Worms are parasitic worms whose life activity takes place in the human body. The result is helminthiasis. This is an acute disease of a chronic nature, which leads to weakness of immunity, damage to internal organs, disruption of their functions, and fatigue. Diagnostic methods include stool analysis for the presence of worm eggs, blood culture, and sputum analysis using a microscope. To evaluate the damage caused by worms in internal organs, ultrasound, MRI, and x-ray examinations are used. Therapy is chosen depending on the type of parasite.
Diseases caused by parasites - helminthiasis
Helminthiasis is an infection caused by worms. It is very common - found in most countries, but most cases are recorded in areas with a hot climate and high humidity.
The risk of this disease exists at any age, but children between the ages of five and fifteen are most often affected. During this period, the immune system is still developing, and the acidity of gastric juice is lower than in adults, so the destruction of parasites is not very effective. Various organs are affected by worms, and their main habitat is the intestine.
Pathways of parasite penetration are mucous membranes and skin. Entry of larvae or eggs into the body can occur together with the food taken. Mature eggs in the gastrointestinal tract receive optimal conditions for development, as a result, larvae emerge from them, which penetrate through the mucous membrane of the intestinal tract into the blood, and then can freely pass through all organs with the bloodstream.
The liver, kidneys, gall bladder, heart, bronchus and lungs receive the greatest damage. When the body tries to get rid of worms by coughing and phlegm, they can linger in the saliva and, if swallowed, will return to the intestines. There their further development takes place, and after 75 days mature individuals appear.
The average time from the moment it enters the body until the formation of a full worm ranges from 60 to 90 days. This time coincides with the initial stage of the intestinal disease. In the final stage, the adult individual actively develops and reproduces throughout the body. Their place of residence is the intestine, where the eggs are laid, which leave them during defecation.
Cause of worms
The easiest way for parasites to enter is through food and water containing eggs, or through contact with soil contaminated with feces. Worms can be spread from an infected person to a healthy person through household items, clothing, crockery, etc.
At risk are people who ignore the simplest rules of hygiene: they do not wash their hands, do not disinfect vegetables, and carry out poor heat treatment of animal meat and fish.
On the note!
Parasite eggs can be carried on the feet and fur of pets when returning from a walk. Therefore, you should take care of your pet, regularly take it for examination to the veterinarian and do not forget to use anthelmintic drugs.
Types of worms
Depending on the environmental conditions in which helminths exist, it is customary to distinguish three groups.
Helminths – living in the soil; they do not need living organisms to develop.Biohelminths – for their development and reproduction, at least two organisms are needed.Contact helminths. They can move from the owner to a new object (between people) through relationships and everyday life.
Scientists have identified about four hundred helminthiasis pathogens, but only the following species can live in the human body:
Nematodes. These include roundworms and pinworms. It happens most often.Cestodes. These include cattle and pig tapeworms, echinococcus.Trematodes (flukes). This group includes heartworms and catworms. They are the cause of fascioliasis and clonorchiasis.Spinyheads: Giant acanthocephalans cause acanthocephalosis.
According to the place of parasitism, worms are divided into intestinal and extraintestinal. The second group includes species that carry out their important functions in other organs, such as the liver or kidneys.
Symptoms of helminthiasis
Symptoms are very broad and vary depending on the organ affected, the type of parasite and its number. Also, a person's age and the initial state of all systems and organs and immunity have a great influence. The acute phase of the disease lasts from 14 to 60 days, and the chronic phase can last more than a year.
The acute stage is characterized by the characteristics of poisoning and allergic manifestations:
- weakness;
- shivering;
- fever;
- skin rash, often itchy;
- cough without sputum;
- difficult breathing;
- stomachache;
- bloated stomach.
Bruxism - teeth grinding - can also indicate the presence of parasitic worms in the body. Often it shows itself in dreams. Irritation of the anus and infection of the external genitalia may occur.
In the chronic stage, symptoms related to the organ as a whole are observed. A very noticeable manifestation is a disturbance in the function of the gastrointestinal tract, which is reflected in the damage of the system.
Those infected with the parasite experience:
- pain in the lower abdomen;
- decreased appetite;
- nausea;
- frequent belching;
- the appearance of food allergies that were not noticed before;
- weight reduction;
- unstable stool - constipation alternates with diarrhea.
