Worms remain one of the most controversial topics in medicine.Some doctors continue to consider nighttime teeth grinding and indigestion as the first symptoms of worms in humans.
Other experts believe that helminthic infestations are not dangerous and advise not to take any measures if parasitosis is detected.
Types of worms in humans
Medicine knows more than 300 different types of parasites that can live in the human body.A worm is a worm of the helminth genus that parasitizes the body of mammals (humans and animals).It cannot cause visible damage to the host's body.However, in some cases, it leads to the development of serious pathologies.
What does a worm look like?Depending on the type of helminths, there are two in humans:
- Is it round?.These are roundworm, pinworm and whipworm.Large roundworms can reach 10-40 cm in length, they often collect in the small intestine, blocking it.Pinworms are small round worms no more than 1 cm long.Whipworms are parasitic in the large intestine and reach a length of 4-5 cm.Worm eggs look different, but almost all have a round shape.
- Ribbon.These worms include tapeworms and tapeworms.They are characterized by a long (up to several meters) body with a small head.In humans, long and flat worms can settle in the intestines, liver and other organs.This subspecies includes worms with flat, long bodies and heads.They also have suction grooves or nipples.
In addition to these species, the organism is parasitized by Giardia and protozoa, which affect the liver and small intestine.All types of parasites are characterized by the inability to fully exist outside the body of the host, high reproductive function and the ability to spread throughout the body.
Where do they live?
To understand why worms are harmful, you need to know their type and location in the body.When the worms are initially localized in the intestines, they easily reach the lungs, liver, brain and organs of vision through the bloodstream.
Helminths often live in the intestines.There, they damage the mucosa, as the parasites suck or bite the inner lining of the intestines to get food.
For nutrition, they need constantly digested food or blood.The more parasites in the intestines, the more nutrients are taken from the host.Toxin poisoning occurs.Waste products of worms enter the intestinal lumen, and then into the human blood, which causes general intoxication.
Classification
Depending on the habitat of the parasites in nature, the following types of worms are distinguished in humans:
- Geohelminths.Part of the life cycle takes place in the soil.Usually, the parasite eggs fall on the floor with feces, they enter the body of the new host along with soil, vegetables and fruits.Geohelminths include roundworms, whipworms, earworms, and nekators.
- Biohelminths.In order for such parasites to grow and mature, they must remain permanently in the body of the mammal.Eggs begin to develop when they enter the body of an intermediate host - an animal, bird or fish.In order to mature and reproduce, worms must enter a new organism, usually a warm-blooded animal or human.Such helminths include tapeworms, nematodes and echinococci.
- Contact helminths.The smallest group.Infection with these helminths is caused by direct contact with the owner or his personal belongings and clothes.Transmissible parasites include pinworms and dwarf tapeworms.
Why are worms harmful?
Doctors often debate whether and how dangerous worms are.There is an opinion that no parasite can live in a healthy human body.If they stay, their numbers will be very limited and they won't do much damage.
This theory is confirmed by its supporters that every day a person encounters many pathogenic bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that successfully cope with the body.
Thanks to natural defense mechanisms, a person can overcome helminths that enter the gastrointestinal tract or the skin.However, if the infection was massive and the parasites found a favorable environment for themselves, worms in the intestines or liver could cause the development of many diseases.
The degree of damage to the body depends on how long the worms live in a person.The length of stay of parasites depends on their type.Some of them leave the body after a reproductive period if a person has an intermediate host, for example, during infection with cattle tapeworm or cat fluke.But often parasites exist in the human body for years.
The consequences of infection with worms are a weakened immune system, impaired digestion and a general weakening of the body, which can no longer cope with normal stress and other diseases.Worm infestations are especially dangerous in children and women.Parasites prevent the full growth and development of the child, and in pregnant women cause miscarriage or retardation of the development of the fetus.
Symptoms of worms
There are manifestations that are common to all types of infection with a parasitic infection and are characteristic of each type.
Common symptoms of worms in adults:
- an increase in body temperature up to subfebrile for no reason;
- pain in abdomen, right hypochondrium;
- stool instability;
- change in appetite;
- weight loss;
- weakness, deterioration of performance, headache.
