Helminthiasis is the most common parasitic infection that affects people of any age. Doctors cannot provide accurate statistics on the number of cases, because many do not consult a specialist when they find alarming symptoms, but prefer to treat themselves. This approach can lead to serious complicationsEven broad-spectrum drugs may be ineffective against certain types of helminth infestationsFor example, filariasis - infection with filamentous nematodes.
In total, more than 400 types of helminths are known that can parasitize the human body, and it is possible to determine exactly which of them caused the disease only after laboratory examination of feces. If signs of helminthic infestation are detected, it is necessary to consult a doctor (general practitioner, proctologist or infectious disease specialist). The difficulty of timely diagnosis in almost half of the cases lies in the absence of symptoms characteristic of helminthiasis, so it is important to know what signs may be indirect manifestations of helminthiasis. It is recommended that adults undergo a prophylactic stool test, as well as a scraping for enterobiosis, at least once a year.
How can you get infected?
Most patients believe that helminth infestation is a "disease of dirty hands". This statement is only half true. Some species of worms, for example, cestodes and other flatworms, actually live in soil and sand, so in the absence of sufficient hand hygiene, a person can become infected with helminthiasis. , but this way of transmission is mainly characteristic of children. Younger age group (1 to 6 years). In adults, the main source of infection is poor-quality food (expired dairy products, poorly processed meat, stale eggs) and tap water.
How does a worm infection occur?
You can get infected with worms in open rivers and reservoirs. In rare cases, while swimming, a person can become infected with leeches - representatives of the class of annelids, which cause hirudinosis. The pathology is quite severe, since the main food of puppies is blood and its components, which causes damage to blood vessels, rapidly progressing anemia and blood poisoning against the background of systemic intoxication of the body. To avoid this, you should not swim in areas that are not equipped with "swimming allowed" signs. Soil/water samples are taken periodically in specially designated areas during the summer, and the risk of infection in such areas is several times lower.
Other sources of infection for humans may include:
- Street and domestic animals (it is necessary to clean the pet's box only with gloves, and the animal itself should be washed regularly and treated with antihelminthic means 2 times a year);
- polluted air;
- blood-sucking insects (mosquitoes, ticks);
- Dust (including house dust that accumulates on soft toys and furniture).
Notice!Some types of worms can enter the human body through the skin, so body contact with a person diagnosed with helminthiasis should be limited as much as possible.
Helminths quickly spread throughout the body.
Acute infection in adults: symptoms and signs
Diagnosis or suspicion of helminth infestation at home is possible only during the acute and subacute course of the disease. Depending on the types of worms, their number and the state of the immune system, it can vary from 1 week to 4 months. During this period, the symptoms of the pathology are most pronounced, so the chance of timely treatment and reducing the risk of complications in acute form is maximum.
The main symptoms of acute helminthiasis are intestinal dysfunction. The patient develops intestinal functional disorders in the form of diarrhea or long-term absence of stool (constipation is 4 times less than diarrhea syndrome). When infected with worms, the consistency of feces is thin, watery, sometimes with the addition of foam. The smell is sharp, pungent. The color may vary, but in most patients the stools are light in color and pale yellow in color. If the worm infestation is severe, the excrement may be brown or green. Sometimes they contain streaks of mucus and blood, which is released as a result of damage by worms to the blood vessels and capillaries in the intestinal mucosa.
Along with other signs of the gastrointestinal tract, the patient may have abdominal pain, sudden vomiting for no reason, loss of appetite against the background of constant nausea. During this period, many patients lose weight: weight loss in 2-4 months after the onset of the disease can be up to 10%. The skin turns pale and a polymorphic rash appears on it in the form of vesicles or nodules filled with exudate. The same rash can appear on the mucous membrane of the genitals, mouth and internal organs. During this period, about 10-20% develop acne, boils and comedones. A bright red rash may appear on the skin of the abdomen and elbows.
Other signs of acute infection in adults include:
- inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye (parasitic conjunctivitis);
- Swelling of the face, limbs, neck (may be accompanied by dropsy of internal organs);
- a state of fever;
- Heat and chills against the background of periodic increase in temperature of 38°C and above.
Important!Anal itching, which is considered the main symptom of helminthiasis, is characteristic mainly of enterobiasis - pinworm infection. This occurs as a result of irritation of the skin in the anorectal area by secretions secreted at night by the female worms. Such a clinical picture is not considered typical for other acute forms of helminthic infestation.
