Worms in humans - symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

When the worms enter the human body, they start their parasitic activity, which makes the person feel sick. Helminthic infections often cause severe allergic reactions, gastrointestinal diseases and other pathologies unrelated to the gastrointestinal system. However, the traditional treatment of these diseases does not bring a cure. In humans, worms are most likely to be suspected based on certain symptoms, but helminthiasis only occurs clinically when the worms multiply massively. In asymptomatic cases, laboratory tests help in the reliable diagnosis of helminthiasis. The symptoms of worms in people can be different, but above all, abdominal pain, discomfort near the anus, nausea and general malaise appear. In order to restore health, it is necessary to get rid of worms with the help of anthelmintic drugs or folk remedies.

What are worms

Worms are parasites of humans and animals belonging to the class of flatworms or roundworms. The structure of worms is quite common.
During their development, worms traditionally go through several stages: egg - larva - adult. Most people get worm infections when they swallow worm eggs.

Larvae quickly hatch from the eggs swallowed in the human intestinal tract, which migrate to their permanent place of life, where they transform into adults. During movement, almost all helminths make a real "journey" through the human body.

Only a few parasites (e. g. dumplings) emerge from the eggs in the intestinal tract and remain there. In general, the symptoms caused by the destruction of tissues and organs, larvae and other developing forms of the intestinal worm are most pronounced during movement, compared to the symptoms caused by the mature forms of the parasite.

As mentioned above, adult worms are traditionally stably localized in the body, their developing forms often migrate to different organs and tissues, and the path of their movement is often quite complex. For example, in the case of ascariasis, a person becomes infected by eating food contaminated with worm eggs (ascaris eggs mature in the soil).

In the cavity of the intestinal tract, the eggs of the roundworm hatch into larvae, which within a few hours enter the blood vessels through the wall of the intestinal tract and are carried to the lungs via the bloodstream. In the lungs, roundworm larvae grow and mature. The growing larva slowly eats into the adjacent bronchi and crawls through them, first into the trachea and then into the oral cavity, where it is swallowed again and enters the intestinal tract.

The roundworm larva that re-enters the intestinal tract transforms into an adult worm. The lung migration of roundworm larvae manifests itself in a set of symptoms (cough, asthma attack, elevated body temperature, allergic skin rash), and it is possible that the presence of a small number of adult worms in the intestinal tract is not manifested in any way.

What are worms? Worms are scientifically known as helminths. Helminths are all worms that live in the bodies of humans, animals and plants. Accordingly, worms are not a certain type of parasite, but a whole group of different worms, of which three are the most common.

Some scientists claim that almost the entire population of the Earth is infected with one or another parasitic worm. In this case, however, helminthic infections should be the most widespread diseases in the world, moreover, many serious studies prove that it is actually not so bad. But the thought that a person still has helminths immediately leads to an answer to the question of how to get rid of worms.

It should also be understood that helminthic infection is not something rare and insignificant. There are more than three hundred species; human larvae reach far beyond the intestines and continue to develop there, gradually poisoning the body. Let's see what are the symptoms of worms in humans, because it is forewarned, as we know, armed. Then we will find out how to effectively get rid of worms and what is needed to prevent them from returning.

In fact, it is very easy to determine the presence of worms in the body of any person - you just need to do a stool test. But the problem is that most people don't even think to take such a test. The problem is that in adults and children, helminths disguise themselves as a large number of diseases and do not show their presence at all at first.

A person can spend years treating the intestines, liver, kidneys, stomach, gall bladder, and the root of evil will be helminthiasis and parasites, which cause a great feeling if they are not fought against.

Worm infection often causes the development of diseases that have nothing to do with the helminths themselves. And in this case, it can be handled indefinitely if you do not understand in time what is happening.

All this proves that worms are not just an unpleasant phenomenon. And given that there are many ways of infection, it is vital to know the signs of worms in humans.

How do worms (parasites) appear?

The symptoms of helminthic diseases depend on the stage of development of the parasite. The development of helminthiasis is usually divided into acute and acquired stages.

• The acute development stage of parasites begins from the moment the patient is infected with worms and lasts for 2-3 weeks (up to 2 months in case of severe disease).This stage is characterized by the dominance of allergic manifestations (rash, dry suffocating cough, increased level of eosinophils in the blood), which develop in response to the appearance of antigens (fragments) of migrating larvae in the blood. The immune response is very pronounced at the stage when the early forms of the parasite (larvae) are in the body of the infected person;
• the acquired stage of development of worms occurs after the acute stage and lasts for several weeks, months or years (for some helminthic diseases - up to 10 years).For us, the symptoms of this stage depend on the location, number and feeding habits of the worms.
  At the point of their spread, the parasites damage tissues with their attachment organs (hooks, spines, cutting plates, cuticular spines). The damage causes tissue irritation and the development of an inflammatory reaction.

