Helminths can start to parasitize on any person's body. It does not matter if it is an adult or a child. Many parasites that live in the human body are fairly easy to spot with routine medical examinations. Many helminths leave, leaving the body in the external environment through the anus. This occurs during the breeding season and when the female lays eggs. It will be possible to determine the type of parasites, their number and the duration of the life cycle during the passage of a complete laboratory examination.
Worm infection
If we talk about children, then they still do not understand that it is necessary to always observe the rules of personal hygiene, they teach the world all the time. They often come in contact with contaminated foreign objects. But even conscious adults, observing all hygienic rules, knowing about the serious consequences that can occur after parasites enter the body, are often infected with helminths.
Ways of infection with helminthiasis:
- in contact with street animals;
- in public places. A large number of bacteria can be found on handrails, in vehicles, in the supermarket, on door handles and on banknotes;
- in the pool and open reservoirs during the summer;
- through poorly processed food;
- helminths can enter the body through the outer layer of the epidermis from contaminated soil;
- insects often become carriers of the infection;
- very dusty rooms. Infection can occur through the respiratory tract;
- Shaking hands and using a single towel can lead to infection;
- failure to follow the rules of personal hygiene can lead to worm infection.
Contact with street animals and pets is one of the most common ways of being infected by parasites.
Therefore, do not forget to wash your hands with soap and water after visiting public places. Avoid dirty rooms, use antibacterial wipes to disinfect hands.
Types of worms that can be found in the human body
It is possible to recognize helminths in the body based on a number of signs that are characteristic of a particular disease and a form of parasitic behavior. Their life cycle and developmental traits 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.
The following types of worms can exist in the human body:
- nematode. Refers to roundworms. It parasitizes mainly in the intestines. The life cycle of nematodes is on average about 40 years. In many cases, there is damage to the stomach and respiratory system with roundworms. The most famous representatives: needles, roundworms and whipworms;
- tapeworms. Initially they are placed in the intestines. Further, they can spread throughout the body. The life cycle is about 20 years. Some individuals can be up to 10 feet in length. Representatives: ribbon, bovine and pork ribbon;
- flukes and flukes. 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. Any helminth brings great harm and threat 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 grow to impressive sizes. Fighting adults is often difficult. But before starting treatment for helminthiasis, it is very important to determine exactly what type of helminth is placed in the body. For this, laboratory diagnosis is made.
The main symptoms of worm infection
Loss of appetite
Increased appetite is the first sign of parasites in the body. Too often there are situations when people who chew constantly are advised to pass the proper tests. Increased appetite can also be caused by other problems, for example, metabolic disorders or the functioning of the digestive tract. Therefore, to find out the reason, you need to donate feces for worms.
However, there are cases when in the presence of parasites, the person loses appetite. It could be for other reasons as well. But if incomprehensible symptoms appear, it is better to immediately consult a specialist.
Weight loss
If a person is healthy and starts to lose weight for no apparent reason, this should be alerted immediately. Even if a diet is used, the weight should be removed gradually and not abruptly. 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
Often people consider anxiety in the anal area as a sign of hemorrhoids. And few people realize that these unpleasant sensations can be caused by worms. This is because in this way the parasites leave the human body.
Of course, if such sensations appear, then it is better to check for the presence of worms and for the development of hemorrhoids. This will help determine treatment tactics.
Anemia
One of the signs of helminthiasis is anemia. People rarely associate these two phenomena because they do not know that anemia can also be a symptom of the presence of parasites.
Changes in blood composition occur as a result of the absorption 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, it is necessary to undergo a laboratory blood test. With reduced hemoglobin values, it is recommended to contact your doctor, who will recommend you for fecal examination for the diagnosis of helminthiasis.
Disorder of the digestive tract
An important factor in determining worms are concerns in the work of the gastrointestinal tract. If constipation or diarrhea is common, this may indicate the presence of parasites in the body.
Signs like frequent heartburn, bloating, and even vomiting are signs of helminths. Most often, such symptoms indicate problems of the gastrointestinal tract, but worms can be ruled out only by passing the necessary tests.
Nervous system disorders
Today, everyone is constantly faced with stressful situations. And people in vain do not associate constant stress with the presence of parasites in the body. Common symptoms of chronic stress and fatigue may indicate that worms have settled in the body. If you have drowsiness, lethargy, general weakness, irritability, you should make an appointment with a doctor.
If they are the cause of disorders on the part of the nervous system, then with the elimination of parasites from the body, the problems with the nervous system will also go away.
Chronic runny nose and cough
It happens that helminths enter the lungs, thus 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 there is no sore throat and no other signs of airway disease, it is worth checking for parasites. Cough can be caused by their activity. The same goes for the constant runny nose, as worms can also penetrate the nasopharynx.
Frequent colds
In the presence of worms in the human body, immunity decreases immediately. This is due to the fact that parasites use those resources that are vital to normal human life. As a result, with their absence, the body automatically weakens. A persistent cold is a common and sure sign of helminthiasis.
It is necessary to clearly understand that with persistent colds, it is necessary to undergo a doctor's examination and pass the appropriate tests.
Skin lesions
The presence of helminths in the body often manifests itself in the skin. On the skin of the face and body may appear plaques or redness, redness, boils. All of these formations can start to peel off. Here again, the question may arise about the nature of these rashes, as their appearance is not always associated with helminthiasis.
It is worth checking for parasites if cosmetics and medications do not help remove the rash.
Strong gnashing of teeth in sleep
Of course, a person himself can not know if he is gnashing 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 the necessary tests for the presence of parasites in the body. The sooner a person starts treatment, the sooner he gets rid of the worms.
How do you know if 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 still cannot answer the questions accurately, the only way to determine if a child has worms is to have a stool test.
