Many modern medical studies prove that helminths in humans are the cause of many diseases. The penetration of the parasite into the body does not immediately make itself felt, and often the symptoms disguise as another disease. Many people have been treated for years for diseases of the liver, kidneys, gallbladder, looking for the cause of the development of allergic diseases. But they do not think about checking the body for the presence of helminthic invasion.
Methods of infection
There are about 250 types of helminths in nature. Moreover, each parasite causes a specific disease with characteristic symptoms. The problem is widespread in children and adults.
There are several reasons for defeat:
- Methods of contact - several types of parasites, including cream worms, are transmitted from person to person by shaking hands.
- Nutrition - eating raw or semi -raw meat, low -quality fish infected with helminths causes them to enter the body.
- Through soil and water - if soil and water are infected with helminths, which are excreted from the feces of humans or animals with helminthiasis.
- Contact with animals infected with helminthic attacks.
- Transfer of worm eggs by insects to food.
- Insect bites can carry some types of parasites into the body.
Doctors note that the main mechanism of spread is considered to be oral-fecal. In other words, human helminths are affected by eating contaminated food and water.
Often the reason for the spread is a lack of basic hygiene. After being outdoors, and especially after working with soil, you should wash your hands thoroughly.
Children are particularly vulnerable to helminthic invasion. Walking on the street, contact with pets leads to the rapid spread of the problem. Infection with pinworms is very easy. Because female cream worms can come out of the intestine at night to lay eggs near the anus, which causes severe itching in children. Children accidentally scratch this place, and this leads to contamination of hands and feet, clothing and bedding. Contact with children’s items, furniture, which babies can handle with unwashed hands, door knobs and plumbing fixtures, is a source of infection for everyone living in the apartment.
How to identify the problem?
Helminths in humans can cause different symptoms, therefore, different treatments are prescribed.
But there are also typical signs that are most often found in people infected with the parasite:
- significant weight loss;
- anemia;
- severe itching in the anus;
- poor appetite;
- constant fatigue.
For these symptoms, most people begin to suspect an infection with worms.
But often helminths in humans cause other symptoms, more reminiscent of the signs of other diseases.
- Gastrointestinal tract problems - recurrent nausea, diarrhea or vomiting, bloating and abdominal pain can speak not of stomach problems, but infections with worms. This usually happens if the parasite is located in the gut. Symptoms can be severe or mild. But in any case, they bring great discomfort to a person.
- General fatigue and negative effects on the nervous system. This condition is provoked by toxins that are capable of releasing parasites in the human body. Intoxication gradually leads to frequent headaches, dizziness, mild nausea. With a strong infection, there is a possibility of fever and joint pain. Due to worms in the human body, the amount of vitamins and nutrients decreases dramatically. As a result, this leads to drowsiness, constant fatigue and nervousness. Children are very vulnerable-they become fickle and irritable, sleep restlessly at night, become inattentive.
- Allergic reactions on the skin - parasitic wastes lose the body's sensitivity, and therefore proteins similar to it when ingested are considered allergens. Therefore, a variety of options for allergies-skin rashes, itching, persistent itching. Among the symptoms of helminths, even allergic rhinitis and cough are observed.
- Weakened immunity, which leads to frequent manifestations of infectious diseases. The problem arises against the background of a decrease in the amount of vitamins and nutrients in the body.
According to popular belief, the presence of worms in the body can be determined even by snoring or gnashing of teeth during sleep. Such a method of determination still exists, but medicine claims that this is only an assumption. Snoring and gnashing of teeth can be caused by many other reasons.
Where do Parasites Live?
Human helminths can inhabit the body in different places.
Depending on this, there are:
- Cavitary - colonizes the small and large intestines. There are about a hundred species of such worms.
- Tissue - occupies tissues and organs. They can be found in the liver, muscles, lungs, brain, lymphatic vessels.
Some types of worms, such as ringworms, are cavities and tissues. They in the form of larvae can infect organs, and worms infect the intestines.
Diagnostics of helminths
To determine helminthiasis, modern medicine uses several methods:
- examining a person's stool for ovarian leaves;
- perform abrasions on the anus;
- scraping from the vagina in girls;
- immunological tests for antibodies.
In addition, the doctor may send urine and blood tests, bile and sputum tests. In cases of severe infection, ultrasound, biopsy, computed tomography are used. This research method helps determine the location of parasite colonies in the human body.
How to get rid of helminthiasis?
In the arsenal of doctors today there are many drugs that can quickly and successfully overcome the problem of damage to the human body by parasites. But it is important to make the correct diagnosis to find the optimal cure. Only then will the treatment be successful.
Depending on the type of parasite, they are defined:
- Mebendazole -based medications are the best choice for enterobiasis infections, trichocephalosis.
- Medication with Diethylcarbamazine is recommended for the treatment of filariasis.
- Levamisole tablets are often prescribed by doctors to patients when the body is infected with trichocephalosis, ascariasis, toxoplasmosis.
- Preparations with Albendazole - have been shown to be effective in cysticercosis and echinococcosis.
- Pills with Praziquantel - will help overcome cestodosis, schistosomiasis, trimodosis.
Often, it is possible to overcome helminthiasis by prescribing pills. But in case of re -infection or exacerbation, doctors recommend more serious treatment, including injections of ascorbic acid, vitamin B6 or calcium gluconate, as well as medications for high blood pressure and ways to relieve fever.
Preventive measures
It is very easy to be infected with worms. And it takes a lot of time to get rid of parasites. In order not to undergo a lot of research and not to poison the body with parts of the drug to get rid of helminths, it is better to prevent the appearance of problems.
In addition, prevention is not difficult:
- Follow the basic rules of personal hygiene - wash your hands after a walk, use individual hygiene items.
- Handle meat and fish properly.
- Wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly before eating.
- Pet owners should treat their pets for worms several times a year. Animals also need timely vaccination.
- With frequent trips to nature, contact with the soil is not painful once a year to carry out prophylaxis of parasitic drugs.
- Children are recommended to carry out prophylaxis with medication twice a year.
Literally every one of us is a worm carrier at least once in a lifetime. Indeed, no one is insured against infection, regardless of their status and position. This problem does not lead to death, but it causes great discomfort. Therefore, the sooner parasites are observed, the sooner the patient will undergo efficient treatment and forget about unpleasant problems.