Some fast-growing parasites, such as cysticerci or hydatid cysts found in the brain, eyeballs, and liver, compress surrounding tissues, often causing dysfunction of vital organs, with serious consequences.

In the acquired stage of helminthiasis, the metabolism is disrupted, as the parasite continuously absorbs valuable nutrients such as proteins, minerals, carbohydrates and vitamins. In addition, the process of absorption of digested food in the intestinal tract is interrupted. The acquired stage of most digestive helminthic infections is often asymptomatic, especially in cases where the parasites are represented by a single individual.

Any symptoms of the disease appear only when the parasite is huge, such as roundworms or tapeworms.
With other helminthiasis, for example, enterobiasis, nighttime itching may appear in the anal area; intensive invasion of trichuriasis contributes to the development of hemorrhagic colitis; children may have symptoms of rectal prolapse.

How can you get infected with worms?

You can get parasites in different ways. In this case, the worms are carried by larvae that are almost invisible to the naked eye.

The main ways of infection:

• lack of hygienic skills - dirty hands, work on the ground;
• eating food contaminated with helminths - unwashed fruits and food eaten by the husband, as well as improperly heat-treated meat and fish (kebab, rare steak, smoked food, sushi, etc. );
• drinking unboiled water contaminated with worm eggs;
• contact with animals that are natural reservoirs of worms - cats and dogs, wild animals (hunting, fishing, working on fur farms);
• contact with a person suffering from helminthiasis - shaking hands, bedding, door handles, etc.

In which organs can worms live?

Helminthic parasites can be divided into two categories that correspond to the site of activity in the donor's body:

• hollow– worms living in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract. There are about 100 species of intestinal parasites, with a dozen or two species found in each part of the intestine. The small intestine is ready to receive roundworms, antelostomes, broad tapeworms and other less common "siblings". The small intestine "shares living space" with roundworms, dwarf tapeworms and others. Medical literature describes cases where a person has been infected with several types of parasites at the same time;
• fabric- worms localized in organs, tissues and even blood. Modern medicine successfully copes with paragonimiasis (lungs), cysticercosis (brain), echinococcosis (liver) and filariasis (lymphatic vessels). Some worm larvae move throughout the body through the circulatory system and randomly attach to any organ. If many eggs get in, the whole body can become infected.

How can you get infected with worms?

To protect yourself, you need to know the 4 ways worm eggs are spread and infected:

• through soil and water - geohelminthiasis. They develop in sand, soil and water, then enter the human body and start laying eggs there. The worm eggs are then released into the external environment with the excrement and wait in the wings to infect a new person. Eating poorly washed vegetables and fruits, dirty hands and dust on food can lead to a person becoming infected with geohelminths. Some parasite eggs enter the human body through the skin of the feet and ankles;
• through direct contact.Worms in pets and humans are spread through hand contact, play, and shared activities.
• through the consumption of contaminated food of animal origin - biohelminthiasis. The consumption of raw and lightly processed meat (kebabs, lard, preserved meat, wild game) and fish (sushi, dried fish, preserved fish) is potentially dangerous. There is a possibility of infection with intestinal infections and biohelminths;
• in case of insect bites. This type of infection is quite rare. These include enteritis, canthiasis and scoleciasis. Do not confuse the eggs of parasites and insect larvae, which are also deposited under the skin of animals and humans (for example, fly larvae).

Symptoms of worms

To understand how to remove worms from a person, you need to know the symptoms that are manifested in each type of tapeworm. Depending on the location of the dislocation, helminthic infections can be:

• lighting.Worms of the hollow type live in the area of the small and large intestine. For example, the area inhabited by roundworms and tapeworms is the small intestine. Roundworms live in the lower part of the small intestine, whipworms in the large intestine;
• muscle (cellular).They live in muscle cells, lung tissue, brain cells, liver, lymph nodes and eyes. Some of the worms are luminal and cellular, because in the early stages they migrate with the blood circulation and populate the above organs.

The symptoms of worms in an adult can be different. As mentioned above, they are often easily mistaken for signs of other diseases. In some cases, everything happens according to the classic scenario of mass infection. In this case, the signs of worms in an adult and a child will be similar, probably more pronounced in children.

Obvious symptoms of worm infection: itching in the anus, especially at night; sudden weight loss or, on the contrary, weight gain; anemia, which is manifested externally in the pallor of the skin; tired, haggard appearance.

