To get rid of parasites, you first need to understand which parasites have settled inside the patient and if they exist. To do this, there is a simple fingerprint test. If the eosinophils in it don't exceed 5, you can be calm - there are no parasites in the body. If this indicator is greater than 5, a fecal analysis for worm eggs is performed and, according to the result of the analysis, the treatment will be prescribed. Medicines for parasites have many unpleasant side effects: hair loss, seizures, kidney failure, drug hepatitis even liver cirrhosis, so only a doctor should prescribe them.
Popular symptoms that are commonly attributed to the presence of parasites include nausea, fatigue, lethargy, pallor, irregular bowel movements, and constipation. These symptoms are more likely to indicate anemia or thyroid malfunction. If they have already appeared or have lasted for some time, the wisest thing to do is to see a doctor. And as a preventative measure - wash your hands more often.
fear of parasites
Many people are totally sincere and are very afraid of parasites, which are supposed to be struggling to get into their bodies. And so they are ready to spend a lot of money on scammers who not only search for but also "find" parasites and then "prescribe" all sorts of dietary supplements and other imaginary helminth remedies to naive victims. Some try to remove the parasites on their own with the help of garlic, onions and horseradish - the medicines they contain are at least safe. But what will be in the vial received from aspiring doctors is still unknown.
The problem of parasitosis really exists, it only exists in countries in Asia, Africa and South America. Thus, in some Asian countries, the infection of people with opistorchiasis reaches 80%. There, special measures are taken to disinfect food and water. But all this is not with us, tropical parasites do not survive in the domestic climate, although opistorchiasis is common in the regions of the holon. It is transmitted through fish, as well as through dogs and cats that feed on this fish. But today we are going to talk about other parasites, which it is quite possible to get infected in our middle pathway. These parasites are roundworms and pinworms.
Ascaris and Ascariasis
Ascaris is parasitic only on humans. The parasite is a round worm, quite long, yellowish-red in color. The length of an adult male is 15-25 cm, the female is longer - up to 20-40 cm. If roundworms enter the human body, the disease develops ascariasis. At the same time, the gastrointestinal tract suffers more, but damage to other organs is also possible, as is allergic reactions. Ascariasis is widespread, 60-85 people in every 100, 000 fall ill.
Roundworm life cycle: from blood to intestines
A sick person is not dangerous in terms of infection, as infection occurs when eggs enter the body. And the eggs come out with the faeces and first ripen in the ground. Eggs have a dense shell, so they can stay in the ground for up to seven years. You can become infected by eating vegetables, fruits or berries that have been exposed to Ascaris eggs. In the body, the parasite goes through a long cycle of movement. First, the larvae hatch from swallowed eggs and enter the bloodstream through the intestinal walls. With the bloodstream, they migrate to the liver, to the heart, then to the lungs and from there to the pharynx. When the patient swallows them, the larvae in the intestines turn into adult worms, which are able to lay eggs.
Symptoms: abdominal pain, nausea, weight loss
As the larvae travel through the body, allergic manifestations surface. Mechanical damage to the organs the larvae pass through is also possible - the liver, blood vessels, lungs, intestines. The patient may have high fever, rash and pain in the liver region, and at the end of the migratory stage - cough and shortness of breath. When roundworms settle in the intestines, their waste products are poisoned. In addition, the sharp ends of the worms can injure or even perforate the intestine. Manifestations include abdominal pain, morning sickness, loss of appetite, and changes in stool. In addition, there is compromised well-being, poor sleep, headaches, increased fatigue and weight loss. The presence of ascaris in the intestine causes a lack of vitamins B6, A and C.
Ascariasis diagnosis
For diagnosis, blood is drawn for a general analysis (increased eosinophils, increased ESR, sometimes anemia) and an antibody test. Under a microscope, larvae can be found in patients' sputum. In the intestinal stage, ascaris eggs, and sometimes the worms themselves, are detected in the stool.
Medicines for Ascariasis
Therapy for ascariasis does not require hospitalization, except in complicated cases. Patients receive a diet rich in vitamins, low in fat and carbohydrates. Food intake - four to five times a day. Drugs with antiparasitic action, antihistamines, probiotics and enzymatic preparations are shown.
Complications of Ascariasis
A complication of ascariasis can be intestinal obstruction due to blockage by a ball of worms. When the ascaris creeps into the biliary tract, vomiting, jaundice, and severe right abdominal pain occur. By the same token, pancreatitis ascariasis is possible, as is respiratory failure when the respiratory tract is blocked by parasites.
Pinworms and Enterobiasis
Pinworms are translucent white worms only 0. 5-1 cm long. One end of its body is pointed, which explains the name. They parasitize mainly in the large intestine and can disappear over time without drugs if autoinfection does not occur. The fact is that, to lay eggs, females descend to the anus and do this in the perianal folds, after which they die. In the patient, this process causes intense itching. If, after scratching the itchy area, the patient does not wash their hands, the eggs will fall onto clothing, surrounding objects, food, and may remain under the nails. The patient himself can swallow moth eggs. This is how autoinfection occurs.
Symptoms: anal itching
The main symptom is intense itching in the anus at night, as this is when the parasite lays eggs. In enterobiasis, symptoms of the gastrointestinal tract are possible: abdominal pain, nausea, increased gas production and nervous system: fatigue, sleep disturbances or insomnia (intense anal itching interferes with normal sleep). Pinworms can enter the female genital tract, causing irritation, pain and discharge. And even cause coughing - if penetrated into the lower respiratory tract.
Diagnosis and treatment of enterobiasis
Mainly, scraping of the perianal folds (or application of adhesive tape) is used, after which the resulting material is examined under a microscope. So you can find helminth eggs. In a blood test, as in ascariasis, there will be an increase in eosinophils, with the development of complications - signs of inflammation (increase in white blood cells, increase in ESR). For treatment, antiparasitic drugs are used. Some of them are contraindicated for pregnant and nursing women. To reduce itching, the anus is lubricated with ointment under anesthesia. The most popular folk remedy is garlic.
Complications: dysbiosis, appendicitis
Complications depend on the body's response and the number of parasitic worms. Possible dysbiosis, appendicitis, vaginitis, salpingitis, endometritis (inflammation of the adnexa).
Prevention of ascariasis and enterobiasis
Ascariasis:
- identify and treat patients on time;
- loosen the litter boxes (eggs cannot stand direct sunlight);
- wash your hands after going to the bathroom and before eating;
- wash vegetables, fruits, berries.
Enterobiasis:
- iron clothes well, especially the creases;
- clean the apartment with disinfectants;
- provide the patient with bed linen and a place to sleep;
- It is important that children cut their nails short.