Intestinal worms can appear in humans in different ways. The most common routes of infection are contact with an infected animal or consumption of inadequately processed food. No one is immune to the infection. Helminthic invasion (damage to the body with tapeworms, round and flat worms) leads to poor health, and in some cases - and serious complications. The problem must be fought.
Modern medicines allow the removal of worms from the small intestine and colon to stop their negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract. It is very important to know how you can try to protect yourself from infection.
Causes of helminthic invasion
Infectious agents are worms that live in the gut, which can be of different types. They invade the body, and over time, intestinal parasites become more and more common. These organisms take root in the human body, multiply in it, feed on substances that enter the body. Because of their fault, a person can take in less important nutrients: proteins, fats and carbohydrates, trace elements, vitamins. During the invasion, pathogens pass from the larval stage to complete worms, seriously affecting the condition of the body. The parasites live in the human gut for a long time and do not disappear without therapy.
You can be infected with worms in the following ways:
- Through food.Worms are often found on the surface of unwashed vegetables and fruits. Some types of parasites (bovine tapeworm and swine tapeworm) leave larvae in the meat. If it does not redden, then the larvae will enter the human body and begin to develop there.
- Home contact method. By touching door handles in public places, handrails and other elements without observing hygienic skills, a person puts himself at risk of invasion. The method of contact involves getting the disease through a handshake with an infected person, and the household method is infection through dirty dishes or other household items.
- Through pets.Some types of rectal parasites use four-legged friends as intermediate hosts. The larvae are transmitted by contact with the pet. This can happen during a hug, with a sudden "kiss". A dog can bring worm eggs to its paws by taking them off the ground.
With intestinal parasites, 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 treatment of fresh food, the risk of infection is dramatically reduced.
Types of worms
Which parasites live in the gut? The body is infected with not one or two, but several different types of worms. They can coexist in the gut at the same time, but more often worms in humans are found separately.
The main classification of worms is by their appearance. The parasites are intestinal, the symptoms are similar.
Important!Only a doctor can determine what type of worm has affected the gastrointestinal tract. You can not try to diagnose the disease yourself.
There are three main types of worms:
- tape
- ;
- flat;
- are round.
The intestinal tapeworms are distinguished by a segmented body and a semi-flat shape, hence the helminths got their name (see photo). Round parasites in the human gut look closer to a standard earthworm. They are translucent, with a white or colorless body through which the main vessel glows. Flatworms are usually ovate in shape, occasionally slightly segmented. The length of each type can be from 10 mm 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, which are based on different pathogens. The most common type is ascariasis, i. e. infection with ascaris 15 to 40 cm long with characteristic abdominal pain and intoxication. But there are other possibilities:
- Trichocephalosis.The cause is the worm. Vlasoglav is one of the most versatile worms. Penetrates into the colon and large and small intestines. The main symptoms are dizziness, vomiting, nausea and other signs of worms and intoxication. Parasites that live in the small intestine are easily removed by medication.
- Teniarinhoz.This is the development of bovine tapeworm in the human body. This worm is transmitted through meat products and large pets. As a result, there is a constant intoxication of the body and pain in the abdominal cavity.
- Metagonimoza.One of the most dangerous forms of parasites in the human gut, requiring urgent removal. It is caused by lightning, which can cause inflammation of the intestines. Infection occurs through untreated fish.
- Trikineloza.The most severe form, leading to the death of the patient with prolonged lack of therapy. The causative agent, Trichinella, can penetrate from the intestines into the internal organs and seriously disrupt their work. Due to the increased activity of the parasite, the 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 variations of worms and groups of diseases they cause - 10. it is even difficult for specialists to distinguish one from the other, so you do not have to make a diagnosis yourself. This will only lead to inappropriate therapy and an increase in negative symptoms. Only a highly qualified physician with special equipment can accurately recognize the type of helminth, because intestinal parasites show symptoms that are similar to each other (teniarchosis and trichocephalosis are difficult to distinguish).
Consequences of helminthic invasion
With a long absence of treatment, various complications are possible. The kidneys, bile ducts and some internal organs are affected. Even the heart and brain are at risk if symptoms are not noticed in time with dangerous intestinal parasites.
Pay attention!If you suspect a serious helminthic invasion with damage to internal organs, a call to a specialist should be immediate. The parasite can be fatal at any time if the issue is neglected. Symptoms and treatment should be monitored by a physician.
