The presence of parasitic organisms in the body leads not only to discomfort and the appearance of unpleasant symptoms, various diseases develop and the state of health deteriorates significantly. Some types of parasites threaten not only health but also life. A dangerous neighborhood causes a decline in immunity, damage to the integrity of internal organs. Doctors are sounding the alarm, more than eighty percent of all diseases are caused by parasites or are the result of their living in the body. The statistics are alarming: one in four adults and one in two children are infected with helminths. Too often, a person is unaware of the presence of worms until the condition becomes critical. Where do human worms come from? After all, the infection also occurs in those people who strictly follow the recommendations and try to exclude all contact with the pathogenic environment. Let us try to understand how to avoid the infection, which becomes the cause of the development of helminthic invasion.
Main routes of infection: where do worms come from?
There are different ways to get infected with parasites. Worms are a problem for a person of any age, although children are the most vulnerable category. They know the world by actively exploring objects to taste and have no constant hygienic habits. Babies become infected mainly due to the use of herbal products without prior washing, violations of hygiene rules after contact with pets, licking of soiled fingers. Worms in children are a very common occurrence.
The mechanism of infection with parasites by adults is practically the same. Most helminthiasis develops as a result of ignoring the rules of personal hygiene. Often, infection occurs as a result of contact with sick people or animals, the use of contaminated household items and items. With insufficient heat treatment of meat and fish, there is also a high risk of getting sick. Biohelminthiases penetrate the human body in this way. To minimize the possibility of developing pathology, it is necessary to carefully cook, cook or fry fish and meat. Drinking contaminated water, swimming in an unfamiliar body of water or working in the garden with unprotected hands can cause worms to appear on an adult's body.
The main routes of infection are:
- Oral-fecal. The pathogen enters the body through contaminated food or water. This group of helminths lives mainly in the intestines. The pathogenic organism goes through a complete development cycle and secretes eggs, which are excreted in the feces of the host. Upon entering the external environment, the parasite enters the body of another host.
- Through the earth. Transmission of parasites in this way occurs due to human contact with contaminated soil. The method of transmission is similar to the previous version of the infection, but the eggs enter the soil not only through the feces but also through other secretions of the host body.
- Hematogenous. Parasites enter the host organism through insect bites. Infected bloodsuckers lay helminth eggs.
- Biohelminthiasis. A complex infection system in which several intermediate and permanent hosts are present.
Life cycle of parasites
The different species of helminths have their own development cycle, but their general scheme is identical: a larva develops from an egg, which eventually transforms into a sexually mature adult individual.
Considering the peculiarities of development, there are three groups of parasites:
- contact;
- geohelminths;
- biohelminths.
Infection with contact parasites occurs mainly through dirty hands. Geohelminths develop without an intermediate host. The eggs are baked in the ground. This group of parasites enters the human body through the oral cavity or skin. Biohelminths have the most complex developmental cycle with several intermediate hosts.
Symptoms of helminthiasis
After the penetration of parasites into the human body, the first symptoms may appear immediately or after a time when the number of worms increases significantly or the sole representative of the species increases to a large size. The first blow is received by the immune system.
Signs of a general deterioration in health appear gradually:
- fatigue;
- poor sleep;
- apathy;
- lethargy;
- dizziness.
Such symptoms are due to an increasing lack of nutrients and ingredients absorbed by parasites, impoverishing the human body. People with helminthiasis become weak and irritable. Specific symptoms appear gradually, which depend on the type of helminth, localization in a particular organ.
Worms in the liver
Parasites enter the body through the blood or orally. As the disease progresses, the following symptoms are noticed:
- Body temperature rises by several degrees. With the mass of parasites in the body, necrosis can begin, abscess, in this case the temperature rises to critical figures.
- The mucous membranes and skin turn yellow as the glands produce large amounts of bilirubin.
- On palpation, an enlargement of the liver is felt. The patient feels an explosion in the organ, he presses on the adjacent tissue. Begins to bother the pain in the abdomen on the right, breathing becomes difficult.
- A clinical blood test shows an increased content of eosinophils.
