Helminthiases are a common problem among certain categories of the population. In children, as a rule, worms parasitize, in people who usually consume fish, diphyllobothriasis is diagnosed, and trichinosis is common among hunters.
The fact that human worms cause the development of many diseases that apparently have nothing to do with helminthiases is currently confirmed by a wide variety of studies. In particular, there is a theory that helminth diseases are associated with the development of oncological processes.
Also, you should be aware that if there are helminths in the body, it does not mean that the patient will have symptoms of such an infection. Signs of its presence can be disguised as other diseases of the liver, gallbladder, gastrointestinal tract. As a result, a person can use different means for a long time and not detect the infection. And once the correct anthelmintic treatment regimen is selected for the patient, the disease can be cured. Therefore, asking yourself questions: "What should I do if I have helminths, how to check for the presence of parasites and infect loved ones? ", you should not be afraid to contact the doctor and get all the answers and find out too what to do if you are dewormed.
For answers to questions about what worms are, how dangerous these parasites are, and how not to get infected with different types of parasites, read the article below. We will also talk about what are the general and specific signs of worm infection.
How can you get helminths?
Helminth eggs can enter the human body in different ways. There are four main forms of infection:
Biohelminthiases. Worms can be found in raw or poorly heat-processed meats, as well as fish. You can get infected by consuming lard, barbecue, dried fish, sushi, etc.
Geohelminthiases. Mature helminth eggs that are in the soil and water enter the body. In that environment they find themselves, and once human feces, as well as animal feces, get there. In addition, infestations occur when a person comes into contact with animals, for example by constantly removing cat or dog feces, as well as when food is contaminated with fly eggs.
Contact. The most common worms, pinworms, are transmitted from person to person. In this case, the risk of contracting this disease is greatest.
Various parasites can enter the body when insects bite a person.
In trying to find an answer to the question of what causes worms and how they are transmitted, it should be borne in mind that the main form of infection with parasites is fecal-oral. That is, a person simply swallows the eggs of worms when he eats food, drinks water. In rarer cases, worms in a person are found after the bites of insects that have become infected.
Infection with worms through the soil
After contact with soil, sand, etc. , you need not only to wash your hands very well, but also to clean your nails. It is better for children to cut their nails very short. All vegetables growing in the ground must be washed very carefully and, if possible, scalded with boiling water.
animals and flies
Wikipedia shows that worm eggs can appear in the house and from pets - cats, dogs that walk on the street. There is a high risk of infection if children play with these animals. Therefore, you need to act immediately if worms are suspected to have started in cats. Symptoms and treatment of infection in animals can be obtained from a veterinarian or watch the corresponding video on the net. In this way, any type of worm can appear in the body. Therefore, the answer to the question of whether they are transmitted from a dog to a person and whether it is possible to get infected from a dog is unequivocal: yes, it is possible.
Another carrier of helminths are flies. They may initially land on feces, livestock waste and then fly and land on food. As a result, they spread helminth eggs and people develop helminth disease after infection.
How are worms transmitted from person to person?
How can you get pinworms, and are these parasites transmitted from person to person? The answer to this question is simple: if a female roundworm crawls out of the intestines along the rectum in the baby's porridge at night, she can lay a large number of eggs near the anus - up to 5, 000 pieces. As a result, intense itching occurs, the baby itches, and eggs fall into his hands. Also, from the baby's hands, eggs fall on clothes, bedding and other objects that the child touches. It is clear how the worms are transmitted further: other children and adults are infected with eggs, after which small white worms multiply in the body. That's why it's very important to wash your hands before eating, after returning home from public places.
water infection
Many parasite eggs are found in open bodies of water as well as in well water. That's why people who use this water must use a special antibacterial filter. It is also very important to boil the water that people drink and to eat dishes prepared with it. It is very dangerous to swallow water from reservoirs.
It should be taken into account, talking about what a helminthic invasion is, that this is a disease that mainly affects children, as they are very susceptible to helminthiases. The fact is that in children the protective barriers are not yet developed to the same extent as in an adult, their stomach acidity is lower.
Also, signs of the presence of worms in a child appear very often due to the fact that young children, in the process of world domination, taste everything that comes to hand. Therefore, parents often notice the symptoms of helminthic invasion in children, in particular, itching in the anus, lack of appetite, coughing in children during infection, etc. But still, it is impossible to accustom the baby to strictly follow the rules of hygiene in the first years of his life. Therefore, at this time, the risk of infection is high for all family members.
Talking about eggworm - what it is and how to treat this disease, it should be remembered that worms do not multiply in the human body. The worms in the human body die over a certain period of time. For example, pinworms live for several weeks, roundworms - about a year. The eggs that adult parasites lay in the body will surely leave the intestines - when the baby's feces or poop comes out, or enters the skin near the anus, as with worms. When eggs are outside the human body, they mature in the external environment, after which they enter the human body again and again parasitize in it.
Since the reproduction of worms does not take place in the body, a large number of helminths are observed only if a reinfection occurs, if the eggs re-enter the body through the mouth.
