Intestinal worms can appear in humans in different ways. The most common routes of infection are contact with an infected animal or the consumption of inadequately processed food. No one is immune from infection. Worm infestation (damage to the body caused by patches, round and flat worms) leads to poor health and, in some cases, serious complications. The problem must be fought.
Modern drugs allow you to remove worms from the small intestine and large intestine to stop their negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract. It is very important to know how to try to protect yourself from infections.
Causes of helminth invasion
The causative agents of the invasion are the worms living in the intestine, which can be of various types. They invade the body and over time the intestinal parasites become more and more. These organisms take root in the human body, multiply in it, feed on substances that enter the body. Due to their fault, a person may lack important nutrients: proteins, fats and carbohydrates, trace elements, vitamins. During the invasion, pathogens pass from the larval stage to full-fledged worms, severely affecting the state of the body. Parasites live for a long time in the human intestine and do not disappear without therapy.
You can get infected with worms in the following ways:
- Through food.Worms are often found on the surface of unwashed fruits and vegetables. Some types of parasites (bovine and porcine tapeworms) leave larvae in the meat. If it is not fried, the larvae will enter the human body and start developing there.
- Family contact.By touching door handles in public places, handrails and other elements without observing hygiene skills, a person puts himself at risk of invasion. The contact method involves contracting the disease through a handshake with an infected person, and the home method is infection through dirty dishes or other household items.
- Through pets.Some types of parasites in the rectum use four-legged friends as intermediate hosts. The larvae are transmitted by contact with the animal. This can happen when you hug, with an unexpected "kiss". A dog can carry roundworm eggs on their paws by collecting them from the ground outside.
With parasites in the intestines, the symptoms and causes of the disease can be different. The main reason for the onset of infection is inadequate hygiene. With proper personal care, regular hand washing, and handling of fresh food, the risk of becoming infected is greatly reduced.
Types of worms
Which parasites live in the intestine? The body becomes infected not with one or two, but with different types of worms. They can coexist in the intestine at the same time, but more often worms in humans are found separately.
The main classification of worms is based on their appearance. Parasites are intestinal, the symptoms are similar.
Important!Only a doctor can determine which type of worm has affected the gastrointestinal tract. You can't try to define the disease yourself.
There are three main types of worms:
- tape;
- flat;
- are round.
Tapeworms in the intestine are distinguished by a segmented body and a semi-flat shape, which is why helminths got their name (see photo). Round parasites in the human intestine appear to be closest to a standard earthworm. They are translucent, with a white or colorless body through which the main vessel shines through. Flatworms are usually oval in shape, sometimes slightly segmented. The length of any type can vary from 10mm to 10 meters. There are many different parasites in the small intestine, some of which are much smaller.
Experts identify more than 10 types of helminthic invasion, based on various pathogens. The most common type is ascariasis, i. e. , infection with roundworms 15 to 40 cm long with characteristic abdominal pain and intoxication. But there are other options:
- Trichocephalosis.The causative agent is whipworm. Vlasoglav is one of the most versatile worms. Penetrates the cecum and small and small intestine. The main symptoms are dizziness, vomiting, nausea and other signs of worms and intoxication. Parasites living in the small intestine are easily removed by drugs.
- Teniarinhoz.This is the development of the bovine tapeworm in the human body. This worm is transmitted through meat products and large pets. As a result, there is constant intoxication of the body and pain in the abdominal cavity.
- Metagonimosis.One of the most dangerous forms of parasites in the human intestine, requiring urgent removal. It is caused by flukes, which can cause intestinal inflammation. Infection occurs through untreated fish.
- Trichinellosis.The most severe form, which leads to the death of the patient with prolonged absence of therapy. The causative agent, Trichinella, can penetrate from the intestine into the internal organs and seriously disrupt their work. Due to the increased activity of the parasite, pain is felt not only in the abdomen, but also in the muscles. As an allergic reaction, conjunctivitis begins.
There are more than a dozen variants of worms and the groups of diseases they cause - 10. It is difficult to distinguish one from the other, even for specialists, so you should not make a diagnosis yourself. This will only lead to inappropriate therapy and an increase in negative symptoms. Only a highly qualified doctor with special equipment can correctly recognize the type of helminth, because intestinal parasites show similar symptoms to each other (teniarchosis and whipworm are difficult to distinguish).
Consequences of the Helminthic Invasion
With a long absence of treatment, various complications are possible. The kidneys, bile ducts, and some internal organs are affected. The heart and brain are also at risk if symptoms are not noticed in time with dangerous parasites in the intestines.
Be careful!If you suspect severe helminth invasion with damage to internal organs, contact a specialist immediately. The parasite can be fatal at any time if the case is neglected. Symptoms and treatment should be monitored by a doctor.