However, parents should be aware of the bad symptoms that may indicate the presence of parasites in a child.
First of all, the baby may experience behavioral changes. He becomes humorous and anxious. 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 identified immediately. Fragile nails and hair, increased saliva, peeling skin - all of these can be symptoms of the presence of worms in the baby's body.
The most likely symptom of helminthiasis is when the baby scratches his buttocks. It often happens that helminths, especially needle worms, come out of the anal passage. Basically, this process occurs during sleep. If parents notice worms in a baby pot or in items, they should consult a doctor immediately.
Common signs of advanced helminthic invasion
Typical signs of prolonged presence of worms in the body are symptoms of general intoxication, combined with signs of digestive disorders, allergic reactions and weakened immune system. This includes:
- Skin rashes.
- Lethargy, headache, migraine.
- Feeling of heaviness in the stomach after eating.
- Painful abdominal cramps.
- Nausea, rarely vomiting.
- Bad breath.
- Weight fluctuations (sudden loss or weight gain).
- Discomfort in the anus.
- Alternating diarrhea with constipation.
- Frequent recurrent colds and viral diseases (as a result of decreased immunity).
- Anemia.
- Painful urination.
- Spontaneous abortions and interruption of the menstrual cycle in women.
- Children have developmental delay, growing delay.
- Memory and academic problems.
If at least one of the signs of a worm infection appears, you should consult a doctor immediately.
Helminths can live not only in the intestines. When the parasites settle in the lungs, the signs of the appearance of worms will be as follows: fever, shortness of breath, cough, bloody saliva. There will be noticeable breathing when you listen to the lungs. Any airborne infection is easily transmitted after such a patient.
Echinococci, being located in the liver, cause dysfunction of this organ and the appearance of "hepatic" symptoms.
Thus, 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.
Tests for worms
Only laboratory tests will help accurately determine the presence of worms in the body. Doctors prescribe a range of studies based on the clinical appearance and complaints of patients. Clinical trials include:
- scratching is the simplest and most reliable method. A stain is taken from the folds of the anus and determines the presence of helminth eggs;
- fecal analysis is considered uninformative, as not every helminth can be found in a single material;
- a chemical blood test helps to determine the level of hemoglobin and to determine 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 search methods. This reaction accurately indicates the type of helminth and the number of its individuals in the human body;
- An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay involves a study of the patient's blood. In this case, the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies is determined, which gives an idea that the immune system has activated protection against parasites.
In some cases, additional studies are prescribed: ultrasound, tomography, and radiography. All organs must be carefully examined, as most helminths are able to migrate throughout the human body. In some cases, the biopsy material is taken from the affected organs. The diagnosis of the disease will depend on the type of helminths, which organs and how badly they are affected.
The best medicine for worms
It is possible to choose the most effective medicine for fighting worms only after the exact type of worms has been determined. Not all drugs are active against certain classes of worms.
It is quite difficult to get rid of a parasitic disease. Initially, 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. Then they actually take anthelmintic drugs).
The course of treatment with pills is usually 3 weeks. Before using the medication, it is best to consult a doctor. Self-medication may not bring the desired results, and sometimes even lead to undesirable consequences.
Taking any medication should always be coordinated with the doctor, as there are cases when they are ineffective. If there is a worsening of the helminthic invasion, you should consult your doctor urgently.
Such treatment consists of the use of sorbents and anthelmintic drugs, but also includes restorative therapy of all internal organs and systems. To do this, take the following steps:
- injections of ascorbic acid, sodium bicarbonate and B vitamins;
- infusion therapy with glucose solution, saline.
All other medications are prescribed individually depending on the health problems acquired. All treatment procedures should be performed under the strict supervision of the attending physician. Only oral medications can only be taken at home. But they should be taken strictly according to the scheme prescribed by the medical specialist.
Folk remedies for worms in adults
Traditional methods complement only the main drug treatment. To do this, you should use only well-proven natural ingredients and recipes. It is best to buy all the ingredients at a pharmacy or from trusted healers.
Garlic enema. The solution for the procedure is prepared as follows: 6 cloves of peeled and finely chopped garlic are added to a glass of water. Insist for two hours.
Bitter wormwood extract. A teaspoon of dry crushed mixture is poured with two cups of boiling water. The mixture is cooled well. For sweetness, you can add a tablespoon of honey. Take 3 times a day.
There are many effective folk remedies in the fight against worms, but all of them should be in addition to the main treatment.
Collection of tapeworms. Taken twice: in the morning and at bedtime. Main ingredients: wormwood, buckthorn, wild carrot, mint, valerian. The course of treatment with such a collection is 3 days.
Pumpkin seeds - Help to get rid of tapeworms. Raw seeds are well cleaned and crushed. Pour two cups of water and add a tablespoon of honey. All this is mixed well and taken in a teaspoon for an hour. After a couple of hours, you should apply a cleansing enema.
Prevention of parasitic disease
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 living quarters and toilets.
There are a number of other rules that you are advised to follow to avoid getting infected with worms:
- fruits and vegetables should always be treated with heat;
- be careful when buying seafood, milk and eggs;
- use only boiled or purified water.
Clean hands, well-washed vegetables and fruits, eating only proven foods are a guarantee for health and prevention of helminthiasis.
In summer you need to keep your hands clean, so it is important to have wet wipes with you, and in winter to wear safety gloves. 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 then wipe with a damp cloth.
At the pharmacy you can buy medicines to prevent worms, as well as to remove them if the parasites have already entered the body.
Prescribed drugs should be selected by the doctor individually, based on the patient's health condition, the chemical composition of the drug and the allergic reactions of a particular person to certain constituent components.
Clean hands, well-washed vegetables and fruits, eating only proven foods are a guarantee for health and prevention of helminthiasis.