Deterioration of health can be observed not only from infections that penetrate the body.
Parasites and worms can also cause malaise, weakness and a state of collapse. They can lead to many of the consequences that people usually take for the manifestation of a normal inflammatory process.
What is helminthiasis? And what symptoms does it show in the human body?
The answers are pretty simple.
Helminths are parasitic, round and tapeworms, as are their shiny representatives such as roundworms, pinworms, bovine tapeworm, tapeworm, and many others. Certainly many have encountered them in childhood or already in adulthood.
The disease, which received the corresponding name as helminthiasis, is a result of the influence and activity of helminths in the body.
worm infection
Parasites can enter a person's body, both needlessly clean and not obsessed with their health, in a number of ways. There are plenty of them.
Consider how helminths appear on a healthy body:
- normal handshake. The easiest way to reach a new host for a parasite. Through the upper layers of the epidermis, they first enter the skin and then the blood. This transmission method also works when in contact with homeless stray animals and when touching other people's objects. Thanks to the good blood circulation of a healthy person, it is not difficult for him to reach the goal and find himself in the chosen place of his future habitat;
- through the water. Many helminths are perfectly preserved as larvae in fresh water and even the sea. Don't forget the village's wells and water pipes. They are not overly sensitive. Care should also be taken when visiting swimming pools, baths and saunas. Perhaps they are poorly processed;
- wet soil and sand. The eggs of many types of worms come out with feces and land on these surfaces. In suburban suburban areas and even in a children's sandbox, it's easy to get infected;
- low quality products. These usually include seafood, fruits and vegetables, eggs and milk, cottage cheese;
- places of public mass congestion of people. Supermarkets, stores, pharmacies and hospitals. This is where every day many people pick up doorknobs, shelves, packaged goods and handrails. And not the fact that they are all healthy. Don't forget about the dirt that gets into these rooms during rainy and humid periods;
- In the summer and autumn seasons, insects are a danger. Mosquitoes and flies, even with their paws, can carry tiny microscopic eggs.
To this list of the appearance of helminthic invasion in adults and children, one can also add the non-observance of the usual elementary rules of personal hygiene.
Which helminths can be infected
There are a large number of parasitic representatives. And they all enter the body in different ways, migrate inside and affect specific organs. Some of them choose a single host, while others spend their entire lifecycle with different carriers.
People may observe several major isolated parasites in their body:
- the most common roundworms are nematodes. Small whitish individuals. Reach 40 millimeters. Everyone knows roundworms, pinworms, whipworms and tropical worms. They live in the intestines, eggs are laid in the anus, often excreted with feces. Determining helminth infestation with nematodes is very simple and without analysis;
- parasitic tapeworms are larger and more dangerous. Reaching 10 meters, they migrate and enter almost all organs and vital systems. There have been cases of asphyxia following parasite movements through the respiratory system. Manifested by bovine tapeworm, tapeworm;
- trematodes, worms. They are unpretentious to the habitat, therefore, they penetrate the body both through soil and water. They travel throughout the human body and under sebum are easy to see. This is mainly the eye and eyelid area. They destroy not only the intestinal microflora, but also the tissues of other organs. Toxic effects lead to exhaustion of the body.
Of course, it is impossible to independently identify which helminth is in a person. Only the worm testing method and a thorough examination determine the type and subsequent treatment, and prophylaxis is prescribed in case of recovery.
Symptoms of parasites in the body
If helminths have entered the body, you will not be able to immediately identify them by the symptoms of the infection. Some only appear after a certain time.
But all the signs of worms in an adult are quite serious, and at first glance they occur for no reason:
- a sharp rise in temperature at the level of the inflammatory process. Typically 37. 6°C to 38°C;
- manifestation of nausea, vomiting;
- aching pain in the abdomen and belly button;
- possible redness of the skin;
- weakness, drowsiness, fatigue;
- occasional involuntary grinding of teeth at night;
- persistent dry cough and shortness of breath;
- violation of normal stools. diarrhea or constipation;
- itching in the anus;
- the acquisition of a yellowish or very pale skin tone;
- discomfort in muscles and joints.
It is not immediately possible to make an accurate diagnosis based on such signs. But helminths in humans only show symptoms that correspond to damaged organs. And that's usually the intestines, bronchi and liver with kidneys.
