Helminths can begin to parasitize in any person's body. It doesn't matter if it's an adult or a child. Many parasites that live in the human body are fairly easy to spot with routine medical examinations. Many helminths give themselves away, exiting the body into the external environment through the anus. This happens during the breeding season and when the female lays her eggs. It will be possible to determine the type of parasites, their number and duration of the life cycle when passing a comprehensive laboratory examination.
Worm infection
If we talk about children, then they still do not understand that it is necessary to always follow the rules of personal hygiene, they learn the world all the time. They often come into contact with foreign contaminated objects. But even conscious adults, observing all the rules of hygiene, knowing the serious consequences that can occur after parasites enter the body, often become infected with helminths.
Ways of helminthiasis infection:
- in contact with street animals;
- in public places. A large number of bacteria are found on handrails, in vehicles, in the supermarket, on doorknobs and on banknotes;
- in the swimming pool and basins open in summer;
- through poorly processed foods;
- helminths can enter the body through the outer layer of the epidermis from contaminated soil;
- insects often become carriers of infection;
- too dusty rooms. Infection can occur through the respiratory tract;
- Squeezing your hand and using only one towel can lead to infections;
- non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene can lead to worm infections.
Contact with street animals and pets is one of the most common ways to get parasites.
Therefore, remember to wash your hands with soap and water after visiting public places. Avoid dirty rooms, use antibacterial wipes to disinfect your hands.
Types of worms that can be found in the human body
It is possible to recognize helminths in the body on the basis of a number of characteristic signs of a particular disease and a form of parasitic behavior. Their life cycle and developmental characteristics are of great importance. The general symptoms of the vital activity of worms in the human body, how long they can live in the intestine and diseases caused by various organs and systems are also determined.
In the human body, the following types of worms can exist:
- nematode. Refers to nematodes. Parasite mainly in the intestine. The life cycle of nematodes averages around 40 years. In many cases, there is a defeat of the stomach and respiratory system with roundworms. The most famous representatives: pinworms, nematodes and whipworms;
- tape worms. They initially settle in the intestine. In addition, they can spread throughout the body. The life cycle is approximately 20 years. Some individuals can reach 10 meters in length. Representatives: tapeworms, bovine and porcine tapeworms;
- sparrows and sparrows. They can affect both internal organs and subcutaneous tissue. This group of parasites is the most dangerous to human health and life.
Each of the presented groups of helminths includes the most famous varieties of parasites that infect the human body. Each helminth brings great damage and threats to the full functioning of all vital organs.
Parasitic worms should never be taken lightly. They enter the body with microscopic eggs and larvae and reach an impressive size. Fighting adults is often difficult. But before starting the treatment of helminthiasis, it is very important to determine exactly what type of helminth has settled in the body. For this, laboratory diagnoses are performed.
The main symptoms of worm infection
Loss of appetite
Increased appetite is the first sign of parasites in the body. Very often there are situations when people who constantly chew are advised to pass the appropriate tests. Increased appetite can also be caused by other problems, such as metabolic disorders or the functioning of the digestive system. Therefore, to find out the reason, you should donate feces for worms.
However, there are times when in the presence of parasites, a person loses his appetite. It can also be due to other reasons. But if incomprehensible symptoms appear, it is better to immediately consult a specialist.
Weight loss
If a person is healthy and starts losing weight for no apparent reason, this should alert them immediately. Even if a diet is used, the weight should gradually and not abruptly disappear. Rapid weight loss can indicate the presence of parasites in the body.
Helminthiasis is insidious - its symptoms are very similar to many other diseases, including diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Itching and discomfort in the anal area
People often consider discomfort in the anal area to be a sign of hemorrhoids. And few people understand that these unpleasant sensations can be caused by worms. This is because this is how parasites leave the human body.
Of course, if such sensations appear, then it is better to check for the presence of worms and the development of hemorrhoids. This will help determine the tactics of treatment.
Anemia
One of the signs of helminthiasis is anemia. People rarely associate these two phenomena, because they don't know that anemia can also be a symptom of the presence of parasites.
Changes in the composition of the blood occur due to the aspiration of human blood by worms, which leads to a decrease in the level of red blood cells - red blood cells. If a person develops a feeling of weakness or other unpleasant symptoms, a laboratory blood test should be done. With reduced hemoglobin values, it is recommended that you contact your attending physician, who will issue a referral for a stool examination for the diagnosis of helminthiasis.
