worms

Worms are parasitic worms whose vital activity takes place in the human body. Its result is helminthiasis. This is an acute disease of a chronic nature, which leads to a weakened immune system, damage to internal organs, disruption of their functions and exhaustion. Diagnostic methods include analysis of feces for the presence of worm eggs, blood culture, and analysis of sputum with a microscope. To assess the damage caused by worms to internal organs, ultrasound, MRI and X-ray examinations are used. Therapy is selected depending on the type of parasite.

A disease caused by parasites: helminthiasis.

Helminthiasis is an infection caused by worms. It is very common: it is found in most countries, but the vast majority of cases are recorded in regions with hot climates and high humidity.

The risk of suffering from the disease exists at any age, but children between five and fifteen years old are the most affected. During this period, the immune system is still developing and the acidity of gastric juice is lower than in adults, so the destruction of parasites is not as effective. Worms affect several organs and their main habitat is the intestines.

The routes of penetration of parasites are the mucous membranes and the skin. The entry of larvae or eggs into the body can occur along with the food consumed. Mature eggs in the gastrointestinal tract receive optimal conditions for development, as a result, larvae emerge from them, which penetrate through the mucous membrane of the intestinal tract into the blood and can then freely pass through all organs with the bloodstream. .

The liver, kidneys, gallbladder, heart, bronchi and lungs suffer the most damage. When the body tries to get rid of the worms by coughing and coughing up sputum, they can remain in the saliva and, if ingested, return to the intestines. There its further development takes place and, after 75 days, a mature individual appears.

The average time from the moment it enters the body to the formation of a complete worm varies from 60 to 90 days. This time coincides with the early intestinal stage of the disease. At a late stage, adult individuals actively develop and reproduce throughout the body. Their place of residence is the intestines, where the eggs are deposited, which they abandon during defecation.

Causes of worms

The easiest way for parasites to enter is through food and water that contain eggs, or through contact with soil contaminated with feces. Worms can be transmitted from an infected person to a healthy person through household items, clothing, dishes, etc. shared.

At risk are people who ignore the simplest hygiene rules: they do not wash their hands, do not disinfect vegetables, and carry out poor heat treatment of animal meat and fish.

On a note!

Parasite eggs can be carried on the paws and fur of pets when they return from a walk outside. Therefore, you should take care of your pets, regularly take them to the veterinarian for examinations, and do not forget to use anthelmintic medications.

types of worms

Depending on the environmental conditions where helminths exist, it is customary to distinguish three groups.

1. Helminths– they live on the ground; They do not need a living organism to develop.
2. Biohelminths– At least two organisms are needed for its development and reproduction.
3. Contact helminths.They can move from the owner to a new object (between people) through contact and everyday life.

Scientists have identified about four hundred helminthiasis pathogens, but only the following species can live in the human body:

1. Nematodes.These include roundworms and pinworms. They occur more frequently.
2. Cestodes.These include bovine and porcine tapeworms, echinococci.
3. Trematodes (trematodes).This group includes liver flukes and feline flukes. They become the cause of fascioliasis and clonorchiasis.
4. Spiny heads:Giant acanthocephalus causes acanthocephalosis.

Depending on the place of parasitism, worms are divided into intestinal and extraintestinal. The second group includes those species that develop their vital functions in other organs, such as the liver or kidneys.

Symptoms of helminthiasis.

The symptoms are very extensive and vary depending on the organ affected, the type of parasites and their number. In addition, a person's age and the initial state of all systems, organs and immunity have a great influence. The acute phase of the disease lasts 14 to 60 days and the chronic phase can last more than a year.

The acute stage is characterized by features of intoxication and allergic manifestations:

• weakness;
• shaking chills;
• fever;
• skin rashes, often itchy;
• cough without phlegm;
• difficulty breathing;
• Stomachache;
• swelling.

Bruxism (teeth grinding) can also indicate the presence of parasitic worms in the body. Most often this manifests itself in a dream. Irritation of the anus and infection of the external genitalia may occur.

In the chronic stage, symptoms associated with the organs as a whole are observed. Particularly striking manifestations are alterations in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, which manifest themselves in malfunctions of the system.

People infected with parasites experience:

• Pain in the lower abdomen;
• decreased appetite;
• nausea;
• frequent belching;
• the appearance of food allergies that had not been observed before;
• weightloss;
• unstable stools: constipation alternates with diarrhea.

