Worms remain one of the most controversial topics in medicine.Some doctors continue to consider nighttime teeth grinding and indigestion as the first symptoms of worms in humans.
Other experts believe that helminthic infestations are not dangerous and advise not to take any measures if parasitic infections are detected.
Types of worms in humans
Medicine knows more than 300 types of various parasites that can live in the human body.A worm is a worm of the genus helminths that parasitizes the body of mammals (humans and animals).It may not cause visible harm to the host's body.But in some cases it leads to the development of serious pathologies.
What does a worm look like?It depends on the type of helminth, of which there are two in humans:
- Round.These are roundworm, pinworm and whipworm.Large roundworms can reach 10-40 cm in length and often accumulate in the small intestine, obstructing it.Pinworms are small roundworms no more than 1 cm long.Whipworms parasitize the large intestine and reach a length of 4 to 5 cm.Worm eggs look different, but almost all of them are round in shape.
- Tape.These worms include tapeworms and tapeworms.They are characterized by a long body (up to several meters) with a small head.Long, flat worms in humans can settle in the intestines, liver and other organs.This subspecies includes worms with a long, flat body and head.They also have suction grooves or suction cups.
In addition to these varieties, the organism is parasitized by Giardia and protozoa, affecting the liver and small intestine.All types of parasites are characterized by the inability to fully exist outside the host's body, high reproductive function and the ability to spread throughout the body.
Where do they live?
To understand why worms are harmful, you need to know their type and location in the body.When worms are initially located in the intestines, they travel easily through the bloodstream, reaching the lungs, liver, brain and organs of vision.
Most often, helminths settle in the intestines.There they damage the mucous membrane, because to obtain food the parasites suck or gnaw through the inner lining of the intestine.
For nutrition, they constantly need digested food or blood.The more parasites there are in the intestine, the more nutrients will be removed from the host.Toxin poisoning occurs.Worm waste enters the intestinal lumen and then into human blood, which causes general intoxication.
Classification
Depending on the habitat of parasites in nature, the following types of worms in humans are distinguished:
- Geohelminths.Part of the life cycle takes place in the soil.Normally, parasite eggs fall to the ground with feces, which, together with soil, vegetables and fruits, enter the body of the new host.Geohelminths include roundworms, whipworms, hookworms, and necators.
- Biohelminths.For such parasites to grow and mature, they must remain permanently in a mammal's body.Eggs begin to develop when they enter the body of an intermediate host - an animal, bird or fish.To mature and reproduce, worms must enter a new organism, usually a warm-blooded animal or person.These helminths include tapeworms, nematodes and echinococci.
- Contact helminths.The smallest group.Infection with these helminths occurs through direct contact with the owner or his personal belongings and clothing.Transmissible parasites include pinworms and dwarf tapeworms.
Why are worms harmful?
Doctors often debate whether worms are dangerous and how dangerous they are.There is an opinion that no parasites can survive in a healthy human body.If they remain, their numbers will be very limited and they will not cause much damage.
This theory is confirmed by its supporters by the fact that every day a person encounters many pathogenic bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms, which the body successfully copes with.
Thanks to natural defense mechanisms, a person can overcome helminths that have entered the gastrointestinal tract or skin.But if the infection is massive and the parasites find themselves in an environment favorable to them, worms in the intestines or liver can cause the development of many diseases.
The degree of damage to the body depends on how long the worms live in a person.The length of time parasites remain depends on their type.Some of them leave the body after a cycle of reproduction if the person is an intermediate host, as with bovine tapeworm or cat fluke infection.But most of the time, parasites have existed in the human body for years.
The consequences of worm infection are a weakened immune system, impaired digestion and a general weakening of the body, which can no longer cope with normal stress and other illnesses.Worm infestations are especially dangerous in children and women.The parasites interfere with the full growth and development of the child and, in pregnant women, cause miscarriage or delayed development of the fetus.
Worm symptoms
With parasitic infestation, there are manifestations common to all types of infection and specific, characteristic of each species.
Common symptoms of heartworms in adults:
- increase in body temperature to subfebrile for no apparent reason;
- pain in the abdomen, right hypochondrium;
- stool instability;
- change in appetite;
- weight loss;
- weakness, deterioration in performance, headaches.