The following symptoms are characteristic of ascariasis:
- nausea, pain in the abdomen and right hypochondrium;
- a rash that appears periodically all over the body;
- decreased appetite and weight loss.
With enterobiosis (pinworm), the following are observed:
- abdominal pain;
- itching in the anal region;
- change in appetite.
Diphyllobothriasis (long tapeworms in humans) is manifested by:
- nausea, vomiting;
- pain in the abdomen;
- indigestion;
- weakness, headache, fainting.
If the worms enter the liver, lungs or other internal organs, symptoms of infection may not be observed for a long time.Then the symptoms of dysfunction of a certain organ appear: cough, yellowing of the skin, tachycardia.
Which doctor should I consult for helminthic infections?
If you suspect worms in the stomach, you can contact a pediatrician or a therapist who will give a referral for examination and prescribe treatment.Also, worms in the stomach require consultation with an infectious disease specialist or parasitologist.
Diagnostics
Detection of helminths is carried out in several ways:
- Fecal analysis and breaking of worm eggs.Most helminths live in the intestines, so eggs or body parts of parasites can be found in feces or scraps.The disadvantage of this method is its low reliability, since helminths in feces can be detected only with massive infection.
- ELISA for helminthic infestation.The enzyme immunoassay method allows detecting antibodies against parasites.In the acute form of the infection, IgM is determined, and if the person already had parasitosis or the infection was chronic, then IgG.
- Blood test.Detects antibodies against certain types of worms.It is considered the most accurate diagnostic method.
There are less common diagnostic methods: determination of helminthic infection using a thermal imaging device or electromagnetic vibrations caused by parasites.But these methods are not widely used.To confirm the diagnosis, ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, CT of the heart, internal organs and MRI of blood vessels are additionally prescribed.
Treatment of helminthic infections
The diagnosis of parasitosis often causes a negative reaction in patients, so they refuse treatment.But what to do if you or your family members are found to have worms?
Today, the treatment of helminthic infections in adults and children does not cause any difficulties.There are many drugs against parasites - broad-spectrum or highly specialized.
In no case should you self-medicate, much less try to remove worms from an adult or a child yourself.Each of the drugs has its own degree of toxicity and can cause poisoning of the body.Only a doctor can prescribe the appropriate drug and the mode of its use.
Drug treatment
The following are recommended to get rid of worms:
- Universal preparations for all types of parasites.
- The drugs are active against roundworms and corn worms.
- Broad spectrum drugs.
All kinds of drugs for worms help to get rid of adult worms only.Therefore, you need to go through several courses of therapy to completely destroy all larvae and eggs.
Traditional methods
There are the following recipes for getting rid of worms:
- Wormwood powder.Take 0.5 tsp.Once a day for 3 days.
- Green walnut skins.It is brewed in alcohol for 10-14 days and 1 tsp.once a day.
- clove seeds.Chopped cloves are taken to the tip of the knife.The course of treatment lasts 7-10 days.
Diet
When treating helminthic infections, it is recommended not to eat heavy food or temporarily refuse to eat to increase the effect of therapy.And to speed up the removal of toxins from the body, you need to drink as much liquid as possible.
Ways of infection and prevention
There are three main ways of infection with helminthiasis:
- Food products.The most common route of infection.Worm eggs can be carried in water or soil;they can easily become infected by eating unwashed fruits, vegetables and berries.A large number of parasites live in river fish and seafood, raw meat and dairy products that have not undergone heat treatment.
- Non-observance of personal hygiene rules.You can catch helminths everywhere: in public catering, in transport, in shops, on the street, in contact with street and domestic animals.The only way to prevent it is to monitor personal hygiene and the condition of pets.
- Communication and household.This is how helminthic infestations spread in groups of children.It is also possible to infect members of the same family by sharing towels, beds or clothes.
Are worms transmitted directly from person to person?It is rare, but in close contact with an infected patient, the risk of infecting others increases several times.The only prevention of helminthiasis is to observe the rules of personal hygiene and careful processing of food.
It is recommended to undergo examinations and tests with your doctor every year.If worms are not treated, a person's health can be seriously affected.And with the invasion of some types of parasites, there is a risk to life.