Signs of running helminthiasis
Late detection of parasites can lead to much more complex consequences:
- a sharp drop in immunity. As a result, the ability for any infection and virus to enter the body;
- urticaria, bronchial asthma, as a consequence of the constant poisoning action of the parasites. The discharge of worms causes a serious allergy in the body;
- intense hair loss, eyelashes;
- unexplained brittle nails;
- tooth decay, the enamel gradually disappears;
- profuse bleeding from the gums;
- nervousness, mental disorders.
Worms in humans not only show symptoms of infection, but also cause many diseases, exacerbate the course of existing diseases, and therefore, parasite treatment is mandatory.
It is better to carry out an examination in time and start a complete complex removal of helminths from the body.
Diseases caused by parasites
The merciless signs characteristic of helminthic invasion indicate that the body is subject to severe toxic effects or already damage to many organs and systems:
- rupture of the gastrointestinal tract. Due to the fact that most helminths choose this place for further growth and development. It is expressed in intestinal obstruction, dysbacteriosis, diarrhea, pancreatitis;
- Breathing problems. Each migration of the parasite invariably takes it to the bronchi and lungs. This often leads to spasms, pneumonia;
- the central nervous system suffers. Migraines, dizziness, loss of orientation in space, irritability and depression;
- an increase in the spleen, liver, a decrease in the level of bile output;
- improper functioning of the urinary system. Urethritis, cystitis;
- problems with the reproductive organs. Vaginitis, inflammatory processes in the uterus, vagina, ovaries. Possible sexual infection.
These are serious symptoms that appear with helminths. If you are concerned about your health, you should definitely see a doctor. Any of the signs presented obliges the specialist to prescribe a special examination.
The most common blood test will show that the parasites have appeared in the body. With hemoglobin values of less than 100 g/l, an increased number of eosinophils of more than 6%, a leukocyte increase of 9%, and an erythrocyte decrease of 3 g/l or less.
In addition, a marked decrease in protein and an increase in immunoglobulins characteristic of allergies should be observed by a specialist.
Parasitic diseases and their symptoms
Depending on the type and class of worms, signs of helminth infection received their individual names, which distinguish them from each other. For experts, this classification facilitates treatment, recovery and prevention.
Ascariasis. It naturally indicates the symptoms that the ascaris parasite presents and possible concomitant diseases. Most often, it is not observed immediately, but only after 2 weeks after ingestion of helminths into the body.
Symptoms resemble a common cough, acute bronchitis, mild allergies. Confused with a common infection as it is accompanied by all of the above features and fever. There may be changes in the lymph nodes.
With advanced chronic ascariasis, all symptoms are complicated. Jumps in blood pressure begin, anorexia can appear along with a lack of appetite, constant pain in the abdomen. Regular vomiting, stool disorders. The face becomes pale, healthy skin color disappears, dark circles and puffiness appear. At night, poor sleep or its complete absence becomes habitual. In fecal secretions, small whitish worms are seen.
Penetration of worms or enterobiasis. A frequent occurrence in young children due to non-compliance with personal hygiene rules. The infection is caused by frequent itching of the anus. Pinworms appear periodically. For 1-2 days with breaks. When the parasites enter, the body's reaction will be involuntary gnashing of teeth at night, intermittent bad sleep. Not particularly dangerous, pain does not cause.
Worms, like worms, bring opisthorchiasis with them. The acute course of the disease lasts up to 8 weeks. During this period, there is an increase in body temperature, heaviness and swelling, diarrhea and a feeling of inflammation. With chronic exposure to the worms, symptoms also pass to the respiratory organs, causing severe allergies, to the central nervous system.
Tapeworm parasites lead to many consequences of their presence in the human body. A broad tapeworm can disturb the pancreas, lead to intestinal obstruction, vitamin B12 deficiency, decreased hemoglobin and anemia. Likewise, all representatives of tapeworms cause syndromes of pain in the abdominal cavity, bloating and nausea.
Giardiasis. There are a small number of these parasites in the human body. But they are safe within the normal range. With exacerbation, its level increases. Which leads to vomiting, bitterness due to liver and stomach disorders, characteristic pain in the abdomen, bloating and impaired stool.
Of course, such symptoms of helminthiasis must be treated and avoided by carrying out complete prevention.