The symptoms of worms in humans can be very different, it all depends on the type of parasites present in the body. Treatment inevitably requires an integrated approach; Only under this condition can this problem be solved. For this purpose, medicines and traditional methods are used.
Sometimes it can be very difficult to determine the signs and symptoms of worms in humans, since helminthic infestation is very similar in symptoms to the pathologies of many diseases of the intestines and stomach, gallbladder, liver and infectious diseases.
What types of worms are there?
Worms are usually divided into several groups, namely:
- round;
- tapeworms;
- Leeches.
Roundworms are thin and long worms of yellowish or pink color. The disease begins to develop when the eggs of these worms are ingested, which can happen when contaminated food is consumed. Larvae grow from eggs in the intestines and spread throughout the body.
Together with the blood flow, they are transported through the internal organs and cause minor bleeding. Among the main symptoms of worms (in the photo, abdominal pain is one of the signs of helminthic infestation) one can single out the presence of fever and body aches. Often no one pays much attention to these signs because they are associated with colds. Meanwhile, the larvae are transferred into the lung tissue along with the bloodstream. From there, after maturing, they penetrate into the oral cavity and then into the intestines, where they grow and multiply. Roundworms release toxic substances into the human intestines throughout their lives, causing poor health and unpleasant symptoms.
The main symptoms of worms in adults include:
- Stomach pain;
- frequent urge to defecate;
- loose stools;
- Signs of poisoning.
As a result, you may experience weight loss, skin rashes, and other signs of allergy.
In childhood, pinworms are the biggest concern. These are small, grayish roundworms. Their occurrence is caused by non-compliance with hygiene rules and consumption of low-quality products. In addition, infection from pets is possible. Pinworms live and reproduce in the intestines.
It is quite difficult to get rid of this type of parasite because self-infection occurs constantly. At night, pinworms lay eggs in the folds near the anus. At this time, very severe itching and painful sensations are noted. General health deteriorates significantly as parasites have a toxic effect on the body and cause severe inflammation. This appears in the form:
- nausea;
- Diarrhea;
- Stomach pain.
Another roundworm is the whipworm. Its back part is thick and barrel-shaped and the head part is very thin and hair-shaped. Parasites penetrate the intestinal walls through a thin part of the body and feed on blood. Infection occurs when whipworm eggs get into food.
The parasite damages the intestinal walls and causes poisoning of the body, often leading to appendicitis.
The broadband worm is a long worm that belongs to the tapeworm family. This flat parasite reaches very large sizes. Larvae go through several stages during their development. Its intermediate hosts are river fish and crayfish. A person eats river fish infected with helminths, with which they enter the body and begin to grow there.
This parasite is large and therefore requires a lot of food. As a result, a person develops quite characteristic symptoms of worms, in particular rapid weight loss, poor health, fainting and anemia.
Beef and pork tapeworms are classified as tapeworms. They reach several meters. You can become infected by eating undercooked or undercooked meat. The tapeworm's body consists of several flat parts in which the eggs develop.
They can live in the human body for several years. Thanks to the special suction cups and hooks, these parasites adhere very tightly to the intestinal walls. They suck out all the nutrients and poison the human body with toxins. The main symptoms of worms include severe weakness, weight loss, nausea and intestinal disorders. A person is constantly plagued by headaches, even migraines and dizziness. Faintings occur.
When the liver fluke enters the body, it causes the disease opisthorchiasis. You can become infected by eating river fish that has not been sufficiently heat-treated. If a person has this type of worms, the symptoms are manifested in the form of pain and fullness on the right side, stool disturbances and sometimes a slight yellowing of the skin can be observed. Most people go to the doctor with signs of hepatitis and cholecystitis. If the parasites are not removed from the body for a long time, liver cirrhosis and malignant tumors can occur.
Infection methods
Before recognizing the signs and symptoms of worms in humans, you need to understand exactly how infection occurs. The main routes of infection by worms:
- through the ground;
- contact with animals;
- Eat;
- open reservoirs.
Sometimes the source of infection can be the bite of stinging insects. You can become infected through food that has not been adequately heat treated.
Main signs in adults
Symptoms of worms in humans cannot always be recognized immediately. Parasites cause a number of symptoms. If they occur, you should definitely see a doctor for a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment. Recognizing the symptoms of worms in a person in the initial stages allows you to avoid a number of diagnostic errors. Among the main features it is worth highlighting:
- allergic skin rashes;
- frequent cough;
- the appearance of a runny nose, pneumonia;
- Constipation;
- frequent colds;
- Nervousness.
If the worms are long, they form whole balls that prevent the secretion of bile and pancreatic juice. As a result, humans experience symptoms of worms such as constipation, diarrhea and bloating. Teeth grinding may occur.
Against the background of constant chronic poisoning by waste products of worms, depression is observed. When parasites travel through the body and injure tissues, humans begin to feel pain in the joints. With worms, the symptoms can be very different; only a doctor can make the correct diagnosis.
Signs of helminthic infestation in childhood
The symptoms and signs of worms in a child are very specific. The doctor can determine whether the baby has parasites in the intestine based on the following symptoms:
- increased activity;
- Salivation;
- itching near the anus;
- peeling of the eyelids;
- craving for sweet foods;
- lethargy and sleepiness;
- signs of anemia;
- frequent colds.
If these signs and symptoms of worms are observed in a child, there is a high probability of the presence of parasites in the body. In this case, you should definitely consult a doctor to make a diagnosis and prescribe the correct and effective treatment.
