Microscopic -sized worm eggs. Invisible to the naked eye, they can be anywhere-in the ground, on transport handrails, door handles, in children’s sandboxes, on our pet’s fur.
How to prevent infection with worms or, if it has already occurred, how to avoid dangerous complications?
Symptoms of helminths in humans
No one can consider himself immune from a worm infection. Even with strict adherence to hygiene rules. To minimize the risk of infection, you need to be informed as much as possible about the symptoms of helminths in humans, the prevention and treatment of helminthic attacks.
The most common helminths:
Bracelet worm.Parasites belong to the class of nematodes, roundworms in cross section. Females reach 350 mm in length, males are much smaller. Ringworms are dangerous at the intestinal and migratory stages.
The intestinal localization of parasites in a complicated form can lead to intestinal obstruction, the exit of adult ringworms into the respiratory tract with the risk of asphyxia, bile duct obstruction and other complications. The stage of migration threatens the penetration of larvae into the lungs and other organs with the occurrence of serious pathology.
Ascariasis infection occurs by parasitic eggs that leave the patient’s intestines with feces and mature in the soil to an invasive stage.
- Diphyllobotrium latum.This is a class of cestodes, one of its representatives being the tapeworm. Their feature is that they have 3 owners. The main organisms in which worms develop into sexually mature individuals are a person and some animals (cats, dogs, pigs, etc. ). The intermediate host for diphyllobotrium latum is freshwater crustaceans. Intermediate additions - fish (perch, pike, burbot). Broad tapeworms are infected by eating undercooked fish infected with parasitic larvae - plerocercoids.
cream worms.These are nematodes, like ringworms, but much smaller in size. Females have a length of up to 10 mm, males - up to 5 mm. Enterobiasis is one of the most common helminthiases. Children are very vulnerable to them.
The most characteristic manifestation of enterobiasis is itching in the anus. It is explained by the exit of the female to the perianal zone to lay eggs. In the skin folds, the embryo matures to the invasive stage in 5-6 hours. Getting it on hand when scratching and then swallowing leads to re -infection.
Ways of infection
The method of infection with worms is determined by the form of the invasive parasite and the mode of its penetration into the host organism.
Most parasitic worms have two infective forms - eggs (in some cestodes they are called oncospheres), and larvae. The latter is sometimes called Finland or Cysticerci. Eggs are microscopic in size, usually several tens of micrometers. Larvae can reach sizes of a few to tens of millimeters.
Often, worms are infected through the oral route - through the mouth.But some types of parasites can be attacked through the skin or by insect bites. When an egg is swallowed, the embryo contained in it removes its shell, penetrates the intestinal wall into the bloodstream and is carried by the blood throughout the body. Depending on the type of parasite, they can settle in the liver, lungs, heart, pancreas, kidneys, brain, eyes.
When infected with larvae, intestinal localization of the parasite most frequently occurs. Due to their large size, the larvae are unable to penetrate the ducts and migrate with the blood. They remain in the intestine, attach to its walls and develop into a sexually mature state, after which they begin to reproduce.
Worm eggs usually leave the gastrointestinal tract with feces. In some cases, for example, with cestodosis, the transfer of eggs from the intestinal tract can be performed by fragments of worms - proglottids. They come out of their own intestines through the anus.
The main types of helminthic lesions
The effectiveness of treatment of helminths in humans depends on how accurately the clinical picture and the nature of the lesions caused by the parasite on the body are determined. And they, in turn, depend on the stage of invasion - intestinal or migration.
Stage of intestinal invasion.During the intestinal stage, major damage is done to the patient’s digestive system, in particular, to the gastrointestinal tract. The worm injures the intestinal mucosa with its inhaler. This leads to inflammatory processes and dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract.
Besides the fact that some nutrients are absorbed by the worms, the intestinal absorption function is also affected.Due to the release of anti-enzymes by parasites, the digestive capacity of the gastrointestinal tract is reduced. All this leads to a lack of nutrients, vitamins and trace elements in the patient's body.
