Helminthiasis

Helminthiasis is a disease in which the human body is infected with parasites.This problem often affects children (80%), but adults can also become infected.Symptoms of the disease can vary, depending on the method of penetration and the number of parasites.

Helminthiasis is a disease in which infection with worms occurs.

Description of the disease

Parasitic worms (worms, helminths) are individuals that take root almost everywhere.The most common types of worms that infect the human body are pinworms, tapeworms and roundworms.Any infected adult or child is a carrier of over 400 different types of helminths, each of which has several classes.Therefore, only the attending physician can determine which worm is parasitizing in a particular organism, as well as prescribe the exact treatment.

They are most often localized in the intestines, but can also affect other areas.Worms affect the brain and eyes, causing allergies and metabolic disorders.Their prevalence is influenced by living conditions and climate.Thus, in European countries, in urban areas, the percentage of the disease is much lower.

The most dangerous are the larvae of worms, since they move throughout the body, causing additional damage to many important organs.Adult parasites settle in one point and affect only a certain place.Intestinal helminthiases do not live permanently in the human body, and depending on their type, sooner or later they die.

However, this does not mean that the problem does not need to get rid of.Both the parasites themselves and their decay products are dangerous.Worms worsen the general condition of the human body, lower immunity and aggravate chronic diseases in the patient.In addition, helminths in the body reduce the effectiveness of various types of vaccines and medications.The most dangerous signs of helminthiasis are for the heart and eyes.

Irritating factors of the disease

Very often, the carrier of helminths is a patient (more than half of cases of infection): female parasites come out to the anal folds and lay eggs there (about 5 thousand eggs per female).The infected person feels itchy, scratches the affected area, and spreads the parasites further: to items of his own wardrobe and things he touches during the day.

Worms enter the body through food, but there are other routes of transmission: through the skin (dust particles with the virus remain under the nails) or by airborne droplets.That is why patients who do not follow the necessary hygiene rules, eat dirty vegetables and fruits, and drink undistilled tap water are at risk of acquiring this disease.

You can become infected with worms by drinking tap water.

Thus, helminthiasis most often affects people living in a private home, pet owners, gourmets who prefer medium-roasted, smoked and sushi meat.Frequent carriers of parasites are dogs and cats (both domestic and stray).This parasite is called “taxacara” and can penetrate into another organism; the risk of infection is especially high for a person with a weak immune system.The following varieties are distinguished:

1. Contact.Transmitted from person to person, they are the most common type of infection.
2. Geohelminthiases.Transmitted through soil or water; in some cases, infection through a sick animal is possible.The vector of infection contains adult worm eggs, which reach humans through the feces of an animal, insect or person.People working the land are at risk, especially without gloves.
3. Biohelminthiasis.Worms that enter through poorly fried foods: fish or meat.
4. Worms that penetrate through insect bites (most often mosquitoes).

Worms can enter the body along with food without heat treatment.

Forms of the disease

Depending on the location, the following types are distinguished:

• luminal – localized in the intestine;
• individuals of the hepatobiliary system;
• affecting the lungs;
• penetrating tissue;
• ophthalmic helminth infections.

Among the most common types of worms are roundworms and tapeworms.

The most common types of helminthiasis:

1. Roundworms.
2. Pinworms.
3. Whipworm.
4. Wide tape.
5. Trichinella.
6. Bull tapeworm.

The first variety enters the intestines through the mouth, and from there into the lymph.Passing to the lungs and other organs, roundworms cause fever, weakness and cough.The virus enters the stomach, where an adult is formed.The patient develops allergies and the infected person suddenly loses weight.Often patients come to the hospital with other ailments (for example, pneumonia, which has similar symptoms).

Pinworms are most often localized in the large intestine, where they grow within 2 weeks.They penetrate through unwashed food, dirty hands and soil.The most striking symptom is anal itching, which gets worse at night.If there are a large number of worms, the patient is constantly bothered by itching.

Whipworm enters through food.The infected person feels abdominal pain, lack of appetite and anemia.Often, when a whipworm penetrates, the infected person is prescribed the wrong therapy and is offered to remove acute appendicitis.

The fourth variety settles in freshwater crayfish or fish, and is then localized in the human body through an infected freshwater fish or its eggs.The patient feels constant stomach upset.

Trichinella enters through improperly thermally processed meat, which contains the parasite egg.The muscles of the face, arms and legs, and joints are affected.First, a person feels nausea, suffers from diarrhea, after a few days the temperature rises, the face swells, and a rash appears on the body.After a month, the larvae die due to the active work of the body.

Bovine tapeworm enters humans through pork or beef.This has a bad effect on the gastrointestinal tract, as they cease to function normally (intestinal and digestive pathologies).

Signs of illness

Symptoms have 2 stages of development.Acute lasts about 2 weeks, when the parasite develops there.The symptoms are largely similar, which is absolutely independent of the type of worm.This form of the disease is characterized by the following symptoms:

1. General symptoms.They appear several weeks after infection: the temperature rises, a rash forms, the face swells, there is a sharp loss of weight, pallor and itching.Respiratory problems are common in children.

2. Malfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract.Diarrhea abruptly gives way to constipation, the patient is diagnosed with vomiting and abdominal pain near the navel, and possible active gas formation.These symptoms can be mild or severe depending on the type of parasite.
3. Nervous system problems.Parasites release toxic substances.The more of them there are in the body, the more actively they work.The patient experiences frequent headaches, nausea and dizziness.Further, the symptoms develop to an elevated temperature, as a result of which the body and joints ache.The patient gets tired quickly, cannot get enough sleep and rest properly.Due to lack of sleep, irritability appears and work productivity decreases.
4. Allergy.Symptoms of skin rash due to helminthiasis are similar to urticaria or allergic rhinitis.The skin begins to peel, nails and hair become thin and brittle.Another distinctive feature is cracked heels.

5. Poor immunity.Helminthiasis significantly reduces immunity and a person becomes ill more often.Some internal organs may be damaged.

The symptoms at the next stage, the chronic stage, are more varied.Here, disorders of different organs will be visible depending on the quantity, location and type of worm.If there are few helminths in the body, they do not manifest themselves in any way; various symptoms are noticeable only when the worms actively reproduce.

Diagnosis of the disease

Diagnosis of helminthiases consists of a general blood test, in which eosinophils (bind foreign proteins in the blood) are elevated.In addition, urine and feces are submitted for examination.A repeat test may be necessary after 3 days, since worms are not always noticeable.In some cases, additional analysis for helminth infections is necessary.For such purposes, bile, sputum and muscle tissue are examined.

During laboratory diagnostics, fragments of worm larvae or eggs are looked for in the object of analysis.If symptoms are more chaotic, additional blood tests may be ordered.Other means of diagnosis: ultrasound, x-ray, endoscopy and computed tomography.

Worms will absorb foods that enter the human body, so laboratory testing will show a significant lack of vitamins and minerals.Microscopic examination is prescribed if roundworms or pinworms are suspected.If symptoms indicate problems with the digestive system, fibrogastroduodenoscopy is prescribed.

Treatment of the disease

All complex treatments are prescribed only by the attending physician, since it is necessary not only to destroy the parasites themselves, but also all the consequences that they caused.If a certain type of worm is detected, anthelmintic drugs are prescribed.Most often, treatment consists of a single dose of medication, but in some cases it is possible to take the drug again after a short period of time.

Additionally, the following medications may be prescribed:

1. Antihistamines (anti-allergic drugs), which will remove all harmful substances from the body and normalize the condition of the skin.
2. If the level of hemoglobin or red blood cells in the blood is low, medications containing iron, B vitamins or folic acid will be prescribed.
3. Additionally, treatment will consist of taking vitamins and following a specialized diet low in carbohydrates.
4. The room in which the infected person lives, as well as his personal belongings, are thoroughly processed.
5. Diagnosis of helminthiases is indicated for all family members or people who directly interact with the patient.
6. Treatment requires nail care.They should be cut short and thoroughly cleaned.
7. In more advanced cases, hormonal medications are prescribed, as well as medications with a high potassium content.

Additionally, treatment may consist of folk recipes.Natural plants also have anthelmintic properties.For example, celandine and elecampane juice.Vegetable juices (carrots) will also help eliminate the symptoms of helminthiasis.Pomegranate, pumpkin seeds, mint or garlic are suitable for treatment.

Enemas with herbal decoctions help eliminate helminthiasis.

Wormwood decoction can be used as an enema or internally.Folk remedies are often used in combination with saline laxatives.Treatment of helminthiasis only with medicinal methods is unacceptable, however, in addition to the main one or as a means of prevention, such natural preparations will benefit the body.

Treatment of children is often carried out inpatiently, since in them the disease is more severe and lasts a long time.When choosing medications to treat a child, the doctor often adjusts them along the way, since the initial medications will not always be effective for the child’s body.

Disease prevention

Prevention of helminthiasis is quite simple and does not require much effort.After any work with soil, wash your hands and also treat your nails, since this is how parasites most often enter the body.You should always wash your hands before eating anything, after going outside, and after visiting a public toilet.Additionally, you can sometimes use hand sanitizer.

Everything must be carefully processed and scalded with boiling water.Care should be taken to protect food from flies and other insects, since insects often carry infection on their wings.This is especially true in the spring and summer.

You should always wash your pets after walking.After a long stay of an animal on the street (for example, in the summer season at a summer cottage), the animal’s fur is treated with specialized anti-parasite agents.It is necessary to carry out all pet vaccinations on time.

You should only drink boiled or filtered water, and avoid water from wells or open reservoirs.Springs may contain intestinal helminth infections.Individual dishes, towels and personal hygiene items are provided for each family member.Fry meat and fish well before eating.Sushi lovers can try to find a dish that does not include raw product.

Once every 6 months, a preventive course of anthelmintic drugs should be administered.

You can carry out drug prophylaxis twice a year: 1 tablet of an antiviral drug once a day after meals for 3 days.If the child is small, parents should consult with the pediatrician whether he can take such drugs.