If you or your children experience such phenomena, you should definitely consult a doctor and insist that they examine the presence of parasite eggs in the feces. Of course, it might not be their fault. Symptoms of helminthic infection are not always to blame for poor health, but communication with a doctor will definitely be useful, because abnormalities in the body are obvious.

Symptoms of worms in humans, first signs

In humans, the first signs of worms are always absent, the symptoms of parasitic infection only appear when there are a large number of worms (roundworms, roundworms) or, for example, the tapeworm reaches a large size. The clinical picture of helminthiasis often mimics gastrointestinal pathology.

However, in addition to the symptoms typical of gastrointestinal changes, there are also signs of dysfunction of other organs.

Symptoms that indicate the presence of helminths in the body:

• loss of appetite or, on the contrary, gluttony, bitterness in the mouth and excessive salivation;
• a strong desire to eat sweets (worms feed on carbohydrates);
• nausea, vomiting - sometimes worms crawl into the stomach or their parts (segments) can be found in the vomit;
• itching of the anus and grinding of teeth during sleep often indicate enterobiasis;
• unstable stool - always provokes intestinal dysbiosis, helminthiasis occurs with frequent changes in diarrhea and constipation; in case of a significant infection, the worms may be excreted in the feces;
• flatulence - flatulence and rumbling in the stomach are caused by toxins produced by worms;
• periodic abdominal pain - diffuse, often localized in the navel area, the pain is sometimes spastic in nature;
• skin manifestations - sudden allergic rashes and purulent formations (acne, boils), caused by a decrease in local immunity and removal of toxins through the skin, often occur in a severe form, at the same time, weakness of nails and excessive hair loss;
• irritable bowel syndrome - impaired absorption of nutrients leads to the development of anemia and weight loss, especially in the case of numerous helminthic colonies;
• cough is a dry symptom that appears in the pulmonary stage of helminthiasis (ascaris larvae enter the lungs with blood); severe infection can cause pneumonia;
• obesity - oddly enough - can also be caused by intestinal parasites, which, feeding on carbohydrates, cause a sudden drop in blood sugar and force you to eat more food, and the body stores fats in reserve;
• nervous system symptoms - increased irritability, poor sleep or drowsiness, constant depression, reduced attention and memory disorders are especially pronounced in children with helminthiasis;
• chronic fatigue syndrome - parasites often cause constant weakness, prolonged temperature rise to 37-37. 5 C, a flu-like state and muscle pain;
• pathology of the upper respiratory tract - sluggish runny nose, intractable cough, even pneumonia and asthmatic conditions often occur due to the presence of helminths;
• reduced immunity - accompanying helminthiasis, intestinal dysbiosis and chronic poisoning lead to frequent colds and pathologies that are indicators of immune deficiency (herpes, warts, etc. ), including oncopathology.

The effect of helminthiasis on the nervous system deserves special attention. During its lifetime, any type of parasite produces products that the body perceives as foreign substances. Their toxic effect mainly affects the nervous system, causing irritability, depressive states and other emotional stability disorders.

Flat parasites in humans. Symptoms

Luck

Flukes are found in the hepatic tubules. It causes digestive tract cancer. You can become infected by eating lightly salted, raw fish products. Symptoms of worms in adults: increased body temperature; vomiting attacks; dyspepsia; pain in the spleen, liver; allergy. The person sometimes feels dizzy and sleep is disturbed; migraine is observed; will be irritable; the mood often changes. Treatment of helminthiasis is carried out in a hospital.

Schistosoma

Ways of contracting Schistosoma include swimming in a reservoir and drinking dirty water. It parasitizes in the small veins of the colon, abdominal cavity, pelvis, uterus, and bladder. It can be localized in the brain.

Symptoms of worm infestation include loss of appetite; disruption of the digestive system; pale skin; stomach ache; dyspepsia; intestinal and uterine bleeding, weight loss, intestinal obstruction. It causes menstrual disorders in women, miscarriages have been recorded during pregnancy due to the presence of worms.

Men develop impotence; sperm quality decreases (infertility). Children suffer from delayed growth and mental development. If brain cells are damaged, consciousness deteriorates, paralysis and convulsions may develop. Such conditions can cause death

An ideal image

Paragonom - pulmonary fluke: what causes worms in humans: from consumption of freshwater crabs, fish, pork. The worm affects the bronchial organs and the lungs. Signs of worms in adults: temperature rise; the person starts to cough and for a long time.

When coughing, sputum is produced. Migraines are observed; shortness of breath occurs in the absence of movement; impaired visual acuity; vomiting attacks.