The main complication of advanced helminthic invasion are withdrawal symptoms. This is a state of persistent poisoning. The patient feels weak, can not be active, suffers from periods of vomiting and dizziness. Such signs will disappear only with complete removal of the parasite from the body.
During the research, other consequences of the infection were identified:
- skin becomes thinner, becomes covered with viral growth (papilloma), gets an unhealthy shade;
- due to the development of 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 may become more aggressive;
- In severe cases, invasion is fatal.
Death is possible if the problem is ignored for several years. During this time, helminths have time to grow to a considerable size and begin to actively eat nutrients, removing them almost completely from humans.
Symptoms of Invasion
Helminthic invasion is already manifested in the early stages of development. The longer the parasite is in a developing state, the more pronounced the symptoms of the worms in humans.
There are a number of non-specific signs that do not distinguish the onset of other diseases. The symptoms of intestinal parasites are numerous. The most common are as follows:
- mixed;
- vomiting;
- feeling tired;
- dizziness;
- loss of consciousness;
- gastrointestinal disorders;
- inflammation of the colon;
- constipation.
A specific symptom that is rare in other conditions is stray abdominal pain. It "walks" through the intestines while stabbing in several places at once. The reason is the movement and active activity of parasites. Intestinal parasites show symptoms of poisoning or intoxication, which makes it difficult to diagnose the disease.
Diagnosis of the disease
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 based on data obtained from the anamnesis. For more accurate results, it is recommended that you undergo additional control over the type of worms.
How do I know if there are parasites? You can find out the exact type of parasite using stool analysis. Parasites that live in the human colon secrete eggs, which are released in the feces. In it, experts find helminth eggs and determine what kind of parasite they belong to. Based on the data obtained, treatment is performed.
Tip:go to a specialist with a ready stool analysis and to maximize the speed of the procedure, order a check-up at a paid medical center. This will allow you to learn about your diagnosis as soon as possible and find out if there are any worms.
When diagnosed, the anamnesis is collected, an irigroscopy is performed and the abdominal region is palpated. The latter allows you to assess the degree of damage to the body. In case of serious deviations, a person may be sent for additional examinations. There they will discover how dangerous the damage to the internal organs is and if it is present at all. After that, therapy is prescribed, the main function of which is to clean the intestines at home. Diagnosis can also be determined by abdominal colonoscopy.
Therapy course
How to get rid of parasites? You need to clean the intestines at home. The infection is treated by killing the parasites. To combat them, specialized preparations for parasites are used.
The choice of a remedy for intestinal parasites should be based on the type of worms. Most drugs are complex tablets, that is, they allow you to fight both ascaris and flatworms and tapeworms. Medications work in slightly different ways.
Conditions to get rid of worms
A course of treatment usually only takes one or two days to fully recover the body. Many of the antihelminthic drugs are enough to be used once, maximum - twice.
But this rule only applies to specialized medicines, after which the symptoms of worms in an adult disappear almost immediately. Dietary supplements are taken at various intervals.
Dietary supplements are effective when taken for about a month. The optimal course duration is one and a half months. After it, a break is made for at least two months, if necessary, after this period, the medicine is taken again.
Both biologically active additives and specialized medicines can be used repeatedly, but when using them again, be sure to consult a doctor. It is not recommended to treat parasites with folk remedies.
Prevention of infection
Worm infection is easy to avoid with simple hygienic practices. First of all, experts recommend limiting contact with untested animals and improving food hygiene. Any vegetables, fruits, herbs and other products should be washed. On their surface there may be helminth larvae invisible to the human eye. When frying, the meat should be brought to a state of readiness while killing potential parasites.
It is important to follow the basic rules of personal hygiene:
- the toothbrush used should be separate for each;
- the same goes for body towels;
- after eating, dishes for yourself or your family should be washed;
- can not eat from someone else's dirty dish;
- Hands should be washed after going out, dealing with pets and before eating.
Compliance with the ground rules will allow you to forget about the invasion problem forever. Prophylactic formulations can be taken as a guarantee of health. Before buying a herbal dietary supplement, which will provide continuous protection to the body, you should consult 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.
also useful body cleansing for preventive purposes: it also allows you to remove toxins using cleansing techniques. With timely therapy, helminthic invasion is not dangerous.