Unfortunately, even in developed modern times there is a risk of helminth infection. In order to treat and prevent this phenomenon, it is necessary, at a minimum, to familiarize yourself with the main types of worms.
Types of worms
In medical sources, where you can find the answer to the question of what types of worms a person has, they provide data on a huge variety of varieties. Of course, some types are the most common. According to the classification, they can be divided into 3 main types. These are: round and tapeworms, as well as flukes.
nematodes
The first in the list of types of worms in humans is to indicate nematodes. They are also known as nematodes. They got their name from the structure of the body, because if you make a cross section of an individual, you can see the resulting roundness. Although there are more than 20, 000 of their species in the world, only a few of them are usually found in humans.
The most common nematodes include:
- Nematode. These worms are quite large in size. They can reach half a meter in length. The width varies between 4-5 cm. The color is usually pink, but in several cases it can be whiter or more red. These helminths are mainly located in the small intestine, but in rare cases they can also be found in the bile ducts. The larvae at the same time move quite easily around the body, through the bloodstream. Their last stop is the lungs. This is where the most comfortable conditions for their maturation are, because this type of parasite belongs to anaerobes. As they become more viable, they move to the intestines. Nematodes have a long lifespan, which can be 12-14 months. Outside the human body, these worms live in soil conditions, where they lay several thousand eggs per day;
- pinworms. Most often it is found in children, as the cause of the infection can be poorly washed hands or products. A little less often they enter the body with dust particles. Their size is much smaller than that of nematodes. Males reach 3 mm in length and females up to 13-14 mm. The color is completely white. Their preferred habitat is the initial part of the large intestine. The eggs are laid in the anus, closer to the anus. Their life expectancy is also much shorter than that of nematodes and is only a couple of months.
- Trichinella. These modestly sized worms, reaching only 4 mm in length, very often enter the living human body as part of the infected flesh. The larvae live in muscle tissue, mainly in oculomotor and chewing tissues, but adults prefer to be located in the intestine. Trichinella is a danger to humans, as without proper treatment it can be fatal.
Tapeworms
Tapeworms are characterized by a flat body structure and a complete absence of the gastrointestinal tract. The length of individuals can reach several meters, as a result of which they look like a long ribbon. They prefer to live in the intestines or gastric ducts. Among them are the following types:
- Bull tapeworm. This is one of the largest varieties of tapeworms. The length of an individual can reach 15-20 meters. The worm attaches itself to the surface of the small intestine and begins to absorb the substances necessary for a person. Without proper diagnosis and treatment, it can live up to 10 years. Infection usually occurs by eating contaminated, undercooked meat;
- Dwarf tapeworm. It got its name from its small size, which averages 4-5 mm. You can get infected with such a tapeworm through poorly washed vegetables and even dirty hands;
- Wide ribbon. Another great view. Its length can be up to 10 meters, the width is generally greater than that of other worms. The larvae enter the body with infected fish and grow to adulthood in just 3. 5 weeks. It lives mainly in the small intestine. Life expectancy can reach tens of years;
- Echinococcus. Small worms, the length of which, as a rule, does not exceed 5 mm. Infection occurs from infected animals: dogs and cats. This species differs in that individuals are not localized in the intestine, but in the lungs or liver. They are dangerous because they can cause cysts to form, which later require surgical removal.
These worms can be very harmful to the body, so the sooner they are detected, the better.
flounder
Flukes, like tapeworms, are flat parasites due to the structure of their bodies. They are also called liver worms, because their main habitat is the liver and biliary tract. Their main types are:
- Fluke. Also known as a cat's fluke. It lives mainly in rivers and lakes, which means it enters the human body along with infected fish that have undergone poor processing. Pets can act as carriers. Individuals are quite small and rarely reach 12-13 mm. Inside a person they can live in any organ;
- Chinese or oriental fluke. It is characterized by a transparent red shade of the body and a small size, no more than 2. 5 cm, enters the human body, identical to the common fluke. It can lay more than 3, 5 thousand eggs per day;
- Fasciola. This is a larger flat worm, its length can be 5-7 cm, and it is practicable only in freshwater conditions. He dies in the salty springs. A person can become infected with fasciola by drinking contaminated raw water, for example when bathing, and also by eating plants. The risk is particularly great when it comes to aquatic or wild species.
Liver flukes, although small in size, can be dangerous for humans. The patient, in addition to the standard symptoms, may develop fever.
The simplest organisms
The simplest organisms have existed on earth for millions of years. To date, science reads more than 14, 5 thousand species. Like other parasites, their preferred habitat is soil, water in reservoirs and, of course, the human body. They can remain on the surface of fruits and vegetables for some time, the use of which often causes infections.
In the vast majority of cases, when it comes to infecting a person with protozoa, Giardia is meant. Their vitality is to be envied. They withstand even the most adverse environmental conditions.
In their structure they are distinguished by the presence of four pairs of flagella and a special disc that performs a suction function. Due to them, Giardia reliably clings to the inner surface of the intestine and begins to parasitize.
