Helminths, commonly called worms, are able to penetrate the body of animals and humans. Diseases caused by worms are called helminthiasis. In the modern world, doctors count several hundred different types of worms. Some species do not cause much harm to the human body, while others can lead to various diseases, sometimes fatal. Infection occurs undetected and many do not realize that the parasite and its larvae are the cause of ongoing disease and deterioration of health.
What is the cause of worm infection?
Worms in the human body can appear for various reasons:
- the use of vegetables and fruits that have not undergone heat treatment or have not been washed before consumption;
- when preparing food, a person does not follow hygiene rules;
- improper heat treatment of meat and fish products;
- frequent contact with animals infected with worms;
- take care of pets that often walk outside;
- complete lack of hygiene rules after visiting the toilet, before eating, after walking outside;
- eat raw fish;
- living together, communicating with a person suffering from helminthiasis;
- water procedures in rivers, lakes;
- in rare cases with insect bites.
Often, children aged 3 to 10 years are exposed to pinworms due to poor hygiene. Human worms are highly contagious and can be transmitted from animals or other people. Many small children ignore the rules of personal hygiene, so they are more likely to be infected with worms than adults. Parents should instill in their children the concept of personal hygiene from an early age, because often in kindergarten teachers cannot keep track of everyone and infections can occur. Good basic hand washing skills and not touching the mouth after playing in the sandbox can protect children from infection.
People who work with various animals, those who constantly cut meat and fish, are at high risk of infection. Just touching the mouth after direct contact with contaminated fish or meat is the direct cause of parasite infection.
Some types of worms can enter the human body through food, others enter through contact with infected people or animals, and others live in water, which is often used for cooking or water procedures.
Symptoms of worms in humans
Some types of parasites can be easily detected, others are carefully disguised in the human body. Symptoms of worms in a person infected with roundworms and pinworms are severe itching in the anus, bloating, and bowel movement disorders. These worms live in the intestines and when going to the toilet they can leave the body with feces. Symptoms appear due to the vital activity of the parasite; they release strong allergens into the intestinal microflora, causing damage to the intestinal wall, after which the inflammatory process begins in the stomach.
It should be noted that not every parasite can live in the stomach. Echinococcus most often affects the lungs and liver. Small worms penetrate deep into the organ and create a protective shell around it. During the examination, experts may mistake the parasite's protective capsule for a tumor.
If a person has worms, what symptoms may appear:
- Chronic headaches.
- Weakness.
- Nausea.
- Digestive disorders.
All of these symptoms may indicate some type of parasitic infection. Signs of the presence of worms in a person are increased allergic reactions, special attention should be paid to this symptom by people who were not previously exposed to allergies. In this case, such a reaction is one of the signs of the presence of worms and their active activity in the body.
Signs of illness
Signs of worms in humans may vary, depending on the type of parasite the patient is infected with and where he is. The first signs of worms.
- Inflammation of the lymph nodes.
- Allergic skin damage.
- Diarrhea.
- constipation.
- Excessive gas formation.
- Stomachache.
- Nausea.
- Enlarged spleen, liver.
- Dry cough.
- General weaknesses.
- Excessive itching - on the skin, genitals, rectal area.
- Weight reduction.
- Increased body temperature.
- Persistent headache.
Worms in people may not cause any symptoms for a long time. Echinococcus most often affects the liver and can manifest itself six months or more after entering the body. Worms begin to manifest themselves at this time when the protective capsule grows in such a way that it compresses the internal organs, connective tissue structures, which is why there is pain on the right side, yellowish color of the skin, nausea, and indigestion.
In rare cases, lung disease, echinococcus, can parasitize the brain or muscle tissue. They usually live in the liver and lungs, so chronic dry cough and shortness of breath may occur. Any parasite that enters the human body causes intoxication - general weakness, muscle pain, headache, increased body temperature. Symptoms may not appear simultaneously, but separately and at different times. Ignoring the symptoms that appear for a long time will only worsen the situation, the body's defenses will be very weak, and the person will always have viruses or other diseases. Internal organs will also be subject to long-term negative effects and will take a very long time to recover.
Symptoms and treatment of worms
Today, there are many ways to get rid of worms, offered by traditional folk medicine. It should be noted that worms, symptoms and treatment in adults left unattended will have a negative impact on well-being, and the parasite will continue to develop. Worms trigger inflammatory processes in the body, suppress the immune system, and worsen overall well-being and health.
The method of cleaning the body of worms is called deworming, which is carried out using certain drugs. Before prescribing the drug, the specialist conducts a full diagnosis to identify the type of worm that is a parasite in the body and whether the patient has an allergic reaction to the individual components of the drug.
During treatment with anthelmintic drugs, the doctor can also prescribe antihistamines that will help reduce or eliminate allergic reactions to the main drug components.
Also, to get rid of worms, you can use traditional medicine, which has proven itself in the fight against parasites. However, it should be remembered that before starting to take folk remedies, it is better to consult your doctor. Self-medication should be avoided, especially given the severity of the disease. After completing the prescribed course of treatment, as a rule, the specialist prescribes drugs that restore the normal functioning of all internal systems and organs. If necessary, a person is prescribed a sorbent.
Traditional way to fight worms
The symptoms of worm infection will help experts choose the right medicine to remove worms from the body.
Medicines that help remove worms naturally from the body have a paralyzing effect and are suitable for adults and children over two years of age.
In cases where drug treatment does not help in the fight against worms, experts prescribe surgical intervention. The doctor needs to remove the parasitic worm and the organ area where it resides.
Preventive measures
At first, it is not the worm itself that enters the body, but only the worm's eggs, which after some time grow into adult parasites. To prevent the penetration of certain types of parasites into the body, you should observe certain hygiene rules:
- After walking outside, when returning home, you must wash your hands with soap.
- Before preparing or eating vegetables and fruits, they must be washed thoroughly.
- Meat and fish must undergo complete and proper heat treatment before consumption.
- Kitchen tools used to cut meat and fish must be washed clean and disinfected.
- If you have pets, it is good to monitor their health. Visit the vet at least once every quarter for preventative purposes.
- If you suspect the presence of worms, be sure to go to the hospital for timely medical examination and treatment.
Traditional medicine in the fight against worms
A mixture. Mix tansy, wormwood, and cloves in equal proportions. Grind each ingredient. Mix until smooth. When you wake up in the morning, take 1 tsp. dry mix. After taking, you can drink a glass of water to get rid of the bitter taste. The entry course is 1 month.
Garlic for pinworms. Grind the garlic until it becomes a paste. Mix 1 tsp. porridge with 200 ml of warm boiled water. Leave for 1 hour. 2 hours before going to bed, take an enema with this infusion. To get rid of parasites completely, you should carry out the procedure every evening for a week.
In folk medicine, there are a large number of recipes to eliminate worms. However, it should be remembered that the drugs themselves can worsen the existing condition, and folk remedies are best used as an additional treatment. It is best to discuss the use of any medication with your doctor.
Parasitic infections with helminths may not bother you for a long time; worms will develop, become parasites and slowly poison the body. The combination of characteristic signs of the disease is the main reason to seek help from a specialist and strictly follow all his recommendations.