helminthiasis

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

Helminthosis is a disease caused by an infection with worms.

disease description

Parasitic helminths (worms, worms) are individuals that take root almost anywhere.The most common types of worms that infect humans are pinworms, tapeworms, and roundworms.Any infected adult or child is a carrier of more than 400 different types of worms, each of which is divided into multiple categories.Therefore, only the treating physician can determine which worm inhabits a specific organism and prescribe an accurate treatment.

They are usually located in the intestines, but may affect other areas as well.Worms can affect the brain and eyes, causing allergies and metabolic disorders.Their popularity is affected by living conditions and climate.Therefore, the proportion of this disease is much lower in urban areas of European countries.

The most dangerous are the worm larvae as they move throughout the body causing additional damage to many vital organs.Adult parasites settle in one spot and affect only one place.Intestinal helminths do not live permanently in the human body and, depending on their type, they will die sooner or later.

However, this does not mean that the problem does not need to be eliminated.Both the parasite itself and its decay products are dangerous.Worms worsen the overall condition of the human body, reduce immunity and aggravate the patient's chronic diseases.Additionally, worms in the body can reduce the effectiveness of various vaccines and medications.The most dangerous symptoms of helminthiasis are in the heart and eyes.

disease triggers

Very often, the carrier of the parasite is a patient (more than half of cases of infection): the female parasite crawls out of the anal folds and lays eggs there (about 5000 eggs per female).The infected person feels itchy, scratches the affected area, and spreads the parasite further: to items in his own wardrobe and things he touches during the day.

Worms enter the body through food, but there are other ways of transmission: through the skin (virus-laden dust particles remain under fingernails) or through droplets in the air.That is why patients who do not observe the necessary hygiene rules, eat unclean vegetables and fruits, and drink undistilled tap water are at risk of this disease.

You can become infected with worms by drinking tap water.

Therefore, helminthiasis most often affects people living in private homes, pet owners, gourmets who prefer medium grilled, smoked and sushi meat.Common carriers of the parasite are dogs and cats (domestic and stray).Known as "taxacara," the parasite can infiltrate another organism; the risk of infection is especially high for people with weakened immune systems.Distinguish between the following varieties:

1. Contact details.They are spread from person to person and are the most common type of infection.
2. Geoworm disease.Transmission occurs through soil or water; in some cases, infection may occur through diseased animals.The infection vector contains adult eggs and reaches humans through animal, insect or human feces.People working on the land face dangers, especially those who do not wear gloves.
3. Biological helminthiasis.Worms enter through poorly fried foods: fish or meat.
4. Worms that pass through insect bites (most commonly mosquitoes).

Worms do not need to be heat treated to enter the body with food.

form of disease

Depending on the location, it can be divided into the following types:

• Lumen – located in the intestine;
• Hepatobiliary system individuals;
• Affects the lungs;
• Penetrate tissue;
• Parasitic infection of the eye.

The most common types of worms are roundworms and tapeworms.

The most common types of helminthiasis:

1. roundworms.
2. Pinworms.
3. Whipworm.
4. Wide tape.
5. Trichinella spiralis.
6. Bull tapeworm.

The first enters the intestine through the mouth and from there into the lymphatic fluid.The roundworms travel to the lungs and other organs, causing fever, weakness and coughing.The virus enters the stomach, where it forms into adult worms.Patients develop allergies, and infected people suddenly lose weight.Patients often come to the hospital with other illnesses, such as pneumonia with similar symptoms.

Pinworms usually reside in the large intestine and grow within two weeks.They can penetrate unwashed food, dirty hands and soil.The most noticeable symptom is anal itching, which gets worse at night.If there are a large number of worms, the patient will often suffer from itching.

Whipworms enter through food.Infected people may experience abdominal pain, loss of appetite and anemia.Often, when whipworms invade, infected people receive the wrong treatment and are advised to remove acute appendicitis.

The fourth virus colonizes freshwater crayfish or fish and then localizes in humans via infected freshwater fish or their eggs.Patients often experience stomach discomfort.

Trichinella spiralis enters through improperly heat-treated meat, which contains the parasite eggs.The muscles of the face, arms, legs and joints can be affected.First, a person experiences nausea and diarrhea, and a few days later a temperature rises, the face becomes swollen, and a rash appears on the body.After a month, the larvae dies due to the active work of the body.

Bovine tapeworms enter humans through pork or beef.This has adverse effects on the gastrointestinal tract as they stop functioning properly (intestinal and digestive tract lesions).

signs of disease

Symptoms develop in two stages.The acute phase lasts about two weeks, when the parasite grows there.Symptoms are largely similar, regardless of the type of worm.This disease is characterized by the following symptoms:

1. General symptoms.They appear several weeks after infection: increased body temperature, rash, facial swelling, dramatic weight loss, paleness and itching.Respiratory problems are common in children.

