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 consider helminth infestation to be harmless and advise against taking action if parasitosis is detected.
Types of worms in humans
Medicine knows more than 300 species of various parasites that can live in the human body.A worm is a worm from the genus Helminths that parasitizes the body of mammals (humans and animals).It must not cause any visible harm to the host's body.However, in some cases it leads to the development of serious pathologies.
What does a worm look like?It depends on the type of helminth, of which there are two in humans:
- Around.These are roundworms, pinworms and whipworms.Large roundworms can reach a length of 10-40 cm. They often accumulate in the small intestine and block it.Pinworms are small roundworms with a maximum length of 1 cm.Whipworms parasitize in the large intestine and reach a length of 4-5 cm.Worm eggs look different, but almost all are round in shape.
- tape.These worms include tapeworms and tapeworms.They are characterized by a long (up to several meters) body with a small head.Longworms and flatworms can colonize in the intestines, liver and other organs of humans.This subspecies includes random worms with a flat, long body and head.They also have suction grooves or suction cups.
In addition to these species, the body is parasitized by Giardia and protozoa that affect the liver and small intestine.All types of parasites are characterized by the inability to fully exist outside the host body, 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 worms are initially localized in the intestines, they easily travel through the bloodstream and reach the lungs, liver, brain and visual organs.
Helminths most often settle in the intestines.There they damage the mucous membrane because the parasites suck or gnaw through the intestinal mucosa to obtain food.
They constantly need digested food or blood for nutrition.The more parasites there are in the intestine, the more nutrients are removed from the host.Toxin poisoning occurs.The waste products of the worms enter the intestinal lumen and then into the human blood, causing 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.Normally, parasite eggs fall into the soil with feces, which enter the body of the new host along with soil, vegetables and fruits.Geohelminths include roundworms, whipworms, hookworms and necators.
- Biohelminths.In order for such parasites to grow and mature, they must remain permanently in the body of a mammal.Egg development begins when they enter the body of an intermediate host - an animal, a bird or a fish.To mature and reproduce, worms must invade a new organism, usually a warm-blooded animal or person.These helminths include tapeworms, nematodes and echinococci.
- Contact helminths.The smallest group.Infection with these helminths occurs through direct contact with the owner or his personal belongings and clothing.Transmissible parasites include pinworms and dwarf tapeworms.
Why are worms harmful?
Doctors often argue about whether worms are dangerous and how dangerous they are.There is an opinion that parasites cannot survive 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 by the fact that a person is daily confronted with many pathogenic bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms with which the body successfully copes.
Thanks to natural defense mechanisms, a person can fight helminths that have entered the gastrointestinal tract or on the skin.However, if the infection was massive and the parasites were in an environment favorable for them, worms in the intestines or liver can lead to the development of many diseases.
The degree of damage to the body depends on how long the worms live in humans.The length of time parasites stay depends on their type.Some of them leave the body after a reproductive cycle when humans are an intermediate host, such as in an infection with bovine tapeworm or cat leech.However, most 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 infestation is particularly dangerous in children and women.Parasites interfere with the full growth and development of the child and cause miscarriage or delayed fetal development in pregnant women.
Symptoms of worms
When a parasite infestation occurs, manifestations occur that are typical of all types of infection and specific to each species.
Common symptoms of worms in adults:
- Increase in body temperature to subfebrile temperature for no apparent reason;
- Pain in the abdomen, right hypochondrium;
- stool instability;
- change in appetite;
- weight loss;
- Weakness, loss of performance, headache.
The following symptoms are characteristic of ascariasis:
- Nausea, pain in the abdomen and right hypochondrium;
- a rash that occurs regularly all over the body;
- decreased appetite and weight loss.
With enterobiasis (pinworm) the following is observed:
- abdominal pain;
- itching in the anal area;
- Change in appetite.
Diphyllobothriasis (long tapeworms in humans) manifests itself:
- nausea, vomiting;
- pain in the abdominal area;
- digestive disorders;
- Weakness, headache, fainting.
If worms get into the liver, lungs or other internal organs, no symptoms of infection may be observed for a long time.Then signs of dysfunction of a particular organ appear: cough, jaundice of the skin, tachycardia.
Which doctor should I contact if I have a helminth infestation?
If you suspect worms in your stomach, you can contact a pediatrician or therapist who will give you a referral for an examination and prescribe treatment.Also, worms in the stomach require consultation with an infectious disease specialist or a parasitologist.
diagnosis
Detection of helminths occurs in various ways:
- Stool analysis and scraping for worm eggs.Most helminths live in the intestines, so eggs or body parts of parasites can be found in feces or waste.The disadvantage of this method is its low reliability, since helminths can only be detected in feces in cases of massive infection.
- ELISA for helminth infestation.The enzyme immunoassay method allows you to detect antibodies to parasites.In the acute form of the infection, IgM is determined, and if a person has already had parasitosis or the infection has become chronic, then IgG.
- Blood sample.Detects antibodies against certain types of worms.It is considered the most accurate diagnostic method.
There are less common diagnostic methods: detecting helminth infestation using a thermal imaging camera or electromagnetic vibrations produced by parasites.But these methods are not widely used.To confirm the diagnosis, ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, heart, CT of internal organs and MRI of blood vessels are additionally prescribed.
Treatment of helminthic infestations
The diagnosis of parasitosis often causes a negative reaction in patients, which is why they even refuse treatment.So what should you do if you or your family members are found to have worms?
Nowadays, the treatment of helminthic infestations in adults and children does not cause any difficulties.There are a variety of medications against parasites – broad-spectrum or highly specialized.
Under no circumstances should you self-medicate, let alone try to remove the worms from an adult or 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 medication and treatment method.
Drug treatment
To get rid of worms, the following is recommended:
- Universal preparations for all types of parasites.
- The drugs are effective against roundworms and hookworms.
- Broad-spectrum medications.
All kinds of drugs for worms only help get rid of adult worms.Therefore, in order to completely destroy all larvae and eggs, you must undergo several courses of therapy.
Traditional methods
To get rid of worms, there are the following recipes:
- Wormwood powder.Take 0.5 tsp.once daily for 3 days.
- Green nutshells.It is infused in alcohol and taken 1 tsp for 10-14 days.once a day.
- clove seeds.Chopped cloves are picked up with the tip of a knife.The treatment lasts 7-10 days.
diet
When treating helminthic infestations, it is recommended not to eat heavy foods or to temporarily refuse to eat in order to enhance the effect of therapy.And to speed up the removal of toxins from the body, you need to drink as much fluid as possible.
Paths of infection and prevention
There are three main methods of infection with helminthiasis:
- Groceries.The most common route of infection.Worm eggs can be transported in water or soil;You can easily become infected by eating unwashed fruits, vegetables and berries.Numerous parasites live in river fish and seafood, raw meat and dairy products that have not undergone heat treatment.
- Failure to comply with personal hygiene rules.You can become infected with helminths anywhere: in public catering establishments, transport, shops, on the street, through contact with street animals and domestic animals.The only way to prevent it remains personal hygiene and monitoring the condition of pets.
- Contact and household.In this way, helminth infestations spread among children's groups.It is also possible to infect members of the same family by sharing towels, bedding or clothing.
Are worms transmitted directly from person to person?This is rare, but close contact with an infected patient increases the risk of infecting others many times over.The only prevention of helminthiasis is compliance with the rules of personal hygiene and careful processing of food.
It is recommended that you undergo tests and examinations annually with your doctor.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 danger to life.