are transparent, with a white or colorless body through which the main vessel is baked. Flatworms are usually oval in shape, sometimes slightly articulated. The length of any type can be between 10 mm and 10 meters. There are many types of parasites in the small intestine, some of which are much smaller.
Experts identify more than 10 types of helminthic invasions based on a variety of pathogens. The most common type is ascariasis, an infection with nails that are 15 to 40 cm long, with characteristic abdominal pain and poisoning. But there are other options:
- Trichocephalosis.The pathogen is the whipworm. Vlasoglav is one of the most versatile worms. It penetrates the cecum and the large and small intestine. The main symptoms are dizziness, vomiting, nausea, and other signs of worms and poisoning. Parasites living in the small intestine are easily removed by drugs.
- For Teniarin.This is the development of the bovine tapeworm in the human body. This worm spreads through meat products and large pets. As a result, the body develops constant poisoning and pain in the abdominal cavity.
- Metagonimosis.One of the most dangerous forms of parasites in the human gut, it needs urgent removal. Caused by Flukes, which can cause intestinal inflammation. Infection occurs through untreated fish.
- Trichinellosis.The most severe form that leads to the death of the patient in the absence of long-term therapy. The pathogen, Trichinella, can penetrate the intestines into the internal organs and seriously disrupt their work. Due to the increased activity of the parasite, the pain is felt not only in the abdomen but also in the muscles. Conjunctivitis begins as an allergic reaction.
There are more than a dozen variants of worms, and the groups of diseases they cause are 10. Even for professionals, it is difficult to distinguish between them, so you should not diagnose yourself. This only leads to inappropriate therapy and an increase in negative symptoms. Only a highly trained doctor with special equipment can correctly recognize the type of helminth because intestinal parasites show similar symptoms (teniarchosis and trichocephalosis are difficult to distinguish).
Consequences of the helminth invasion
Various complications are possible with long absences of treatment. The kidneys, bile ducts and some internal organs are affected. Even the heart and brain are at risk if symptoms are not noticed in time with dangerous parasites in the intestines.
Listen!If you suspect a severe helminthic invasion that damages your internal organs, consult a specialist immediately. The parasite can be fatal at any time if the case is neglected. Symptoms and treatment should be checked by a doctor.
The main complication of advanced helminthic invasion is withdrawal symptoms. This is a state of constant poisoning. The patient feels weak, cannot be active, suffers from vomiting and dizziness. Such signs only disappear from the body when the parasite is completely removed.
The research also identified other consequences of the infection:
- the skin becomes significantly thinner, covered with viral growths (papillomas), gets unhealthy shadows;
- due to the resulting vitamin deficiency, the hair, nails become thinner and torn, the bones become more fragile;
- the person feels constant drowsiness;
- Changes in the nervous system can make an infected person more aggressive;
- In severe cases, the invasion is fatal.
Death is likely if the problem is ignored for several years. During this time, it is time for the helminths to grow to significant sizes and begin to actively eat the nutrients, taking them almost completely away from humans.
Symptoms of Invasion
The helminthic invasion manifests itself in the first stage of development. The longer the developmental state of the parasite, the more pronounced the symptoms of worms in humans.
There are a number of non-specific features that do not differentiate between invasion of other diseases. The symptoms of parasites in the intestines are many. The most common are:
- nausea;
- vomiting;
- feeling tired;
- dizziness;
- loss of consciousness;
- gastrointestinal disorders;
- rectal inflammation;
- constipation.
A specific symptom that is rare in other circumstances is migratory abdominal pain. He "walks" in the intestines while stabbing several places at once. This is due to the movement and activity of the parasites. Parasites in the intestines show symptoms of poisoning or poisoning, making it difficult to diagnose the disease.
Diagnosing the disease
Above all, the disease must be distinguished from similar digestive problems. It must be distinguished from the usual poisoning, infection, appendicitis. Differentiation is based on data obtained during the anamnesis. For more accurate results, it is recommended that the worm type be subjected to an additional check.
How do I know if there are any parasites? You can find the exact type of parasite by analyzing the stool. Parasites in the human colon secrete eggs, which are released along with the feces. In this, experts find helminth eggs and determine which type of parasite they belong to. Based on the data obtained, the treatment is performed.
Tip:Contact a specialist with a complete stool analysis and order a check-up at a paid medical center to maximize the speed of the procedure. This will allow you to know your diagnosis as soon as possible and find out if there are any worms.
At the time of diagnosis, a medical history is collected, an irrigoscopy is performed, and the abdominal region is palpated. The latter makes it possible to assess damage to the body. In case of serious discrepancies, a person may be sent for further examinations. There they learn how dangerous the damage to the internal organs is and whether it exists at all. Thereafter, therapy is prescribed, the main task of which is to clean the intestines at home. You can also determine the diagnosis by colonoscopy of the abdomen.
The course of therapy
How to remove parasites? You need to clean your gut at home. The infection is treated by killing the parasites. Special anti-parasitic preparations are used to combat these.
The choice of drug against parasites in the gut depends on the type of worm. Most drugs are complex tablets, that is, it allows you to fight both ascaris and flatworms and tapeworms. Medicines work in slightly different ways.
Conditions for getting rid of worms
A medication usually only takes one or two days to fully recover the body. Many anthelmintic drugs are sufficient when administered once, at most - twice.
But this rule only applies to special medications, after which the symptoms of worms in an adult disappear almost immediately. Dietary supplements are taken at different intervals.
Dietary supplements are effective if taken for about a month. The optimal course length is one and a half months. They will then take a break for at least two months, if necessary, after which time the medicine will be taken again.
Both biologically active additives and special drugs can be used more than once, but in case of repeated use, a doctor must be consulted. Treatment of parasites with folk remedies is not recommended.
Prevent infection
Worm infection can be easily avoided with simple hygiene practices. Above all, experts recommend limiting contact with untested animals and improving food hygiene. All vegetables, fruits, herbs and other products should be washed. They may have larvae of helminths invisible to the human eye on their surface. When frying, the meat must be prepared while destroying possible parasites.
It is important to follow the basic rules of personal hygiene:
- the brush used to clean the teeth must be separate;
- the same goes for towels;
- After eating, wash your own or household dishes;
- can't eat from someone's dirty plate;
- Hands should be washed before going outdoors, handling pets and eating.
Compliance with the ground rules allows you to forget about the problem of invasion forever. Prophylactic preparations can be considered as a guarantee of health. Before buying an herbal dietary supplement that provides permanent protection for your body, you should consult your doctor.
Cleaning the intestines from worms is an extremely important procedure for the health and well-being of the patient. People who have parasites in their bodies cannot fully live.
Cleansing the body is also useful for prevention: it also allows you to remove toxins using cleansing techniques. With timely therapy, helminthic invasion is not dangerous.