Echinococcus

Echinococcus is a very dangerous tapeworm. It can cause death. For a long time, he lives next to a person and is unable to express himself. The route of infection occurs through domestic animals, often dogs. A person becomes infected without following hygiene rules.

Echinococcus causes the formation of cysts in human organs. Worms are treated in adults only by surgery. It often affects the digestive system, the respiratory system, the brain, and bone tissue. Symptoms in adults depend on which organ is affected.

Liver: pain in this area, variable, heaviness, fatigue, skin allergy, jaundice. Lungs: pain in sternum, coughing fits, shortness of breath. Brain: migraine, dizziness, paralysis, mental disorders, epilepsy. Bones: muscles, joints ache; frequent fractures are observed.

Broad tapeworm

The broad tapeworm is one of the largest parasites. It lives in the small intestine. The route of infection is the consumption of slightly salted caviar and fish that have not undergone proper heat treatment.

Worms in the human body are characterized by frequent vomiting; pain in the abdominal area; dyspepsia; loss of appetite; fatigue; anemia; decreased blood pressure; migraine. In fact, sometimes the pain is so strong that it leads to fainting.

Bull tapeworm

Cattle tapeworm: mode of entry is contaminated beef. Helminthic infection colonizes the small intestine. How to understand that an infection has occurred? Signs of worms in humans: stomach pain; severe nausea; excessive increase in appetite; weight loss; rumbling in the stomach; bloating; increased stool frequency.

Pig tapeworm

The pig tapeworm lives in different organs. Ways of infection are lack of hygiene, unwashed fruits. You can determine that a person has worms based on dizziness, prolonged and regular migraines. The person sleeps poorly, often wakes up in a "cold sweat" due to nightmares, and therefore becomes irritable over time. Appetite is lost and belching appears.

Dwarf tapeworm

The dwarf tapeworm reaches humans through the oral cavity with dirty fruits and vegetables. It lives in the area of the small intestine. Symptoms: fever, nausea, salivation, belching, heartburn, runny nose, dryness of mucous membrane.

Roundworms in humans. Symptoms

Ascaris

Ascaris: you can get infected after eating unwashed vegetables and fruits. Tapeworms live in the small intestine. Signs of the appearance of worms in a person: the anus itches, the person feels the movement of worms, which causes incredible discomfort. The temperature may rise, the lymph nodes may enlarge, and headaches may occur in the evenings. The liver enlarges, allergic symptoms appear (urticaria on the feet and hands, dermatosis). Due to damage to the central nervous system, mental disorders occur - depression, convulsions, attacks of aggression, night dreams. The functioning of digestion is interrupted.

Pinworm

pinworm: this parasite starts from dirty hands. It lives in the large and small intestines of humans. The source of infection is sick people and non-compliance with hygiene regulations.

The first signs of worms: itching in the anal area (worse at night); My stomach hurts; to be sick; sleep disturbed. The person is restless and irritable; you get tired quickly.

Some people develop urinary incontinence against this background; allergic manifestations. Girls with worms experience abundant vaginal discharge.

Trichinella

Trichinella is a dangerous helminthic infection. Symptoms do not always appear immediately. Routes of infection: consumption of pork, vegetation near pastures. Helminthic infection affects all systems and organs without exception.

The following symptoms are caused by worms in humans: loss of appetite; people feel constantly nauseous and periodically have a gag reflex. The stool is disturbed and there is pain in the abdomen. A special feature is swelling of the face. Muscle pains; rashes appear on the skin; temperature rise.

Hookworms

Hookworms are dangerous worms in adults. Symptoms may be severe or absent. The gastrointestinal tract (small intestine, duodenum) is affected. Routes of infection: contact with soil where larvae are present; by mouth with vegetables and herbs contaminated with soil.

Signs of the presence of worms: itchy skin allergies; coughing fits (streaks of blood are visible in the sputum); increased body temperature, migraine. People feel dizzy and weak; pain and pain in the bones (as in ARVI). I am suffering from hunger pangs.

After eating, a person feels nauseous and may vomit. After eating, the stomach almost always swells and hurts. Diarrhea appears two hours after eating. Many people, on the contrary, experience constipation due to impaired bowel movement caused by worms. A person becomes sleepy and tired even in the absence of physical activity.

Is it worth taking an anthelmintic pill for prevention?

If one family member has a fungal infection, preventive treatment is always carried out for the whole family.

Indications for the prophylactic use of drugs against intestinal worms:

• presence of pets;
• constant contact with the ground (playing in the sand, villagers);
• if the children live in a permanently closed children's group;
• regular trips to exotic countries;
• Hobbies: fishing, hunting, beach volleyball, soccer.