In addition to antienzymes, worms secrete other metabolites that act as toxins on host organisms. Coupled with the decay of dead worm corpses. As a result, the patient's body suffers from severe intoxication.
Some types of parasitic worms are able to penetrate from the gastrointestinal tract into adjacent organs and tissues - the bile ducts, gallbladder, liver parenchyma and other systems. Adult roundworms, for example, at high intensities of infection are able to penetrate the respiratory tract of the host. With a large number of parasites, mechanical blockage of the intestine is possible. This can be observed with ringworms and tapeworms.
When parasitic worms enter the liver parenchyma, abscesses may develop, requiring surgical intervention. Intestinal perforation with penetration of the contents of the gastrointestinal tract into the abdominal cavity and the development of peritonitis are not excluded. Due to the damaging effects of adult worms, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, and cholangitis may develop.
migration phase.Due to the possibility of penetration of larval embryos into almost any organ, the migration stage of invasion can exceed the intestinal phase in terms of severity of consequences.
Larvae that develop from eggs in organs and tissues form inflammation and infiltrate. If this occurs in the lungs, the invasion manifests itself as bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma syndrome.
If a parasitic egg penetrates the brain (as it does, for example, an oncosphere cestode), one or more blistered Finns form in its tissue. Their size can reach the size of a tennis ball. Due to the distance of cysts with brain tissue, their surgical removal is associated with a high risk of purulent bladder rupture and the development of secondary infections.
Poisoning of patients ’bodies with live worm metabolites and toxins from the decomposition of their corpses leads to allergic reactions. The result is fever, skin manifestations, headache and dizziness.
symptoms
The symptoms of a helminth infection depend on many factors. There are manifestation features for certain types of aggression, but there are few of them.Most parasitic worms present with symptoms similar to other diseases.This makes it difficult to make a diagnosis. These common symptoms include the following:
- Total deterioration of the condition, physical and mental weakness.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Stool disorders, constipation and diarrhea.
- Discomfort, heaviness, abdominal pain of various localizations.
- Changes in appetite up or down.
- Weight loss without explanation. Including against the background of an increase in the amount of food consumed.
- Itching in the perianal area, sensation as if something is moving there.
- Allergic manifestations in the form of skin rashes.
- cough.
- Difficulty breathing, asthma syndrome.
- Bruxism. Biting teeth during sleep is typical for children who experience itching in the anus.
- Increased excitement, irritability, insomnia, chronic fatigue, depression.
- Headache.
- High temperature, most often subfebrile. But sometimes it rises to a high value.
- Dizziness.
In the early stages of aggression, symptoms may not be present at all or be so insignificant that they are not given importance. In the future, with an increase in the intensity of the disease, the symptoms become more pronounced.
The symptoms of helminths in human blood may vary depending on the organ in which the migrating embryo has settled.If their place of localization turns out to be the lungs, the patient may have a fever, respiratory problems may occur.Usually in this case, the infection is accompanied by a cough - unproductive or with phlegm, which may have an orange color. The latter suggests that the larvae damage small blood vessels in the lungs.
Symptoms of helminths are accompanied by nausea, vomiting, heaviness and pain in the abdomen, profuse saliva, impaired stools, and weight loss.
Attention.In severe hepatic invasion, abscesses may develop with the penetration of purulent contents into the abdominal cavity. The development of this disease is life threatening for the patient.
Treatment with drugs
The treatment of aggression depends on many factors. The main ones are the type of parasitic worms, their place of localization, the stage of the disease (migration or intestinal), the intensity of infection, the condition of the patient. But in any case, treatment should be preceded by a diagnosis of the disease.