The main complication of advanced helminthic invasion is withdrawal symptoms. This is a state of constant poisoning. The patient feels weak, cannot be active, suffers from bouts of vomiting and dizziness. Such signs will disappear only with the complete removal of the parasite from the body.
During the search, other consequences of the infection were also identified:
- the skin becomes significantly thinner, becomes covered with viral growths (papillomas), takes on an unhealthy shade;
- due to developing vitamin deficiency, hair, nails become thinner and break, bones become more fragile;
- the person feels constant drowsiness;
- due to changes in the nervous system, the infected person can become more aggressive;
- In severe cases, the invasion is fatal.
Death is likely if the problem is ignored for several years. During this time, helminths have time to grow to a significant size and begin to actively eat nutrients, almost completely taking them away from humans.
Symptoms of the invasion
The helminth invasion manifests itself already in the early stages of development. The longer the parasite is in a state of development, the more pronounced the symptoms of worms in humans.
There are numerous nonspecific signs that do not distinguish the invasion of other diseases. Symptoms of parasites in the intestine are many. The most common are the following:
- nausea;
- vomiting;
- feeling tired;
- dizziness;
- loss of consciousness;
- gastrointestinal disorders;
- rectal inflammation;
- constipation.
A rare specific symptom in other conditions is wandering abdominal pain. She "walks" through the intestines, stabbing in several places at once. The reason is the movement and activity of parasites. Parasites in the intestine show symptoms of poisoning or intoxication, which makes it difficult to diagnose the disease.
Diagnosis of disorder
The disease, first of all, must be differentiated from similar gastrointestinal problems. It is necessary to distinguish it from the usual poisoning, infection, appendicitis. Differentiation occurs on the basis of the data obtained from the anamnesis. For more accurate results, it is recommended that you undergo additional worm type checks.
How do I know if there are parasites? You can find the exact type of parasite using stool analysis. Parasites living in the human large intestine secrete eggs, which are released with feces. In it, experts find helminth eggs and determine which type of parasite they belong to. Based on the data obtained, the treatment is carried out.
Tip:Go to a specialist with a ready-made stool analysis and, to maximize the speed of the procedure, order a check-up at a paid medical center. This will allow you to know your diagnosis as soon as possible and find out if there are any worms.
During the diagnosis, anamnesis is collected, irrigoscopy and palpation of the abdominal region are performed. The latter allows you to assess the degree of damage to the body. In case of serious deviations, a person can be sent for further examination. There they will find out how dangerous the damage to internal organs is and whether it is present. After that, therapy is prescribed, the main function of which is to clean the intestines at home. You can also determine the diagnosis with a colonoscopy of the abdomen.
Therapy course
How to remove parasites? You need to clean your bowels at home. The infection is treated by killing the parasites. To combat them, specialized preparations for parasites are used.
The choice of a cure for parasites in the intestine should be based on the type of worm. Most drugs are complex tablets, that is, they allow you to fight both roundworms and flat worms and tapeworms. Medicines work in slightly different ways.
Terms for getting rid of worms
A course of medication usually takes only a day or two to fully recover the body. Many of the anthelmintic drugs are enough to use once, at most - twice.
But this rule applies only to specialized drugs, after which the symptoms of worms in an adult disappear almost instantly. Food supplements are taken at different intervals.
Food supplements are effective when taken for about a month. The optimal duration of the course is one and a half months. After that, a break is made for at least two months, if necessary, after this period, the drug is resumed.
Both biologically active additives and specialized medicines can be used repeatedly, but with repeated use, you should definitely consult a doctor. Treatment for parasites with folk remedies is not recommended.
Infection prevention
Worm infestation is easy to avoid with simple hygiene practices. First of all, experts recommend limiting contact with untested animals and improving food hygiene. Any vegetables, fruits, herbs and other products need to be washed. On their surface there may be helminth larvae invisible to the human eye. During frying, the meat must be brought to a state of readiness, while killing any parasites.
It is important to follow the basic rules of personal hygiene:
- the brush used to clean the teeth must be separate for each;
- the same goes for body towels;
- after eating, the dishes for you or your family must be washed;
- cannot eat from someone else's dirty plate;
- Hands should be washed after going outdoors, touching pets and before eating.
Respecting the basic rules will allow you to forget the invasion problem forever. Prophylactic formulations can be taken as a guarantee of health. Before buying a herbal dietary supplement, which will provide constant protection of the body, you should consult with your doctor.
Cleansing the intestines of worms is an extremely important procedure for the health and well-being of the patient. People who have parasites in their bodies cannot live fully.
It is also useful for purifying the body for preventive purposes: it also allows you to remove toxins using cleansing techniques. With timely therapy, the helminth invasion is not dangerous.