The symptoms of infection with worms are different. For example, dyspeptic disorders most often develop - nausea, vomiting, pain and abdominal distension. Some patients don't pay attention to the signs until they develop rashes that conventional medications cannot clear up. Often, helminthic invasion is accompanied by symptoms similar to other diseases and allergies. Therefore, timely diagnosis is required.
Infection with worms in humans
Most helminths spread in the human body by eating unwashed fruits and vegetables. After spreading throughout the body, organ damage occurs, causing serious diseases. Pathologies of the liver, kidneys, heart, digestive tract, gallbladder and even oncology can develop.
A common characteristic symptom is skin irritation, a rash. But a person may not pay attention to this for years while the pathology is developing, although it is enough to take anthelmintic drugs in one course to fully recover.
methods of infection
There are 4 methods by which worms spread in the human body:
- geohelminthiasis. The parasite enters through the soil left on unwashed fruits and vegetables and spreads in the water. Infection is also possible if you wash your hands poorly after tilling the soil. Ground contact is often observed in animals that come into the house with dirty paws. Eggs, larvae, adults can get into the human body.
- Contact. In the body of the host, the female lays 4-5 in a day. 000 eggs. They can be transmitted from one infected person to other people after contact, especially in the household. Eggs or adults are spread through bedding, towels, and personal care items. It is enough if an infected person does not wash their hands. Most often this path is characteristic of pinworms, worms.
- biohelminthiases. Parasites are stored in the body of living and dead animals, fish. Subsequently, a person can eat them. The preservation of parasites is observed with insufficient heat treatment.
- insect bites. This is how worm eggs of the smallest sizes are transmitted.
Of all forms of helminths, infection most commonly occurs through ingestion of eggs and larvae. They can be found in soil, in water, on an infected person, in raw meat. It is important not only to wash food and hands, but also to always use heat treatment on food.
Symptoms of helminthiasis
The symptoms of infestation differ depending on the stage of the disease.The most common symptoms are:
- weight loss, emaciation;
- pallor of the skin;
- itching in the anus.
Symptoms are similar to other pathologies, so the patient may use the wrong methods of therapy. Symptoms can vary depending on the area of the body affected. For example, with liver damage, yellowing of the skin occurs.
gastrointestinal dysfunction
With the penetration of pathogens into the digestive tract, the following symptoms develop:
- violation of the formation of fecal masses (constipation, diarrhea);
- itching in the anus;
- dyspeptic disorders - nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, heartburn;
- colic in the intestines;
- flatulence, accompanied by swelling;
- periodic change in body weight from a greater to a lesser degree.
In the early stages, the symptoms are almost invisible. The more the worms damage the internal organs, the more actively the signs develop. Some parasites are able to excrete foreign waste products. This leads to severe poisoning and diarrhea. Large worms spread through the intestines, preventing the passage of feces. This causes constipation.
Due to the release of waste products from worms, a person is exposed to severe poisoning. Therefore, weakness, malaise and dyspeptic disorders develop.
immunosuppression
When a person eats food, nutrients enter the body and are distributed throughout the tissues.Helminths eat them, so the patient develops the following deviations:
- hypovitaminosis;
- metabolic disease;
- suppression of the immune system.
A person often begins to get sick with viral, acting fungal diseases. Even with the use of multivitamin preparations, hypovitaminosis will not be eliminated until anthelmintic treatment is completed.
neurological disorders
Some types of helminths can damage peripheral tissues of the nervous system and cross the blood-brain barrier. These properties are possessed by the products of their intoxication.Damage to the nervous system causes the following symptoms:
- constant forgetfulness, poor memory;
- Headaches up to migraines;
- Dizziness;
- stress, neurosis, depression;
- increased fatigue.
The patient's behavior changes. He gets into conflict with people around him, forgets about his acquaintances. Gradually, the symptoms complement each other, the body temperature rises by more than 39 degrees.
Chronic hypovitaminosis leads to chronic fatigue syndrome. Gradually, the proportion of red blood cells decreases, which leads to anemia. The person becomes irritable and aggressive.
respiratory diseases
Even in the early stages, damage can occur in the deepest parts of the respiratory tract.The following pathologies develop:
- tracheitis, bronchitis;
- Emphysema, bronchial asthma, pneumonia.
A sign of helminthic invasion can even be frequent rhinitis and pharyngitis.
skin problems
In order for the epidermis to develop normally, a sufficient amount of vitamins, trace elements and minerals is necessary. Worm infestation leads to hypovitaminosis, as a result of which the quality of the skin suffers.The following deviations occur:
- acne, acne, rash;
- itching, peeling, redness of the epidermis;
- Exfoliation of the nail plate.
Even the most severe skin pathologies can develop:
- urticaria, dermatitis;
- papilloma, seborrhea;
- allergic reaction.
The doctor and the patient may not immediately understand why drugs do not help with these pathologies. The quality of the skin deteriorates significantly, it becomes pale, wrinkles appear. Turgor decreases, ie the surface tension.
Signs of infection depending on the type of helminth
The severity of the symptoms depends on the following factors:
- the number of parasites in the body;
- degree of immunity activity;
- localization of parasites;
- some kind of parasite.
Some helminths can remain in the host for a long time without causing any negative symptoms. Other people can immediately deteriorate health and damage the liver. For example roundworm.
roundworm
Ascaris damages many internal organs, causes certain symptoms, similar to other diseases.The following symptoms can occur:
- hyperthermia;
- persistent cough;
- severe fatigue;
- bronchitis, pneumonia.