Chronic infection: what symptoms should we pay attention to?
The chronic form of helminthiasis is a fairly common pathology that develops in the acute period in the absence of timely treatment. Most of the clinical symptoms disappear and lose intensity during this period, but they do not disappear completely. A person may periodically experience mild abdominal pain, nausea, and possible vomiting immediately after eating or 1-2 hours after eating. The skin rash usually persists. If the reaction is severe, the patient may experienceAngioedema is a fatal condition accompanied by laryngeal spasm and bronchospasm..
One of the main signs of chronic helminthic infestation (as well as its complications) is anemia. It manifests as unnatural pallor, asthenia (chronic fatigue syndrome) and weakness. A person's working capacity decreases, he becomes lethargic and emotional lability can be observed.
If the hepatobiliary system is damaged
The hepatobiliary system, which includes the liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts, is a major target for parasite attacks. The worms can feed on liver parenchyma cells, blood, bile components and bile acids. This form of pathology is manifested by severe pain localized under the upper right rib of the abdomen. The pain can be stabbing, cutting or dagger-shaped, so many people consider it an attack of biliary colic (this condition is especially characteristic of patients with chronic diseases of the gallbladder and ducts).
Obstructive jaundice is another sign that requires immediate diagnosis. Yellowing of the skin and sclera of the eyes may be a manifestation of dangerous liver diseases (hepatitis, cirrhosis) or symptoms of organ tissue damage by parasites.
Important!Hepatobiliary helminthosis is one of the most severe types of pathology. In the absence of adequate and timely therapy, the patient may die from acute intoxication and necrosis of liver tissue.
Clinical indicators - signs of helminthic infestation
The doctor can suspect parasitic infections if the results of three blood tests confirm that the patient has anemia - a low level of hemoglobin. For an adult, the hemoglobin norm is 120 to 140 g/l. In some cases, for example, during pregnancy, this indicator can be slightly lower - up to 110 g/l. But the amount of hemoglobin should not fall below these values. Anemia develops rapidly in patients with helminthiasis, since almost 90% of parasites feed on human blood and damage small blood vessels.
Another permanent clinical sign of chronic helminthiasisEosinophilia - an absolute or relative increase in the level of eosinophils in the blood. This is a type of granulocytic leukocyte mass, which is the main indicator of the body's allergic readiness. When infected with parasites, it is always accompanied by skin itching and polymorphic rashes.
How to protect yourself from hookworm infection?
The main rule that helps protect the body from the penetration of worms is strict hygiene - first of all, hand hygiene. For washing, it is better to use soap with antibacterial components or natural laundry soap with a fatty acid concentration of at least 72%. Laundry soap has a pronounced disinfectant and antimicrobial effect and provides excellent prevention of infectious diseases. If you have an intolerance to the smell of laundry soap, you can use a product with aromatic additives.
Food must be prepared in accordance with hygienic and heat treatment standards. It is recommended to wash vegetables and fruits with boiling water or soap, and fry or boil meat at high temperature for at least 30-40 minutes. The minimum time for cooking eggs is 20 minutes. It is important to monitor the quality and freshness of the products and carefully check the expiration dates. If the product does not have the necessary information and labeling, it is better to refuse the purchase.
If there are pets in the house, it is necessary to carry out a deworming course twice a year, even if the pet does not go outside, because worm eggs can be brought into the apartment through outdoor shoes and clothes. The safest dewormer for cats and dogs is chicken flavored tablets.
What should we take during helminthiasis?
Treatment of helminthiasis should be prescribed only by a doctor, since all antihelmintic drugs are highly toxic and have a negative effect on the liver. The table lists frequently prescribed drugs with a wide range of action, as well as their dosages, but they can be used only after laboratory diagnosis and consultation with a specialist.
Signs, treatment and symptoms of intestinal worms in adults
About 250 species of worms live in the body of an adult. They are formed as a result of parasitic worms entering the human body, which cause various diseases.
The presence of helminths in the intestines of people masks other diseases.
A person can be treated for an illness for years without realizing that they have worms in their body. And only after a course of treatment for helminths, he will feel much better.
Classification of helminths
Parasites are divided into 3 groups:
- round worms;
- flat worms;
- fluxes.