Disruption of the digestive tract
An important factor in the determination of worms are disturbances in the work of the gastrointestinal tract. If constipation or diarrhea are common, this may indicate the presence of parasites in the body.
Signs such as frequent heartburn, bloating, and even vomiting are indicative of helminths. Most often, such symptoms indicate problems with the gastrointestinal tract, but worms can only be excluded by passing the necessary tests.
Disorders of the nervous system
Today everyone is constantly facing stressful situations. And people in vain do not associate constant stress with the presence of parasites in the body. Common symptoms of stress and chronic fatigue may indicate that the worms have established themselves in the body. If you experience drowsiness, lethargy, general weakness, irritability, you should make an appointment with a doctor.
If they are the cause of disturbances on the part of the nervous system, then with the elimination of parasites from the body, problems with the nervous system will also disappear.
Chronic runny nose and cough
It happens that helminths enter the lungs, thereby causing disruption of the respiratory system. One of the most common signs of helminthiasis is a persistent cough.
If a person is worried about a persistent cough, while he does not have a sore throat and there are no other signs of respiratory tract diseases, it is worth checking for parasites. Coughing can be caused by their activity. The same goes for a persistent runny nose, as worms can even penetrate the nasopharynx.
frequent colds
In the presence of worms in the human body, immunity immediately decreases. This is due to the fact that parasites use those resources that are vital for normal human life. As a result, with their lack, the body automatically weakens. A persistent cold is a frequent and sure sign of helminthiasis.
It is necessary to clearly understand that with persistent colds it is necessary to undergo a medical examination and pass the appropriate tests.
Skin lesions
The presence of helminths in the body often manifests itself on the skin. Plaques or rashes, redness, boils may appear on the skin of the face and body. All these formations can begin to break away. Again, the question may arise as to the nature of these rashes, as their appearance is not always associated with helminthiasis.
It is worth checking for parasites if cosmetics and medicines do not help get rid of the rash.
Strong grinding of teeth during sleep
Of course, a person himself cannot know if he is grinding his teeth during sleep. But everyone is able to notice such a symptom in someone close. In this case, it is better to immediately consult a doctor and pass all necessary tests for the presence of parasites in the body. The sooner a person begins treatment, the faster he gets rid of worms.
How to understand that a child has parasites?
The process of helminthiasis in a child's body is difficult to diagnose based on the child's words. Since children are still unable to answer questions accurately, the only way to determine if a child has worms is to do a stool test.
However, parents should be aware of the negative symptoms that can indicate the presence of parasites in a child.
First of all, the child can experience changes in behavior. He becomes moody and restless. On the other hand, if a child becomes lethargic, apathetic, gets tired quickly, loses interest in games and learning, this is also a cause for concern.
There are a number of signs that cannot be immediately identified. Brittle nails and hair, increased salivation, peeling of the skin - all these can be symptoms of the presence of worms in the baby's body.
The most likely symptom of helminthiasis is when the child scratches his butt. It often happens that helminths, especially pinworms, come out of the anal passage. Basically, this process occurs during sleep. If parents notice worms in a baby pot or on things, they should see a doctor immediately.
Common signs of advanced helminth invasion
Typical signs of the prolonged presence of worms in the body are symptoms of general intoxication, combined with signs of digestive disorders, allergic reactions and a decrease in the immune system. These include:
- Skin rashes.
- Lethargy, headache, migraine.
- Feeling of heaviness in the stomach after eating.
- Painful abdominal cramps.
- Nausea, rarely vomiting.
- Bad breath.
- Weight fluctuations (sudden weight loss or weight gain).
- Discomfort in the anus.
- Diarrhea alternating with constipation.
- Colds and recurrent viral diseases (due to a decrease in immunity).
- Anemia.
- Painful urination.
- Abortions and interruptions of the menstrual cycle in women.
- Children have developmental delay, stunted growth.
- Memory and school problems.
If at least one of the signs of worm infection appears, see a doctor immediately /
Helminths can live not only in the intestine. When parasites settle in the lungs, the signs of the appearance of worms will be as follows: fever, shortness of breath, cough, sputum with blood. There will be a noticeable hissing sound when listening to the lungs. Any infection transmitted by airborne droplets easily clings to such a patient.
Echinococci, depositing in the liver, cause dysfunction of this organ and the appearance of "hepatic" symptoms.
Therefore, worms have a fairly strong negative effect on the whole body, causing various symptoms. Helminthiasis is difficult to respond to drug therapy, so treatment should be started immediately after diagnosis.