If the worms are localized in the liver and gallbladder, then cysts form in these organs, and concomitant diseases appear - obstructive jaundice and hepatitis. Roundworms lead to bronchitis, heart failure, myocarditis (heart layer of muscle tissue becomes inflamed).
When the central nervous system is damaged by helminths, a person becomes irritable, attention and performance deteriorate, and sleep is disturbed.
Helminthiasis affects the immune system - the body becomes more susceptible to diseases, fungal skin diseases and caries are more frequent, and allergic manifestations become worse.
Complications of helminthiasis
If helminthiasis is not treated in time, this can cause serious damage to internal organs, disruption of their normal functions, and deterioration of a person's general well-being.
The vital activity of larvae is accompanied by their secretions. High concentrations lead to intoxication, allergic reactions, rashes, and the onset of bronchial asthma.
For nutrition and development, helminths take nutrients and vitamins from the human body. This is especially dangerous for children, as the risk of developmental delays increases. If the infection occurs with hookworms and whipworms, then there is a high probability of developing anemia - these types of worms absorb blood. Weak immunity due to helminthiasis leads to frequent colds and other diseases.
Important!
Helminthic infections have a negative effect on the effectiveness of vaccine protection.
With a large number of parasites, the formation of dysbacteriosis, partial or complete blockage of the intestinal lumen, and blockage of the bile ducts are possible. This can cause inflammation of the appendix and gallbladder.
Diagnosis of worms
If alarming signs appear, examination by several specialists is required, including gastroenterologists, infectious disease specialists and others. On palpation, enlarged liver, spleen, and lymph nodes will be felt. A standard blood test will help confirm the presence of worms - if they are present, the number of leukocytes and eosinophils will increase, and the sedimentation of erythrocytes will increase.
The correct diagnosis can be made after three months from the moment of infection, when the larvae have become adults.
Laboratory methods will be useful for this:
- scraping from the anus to check pinworm eggs;
- fecal analysis for the presence of helminth eggs;
- coprogram (detailed stool analysis to assess the quality of the function of the gastrointestinal tract).
Biomaterials can be urine, feces, sputum, a piece of skin, or the contents of the duodenum.
To determine the condition of internal organs, instrumental diagnostic methods are used, which include:
- Lung X-ray examination;
- Liver ultrasound;
- CT scan of internal organs;
- colonoscopy (examining the intestines using a camera);
- gastroscopy and esophagoscopy (examination of the gastrointestinal tract using an endoscope).
It can be very difficult to accurately determine the presence of worms, because the egg laying of these parasites is irregular. They can only be found in adulthood. Blood antibodies are produced only in the first 60 days, after which they disappear from the bloodstream, accumulating in the intestinal wall. Establishing an accurate diagnosis is also complicated by the wide range of clinical manifestations, so therapy can be prescribed only based on the presence of indirect signs.
Methods of treatment for helminthiasis
When treating helminthiasis, anthelmintic drugs are usually prescribed. The type of medication and duration of treatment is determined by the symptoms present and depends on the type of parasite. Antinematodal, anticestodal and extended-spectrum drugs are often prescribed.
Symptoms related to respiratory system disorders are relieved by the use of glucocorticosteroids, antihistamines, and antispasmodics. To normalize the condition of the intestine and its microflora, prebiotics are prescribed. To normalize the function of the gastrointestinal tract - enzyme agents. Various types of cystic tumors are surgically removed.
After 14 days and another month (when the therapy is finished), the test is repeated three times for the presence of parasite eggs in the feces. Patients who are immunocompromised or at risk should undergo periodic screening for worms.
Reference
When the disease is detected in one or more family members, treatment is required for everyone who shows indirect signs.
Preventive measures against worms
To prevent the appearance of worms in the body, you must follow simple steps.
- Make sure you wash your hands after eating, going to the bathroom, being outside, or playing with pets.
- Follow healthy lifestyle rules to have a strong immune system.
- Carry out mandatory heat treatment of meat and fish, wash vegetables and fruits.
- Eliminate raw water from consumption - give preference to boiled, bottled or filtered water.
- At least once every two weeks, wet clean the house.
The use of anthelmintic drugs as a preventive measure is required twice a year - in spring and autumn, when the immune system is weak. Pets also need to take special anti-worm medication.