If the worms are localized in the liver and gallbladder, cysts form in these organs and concomitant diseases appear: obstructive jaundice and hepatitis. Nematodes cause bronchitis, heart failure, and myocarditis (the cardiac lining of muscle tissue becomes inflamed).

When helminths damage the central nervous system, the person becomes irritable, attention and performance deteriorate, and sleep is disturbed.

Helminthiasis affects the immune system: the body becomes more susceptible to diseases, fungal skin diseases and cavities are more common, and allergic manifestations become more severe.

Complications of helminthiasis

If helminthiasis is not treated in time, this can lead to serious damage to internal organs, disruption of their normal functioning and deterioration of the general well-being of a person.

The vital activity of the larvae is accompanied by their secretions. High concentrations cause intoxication, allergic reactions, skin rashes and bronchial asthma begin.

For their nutrition and development, helminths take nutrients and vitamins from the human body. This is especially dangerous for a child, as it increases the risk of developmental delays. If infection occurs with hookworms and whipworms, then there is a high probability of developing anemia - these types of worms absorb blood. Weakened immunity due to helminthiasis causes frequent colds and other diseases.

Important!

Helminthic infection negatively affects the effectiveness of vaccine protection.

With a large number of parasites, the formation of dysbacteriosis, partial or complete blockage of the intestinal lumen and blockage of the bile ducts is possible. This can cause inflammation of the appendix and gallbladder.

Diagnosis of worms

If alarming signs appear, an examination by several specialists is required, including a gastroenterologist, an infectious disease specialist and others. On palpation, enlargement of the liver, spleen and lymph nodes will be felt. A standard blood test will help confirm the presence of worms; if present, the number of leukocytes and eosinophils will increase and erythrocyte sedimentation will increase.

A correct diagnosis can be made after three months from the moment of infection, when the larvae have become adults.

Laboratory methods will be useful for this:

• scraping of the anus to check for pinworm eggs;
• analysis of feces for the presence of helminth eggs;
• coprogram (detailed analysis of feces to assess the quality of the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract).

The biomaterial can be urine, feces, sputum, a piece of skin or the contents of the duodenum.

To determine the state of internal organs, instrumental diagnostic methods are used, including:

• X-ray examination of the lungs;
• Liver ultrasound;
• CT scan of internal organs;
• colonoscopy (intestinal testing with a camera);
• gastroscopy and esophagoscopy (examination of the gastrointestinal tract using an endoscope).

It can be very difficult to accurately determine the presence of worms, because the egg laying of these parasites is irregular. They can only be found in adulthood. Blood antibodies are produced only in the first 60 days, after which they disappear from the bloodstream and accumulate in the intestinal wall. Establishing an accurate diagnosis is also complicated by extensive clinical manifestations, so therapy can only be prescribed based on the presence of indirect signs.

Treatment methods for helminthiasis

In the treatment of helminthiasis, anthelmintic medications are usually prescribed. The type of medication and the duration of treatment are determined by the symptoms present and depending on the type of parasite. Antinematode, anticestode, and extended-spectrum drugs are often prescribed.

Symptoms associated with disorders of the respiratory system are relieved with the use of glucocorticosteroids, antihistamines and antispasmodics. To normalize the state of the intestines and its microflora, prebiotics are prescribed. To normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract - enzymatic agents. Several cyst-like growths are surgically removed.

After 14 days and another month (when the therapy is completed), it is necessary to repeat the tests three times to detect the presence of parasite eggs in the feces. Immunocompromised or at-risk patients should undergo periodic screening for worms.

Reference

When a disease is detected in one or more family members, treatment is required for all those who present indirect signs.

Preventive measures against worms.

To prevent the appearance of worms in the body, it is necessary to follow simple measures.

1. Be sure to wash your hands after eating, using the bathroom, being outdoors, or playing with pets.
2. Follow the rules of a healthy lifestyle to have a strong immune system.
3. Carry out mandatory heat treatment of meat and fish, wash vegetables and fruits.
4. Eliminate raw water from consumption: give preference to boiled, bottled or purified water through filters.
5. At least once every two weeks, wet clean the house.

The use of anthelmintic drugs as a preventive measure is necessary twice a year, in spring and autumn, when the immune system is weakened. Pets should also take special anti-worm medications.