The following symptoms are characteristic of ascariasis:
- nausea, pain in the abdomen and right hypochondrium;
- a rash that periodically appears all over the body;
- decreased appetite and weight loss.
With enterobiasis (pinworm) the following are observed:
- abdominal pain;
- itching in the anal region;
- change in appetite.
Diphyllobothriasis (long tapeworms in humans) manifests itself:
- nausea, vomiting;
- pain in the abdominal region;
- indigestion;
- weakness, headaches, fainting.
If the worms enter the liver, lungs or other internal organs, no symptoms of infection may be observed for a long time.Signs of dysfunction of a certain organ then appear: cough, skin jaundice, tachycardia.
Which doctor should I contact for helminthic infestations?
If you suspect worms in the stomach, you can contact a pediatrician or therapist, who will refer you for examination and prescribe treatment.Additionally, worms in the stomach require consultation with an infectious disease specialist or parasitologist.
Diagnosis
Helminth detection is carried out in several ways:
- Stool analysis and worm egg scraping.Most helminths live in the intestines, so eggs or body parts of the parasites can be found in feces or scrapings.The disadvantage of this method is its low reliability, since helminths in feces can only be detected with massive infection.
- ELISA for helminthic infestation.The enzyme immunoassay method makes it possible to detect antibodies against parasites.In the acute form of the infection, IgM is determined and, if the person has already had parasites or the infection has become chronic, then IgG.
- Blood test.Detects antibodies to certain types of worms.It is considered the most accurate diagnostic method.
There are less common diagnostic methods: determination of helminthic infestation using a thermal imager or electromagnetic vibrations created by parasites.But these methods are not widely used.To confirm the diagnosis, ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, heart, computed tomography of internal organs and magnetic resonance imaging of blood vessels are additionally prescribed.
Treatment of helminthic infestations
The diagnosis of parasitosis often causes a negative reaction in patients, which is why they even refuse treatment.So what to do if worms are found in your family members or yourself?
Today, the treatment of helminthic infestations in adults and children presents no difficulties.There are a large number of parasite medications - broad-spectrum or highly specialized.
Under no circumstances should you self-medicate, much less try to remove worms from an adult or child on your own.Each of the medications has its own level of toxicity and can cause poisoning of the body.Only a doctor can prescribe the appropriate medication and regimen for its use.
Drug treatment
To get rid of worms, the following is suggested:
- Universal preparations for all types of parasites.
- The medications are active against roundworms and hookworms.
- Broad-spectrum medications.
All types of worm medications only help to eliminate adult worms.Therefore, to completely destroy all larvae and eggs, you need to undergo several courses of therapy.
Traditional methods
To get rid of worms, there are the following recipes:
- Wormwood powder.Take 0.5 tsp.once a day for 3 days.
- Green walnut shells.It is infused in alcohol for 10-14 days and taken 1 teaspoon.once a day.
- Carnation seeds.The chopped cloves are placed on the tip of a knife.The course of treatment lasts 7-10 days.
Diet
When treating helminth infestations, it is recommended not to eat heavy food or temporarily refuse to eat to increase the effect of therapy.And to speed up the removal of toxins from the body, you need to drink as much fluid as possible.
Routes of infection and prevention
There are three main methods of helminthiasis infection:
- Food.The most common route of infection.Worm eggs can be carried in water or soil;they can easily become infected by eating unwashed fruits, vegetables and fruits.A large number of parasites live in river fish and seafood, raw meat and dairy products that have not undergone heat treatment.
- Failure to comply with personal hygiene rules.You can catch helminths everywhere: in public catering places, transport, shops, on the street, through contact with street and domestic animals.The only form of prevention remains personal hygiene and monitoring the condition of pets.
- Contact and address.This is how helminthic infestations spread within groups of children.It is also possible to infect members of the same family by sharing towels, bedding or clothing.
Are worms transmitted directly from person to person?This is rare, but with close contact with an infected patient, the risk of infecting others increases several times.The only prevention of helminthiasis is to observe the rules of personal hygiene and careful processing of food.
It is recommended that you undergo exams and exams with your doctor annually.If worms are not treated, a person's health can be seriously affected.And with the invasion of some types of parasites, there is a risk to life.