To get rid of parasites, the first thing to understand is what parasites have taken root in the patient and whether they even exist. There is also a simple fingerprint test. If the eosinophils in it do not exceed 5, then you can be calm - there are no parasites in the body. If this indicator is higher than 5, a fecal analysis is carried out for worm eggs and, according to the results of the analysis, treatment is prescribed. Medicines against parasites have many unpleasant side effects: hair loss, seizures, kidney failure, drug hepatitis up to cirrhosis of the liver, so only a doctor should prescribe them.
Popular symptoms often attributed to the presence of parasites include nausea, fatigue, lethargy, paleness, irregular bowel movements, and constipation. These symptoms are more likely to indicate anemia or thyroid dysfunction. If they have occurred or have been going on for a long time, it makes most sense to see a doctor. And as a preventive measure - wash your hands more often.
Fear of parasites
Many people are completely sincere and very afraid of parasites that are supposedly trying to get into their bodies. And so they are ready to spend a lot of money on scammers who not only look for parasites, but also "find" them, and then "prescribe" all kinds of nutritional supplements and other remedies against imaginary helminths for naive victims. Some try to remove parasites themselves with the help of garlic, onions and horseradish - at least the drugs from them are safe. But what will be in the jar that the would-be doctors will receive is still unknown.
The problem of parasitosis really exists, only in the countries of Asia, Africa and South America. So in some Asian countries, infection of people with opisthorchiasis reaches 80%. Special measures are taken there to disinfect food and water. But all of this is not with us, tropical parasites do not survive in the domestic climate, although opisthorchiasis is common in the holon regions. It is transmitted by fish as well as cats and dogs that feed on this fish. But today we are going to talk about other parasites that are quite possible to get infected in our middle lane. These parasites are roundworms and pinworms.
Ascaris and Ascariasis
Ascaris parasitizes only in humans. The parasite is a fairly long round worm with a yellowish-reddish color. The length of an adult male is 15-25 cm, the female is longer - up to 20-40 cm. If roundworms enter the human body, the disease ascariasis develops. At the same time, the gastrointestinal tract suffers more, but damage to other organs and allergic reactions are also possible. Ascariasis is widespread, affecting 60-85 people in 100, 000.
Life cycle of the roundworm: through the blood to the intestine
A sick person is not dangerous in terms of infection because infection occurs when eggs enter the body. And eggs come out with feces and ripen in the ground first. Eggs have a dense shell so they can stay in the ground for up to seven years. You can get infected by eating vegetables, fruits, or berries that have been exposed to Ascaris eggs. In the body, the parasite goes through a long cycle of movement. First, larvae hatch from the swallowed eggs and enter the bloodstream through the intestinal walls. They travel with the bloodstream to the liver, heart, then to the lungs and from there to the throat. When the patient swallows them, the larvae in the intestine mature into adult worms that are able to lay eggs.
Symptoms: abdominal pain, nausea, weight loss
As the larvae migrate through the body, allergic phenomena come to the fore. It is also possible that the organs through which the larvae pass are mechanically damaged - liver, blood vessels, lungs, intestines. The patient may have a high fever, rash and pain in the liver area, and at the end of the migration stage - cough and shortness of breath. When roundworms settle in the intestines, their waste products are poisoned. The pointed ends of the worms can also injure or even pierce the intestines. Manifestations include abdominal pain, morning sickness, loss of appetite, and changes in stool. Added to this are impaired well-being, poor sleep, headaches, increased fatigue and weight loss. The presence of Ascaris in the intestine leads to a deficiency in vitamins B6, A and C.
Diagnosis of ascariasis
To diagnose, blood is drawn for a general analysis (increased eosinophils, increased ESR, sometimes anemia) and an antibody test. Larvae can be found in patients' sputum under the microscope. In the intestinal stage, Ascaris eggs and sometimes the worms themselves are detected in the feces.
Medicines for ascariasis
Therapy for ascariasis does not require hospitalization, except in complicated cases. The patients are assigned a diet rich in vitamins, low in fat and low in carbohydrates. Food intake - four to five times a day. Drugs with an anti-parasitic effect, antihistamines, probiotics and enzyme preparations will be shown.
Complications of ascariasis
A complication of ascariasis can be an obstruction of the bowel due to a blockage caused by a ball of worms. When Ascaris crawls into the biliary tract, vomiting, jaundice, and severe abdominal pain occur on the right. According to the same principle, ascariasis pancreatitis and respiratory failure are possible if the airways are blocked by parasites.
Pinworms and enterobiasis
Pinworms are translucent white worms that are only 0. 5-1 cm long and pointy at one end of their body, which explains the name. They parasitize mainly in the colon and, without medication, can go away over time if self-infection does not occur. The fact is that to lay eggs, the females descend into the anus, and do so in the perianal folds, after which they die. This process causes severe itching in the patient. If the patient does not wash their hands after scratching the itchy area, the eggs will fall on the laundry, surrounding objects in the food and may remain under the nails. The patient can swallow pinworm eggs himself. This is how self-infection occurs.
Symptoms: itching in the anal area
The main symptom is severe itching in the anus at night, as the parasite lays eggs at this time. With enterobiasis, symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract are possible: abdominal pain, nausea, increased gas production and the nervous system: fatigue, sleep disorders or insomnia (severe itching in the anal area disrupts normal sleep). Pinworms can crawl into the female genital tract and cause irritation, pain, and discharge. And even cause a cough - if it has penetrated the lower respiratory tract.
Diagnosis and treatment of enterobiasis
Mainly, scraping off the perianal folds (or applying tape) is used, after which the resulting material is examined under a microscope. Here's how you can find helminth eggs. With a blood test, as in ascariasis, there is an increase in eosinophils with the development of complications - signs of inflammation (increased white blood cells, increased ESR). Antiparasitic drugs are used for treatment. Some of them are contraindicated for pregnant and breastfeeding women. To reduce itching, the anus is lubricated with an ointment with anesthesia. The most popular folk remedy is garlic.
Complications: dysbiosis, appendicitis
Complications depend on the reaction of the body and the number of parasitic worms. Possible dysbiosis, appendicitis, vaginitis, salpingitis, endometritis (inflammation of the limbs).
Prevention of ascariasis and enterobiasis
Ascariasis:
- Identify and treat patients in a timely manner;
- Loosen sandboxes (eggs do not tolerate direct sunlight);
- Wash your hands after using the toilet and before eating;
- Wash vegetables, fruits, berries.
Enterobiasis:
- iron the laundry thoroughly, especially the wrinkles;
- clean the apartment with disinfectants;
- provide the patient with personal bedding and sleeping space;
- It is important that children keep their fingernails short.