Test for worms
Only laboratory tests will help to accurately determine the presence of worms in the body. Doctors prescribe a number of studies based on the clinical picture and patient complaints. Clinical analyzes include:
- scraping is the simplest and most reliable method. A smear is taken from the folds of the anus and determines the presence of helminth eggs;
- the analysis of feces is considered uninformative, since not all helminths can be found in a single material;
- a chemical blood test helps determine the level of hemoglobin and establish the presence of an inflammatory process in the body;
- the PCR reaction is designed to detect DNA parasites in the blood. It is one of the most accurate research methods. This reaction accurately shows the type of helminth and the number of its individuals in the human body;
- An enzyme-linked immunosorbent test involves a study of the patient's blood. In this case, the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies is determined, which gives the idea that the immune system has activated a protection against parasites.
In some cases, additional studies are prescribed - ultrasound, tomography and radiography. All organs should be carefully examined, as most helminths are able to migrate throughout the human body. In some cases, biopsy material is taken from the affected organs. Diagnosis of the disease will depend on the type of helminths, which organs and how severely affected.
The best medicine for worms
It is possible to choose the most effective remedy for fighting worms only after you have accurately determined the type of worms. Not all drugs are active against certain classes of worms.
It is quite difficult to get rid of a parasitic disease. At first, it is recommended to take sorbents (for example, activated carbon) so that they bind and remove from the body toxic substances from the vital activity of parasites that accumulate in large quantities. So they actually take anthelmintic drugs).
The course of treatment with pills is usually 3 weeks. Before using drugs, it is better to consult a doctor. Self-medication may not bring the desired results, and sometimes even leads to undesirable consequences.
Taking any medication should always be coordinated with a doctor, as there are cases when they are ineffective. If there is an exacerbation of the helminthic invasion, you should urgently consult your doctor.
Such treatment consists in the use of sorbents and anthelmintic drugs, but also includes restorative therapy of all internal organs and systems. To do this, take the following measures:
- injections with ascorbic acid, sodium bicarbonate and vitamin B;
- infusion therapy with glucose solution, physiological solution.
All other drugs are prescribed individually depending on the acquired health problems. All treatment procedures should be carried out under the strict supervision of the attending physician. Only oral medications can be taken at home alone. But they must be taken strictly according to the scheme prescribed by the treating specialist.
Folk remedies for worms in adults
Traditional methods only complement the main drug treatment. To do this, you need to use only proven natural ingredients and recipes. It is best to buy all the ingredients in a pharmacy or from trusted healers.
Garlic enemas. The solution for the procedure is prepared as follows: 6 peeled and well chopped garlic cloves are added to a glass of water. Insist for two hours.
Bitter extract of absinthe. A teaspoon of dry crushed mixture is poured with two glasses of boiling water. The mixture is well cooled. For sweetness, you can add a spoonful of honey. Take 3 times a day.
There are many effective folk remedies in the fight against worms, but they should all be in addition to the main treatment.
Collection of tapeworms. It is taken twice: in the morning and before bedtime. Main ingredients: wormwood, sea buckthorn, wild carrot, mint, valerian. The course of treatment with such a collection is 3 days.
Pumpkin Seeds - Helps get rid of tapeworms. Raw seeds are cleaned and well chopped. Pour in two glasses of water and add a spoonful of honey. All this is mixed well and taken in a teaspoon for an hour. After a couple of hours, you need to put on a cleansing enema.
Prevention of parasitic diseases
It is much easier to prevent the appearance of worms in the body than to cure it. To avoid the appearance of parasites, it is necessary to strictly observe the rules of personal hygiene, know how to properly disinfect housing and toilets.
There are a number of other rules that you are advised to follow in order not to get infected with worms:
- fruits and vegetables should always be heat treated;
- be careful when buying seafood, milk and eggs;
- use only boiled or purified water.
Clean hands, carefully washed fruits and vegetables, eating only proven foods are a guarantee of health and prevention of helminthiasis
In the summer you need to keep your hands clean, so it is important to have wet wipes with you and in the winter to wear gloves for safety. If possible, avoid contact with surfaces in public places (transport, shops, toilets). If you have to travel by public transport, you should wash your hands or wipe with a damp cloth afterwards.
In the pharmacy, you can buy drugs to prevent worms and remove them if the parasites have already entered the body.
Prescribed drugs should be selected by the doctor individually, based on the patient's state of health, the chemical composition of the drug and the allergic reactions of a particular person to certain constituent components.
Clean hands, carefully washed fruits and vegetables, eating only proven foods are a guarantee of health and prevention of helminthiasis.