- Often worried about nausea, an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Some patients complain of dizziness.
Intestinal worms
Most parasites prefer to live in the intestines. It is an ideal place to feed, develop and reproduce. In the intestines, sexually mature individuals secrete eggs, which enter the environment with the patient's stool.
Symptoms of localization of helminths in this organ are as follows:
- Dyspepsia in the form of the predominance of constipation or diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
- Aversion to food, complete loss of appetite.
- Changing eating habits. The patient rejects his favorite dishes, preferring an unusual taste.
- Presence of blood in feces.
- Very strong cramping abdominal pain.
- Presence of parasites or fragments of them in feces, vomit.
- Intestinal obstruction.
Worms in the lungs
Worms enter the lungs with blood flow. The localization of helminths in the respiratory system causes great harm to the body. Symptoms of lung damage are as follows:
- Chest pain.
- Exhausting cough with expectoration.
- Increased body temperature.
- Hearing the whistling in the chest.
- Difficulty breathing, development of an asthmatic compound.
With massive lung implantation, there is a high probability of developing complications in the form of pneumonia, airway obstruction, necrosis, or abscess.
Eye worms
Localization of helminth larvae in the eye leads to serious vision problems. Symptoms of the presence of parasites in the eye are as follows:
- Visible seals under the eyelids.
- Pain and movement in the eyes.
- A sharp drop in visual acuity.
- Changing the position of the eyeball.
- Progressive difficulty.
- Continuous discharge from the eye.
Worms in the brain
The presence of parasites in the brain is one of the most serious conditions, as helminths irreversibly damage nerve fibers. Very often, the disease ends with the death of the patient.
The symptoms of brain parasites are:
- Violent migraine headache.
- Dizziness.
- Nausea, vomiting.
- Adhesion of neuropsychiatric disorders.
Helminthic invasion therapy
Parasites in the body of adults and children are often detected. Awareness of the presence of pathogenic individuals in one’s own body is quite unpleasant. Treatments it is necessary to start the right treatment at the right time. Only a qualified specialist can prescribe antihelminthic medication.
To confirm or deny your suspicions, you need to be examined and tested.
The doctor recommends any method for detecting helminths: a complete blood count, feces, urine, ultrasound or X-ray, endoscopy or CT. Based on the type of parasite identified, treatment is prescribed. The pharmaceutical industry is ready to offer many effective remedies against worms. Treatment can be performed with the use of a medication once or a course. It all depends on the type of parasite, the site of localization, the amount, and the general condition of the patient.
When you discover the fact of helminthiasis in the family, it is recommended to undergo treatment of parasites in the body for all who live together. Human helminths are not only an unpleasant disease, but also a very dangerous disease that threatens the development of many complications. You can not ignore the situation or use the medication yourself. Only a doctor can prescribe a medicine that will be as effective as possible and will not harm.
There are popular recipes that can become a powerful support for the body against helminthiasis. Medications can be used as an adjunct to medication therapy or for prophylaxis. It should be understood that you can not take traditional medicine yourself. First, you need to find out information about the parasite, find out its location. If possible, your doctor will recommend adding alternative medicine prescriptions to your therapy regimen.
The following herbal ingredients are considered the best folk remedies: pumpkin seeds, wormwood, ginger, herbal preparations, tansy, buckthorn.
Preventive actions
Worm infections are not as harmless as they may seem at first glance. The disease undermines health, negatively affects the general condition. For infants, helminthiasis is much more dangerous: the child is seriously lagging behind in development, is often ill.
Preventive measures are simple and easy to do, you just need to form some good habits:
- Wash your hands before eating, after walking, visiting public places.
- Perform the removal of pet worms.
- Eat only washed plant foods.
- Do not drink unboiled water, refuse to swim in unfamiliar water bodies.
- Work in the garden or vegetable garden with gloves.
- Prepare meat and fish dishes thoroughly.
- Refuse to buy food in spontaneous markets.
And although it is impossible to fully defend against helminthic invasion, it is indeed possible to minimize the risks by following the recommendations of specialists. Do not get sick!