The most common diagnostic test for infections caused by parasitic worms is a stool test. If insufficient to make a diagnosis, general immunoassay, biochemistry and / or enzymes are performed.Hardware diagnostics can also be used - ultrasound, radiography, MRI, etc.Having a complete picture of the disease, the doctor prescribes antihelminthic drugs.
important.Treatment with drugs with strong active ingredients can cause side effects. This limits the use of the drug to certain categories of patients. In particular, for pregnant and lactating women, children under certain ages, patients with certain viral and infectious diseases.
To combat nematodes localized in the intestine, and to destroy additional intestinal nematodes, different drugs are prescribed.
important.Usually two courses of treatment are carried out with a break between them for 2-3 weeks. This is because most antiviral drugs only kill adults. Their larvae and eggs remain intact. After a period of incubation, a new generation of worms may emerge from them, the destruction of which requires a second course.
The use of folk remedies
Treatment with folk remedies requires more time than drug therapy. But this relative weakness is compensated by the gentleness of herbal medicine and the absence of side effects.
There are many herbs that have anthelmintic effects - nettle, tansy, celandine, wormwood, horsetail and more.Antiparasitic plants contain components that are toxic to cestodes, nematodes and trematodes and usually have a bitter taste.
Many antihelminthic herbs are also endowed with antiseptic and antibacterial action. Their effectiveness depends on the preparation and administration of the correct dosage form. Here are some of the most popular herbal remedies and products. But you have to understand that this is only a small part of what actually exists.
Pumpkin seeds
It is no exaggeration to say that pumpkin seeds are the most popular anthelmintic remedy. They contain cucurbitin, which is very effective against nematodes and cestodes. Pumpkin seeds can be used not only for treatment, but also for prevention.
Most of all cucurbitin is contained in the film, which is located between the core and the shell.Therefore, the seeds should be eaten without peeling. For treatment, you need to eat 300 g of seeds at a time. For prevention, 100 g for adults and 70 g for children is sufficient. From pumpkin seeds, you can prepare a solution for enemas, which are effective against worms localized in the large intestine.
garlic
Garlic is a universal remedy that is no less effective than pumpkin seeds. It contains phytoncides and essential oils, which have a depressing effect on all kinds of parasitic creatures. Garlic is very active against nematodes, in particular, ascaris.
Soda
Parasitic worms do not tolerate alkaline conditions well, so baking soda is an effective remedy against it. It can be taken orally, but the greatest effect of sodium bicarbonate is obtained by preparing an enema solution from it. It should be used when localizing nematodes or cestods in the large intestine.
Love
Honey should not be advertised as a medicinal product, but not everyone knows that it is effective as an anthelmintic as well. To take it for this purpose, you need half a teaspoon 9 times a day. During treatment throughout the day you should refuse food.
The next day, only fresh vegetables are allowed. Since honey has no contraindications and side effects, it can be used to treat small children. It is recommended to give them a glass of water sweetened with a teaspoon of honey.
carrot juice
Even official medicine, which is sometimes very strict on folk remedies, admits that carrot juice has antihelminthic effects. The amount of juice taken at one time is not limited by any need, everything should be according to reason.
castor oil
Many types of nematodes and cestodes are localized in the intestine. Some laxatives work well against them, in particular, common castor oil. For adults, this recipe is appropriate. 80 ml of cognac mixed with castor oil and drunk in one sip before bed.
This procedure is performed for 3 days. Children at 1-2 o'clock in the morning are given sweet drinks (compote, juice, tea) and after half an hour-15-30 g of castor oil.
Conclusion
If the parasitic worms do not manifest themselves clearly (e. g. , in the form of individual whole or their fragments in the feces), it is almost impossible to determine the presence of invasion on their own. Therefore, at the first appearance of symptoms that may indicate an infection, you should not hesitate to contact an infectious disease specialist.
In his arsenal there is a tool that allows you to make an invasion with one hundred percent probability. Delays in contacting a clinic or self -treatment based on self -diagnosis can end in grief, even death.