Types of intestinal worms, symptoms of the disease and methods of treatment

There are about 250 species of worms that pose a threat to adult health. As a result of infection with parasitic worms, the disease helminthiasis develops. The vital activity of worms in the internal organs can cause severe allergies, hypovitaminosis, pancreatitis. All age groups of the population are susceptible to infection, but a higher rate of infection in children.

Most types of worms are inside the body, only there they lay eggs and after a certain time die.

Forms of parasitic worms and features of their development

Depending on the method of distribution, the main groups of parasites are distinguished:

1. biological worms. Moving through the development cycle, multiple owners are replaced. These include tapeworms, nematodes, echinococci.
2. geohelminths. Can spread without intermediate hosts but through the soil. A person becomes infected by eating unwashed vegetables and fruits. The main representatives: roundworm, whipworm, necators.
3. Helminths transmitted through contact with an infected person. This group includes pinworms and dwarf tapeworms.

More than 150 helminth species recorded in humans are known.

Parasites also differ in location in the body:

• tissues affect the internal organs and tissues that make up their composition;
• Caverns live in the intestinal lumen and absorb the nutrients that a person needs.

In appearance, helminths are divided into 3 groups:

• roundworms;
• flatworms;
• flukes.

Methods of infection with helminths

In most cases, parasites enter the host organism in the following ways:

1. Worm larvae or eggs end up on the ground or in the water along with feces and infect a person if they ingest unwashed food or raw liquids. During the summer holidays, the likelihood of invasion by water bodies increases.
2. Through contact with a sick person or shared objects. This mode of dispersal is typical of pinworms. At night, the female leaves the anus and lays eggs. This process causes severe itching, as a result of which the eggs remain on the hands and underwear. Then treat yourself to a healthy person.
3. Tapeworm infection occurs when eating raw and underprocessed meat. Tapeworms of this species infect the muscle tissue of intermediate hosts, which include cattle and pigs.
4. Insects can carry eggs and worm larvae on their appendages, increasing the potential infestation area.

The life cycle of the vast majority of parasites consists in the release of a large number (millions) of eggs, which after a certain time, entering the human body, turn into larvae.

The development of the parasite in the human body can cause acute and chronic forms of the disease. The acute form is characterized by pronounced symptoms and lasts up to two months. Left untreated, chronic invasion can be seen throughout a person's life.

The main types of helminths that parasitize humans

Each form of a microorganism is characterized by a lesion of a specific organ and the corresponding symptoms. However, all parasites are united by the method of obtaining nutrients - at the expense of the host organism. At the same time, a person's metabolism is disrupted, anemia and other types of diseases develop.

There are several forms of helminths:

1. Roundworms are large white nematodes, up to 20 cm long. Adults live in the small intestine, and the larvae can move through the circulatory system to the lungs. They belong to the geohelminths, infection occurs when eating unwashed vegetables, fruits and water. Parasite eggs also accumulate on the sand.
2. Pinworms are small worms that can be seen with the naked eye after a bowel movement. Distribution zone - the lower part of the small intestine. Under the influence of the parasite, enterobiosis is formed. The cause of infection is contact with an unhealthy person. It is very common in children under the age of 14.
3. Glue on helminths. These include beef and pork tapeworms, broad tapeworm. They are distinguished by the ability to rapidly increase the population thanks to hermaphroditism. Their bodies are made up of many parts, which include a reproductive system and thousands of eggs. Depending on the type of parasite, different diseases are formed. Localized in the small intestine, damage the epithelial mucosa. Accumulate in the lumen of the intestine and can cause its obstruction. Infection occurs when uncooked beef, pork, or fish is eaten.
4. Vlasoglav - a round worm that looks like a hair with a thickened back. Due to the peculiarities of the structure, it penetrates the blood vessels and feeds on tissue fluid. Lack of treatment leads to a decrease in the body's resistance to infection and cancer. The source of the invasion is unwashed products.

The insidiousness of helminthiasis is that it successfully disguises itself as another disease.

The development of the parasite from the egg to the sexually mature individual occurs within three weeks. During this period, symptoms may be absent or manifest in a mild form. If left untreated, the intensive reproduction of worms leads to the fact that the disease becomes chronic.