Groups of helminths are also distinguished according to biological characteristics:
- Biohelminths- Ribbon, pork and beef. As adults, they change hosts, starting with insects and eventually migrating to humans.
- Geohelminths— Roundworms, worms and many other parasites immediately enter the body of an adult and begin their development from the initial stage.
- Contact- pins, dwarf tape. Entry is from an infected person.
Where can helminths live?
Parasites mainly affect the intestines of adults. But not everyone knows that there are types that can live in other organs:
- Tapeworms, nematodes and wormsLives in the large intestine.
- Termatodes- enter the liver and gall bladder.
- Pork loinLives in any organ of an adult.
Types of microorganisms living in the body of adults
In the body of an adult, helminths such as roundworms, tapeworms and tapeworms are predominant. They actively absorb nutrients from the body of an adult, after which metabolic disorders, anemia, severe weight loss and other diseases occur.
Helminths in humans:
- Roundworms:Infection occurs after eating unwashed vegetables and fruits.
- wide ribbon:When eating raw fish.
- Pinworms:In contact with other people already infected with parasites and using the same dishes and bed linen.
Helminths develop over a certain period, which usually lasts from 15 to 60 days, after which the chronic stage of the disease occurs.
After transitioning to the chronic stage, human immunity decreases. Inflammation begins immediately against the background of weakening the body.
Causes of worms
Helminth worms in humans cause severe poisoning of the body. If worms appear in adults, the symptoms depend on the type of parasite, the habitat and the number of parasites, which reproduce several times a day, or even several thousand times.
How long does it take for the first symptoms to appear?
For example, for roundworms, two to three days are enough to notice a bad condition. Most often, infection with other types of parasites occurs in adults, the first signs appear after 2-3 weeks, but the first symptoms of filariasis are expected from 6 to 18 months.
The danger is that in some cases the disease with worms occurs without visible symptoms. Signs may appear after the parasite reaches a huge size.
- Pinworms— The main signs of the presence of these parasites in the body of an adult are itching, which intensifies at night. The frequency may last one to two days, and then you will not be bothered by it for several weeks. And if the infection is severe, then itching can occur quite often.
- Trichocephalosis- The development of anemia is a sign of infection with this type of helminths. Nausea, dizziness, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea and severe weight loss may occur.
- round worms- Rash appears all over the body, but can also be in different parts of the body, nausea, abdominal pain, weight loss. If this parasite is not detected in time, the integrity of the intestine may be damaged. If the roundworm gets into the appendix, serious inflammation of this organ can develop.
If the number of helminths has increased several times, a high temperature may appear. But in rare cases, parasite infection is asymptomatic. But basically, helminthic infection occurs with signs that are not difficult to notice.
At the initial stage of the appearance of worms, it is necessary to start a proper comprehensive treatment so that this disease does not turn into a chronic one.
How parasites get into the human body. infection
There are four ways of parasite infection.
- Through earth and water with egg worms. Through communication with animals and eating food and products on which a fly with helminth eggs landed. You should wash your hands thoroughly every time you touch the ground. Vegetables and fruits collected from the site should be washed with water with a special scraper or sponge. You should not drink water from springs, because parasite eggs most often live in water. Do not swallow water while swimming in pools, rivers or other bodies of water.
- From a person infected with parasites such as pinworms. Reproduction takes place at night. The female individual comes out of the intestines and lays an egg or several eggs on the folds of the anal passage, after which itching naturally occurs, the person scratches and the helminth eggs remain on underwear, hands and surrounding objects. Without washing hands properly, infection occurs by getting worm eggs in the mouth. This is the most common method of infection by parasites.
- When eating undercooked and raw meat and through raw fish.
- Mosquito bites, flies, etc. Sh.
When helminths enter the body, two stages of development can occur: acute and chronic.
The acute stage begins from the moment helminths enter the human body and can last from two weeks to 2 months.
The second stage begins after a person does not get rid of worms and continues throughout life. When worms enter the body, poor absorption of nutrients occurs.
Where can helminths live?
Parasites mainly affect the intestines of adults. But not everyone knows that there are types that can live in other organs:
- Tapeworms, nematodes and wormsLives in the large intestine.
- Termatodes- enter the liver and gall bladder.
- Pork loinLives in any organ of an adult.
Types of microorganisms living in the body of adults
In the body of an adult, helminths such as roundworms, tapeworms and tapeworms are predominant. They actively absorb nutrients from the body of an adult, after which metabolic disorders, anemia, severe weight loss and other diseases occur.