Symptoms of manifestation
The fact that worms appeared in the human body can be understood by a large number of signs. But most of them are of a general nature, indicating the presence of an inflammatory process. This can confuse the patient, forcing him to look for the cause in other diseases.
So, the patient can notice in himself during this period:
- Tiredness, malaise, tiredness;
- Pallor of the skin;
- Dizziness and sometimes headache
- Increased anxiety, irritability. Marked aggression can be observed in children;
- Deterioration of sleep. Usually worried about insomnia;
- Pain in the joints, pulling sensations in the muscles;
- Increased salivation.
Fatigue is one of the signs of the presence of worms.
The following signs, reminiscent of an allergic reaction or diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, can mislead the patient:
- Yellowing of the skin;
- Rash on the body;
- Attacks of bronchial asthma;
- Stool disorders: constipation or diarrhea;
- Flatulence;
- Feeling of nausea and vomiting;
- Abdominal and hypochondrium pain;
- Slightly elevated body temperature.
But the most typical symptoms of this situation, due to which people often begin to suspect that they have parasites, are:
- Weight loss for no apparent reason. At the same time, it becomes very difficult to return the departed kilograms;
- Itching in the anus;
- Bruxism. This phenomenon is expressed in the grinding of the teeth during sleep.
Although there are many signs of the presence of parasites in the body, sometimes this phenomenon is completely asymptomatic and, therefore, people may not be aware of it for months.
Diagnostics
Identifying helminths in the body is not easy at all. The standard procedure in this case is the examination of the stool for the egg worm. I must say that sometimes in order to detect worms in the stool, it may be necessary to perform an analysis from 3 to 5 times.
How to identify certain types of worms, only a doctor knows. It is impossible to do it yourself without the test results. Depending on the symptoms present, the doctor may prescribe the following examination procedures:
- Blood analysis. In this case, the number of indicators such as proteins and eosinophils is analyzed;
- Analysis of scrapings from the anus;
- Vaginal curettage analysis.
Also, in some cases, additional measures may be required. How:
- Sputum;
- The study of the composition of urine and bile;
- endoscopy;
- CT scan;
- Ultrasound procedure.
After the parasites have been identified, the doctor draws up a treatment plan.
Treatment
Self-treatment of parasites is not allowed. This is due to the following factors:
- Preparations contain a different active ingredient, which means that they have a harmful effect on different types of helminths;
- Some drugs are capable of destroying only the larvae of worms, but not adults;
- All medicines have some side effects.
In this regard, it is necessary to select drugs based on the results of diagnostic procedures.
Preparations may have the following active ingredients:
- mebendazole. It affects only worms of the genus of pinworms;
- Diethylcarbamazine. Medicines based on it are prescribed if there are heartworms in the patient's body;
- levamisole. It has a broad spectrum of action. It destroys both pinworms and nematodes, as well as other worms;
- Befenia of hydroxysinaftoate. Effectively fights nematodes;
- Albendazole. Necessary in the treatment of diseases caused by echinococci;
- Piperazine adipate. It is used to remove roundworms and pinworms from the body.
Even traditional medicine has not stood aside in this matter. It offers various ways that may not always be able to completely cleanse the body of parasites, but, at the very least, they can slow down their reproduction and development.
Examples of such methods are:
- Pumpkin seeds. They are taken in their pure form or a decoction is prepared on their basis;
- Watermelon seeds. Apply in a similar way to pumpkin;
- Absinthe tincture;
- Alcohol tincture and wormwood juice;
- Garlic;
- tansy;
- Sandy immortal.
It is important to pay attention to the fact that before using the folk methods, you should get the approval of your doctor and, of course, exclude an allergic reaction to the components used.
What are the worms dangerous for humans
Worms do not live only in the human body, they literally parasitize themselves, stealing useful substances and also sucking blood. The body experiences a state of intoxication. The result of a long stay of helminths inside a person can be such negative consequences as:
- Weakening of the immune system;
- Violation of the gastrointestinal tract. Poor digestibility of food, the appearance of ulcers;
- The development of allergies;
- cyst formation;
- Damage to the organs in which they live.
And don't forget that some types of parasites are very, very dangerous. Ignoring their presence can lead to the worst outcome.
Prevention
The vast majority of people at least once in their life have faced worms. Children are particularly affected. And this is quite justified, in addition to the fact that they have weaker immunity than adults, they often also ignore the rules of hygiene.
In general, the methods that help reduce the risk of infection are not complicated at all. They mean by themselves:
- Respect for the rules of personal hygiene. Hands should not only be rinsed, but washed thoroughly with soap;
- Vegetables, fruits, berries must be washed with plenty of water;
- Any meat - livestock, poultry or fish - should be washed very well before cooking. Heat treatment must also be thorough. It is not worth taking the risk and cooking meat with blood if you do not have confidence in its quality and safety;
- Periodic anthelmintic prophylaxis in children. It is best to do this by consulting a doctor;
- In addition, livestock and pets are subject to drug prophylaxis. At the same time, there is no difference whether they live in the courtyard of a private house or in the room itself. If a dog or cat eats raw meat, worm prevention should be done without fail.
Such procedures will help not to meet parasites for as long as possible.