Manifestations of the acute stage
The first symptoms of worms in an adult do not appear immediately after infection, but only after a few days. The average incubation period is 2-3 weeks. The presence of parasites in the body can manifest itself in the form of allergic reactions. During growth and vital activity, helminths release toxic substances that lead to intoxication of the body.
Among the allergic symptoms of worms in adults, the following are observed:
- Swelling;
- rashes;
- itching of the skin;
- Cough.
In particularly severe cases, the development of bronchitis and asthma cannot be ruled out. Some types of parasites can cause severe reactions such as facial swelling. Particularly complex manifestations can occur against the background of echinococcosis. This happens as a result of a cyst rupture. In this case, the risk of anaphylactic shock and death of the patient increases significantly.
Symptoms of worms in an adult in the acute stage include not only allergic manifestations, but also an increase in temperature. If you have a severe infection, your health will deteriorate significantly. Cough and chest pain are common.
Manifestations of the chronic stage
In the chronic form of the infection, the symptoms of worms in adults largely depend on the location of the parasite. In particular, the following symptoms can be observed:
- intestinal dysfunction;
- painful sensations;
- flatulence;
- decreased or increased appetite.
Helminths secrete substances that negatively affect the digestive process. There may be a lack of nutrients in the body.
Symptoms of worms in adults often include various psychological disorders. The more parasites there are in the body, the more pronounced the signs of damage to the nervous system. Among the manifestations of the presence of helminths it is necessary to highlight headaches, insomnia and absentmindedness.
Specific symptoms
There is a high risk of infection with worms such as trematodes, also called helminths. These parasites live in various organs of the human body. Signs and symptoms of worms include:
- local swelling;
- Cough;
- temperature increase;
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- myalgia;
- Chills;
- enlarged spleen and liver.
These helminths can lead to the development of pyelonephritis, cystitis and urolithiasis. Possible complications include chronic kidney failure. The intestinal form is manifested by pain, loss of appetite and bloody diarrhea.
Carry out diagnostics
If a person experiences worm symptoms, treatment must be given immediately after diagnosis. To determine the presence of parasites in the body, several accurate and meaningful diagnostic methods are used. These include:
- linked immunosorbent assay;
- ELISA tests;
- serological techniques;
- Roentgen;
- ultrasound diagnostics;
- Tomography;
- Bioresonance diagnostics.
Enzyme immunoassay helps determine the presence of adult parasites or their eggs in the body and identify their type. ELISA tests show the body's reaction to a parasite infection. This technique is not independent. It should be used in conjunction with other types of research.
Serological methods are used to diagnose helminthiasis in the acute stage. Bioresonance diagnostics is an examination that makes it possible to detect parasites at a very early stage.
Modern diagnostic techniques with high accuracy help not only to recognize the fact of infection with worms, but also to determine which species they belong to, establish age and stage of development, which significantly accelerates the recovery process.
Drug therapy for adults
If worm symptoms appear in adults, treatment must be carried out immediately, as this is the only way to prevent the development of complications and dangerous pathologies. Therapy for helminthiasis requires the use of a whole range of procedures and medications, as well as strict medical prescriptions.
To eliminate the symptoms of worms in humans, treatment necessarily includes taking certain medications. The use of anthelmintics is aimed at killing many types of worms. There are also targeted medications.
It is worth noting that all medications cause certain side effects, in particular nausea, dizziness, weakness, abdominal pain, drowsiness and many other symptoms of intoxication. When such manifestations occur, you need to take enterosorbent.
To eliminate the symptoms of worms in adults, treatment with anthelmintics in the form of drops can be carried out. This medicine is very convenient to use because it allows you to accurately calculate the dosage, which is often not possible with tablets, as they are covered with a protective layer.
All drugs used to treat worms help to quickly and effectively eliminate the symptoms of helminthic infestation, but they are highly toxic substances and can cause poisoning of the body.
Drug therapy for children
Parasites cause severe discomfort and a deterioration in well-being. Therefore, if worm symptoms appear in children, treatment should be started immediately. The medications are available in tablet form and suspension form.
These medicines contain different active ingredients that are only effective against a certain type of parasite, so the medicine can only be used after diagnosis. Depending on the symptoms of worms in children, treatment is selected individually in order to effectively eliminate parasites and not harm the child's body. It is imperative to strictly adhere to the recipe, since the dosage is always selected for each child separately and depends on his weight, age and the type of parasite.
Many medications are prohibited for children under 12 kg.
home remedies
If you have symptoms of worms at home, treatment can be carried out using traditional methods. To combat helminthiasis, various herbs are used, which are no less effective than medications. These include the following:
- Dandelion;
- Onion;
- Nettle;
- tansy;
- Mugwort;
- Burdock;
- Garlic.
An equally common method of treating helminth infestations is eating raw pumpkin seeds. For prevention, you can use carrot juice, which is recommended to be consumed for 2 weeks at 200 ml each.
In addition to decoctions and tinctures, it is additionally recommended to carry out enemas that help remove helminths. For an enema, you can use garlic tincture, tansy infusion or dry wormwood. Each of these remedies is used only in a strained form so that small plant particles do not enter the intestines and damage the mucous membrane.
Carry out prevention
It is recommended to carry out preventive measures regularly, as this will prevent helminth infection and subsequent treatment for a long time. For prevention, you need to try to avoid foci of infection with worms and also use folk remedies. It is also appropriate to include preventative measures:
- maintaining hygiene;
- eat only well-washed vegetables and fruits;
- destruction of insects in the house that carry worm eggs;
- drink only boiled water;
- Carrying out drug prophylaxis.
You should only take medication after consulting a doctor, as they contain toxic substances that can harm your health.