First of all, the digestive tract is damaged, therefore hypovitaminosis and metabolic disorders develop. The human body is exhausted. Gradually, signs of damage to the gastrointestinal tract are formed:
- yellowing of the skin;
- intestinal obstruction.
With the spread of worms through the blood-brain barrier, severe headaches, migraines and a depressed state appear.
schistosomiasis, trichuriasis, ankylostomiasis, diphyllobothriasis
Parasites cause the following deviations:
- lack of nutrients and vitamins;
- reduced metabolism, which causes a change in body weight;
- intestinal dysbiosis.
Gradually, hypovitaminosis turns into beriberi, which leads to significant depletion of the body. A person's skin becomes pale, he can often faint, which is typical for anemia.
pinworms
Pinworms are characterized by the laying of eggs in the anus, usually this process occurs at night. Therefore, a person is concerned about severe itching in the anus. The disease is characterized by periodic remission, so sometimes the itching stops. If there is no treatment, the helminth invasion becomes extensive, so itching worries the patient at any time of the day.
trichinosis
The parasite invades every part of the body and produces a large amount of toxins. This leads to constant spasms, spasms, and muscle pain. Due to damage to the cardiovascular system, edema is formed. With severe poisoning, the body temperature increases.
Fascioliasis, opisthorchiasis, clonorchiasis
This is one of the most dangerous helminths, leading to the following lesions:
- difficulties in the liver with the development of jaundice;
- Intestinal obstruction, dyspeptic disorders when spreading in the gastrointestinal tract.
Gradually, the patient develops hepatosplenomegaly.
Urogenital schistosomiasis
Parasites actively spread through the urogenital system. Due to the chronic inflammatory process, damage to the mucous membranes occurs. Therefore, when urinating, a person detects red urine, which indicates the development of foci of bleeding.
habitats of worms
In the human body, helminths can damage several types of organs:
- vlasoglav - large intestine;
- Ascaris, tapeworm, hookworms - small intestine;
- Roundworm - Liver.
Depending on the damaged organs, different symptoms develop:
- liver - jaundice, pain in the right hypochondrium, hepatitis;
- respiratory system - trachea, bronchitis, pneumonia;
- Brain - convulsions, paresthesia, fainting.
Simultaneous treatment of the disease (hepatitis, colitis), elimination of helminths is required.
Common helminths
Scientists count a large number of parasites in the human body. There are more than 100 of them in total.But more often doctors distinguish infection with the following parasites:
- pinworm;
- dwarf tapeworm;
- tapeworm;
- hookworms;
- whipworm;
- paragonimiasis;
- cysticercosis.
To determine the exact nature of the pathogen and prescribe the right treatment, laboratory and instrumental diagnostics are required. First, the patient is examined by a therapist, then he gives feces for a co-program, the detection of worm eggs. Usually therapists and infectious disease specialists recommend undergoing a study twice, since eggs and larvae may not be detected even in the presence of infection.
A laboratory blood test is recommended for patients at risk:
- the presence of pets;
- work related to animals;
- medical staff;
- employees of children's educational institutions;
- food worker.
Attention! In order to accurately identify the helminth and its poisoning products, it is recommended to perform an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. It is performed in community clinics and hospitals, as well as in private laboratories.
therapy methods
It is forbidden to independently select drugs against helminths, since they greatly affect the state of the liver and kidneys. It is recommended to undergo an initial examination, after which certain medications will be prescribed. The dosage is selected depending on the state of health, age and body weight of a person.
The following methods of drug administration are selected:
- Tablets - mild or moderate degree of helminthiasis;
- Injections, infusions - a severe degree of the disease, the formation of an excessively large number of parasites, severe damage to the digestive tract.
Many drugs can only work in adults. If there is a threat of eggs and larvae, it is better to undergo a second course of therapy or choose a stronger remedy.
The table shows the optimal drugs for treatment.
| substance | Influence |
| mebendazole | Completely kills pinworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms and other parasites |
| Pyrantela pamoate | The substance destroys roundworms, effective in enterobiasis and nekatorosis |
| Levamisole Hydrochloride | Destroys roundworms and hookworms |
| Embon Pirvinia | Helps to completely cure Enterobiasis |
| albendazole | It helps destroy most elements in the adult or larval stages. |
First of all, it is recommended to determine the exact pathogen, only then apply the drug. This increases the chances of recovery without any negative effects on the body.
prevention methods
To prevent the introduction of parasites into the body, apply the rules of prevention:
- washing hands after coming home, during the day, after contact with animals;
- the use of personal care items, crockery by one person only;
- Taking multivitamins, giving up bad habits to strengthen the immune system;
- thorough washing of fruits and vegetables, heat treatment of meat and fish;
- the use of high-quality drinking water from proven sources.
Many products contain helminths, so the risk of spreading them in the body cannot be ruled out. Anyone can contract the parasite without even knowing it. It can spread from one family member to others through household contact. Therefore, it is necessary to take preventive measures on a daily basis.
It is important to take good care of the animals. It is necessary to wash them regularly to administer drugs from parasites to reduce the risk of helminth infection.
If a person suspects that he has been charged with helminths, it is better to take a laboratory test in a timely manner. It is repeated twice to avoid a false negative test. Self-administration of drugs is prohibited. All of them are strong and have a negative effect on the liver. Only a doctor will be able to choose the optimal anthelmintic with the right dosage. If timely treatment is carried out, it is possible to prevent the development of serious diseases, immunodeficiency.