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 weakening of immunity, damage to internal organs, disruption of their functions and exhaustion. Diagnostic methods include fecal analysis for the presence of worm eggs, blood culture, and sputum analysis using 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 – found in most countries, but the vast majority of cases are recorded in regions with hot climates and high humidity.
The risk of the disease exists at any age, but children between five and fifteen years of age are 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. Various organs are affected by worms and their main habitat is the intestines.
The parasites' routes of penetration are the mucous membranes and the skin. The entry of larvae or eggs into the body can occur along with the food consumed. Ripe eggs in the gastrointestinal tract receive ideal conditions for development, as a result of which 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 intestine. There its further development takes place, and after 75 days a mature individual appears.
The average time from the moment it enters the body until the formation of a complete worm varies from 60 to 90 days. This period coincides with the initial intestinal stage of the disease. At a late stage, adult individuals develop and reproduce actively throughout the body. Their place of residence is the intestines, where eggs are deposited, which come out during defecation.
Causes of worms
The easiest way for parasites to enter is through food and water containing eggs, or through contact with soil contaminated with feces. Worms can be transmitted from an infected person to a healthy person through sharing household items, clothes, dishes, etc.
At risk are people who ignore the simplest hygiene rules: they do not wash their hands, do not disinfect vegetables and carry out inadequate heat treatment of animal meat and fish.
On a note!
The parasite's eggs can be carried on the paws and fur of pets when returning from a walk outside. Therefore, you must take care of your pets, take them regularly for checkups to the veterinarian and do not forget to use anthelmintics.
Types of worms
Depending on the environmental conditions where helminths exist, three groups are usually distinguished.
- Helminths– live in the soil; They do not need a living organism to develop.
- Biohelminths– for its development and reproduction, at least two organisms are necessary.
- Contact helminths.They can pass 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:
- Nematodes.This includes roundworms and pinworms. They occur more frequently.
- Cestodes.These include bovine and porcine tapeworms, echinococci.
- Trematodes (worms).This group includes liver flukes and cat flukes. They become the cause of fascioliasis and clonorchiasis.
- Thorny:The giant acanthocephalus causes acanthocephalosis.
According to the site of parasitism, worms are divided into intestinal and extraintestinal. The second group includes those species that perform their vital functions in other organs, such as the liver or kidneys.
Helminthiasis symptoms
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 phase is characterized by features of poisoning and allergic manifestations:
- weakness;
- chills;
- fever;
- skin rashes, often itchy;
- cough without phlegm;
- difficult 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 phase, symptoms associated with the organs as a whole are observed. Particularly striking manifestations are disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, manifested in systemic dysfunctions.
Those infected with parasites experience:
- pain in the lower abdomen;
- decreased appetite;
- nausea;
- frequent burping;
- the appearance of previously unobserved food allergies;
- weight loss;
- unstable stools - constipation alternates with diarrhea.
If the worms are located in the liver and gallbladder, cysts form in these organs and concomitant diseases appear - obstructive jaundice and hepatitis. Roundworms cause bronchitis, heart failure, myocarditis (the cardiac lining of muscle tissue becomes inflamed).
When the central nervous system is damaged by helminths, a person becomes irritable, attention and performance worsen, and sleep is disturbed.
Helminthiasis affects the immune system - the body becomes more susceptible to disease, fungal skin diseases and caries are more common, and allergic manifestations become more severe.
Complications of helminthiasis
If helminthiasis is not treated in a timely manner, it can cause serious damage to internal organs, disruption of their normal functioning and deterioration of a person's general well-being.
The vital activity of the larvae is accompanied by their secretions. High concentrations lead to 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, there is a high probability of developing anemia - these types of worms absorb blood. Weakened immunity due to helminthiasis leads to frequent colds and other illnesses.
Important!
Helminth infection negatively affects the effectiveness of vaccine protection.
With a large number of parasites, the formation of dysbiosis, partial or complete blockage of the intestinal lumen and blockage of the bile ducts are possible. This can cause inflammation of the appendix and gallbladder.
Worm diagnosis
If alarming signs appear, an examination by several specialists is necessary, 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 they are present, the number of leukocytes and eosinophils will increase and erythrocyte sedimentation will increase.
A correct diagnosis can be made three months after the moment of infection, when the larvae become adults.
Laboratory methods will be useful for this:
- scraping the anus to check for pinworm eggs;
- fecal analysis for the presence of helminth eggs;
- coprogram (detailed analysis of feces to assess the quality of functioning of the gastrointestinal tract).
The biomaterial can be urine, feces, sputum, a piece of skin or contents of the duodenum.
To determine the condition of internal organs, instrumental diagnostic methods are used, which include:
- Radiographic examination of the lungs;
- Liver ultrasound;
- Computed tomography of internal organs;
- colonoscopy (intestinal probe with camera);
- gastroscopy and esophagoscopy (examination of the gastrointestinal tract with an endoscope).
It can be very difficult to accurately determine the presence of worms because the posture 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, accumulating 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
When treating helminthiasis, anthelmintic drugs are usually prescribed. The type of medication and duration of treatment are determined by the symptoms present and depending on the type of parasite. Antinematodal, anticestodic, and extended-spectrum medications are often prescribed.
Symptoms associated with respiratory system disorders are alleviated with the use of glucocorticosteroids, antihistamines and antispasmodics. To normalize the state of the intestine 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 therapy is completed), tests are required to be repeated three times to detect the presence of parasite eggs in the feces. Immunocompromised or at-risk patients should undergo periodic testing for worms.
Reference
When a disease is detected in one or more family members, treatment is necessary for everyone who shows indirect signs.
Preventive measures against worms
To prevent the appearance of worms in the body, simple measures must be followed.
- Be sure to wash your hands after eating, going to the bathroom, leaving the house, or playing with pets.
- Follow the rules of a healthy lifestyle to have a strong immune system.
- Carry out mandatory heat treatment of meat and fish, wash vegetables and fruits.
- Eliminate raw water from consumption – give preference to boiled, bottled or purified water through filters.
- At least once every two weeks, clean your house with water.
The use of anthelmintic drugs as a preventive measure is mandatory twice a year - in spring and autumn, when the immune system is weakened. Pets also need to take special deworming medications.