Helminthiasis

Helminthiasis is a disease in which the human body is infected with parasites.This problem frequently affects children (80%), but adults can also become infected.The symptoms of the disease may vary depending on the method of penetration and the number of parasites.

Helminthiasis is a disease in which infection with worms occurs.

Description of the disease.

Parasitic worms (worms, helminths) are individuals that take root almost everywhere.The most common types of worms that infect the human body are pinworms, tapeworms, and roundworms.Any infected adult or child carries more than 400 different types of helminths, each of which has several classes.Therefore, only the treating doctor can determine which worm parasitizes in a particular organism, as well as prescribe the exact treatment.

They are most frequently located in the intestines, but they can also affect other areas.The worms affect the brain and eyes, causing allergies and metabolic disorders.Its prevalence is influenced by living conditions and climate.Thus, in European countries, in urban areas, the percentage of the disease is much lower.

The most dangerous are worm larvae, as they move throughout the body and cause additional damage to many important organs.Adult parasites settle in one point and affect only a certain place.Intestinal helminthiases do not live permanently in the human body and, depending on their type, sooner or later die.

However, this does not mean that the problem does not need to be fixed.Both parasites and their decomposition products are dangerous.Worms worsen the general condition of the human body, reduce immunity and aggravate the patient's chronic diseases.In addition, helminths in the body reduce the effectiveness of various types of vaccines and medications.The most dangerous signs of helminthiasis are for the heart and eyes.

Irritant factors of the disease.

Most often, the carrier of helminths is the patient (more than half of the cases of infection): female parasites come out into the anal folds and lay eggs there (about 5 thousand eggs per female).The infected person feels itchy, scratches the affected area, and spreads the parasites further: to items in their own wardrobe and to things they touch during the day.

Worms enter the body through food, but there are other ways of transmission: through the skin (dust particles with the virus remain under the nails) or through airborne droplets.That is why patients who do not follow the necessary hygiene rules, eat dirty fruits and vegetables, and drink undistilled tap water are at risk of contracting this disease.

You can get infected with worms by drinking tap water.

Therefore, helminthiasis most often affects people living in private homes, pet owners and gourmets who prefer medium-heat roasted, smoked and sushi meat.Frequent carriers of parasites are dogs and cats (both domestic and stray).This parasite is called “taxacara” and can penetrate another organism;The risk of infection is especially high for a person with a weak immune system.The following varieties are distinguished:

1. Contact.They are transmitted from person to person and are the most common type of infection.
2. Geohelminthiasis.Transmitted through soil or water;In some cases, infection through a sick animal is possible.The infection vector contains eggs of adult worms, which reach humans through the feces of an animal, insect or person.People who work the land are at risk, especially without gloves.
3. Biohelminthiasis.Worms that enter through poorly fried foods: fish or meat.
4. Worms that penetrate through insect bites (most often mosquitoes).

Worms can enter the body along with food without heat treatment.

Forms of the disease.

Depending on the location, the following types are distinguished:

• luminal – located in the intestine;
• individuals of the hepatobiliary system;
• affecting the lungs;
• penetrating tissue;
• Ophthalmic helminth infections.

Among the most common types of worms are roundworms and tapeworms.

The most common types of helminthiasis:

1. Intestinal worms.
2. Worms.
3. Worm.
4. Wide ribbon.
5. Trichinella.
6. Had of the bull.

The first variety enters the intestines through the mouth and from there into the lymph.As they move to the lungs and other organs, roundworms cause fever, weakness and cough.The virus enters the stomach, where an adult is formed.The patient develops allergies and the infected person suddenly loses weight.Patients often arrive at the hospital with other ailments (for example, pneumonia, which has similar symptoms).

Pinworms are most frequently located in the large intestine, where they grow within two weeks.They penetrate through dirty food, dirty hands and dirt.The most striking symptom is anal itching, which worsens at night.If there are a large number of worms, the patient is constantly bothered by itching.

Whipworm enters through food.The infected person feels abdominal pain, lack of appetite and anemia.Often, when a whipworm penetrates, the infected person is prescribed the wrong therapy and is offered to eliminate acute appendicitis.

The fourth variety is deposited in crabs or freshwater fish and then localized to the human body through an infected freshwater fish or its eggs.The patient feels constant stomach discomfort.

Trichinella enters through improperly thermally processed meat, which contains the egg of the parasite.The muscles of the face, arms and legs and joints are affected.At first, a person feels nauseous, suffers from diarrhea, after a few days the temperature rises, the face swells, and a rash appears on the body.A month later, the larvae die due to the active work of the body.

The bovine tapeworm enters humans through pork or beef.This has a negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract, since they stop functioning normally (intestinal and digestive pathologies).

Signs of illness

The symptoms have 2 stages of development.Acute lasts about 2 weeks, when the parasite develops there.The symptoms are very similar, which is absolutely independent of the type of worm.This form of the disease is characterized by the following symptoms:

1. General symptoms.They appear a few weeks after infection: the temperature rises, a rash forms, the face swells, there is a sharp weight loss, paleness and itching.Respiratory problems are common in children.

2. Malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract.Diarrhea abruptly gives way to constipation, the patient is diagnosed with vomiting and abdominal pain near the navel and possible active gas formation.These symptoms can be mild or severe depending on the type of parasite.
3. Nervous system problems.Parasites release toxic substances.The more of them there are in the body, the more actively they function.The patient experiences frequent headaches, nausea and dizziness.In addition, symptoms develop up to an elevated temperature, as a result of which the body and joints hurt.The patient gets tired quickly, cannot get enough sleep or rest properly.Due to lack of sleep, irritability appears and work productivity decreases.
4. Allergy.The symptoms of a skin rash due to helminthiasis are similar to those of hives or allergic rhinitis.The skin begins to peel, nails and hair become thin and brittle.Another distinctive feature is cracked heels.

5. Poor immunity.Helminthiasis significantly reduces immunity and the person becomes sick more often.Some internal organs may be damaged.

The symptoms of the next stage, the chronic stage, are more varied.Here you will see disorders of different organs depending on the quantity, location and type of worm.If there are few helminths in the body, they do not manifest themselves in any way;Various symptoms are noticed only when the worms are actively reproducing.

Diagnosis of the disease.

The diagnosis of helminthiasis consists of a general blood test, in which eosinophils (which bind to foreign proteins in the blood) are elevated.Additionally, urine and feces are sent for examination.The test may need to be repeated after 3 days, as the worms are not always visible.In some cases, additional testing is necessary to detect helminth infections.For these purposes, bile, sputum and muscle tissue are examined.

During laboratory diagnostics, fragments of larvae or worm eggs are looked for in the object of analysis.If symptoms are more chaotic, additional blood tests may be ordered.Other means of diagnosis: ultrasound, X-ray, endoscopy and computed tomography.

The worms will absorb food that enters the human body, so laboratory tests will show a significant lack of vitamins and minerals.A microscopic examination is prescribed if intestinal worms or pinworms are suspected.If symptoms indicate problems with the digestive system, fibrogastroduodenoscopy is prescribed.

Treatment of the disease

All complex treatments are prescribed only by the attending physician, since it is necessary not only to destroy the parasites, but also all the consequences that they caused.If a certain type of worm is detected, anthelmintic medications are prescribed.Most of the time, treatment consists of a single dose of the medication, but in some cases it is possible to take the medication again after a short period of time.

Additionally, the following medications may be prescribed:

1. Antihistamines (anti-allergy drugs), which will remove all harmful substances from the body and normalize the condition of the skin.
2. If the level of hemoglobin or red blood cells in the blood is low, medications containing iron, vitamin B, or folic acid will be prescribed.
3. In addition, the treatment will consist of taking vitamins and following a specialized low-carbohydrate diet.
4. The room in which the infected person lives, as well as his personal belongings, are carefully treated.
5. The diagnosis of helminthiasis is indicated for all family members or people who interact directly with the patient.
6. Treatment requires nail care.They must be cut and cleaned thoroughly.
7. In more advanced cases, hormonal medications are prescribed, as well as medications with high potassium content.

Additionally, treatment can consist of folk recipes.Natural plants also have anthelmintic properties.For example, celandine and elecampane juice.Vegetable juices (carrots) will also help eliminate the symptoms of helminthiasis.Pomegranate, pumpkin seeds, mint or garlic are suitable for treatment.

Enemas with herbal decoctions help to eliminate helminthiasis.

Wormwood decoction can be used as an enema or internally.Home remedies are often used in combination with saline laxatives.Treatment of helminthiasis only with medicinal methods is unacceptable, however, in addition to the main one or as a means of prevention, such natural preparations will benefit the body.

Treatment of children is often carried out in a hospital, since in them the disease is more severe and lasts a long time.When choosing medications to treat a child, the doctor often adjusts them along the way, since the initial medications will not always be effective for the child's body.

Disease prevention

Preventing helminthiasis is quite simple and does not require much effort.After any soil work, wash your hands and also treat your nails, as this is how parasites most often enter the body.You should always wash your hands before eating anything, after going out, and after visiting a public bathroom.Also, sometimes you can use hand sanitizer.

Everything must be carefully processed and scalded with boiling water.Care should be taken to protect food from flies and other insects, as insects often carry infections on their wings.This is especially true in spring and summer.

You should always wash your pets after walking.After a long stay of the animal on the street (for example, during the summer season in a summer cottage), the animal's fur is treated with specialized antiparasitic agents.All pet vaccinations need to be done on time.

You should only drink boiled or filtered water, and avoid water from wells or open tanks.Springs may contain intestinal helminth infections.Individual tableware, towels and toiletries are provided for each family member.Fry meat and fish well before eating them.Sushi lovers can try looking for a dish that does not include raw product.

Once every 6 months, a preventive course of anthelmintic medications should be administered.

You can carry out drug prophylaxis twice a year: 1 tablet of an antiviral drug once a day after meals for 3 days.If the child is small, parents should consult with the pediatrician if he or she can take these medications.