The modern rhythm of life often does not allow us to pay attention to minor ailments: increased fatigue, dizziness, joint and intestinal pain.Minor illnesses are often associated with overwork, lack of sleep, stress and anxiety.But few people think that such diseases can be caused by worms (helminths), which can live in our body for a long time and cause many symptoms that we often perceive as signs of other diseases.In adults or children, the symptoms of worms depend on many factors, but in any case, the presence of parasites in our body causes discomfort and disgust, so it is very important to identify the parasite as soon as possible and carry out the appropriate treatment to remove it.
What is a helminthic infection?
Worms in humans or the medical term "helminthic infestation" are a large group of diseases that develop after parasites enter the human body.According to medical indicators, it turned out that about 80% of the population is infected with worms, but not everyone knows about it.Human parasites are usually found in the human intestines or internal organs and tissues.Worms are retained in the human body with the help of special organs: suction cups, hooks and spines.They feed on tissue fluids or nutrients found in the blood.
During their lifetime, worms produce toxic substances that are absorbed into the bloodstream and lymph, then spread throughout the body, penetrating internal organs and systems, where they disrupt their functioning.Modern medicine knows more than a hundred species of helminths that parasitize the human body.Some of them do not cause much harm, while others are quite dangerous to human health and life.It is important to remember that once worms enter the body, they use our "resources" for their vital functions, which causes many disturbances in the functioning of the entire body.
In the initial stage, the symptoms of worms are vague or completely absent.In such cases, it is quite difficult to detect parasites and it is possible only if a person is attentive to his health, notices the slightest violations and takes measures to eliminate them.
Types of worms that parasitize the human body
During many years of evolution, worms have learned to adapt well to the human environment.In parasitology, human worms are divided into two groups:
- Tapeworms - parasites in human tissues or internal organs: cysticercosis, paragonimiasis, echinococcosis, filariasis and others, which can affect the human brain, liver, lungs, joints, etc.
- Hollow worms - live in the small or large intestine: tapeworms, hookworms, roundworms, pinworms, whipworms.
Worms cannot reproduce in the human body.The lifespan of some parasites is several weeks (fungal worms), but some individuals can live for years (roundworms, tapeworms) and can reach large sizes.The lifespan of hollow worms is most often increased due to re-infection.The symptoms of worms in an adult or a child directly depend on the number and type of helminths in the body, the general state of health and other characteristics of the human body.
How does worm infection occur?
You can become infected with helminths in several ways:
- Through the soil: consumption of unwashed vegetables and fruits, lack of personal hygiene when working with the soil.
- Swimming in reservoirs.
- Domestic or street animals - cats, dogs - are frequent carriers of parasites.Infection can occur both during fun games with pets and through soil or sand.
- Through food - through animal meat that has not undergone the necessary heat treatment - is the main source of infection of tissue worms.In addition to meat products, worms can also be found in dairy products, fish and canned goods.
- Non-observance of personal hygiene rules is the main reason for the occurrence of worms in children, who often put their dirty hands in their mouths and rub their eyes while playing or walking on the street.
Helminthic infection can also occur in other ways.Once a parasitic disease is diagnosed, it is difficult and almost impossible to identify the source of the infection.
The first signs of helminthic infection
Once the parasites enter the human body, they encounter the barriers of the immune system, which recognizes them as foreign agents.If the immune system is strong, there is every chance that the helminths will not penetrate the body or will die quickly.In cases where a person's immunity is weak, he cannot resist parasites that penetrate the intestines without obstacles, develop and become adults.After some time, when the parasites become adults, they begin to secrete large amounts of toxins that poison the human body.The waste products of the worms enter the blood and spread throughout the body, causing the first symptoms, such as:
- intermittent headache;
- increased fatigue;
- appetite increases or decreases;
- nausea;
- abdominal pain;
- constipation or diarrhea;
- anal itching;
- sleep disorder;
- increased sensitivity to allergens;
- increased irritability.
Symptoms of worm infection in adults or children negatively affect the state of the immune system;skin rashes caused by worms are also observed, which are often mistaken for dermatitis.Almost always, when the above symptoms appear, a person does not even suspect the presence of a parasitic disease, but doctors specializing in other fields of medicine begin to investigate, who do not notice any significant difference after the test results and give a referral or recommend an examination for worms.