Helminths in humans:
- Roundworms:Infection occurs after eating unwashed vegetables and fruits.
- wide ribbon:When eating raw fish.
- Pinworms:In contact with other people already infected with parasites and using the same dishes and bed linen.
Helminths develop over a certain period, which usually lasts from 15 to 60 days, after which the chronic stage of the disease occurs.
After transitioning to the chronic stage, human immunity decreases. Inflammation begins immediately against the background of weakening the body.
Causes of worms
Helminth worms in humans cause severe poisoning of the body. If worms appear in adults, the symptoms depend on the type of parasite, the habitat and the number of parasites, which reproduce several times a day, or even several thousand times.
How long does it take for the first symptoms to appear?
For example, for roundworms, two to three days are enough to notice a bad condition. Most often, infection with other types of parasites occurs in adults, the first signs appear after 2-3 weeks, but the first symptoms of filariasis are expected from 6 to 18 months.
The danger is that in some cases the disease with worms occurs without visible symptoms. Signs may appear after the parasite reaches a huge size.
- Pinworms— The main signs of the presence of these parasites in the body of an adult are itching, which intensifies at night. The frequency may last one to two days, and then you will not be bothered by it for several weeks. And if the infection is severe, then itching can occur quite often.
- Trichocephalosis- The development of anemia is a sign of infection with this type of helminths. Nausea, dizziness, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea and severe weight loss may occur.
- round worms- Rash appears all over the body, but can also be in different parts of the body, nausea, abdominal pain, weight loss. If this parasite is not detected in time, the integrity of the intestine may be damaged. If the roundworm gets into the appendix, serious inflammation of this organ can develop.
The first symptoms of worms in humans are as follows:
- A skin rash that causes constant itching;
- Swelling, both on the whole body and in places;
- cough, choking;
- inflammation of the lymph node;
- weakness, fatigue;
- pain in the joints, lower abdomen;
- serious diseases;
- Diarrhea, constipation, bloating, intestinal pain;
- Damage to the central nervous system.
If the number of helminths has increased several times, a high temperature may appear. But in rare cases, parasite infection is asymptomatic. But basically, helminthic infection occurs with signs that are not difficult to notice.
At the initial stage of the appearance of worms, it is necessary to start a proper comprehensive treatment so that this disease does not turn into a chronic one.
Tests to detect parasites in adults
To diagnose the presence of worms in the body of an adult, a stool sample is collected for research. Additional tests are collected for some types of helminths:
- Anal scrapings are collected for the presence of eggs in an adult;
- In women, scratches are collected from the vagina, navel area and groin folds;
- conduct an immunological test;
- Urine and blood tests are collected.
If there are individual individuals of helminths in the body, then the symptoms are invisible to an adult. If there is a large number of parasites in the body, then the symptoms appear in a rather complex form. Especially certain types of worms, people suffer in the evening and at night.
To remove parasites from the human body, the doctor prescribes individual treatment.
Treatment of helminthic infestations
In the modern world, there are many preventive measures and treatment methods that have their own specialty in treating different types of parasites.
There are about 70 species of helminths in our country. Accurate treatment and medication are prescribed only after the tests, as the drugs are very toxic. In addition, appropriate treatment is prescribed for all types of parasites.
The course of treatment may be repeated, as there is a risk of re-infection.
Ethnoscience
Treatment can also be carried out with traditional methods. Time-tested methods are considered effective. This includes eating pumpkin seeds and the tannin plant.
In the modern world, it is believed that pumpkin seeds are best eaten in the morning on an empty stomach. You should eat 300 grams of seeds in one hour. It is preferable to grind and add honey. Do not eat anything for four hours and clean your stomach using laxatives and enemas.
Repeat treatment is recommended after two weeks. Carrots or carrot juice are also believed to help against parasites. A decoction of wormwood will help to get rid of the problem; It should be used orally or as an enema.
Prevention of worms. What is it for?
You must lead a healthy lifestyle, drink purified or boiled water, use personal hygiene products and own dishes, bed linen and other personal items.
All pet vaccinations should be done on time. Before consumption, you need to wash vegetables and fruits well, heat meat and fish. Take antiparasitic medication for prevention. Do not eat raw, dried or dried fish from freshwater bodies. To prevent infection with helminths, you just need to follow the rules of prevention.