2. Gastrointestinal dysfunction.Diarrhea suddenly turns into constipation, and the patient is diagnosed with vomiting and abdominal pain near the belly button, with possible active gas production.These symptoms may be mild or severe, depending on the type of parasite.
3. Nervous system problems.Parasites release toxic substances.The greater their number in the body, the more active they are at work.Patients often experience headaches, nausea, and dizziness.Additionally, symptoms can progress to an increase in body temperature, causing body and joint pain.Patients become tired quickly and are unable to get enough sleep and rest.Due to lack of sleep, irritability will occur and work efficiency will decrease.
4. allergy.Symptoms of rashes caused by helminthiasis are similar to those of urticaria or allergic rhinitis.The skin begins to peel and the nails and hair become thin and brittle.Another distinguishing feature is cracked heels.

5. Poor immunity.Helminthiasis can significantly reduce immunity, making a person more susceptible to illness.Some internal organs may be damaged.

In the next stage, the chronic stage, symptoms are more diverse.Here, depending on the number, location and type of worms, diseases of different organs will be visible.If there are very few parasites in the body, they will not manifest themselves in any way; it is only when the worms are actively multiplying that various symptoms will become apparent.

Diagnosis of disease

Diagnosis of helminthiasis includes a general blood test in which eosinophils (which bind foreign proteins in the blood) are elevated.In addition, urine and stool are also tested.The test may need to be repeated after three days as worms are not always apparent.In some cases, additional analysis of helminth infections is required.To do this, bile, sputum and muscle tissue need to be examined.

During laboratory diagnosis, fragments of worm larvae or eggs are looked for in the analyzed object.If symptoms are more confusing, additional blood tests may be needed.Other diagnostic modalities: Ultrasound, X-ray, endoscopy and computed tomography.

Worms absorb food that enters the body, so laboratory tests will show severe vitamin and mineral deficiencies.If roundworms or pinworms are suspected, perform a microscopic examination.If symptoms indicate a problem with the digestive system, a fibrogastroduodenoscopy is performed.

disease treatment

All complex treatments are prescribed only by the attending physician, since it is necessary to eliminate not only the parasites themselves, but also all their consequences.If a certain type of worm is detected, deworming medication will be prescribed.In most cases, treatment consists of a single dose of the drug, but in some cases, the drug can be taken again for a short period of time.

In addition, the following medications may be prescribed:

1. Antihistamines (anti-allergic drugs), which remove all harmful substances from the body and normalize the skin condition.
2. If the levels of hemoglobin or red blood cells in the blood are low, medications containing iron, B vitamins, or folic acid may be prescribed.
3. In addition, treatment includes taking vitamins and following a specialized low-carbohydrate diet.
4. The room where the infected person lived and his personal belongings were thoroughly disposed of.
5. All family members or people in direct contact with the patient need to be diagnosed with helminthiasis.
6. Treatment requires nail care.It should be cut short and thoroughly cleaned.
7. In more severe cases, hormonal drugs are prescribed, as well as drugs with high potassium content.

In addition, treatments may include folk recipes.Natural plants also have insect repellent properties.For example, celandine and elecampane juice.Vegetable juice (carrot) also helps eliminate symptoms of worming.Pomegranates, pumpkin seeds, mint or garlic are all suitable treatments.

Enemas with herbal decoctions help eliminate helminths.

Mugwort decoction can be enema or taken orally.Folk remedies are often combined with saline laxatives.It is not acceptable to treat helminthiasis solely with pharmaceutical methods, however, in addition to the main method or as a means of prevention, such natural preparations will be beneficial to the body.

Treatment in children usually requires hospitalization because their illness is more severe and lasts longer.When choosing medications to treat children, doctors often keep adjusting them because the initial medication doesn't always work for the child's body.

disease prevention

Preventing helminthiasis is very simple and does not require much effort.After handling the soil, wash your hands and treat your nails, as this is the most common way parasites enter the body.You should wash your hands before eating, after going out and after using public restrooms.Also, sometimes you can use hand sanitizer.

Everything must be carefully handled and scalded in 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 give your pet a bath after a walk.After an animal has been on the street for a long time (for example, in a summer house during the summer), the animal's fur is treated with a specialized anti-parasitic agent.It is necessary to vaccinate all pets on time.

You should only drink boiled or filtered water and avoid water from wells or open reservoirs.Spring water may contain intestinal worm infections.Provide individual utensils, towels and personal hygiene items for each family member.Fry meat and fish before serving.Sushi lovers can try looking for dishes that don't contain raw products.

Preventative deworming shots should be given every 6 months.

Drug prevention can be carried out twice a year: 1 antiviral drug, once a day, taken after meals for 3 consecutive days.If your child is young, parents should ask their pediatrician if they can take these medications.