Signs of disease in helminth infestation

The main symptoms of infection with worms are manifested in the form of:

• weakness and fatigue;
• pain in the intestines;
• constipation alternating with diarrhea;
• swelling of the face or all over the body;
• inflammation of the lymph nodes, coughing and choking;
• skin rashes that cause itching;
• pain in the joints.

The topic of parasites is uncomfortable and scary, so many myths have arisen about these harmful organisms.

The consequences of a worm infestation are often disguised as other diseases. The difference between pathologies lies in the specific signs of dysfunction in the body. Depending on the type of helminth, it can be:

• increased salivation, a slight increase in temperature, urticaria with ascariasis;
• frequent urge to urinate, difficulty sleeping, gnawing pain in the navel with pinworm infection;
• nausea, vomiting, pallor of the skin, hypotension with tapeworms;
• Yellowing of the sclera, dizziness, heaviness in the liver, pain all over the body with fluke infestation.

It is important to detect worms in time with the help of tests and apply effective treatment.

The symptoms of helminthiasis directly depend on the type of parasite, its localization in the body and the intensity of the infection.

Method of sampling material for detecting intestinal parasites

The main analysis that allows you to accurately diagnose the presence of worms is the study of feces. The material is submitted to the laboratory in a sterile container on the day of stool collection. The use of laxatives and getting urine on the material is unacceptable. The stool container should be stored in the refrigerator at 4-5 degrees until shipment to the laboratory.

In addition, the following tests may be prescribed:

• immunological test;
• blood and urine analysis;
• scratching from the vagina in women and girls;
• sputum examination for cough;
• ultrasound and endoscopy;
• bile analysis.

The ELISA blood test is an effective method to detect helminths in the body.

A person can become infected with one type of helminth or several. As a rule, the presence of individuals in the body is characterized by the absence of symptoms. An increase in the worm population leads to severe damage to internal organs, which is the cause of poor health. The symptoms of the disease are intensified at night, which further impairs resistance to the parasite.

Treatment methods for helminthic invasions

Special drugs affect different groups of helminths. Drugs can be used both in the event of infection and as a preventive measure. Prescribe medication only after identifying the type of worm that hit the body.

Adult ascarids and pinworms are destroyed with drugs containing mebendazole, which block the worm's ability to feed and reproduce.

Modern tablets from worms are divided into three groups depending on the sensitivity of the parasites to drugs.

Vlasoglav is adversely affected by preparations containing mebendazole and albendazole. Iron-containing preparations are necessary to eliminate the consequences of rectal prolapse.

The course of treatment is strictly prescribed by the attending physician. Self-administration of drugs is unacceptable due to various contraindications.

The use of traditional medicine

The most common remedy for worms are pumpkin seeds. They are eaten in the morning on an empty stomach, after being ground and infused with honey. The recommended dose is about 300 grams per hour. After ingestion, the stomach must be cleaned with laxatives.

Various decoctions and infusions have proven themselves:

• tansy;
• gentian yellow;
• immortelle sandy;
• Garlic.

Folk remedies for worms in adults are recommended for preventive and therapeutic purposes.

It is recommended to use a decoction of wormwood as an enema. It is possible to use fresh grass juice mixed with alcohol. Carrots and their juice also destroy parasites.

Preventive measures against worms and their effectiveness

Clean hands are the most effective protection for children and adults from any kind of parasite infestation. The concept and rules of personal hygiene should be formed in children from an early age. A healthy lifestyle also helps to reduce the risk of disease.

Purified or boiled water should be available 24/7 to eliminate the possibility of drinking contaminated liquids. Vegetables and fruits are best washed with boiling water.

Care should be taken when handling animals. Pets need to be treated against various parasites, both externally and internally. Don't forget routine vaccinations for dogs and cats.

Vaccinations minimize the risk of losing a family member to one of the most common diseases.

It is possible to use prophylactic drugs prescribed by a doctor. Infection with worms can lead to dangerous diseases, so it is important to minimize the risk of worms entering the human body.