Therefore, if reinfection does not occur, the worms living in the body die in about 4 weeks. And if you follow all the preventive measures very carefully, then you can get rid of the presence of worms without treatment. However, in the case of children, the observance of all these rules is a very difficult task.
signs of helminths
When infected with parasites, certain first symptoms of worms appear in humans. About what symptoms with worms appear if you have an infection, you can learn in detail from a specialist. But some signs of worms in humans can be seen on their own.
Therefore, the most striking sign that a parasite infection has occurred is the presence of marked weight loss. In addition, the patient's skin turns pale - this is how anemia manifests itself. In appearance, signs of the presence of helminthic invasion are also shown - a person looks exhausted, his level of fatigue may increase.
Helminths cause the anus to itch if the intestines are infected. However, they can also parasitize in other organs - in the lungs, liver, bladder and even in the arm or leg, etc.
However, all the symptoms of parasites in the human body listed above are just the first general signs of infection that develop when the body is massively damaged by worms and makes it possible to recognize that something is wrong with health. There are other more specific symptoms of helminthic invasion in adults. The patient may perceive them as a manifestation of other diseases. At the same time, he can treat these diseases for a long time, of course, without success. This lasts until the exact cause of such symptoms is determined - helminthiasis. More details on this can be found in the corresponding videos on the net.
What are the symptoms of worms in an adult and can a child occur?
digestive disorders
If the parasites are located in the intestines, and not in other organs, then the main signs in an adult and in a child are a violation of digestive function. A person can be disturbed by diarrhea or constant constipation, periodically manifested by nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, pain in the right hypochondrium, near the navel, intestinal disorders. If intestinal parasites are eliminated, flatulence is often a cause for concern.
All of these signals can be strong and weak, both long-term and periodic. It all depends on the severity of the infection. There are types of helminths that produce hormone-like substances, under the influence of which permanent diarrhea develops. If large worms grow (like a tapeworm), they block the intestines and cause constipation.
General malaise, nervous system disorders
Worms live in and secrete large amounts of toxic substances, regardless of whether the parasites live in a person's blood, liver, or lungs. The more massive the infection, the more pronounced the signs of intoxication in the body, which negatively affects the nervous system.
As a result, headaches, dizziness and nausea arise. Some people mistake these signs for developing a migraine and, as a result, drink painkillers.
Sometimes, when infected with parasites, the temperature rises, joint pains are disturbing. In addition, helminthic lesions cause a deficiency of vitamins and nutrients in the body. This phenomenon, as well as depression of the nervous system, lead to the manifestation of chronic fatigue syndrome. The patient feels tired, is worried about drowsiness, a feeling of weakness in the body. If we are talking about a child, she is mischievous, constantly nervous. Young children have disturbed sleep, cry or scream at night. School-age children, due to inattention and fatigue, may study poorly.
Allergies and skin manifestations
Signs of helminths Worms cause skin deterioration. The toxins with which the worms infect the body negatively affect its general condition and can provoke the manifestation of various skin reactions. Rashes appear as a result of the release of histamine from mast cells and the accumulation of the liquid part of the blood in the tissue with the elevation of the epidermis.
These same reasons lead to the development of allergic reactions. In particular, itching, red spots, acne, hives may appear, as well as dry cough, allergic rhinitis, manifestations of bronchial asthma. Also, when infected, the nails can exfoliate, brittle hair is noticed, and cracks on the heels appear.
Deteriorating immunity and infectious diseases
As the worms feed on the body, they secrete toxic waste. The toxic effect, a decrease in vitamins and minerals in the body leads to the fact that the immunity of the infected person significantly deteriorates. As a result, the state of health in chronic diseases also worsens, inflammatory processes in the nasopharynx begin to disturb - sinusitis, stomatitis. In women and girls, vulvovaginitis, bacterial vaginosis are possible. There is evidence that with prolonged pinworm infection, inflammation of the appendages is possible. In this case, it is very important to detect its presence in a timely manner. Liver parasites also cause bad breath, a persistent bad taste.
There is also an opinion that worms in a person provoke the appearance of nighttime snoring and teeth grinding. However, this relationship has not yet been proven.
Where do parasites live in the human body?
The types of parasites in the human body are determined depending on where exactly in the body they live. How to determine the presence and how to remove parasites from the body depends on their type.
translucent
These worms mainly inhabit the intestines, living in its various departments. Hookworms, roundworms, broad tapeworms and other tapeworms are located in the small intestine. In the small intestine live pygmy tapeworm, pinworms, in the large intestine - whipworm. In total, there are about one hundred types of cavity parasites. Photos and images can be found online.
tissue
These types of worms in humans do not live in the intestines, but in organs and tissues. There are varieties that live in the brain (cysticercosis), liver (echinococcosis), lungs (paragonimiasis), muscles, lymph (filariasis) and other helminths.
What are the worms in a person yet, you can find out from a specialist.
The roundworm is a species that belongs to the luminal and tissue parasites, since in the first stage of their development they can move through the blood and infect any organ. How to get rid of ascaris, the doctor who prescribes the treatment regimen for infection with these parasites will tell.