Symptoms of worms in humans
The symptoms of worms in adults or children depend directly on the type of parasite, its location and the intensity of the infection.For example, after infection with roundworms, the symptoms are 2-4.apply onThe clinic is always canceled and is accompanied by a general malaise of the body.In other cases, when infection with parasites occurred, the first signs may appear after 2-3 weeks, and if a person is infected with filariasis, the incubation period lasts up to 18 months.Consider the main symptoms of parasitic diseases, which can be observed in addition to the signs of helminthic infection caused by a certain helminth (listed above):
- Pinworms or enterobiasis - causes itching in the anal canal, which intensifies at night, teeth grinding during sleep.
- Trichocephalosis, diphyllobothriasis, schistosoma lead to the development of vitamin deficiency and anemia and contribute to the development of dysbacteriosis.
- Roundworms - increased body temperature to 37.5 degrees, dry cough with sputum production.Laboratory tests show an increase in the number of eosinophils, and allergic rashes appear.In case of severe infection, bronchitis with suffocation attacks and pneumonia may develop.Gastrointestinal disorders and rapid and significant weight loss also appear.
- Trichinosis - causes muscle pain, fever, swelling of the eyelids and limbs.
- Fascioliasis, Giardia, opisthorchiasis - affect the liver, causing symptoms of jaundice.Spleen enlargement, neurological disorders and gastrointestinal disorders.
- Urogenital schistosomiasis - causes diuretic disorders characterized by blood released during urination.
In addition to the above symptoms that can accompany helminthic infection, there are also those that threaten human life and affect the brain, central nervous system, eyes, joints and other organs.It is very important not to look for other diseases, but to conduct a comprehensive examination of the body with all tests for helminthic infection.Only then can the parasite be identified, and all treatment methods are aimed at eliminating it and restoring the functioning of the internal organs.
Worms are very dangerous
Worms in children - symptoms often lead to a loss of appetite and the development of allergic reactions or bronchitis.In advanced forms, bronchial asthma, pneumonia and other serious diseases can develop.Severe forms of parasitic diseases often lead to intestinal obstruction and neurological disorders.Worms significantly reduce immunity, so the human body becomes defenseless against other infectious or non-infectious diseases.In more severe cases, the worms can lead to brain damage and even death in humans.
Examination of helminthic infection
We are probably all concerned with the question: am I suffering from a helminthic infection?We will give you a simple test, then count the number of positive responses to the following symptoms, which are most typical of parasitic diseases:
- Do you feel itching in the anus?
- Do you have a rash?
- Do you often have headaches?
- Do you often feel nauseous?
- Do you often worry about bowel movements: flatulence, flatulence, constipation, diarrhea?
- Do you sleep peacefully and peacefully?
- Do you feel that your legs, body or under your eyes are swollen in the morning?
- Do you suffer from bronchial asthma?
- Do you notice enlarged lymph nodes?
- Do you often experience bitterness in your mouth?
- Do you get tired easily?
- Are you experiencing a mild and unmotivated rise in body temperature?
- Does your skin have a yellowish tint?
- Do you snore or grind your teeth in your sleep?
- Did you lose weight because of a good appetite?
You must answer yes or no.If you have 8 positive answers, there is a risk of helminthic infection.In cases where there are more than 12 positive responses, there is a high probability of a parasitic disease.In such cases, an infectious disease specialist or parasitologist should be consulted as soon as possible, a stool test should be performed to detect worm eggs, and a general blood test should be performed.Test results help confirm or deny helminthic infection.
Methods of treatment of helminthic infection
Currently, there are many ways to treat worms in children or adults.The treatment is selected by the attending physician, the type of worm, the patient's age and other factors.The process of getting rid of worms is currently called deworming, which means taking special drugs that must be prescribed by a doctor in each case.Worms - symptoms and treatment depend on many factors that the treating physician must take into account.It is important to remember that you cannot treat worms on your own, which in the best case will not bring results and in the worst case will lead to complications, since all anti-worm drugs have many contraindications and side effects.