The appearance of worms in humans can be found by looking at the image of the corresponding type of parasites. Special literature shows what worm eggs look like.
Signs of infection depending on the type
How the worms manifest and how dangerous they are depends on the type of parasite, where exactly in the body they live, and also on the intensity of the infection. Signs of invasion in humans can be detected after a few days. For example, if worms appear, health deteriorates after 2-3 days. When infected with other types of helminths, the first signs are observed in the patient after 2-3 weeks. The incubation period for filariasis is 6 to 18 months.
Intestinal worms are dangerous from the point of view that if there is a single individual in the intestine, it is impossible to understand that a person is infected as there are no signs. Certain symptoms may be of concern only if the worms are long (ascaris, tapeworm, etc. ), or if a massive infection has occurred. Almost all helminthiases are accompanied by headache, fatigue, dizziness, irritability.
What are worms, what are they called and what do they look like?
Pinworms (enterobiasis) - you can determine the presence of this type of helminth by the manifestation of the main signs, as well as by the manifestation of itching in the anus, which becomes more intense at night. If there are only a small number of worms in the body, the itching may occur for several days, then go away and appear again after a few weeks. With a strong invasion, itching can be felt constantly.
Ascaris - what are the signs of ascariasis, depends on the stage of development of these parasites. At the stage when the larvae migrate to the heart, lungs and other organs, there is weakness, subfebrile temperature, cough, in which sputum is released, sometimes with pus and blood. If an X-ray of the lungs is taken at this time, volatile infiltrates are noticeable, which then disappear. Allergic reactions develop, a blood test shows a large percentage of eosinophils. If the invasion is strong, bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma attacks are likely to develop. People are often interested in whether there can be coughing when infected? Indeed, it is possible. You may also experience a sore throat. The signs of the second phase are associated with digestive disorders. Roundworms produce substances that neutralize pepsin and trypsin, human digestive enzymes. As a result, the proteins are not digested and the patient loses a lot of weight. With ascariasis, complications are sometimes manifested - pancreatitis, obstructive jaundice, intestinal obstruction, appendicitis.
Ankylostomiasis, schistosomiasis, diphyllobothriasis, trichuriasis - with such lesions, anemia and beriberi develop. After all, the toxins that helminths of these varieties secrete significantly worsen the intestinal microflora, causing the development of dysbacteriosis.
Opisthorchiasis, fascioliasis, clonorchiasis are liver parasites. The consequences of the invasion are jaundice syndrome, enlargement of the liver, spleen, pancreatitis, cholecystocholangitis, neurological disorders, pathologies of the digestive system.
Trichinosis - with such an injury, the most common symptoms are muscle pain, swelling of the eyelids, swelling of the face, fever.
Strongyloidiasis - causes roundworms, the symptoms are very diverse. There may be signs of dyspepsia, allergies, biliary tract dysfunction, etc.
Genitourinary schistosomiasis - caused by flatworms, manifested by diuretic disorders. At the end of urination, blood is found in the urine. In men, it can lead to pathological lesions of the prostate, pathology of the seminal vesicles. In women, it causes consequences in the form of vaginal bleeding, genital lesions. Fibrosis can appear in the bladder.
Cestodosis - caused by tapeworms. These are bovine tapeworm, sheep brain, echinococcus, broad tapeworm, etc. Signs of the disease are severe weight loss, weakness, and dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract.
How to determine the presence of worms in a person?
If certain symptoms that indicate infection are concerned, a person is naturally concerned about how to understand if you have helminths. Of course, it is possible to tell for sure whether or not there is an infection only after visiting a doctor and carrying out all the necessary tests. But there are other suitable ways for anyone interested in finding out you have worms. To do this, you need to carefully monitor the state of health and pay attention to the changes that occur in the body. After all, the presence of some pronounced symptoms answers the question of how to understand that you have worms.
Prevention of worm infection
To prevent infection, you need to clearly understand what are the causes of the invasion, what is helminthiasis, what are worms. It is important to take all preventive measures, which significantly reduces the likelihood of infection.
- It is necessary to wash fruits and vegetables well, pour boiling water over them.
- It is important to fight flies, cockroaches, mosquitoes - track where they come from, destroy them.
- Cooking meat and fish should be at least 40-60 minutes.
- You only need to use your own hygiene items - a towel, a comb (so that lice are not transmitted), etc.
- It is important to teach the baby before eating, as well as after each contact with animals, to go immediately and wash your hands with soap and water.
- If there are animals, large and small, in the house, then you need to constantly give them funds for the prevention of worms. To find out which ones, you should contact your veterinarian.
- It is important that younger children only play with clean toys, and a dropped pacifier or pacifier should be washed immediately.
- Children should be weaned from bad habits - sucking their fingers, biting their nails, putting various things in their mouths.
- The baby must have clean, short nails.
- To prevent pinworm reinfection, the baby needs to wear tight underwear at night, which prevents the spread of parasites and eggs in the bed.
- It is important to iron baby's clothes after washing.
- In the morning, you need to change your underwear and wash the child well.