Helminthiases are a common problem in certain populations. As a rule, pinworms parasitize children, people who often consume fish are diagnosed with diphyllobothriasis, and trichinosis is widespread among hunters.
The fact that human worms provoke the development of many diseases that, apparently, have nothing to do with helminthiasis is currently confirmed by a large number of studies. In particular, there is a theory that helminthic diseases are associated with the development of oncological processes.
In addition, you should be aware that the presence of helminths in the body does not mean that the patient will show symptoms of such an infection. Signs of their presence can be disguised as other ailments of the liver, gallbladder and gastrointestinal tract. As a result, a person can use other means for a long time and not detect an infection. And after choosing the right anthelmintic treatment regimen for the patient, the disease can be cured. Therefore, ask yourself questions: "What should I do if I have helminths, how to check for the presence of parasites, and will I infect loved ones? " You should not be afraid to contact the doctor and get all the answers, and also learn what to do if you are dewormed.
Answers to questions about what worms are, how dangerous such parasites are and how not to get infected with different types of parasites can be found in the article below. We will also talk about what are the general and specific signs of infection with worms.
How can you get helminths?
Helminth eggs can enter the human body in different ways. There are four main routes of infection:
biohelminthiases. Worms can be found in raw or poorly thermally processed meat, as well as in fish. You can get infected by eating lard, grilled meat, dried fish, sushi, etc.
geohelminthiases. Mature worm eggs, located in the soil and in the water, enter the body. This is the environment they find themselves in, and both human and animal feces get there. Infestations also occur when a person comes into contact with animals, for example constantly removing cat or dog feces, as well as when food is contaminated with fly eggs.
Contact. The most common worms, pinworms, are transmitted from person to person. In this case, the risk of developing this disease is highest.
A number of parasites can enter the body when insects bite a person.
Trying to find an answer to the question of what causes worms and how they are transmitted, it should be borne in mind that the main route of infection with parasites is oral-faecal. That is, a person simply swallows the eggs of worms when eating food, drinking water. In rarer cases, worms are found in a person after the bites of infected insects.
Infection with worms through the soil
After contact with soil, sand, etc. , you not only need to wash your hands very well, but also clean your nails. It is better for children to cut their nails very short. All vegetables that grow in the ground must be washed very carefully and, if possible, scalded with boiling water.
animals and flies
Wikipedia shows that worm eggs can appear in the home and on pets - cats, dogs, walking on the street. When children play with such animals, there is a high risk of infection. Therefore, if there is a suspicion that worms have started in cats, you need to act immediately. Symptoms and treatment of infection in animals can be obtained from a veterinarian or watch the relevant video on the network. In this way, all kinds of worms can appear in the body. Therefore, the answer to the question of whether they can be transmitted from a dog to a human and whether it is possible to contract them from a dog is unequivocal: yes, it is possible.
Another carrier of helminths are flies. They may initially land on droppings and livestock waste, and then fly in and land on food. As a result, they spread helminth eggs and humans develop helminth diseases after infection.
How are worms transmitted from person to person?
How do you get pinworms, and are these parasites transmitted from person to person? The answer to this question is simple: if a female pinworm crawls out of the intestines along the rectum in the baby's pope at night, she can lay a large number of eggs near the anus - up to 5000 pieces. As a result, severe itching appears, the baby itches, and the eggs fall on his hands. In addition, the eggs fall from the baby's hands onto clothes, bedding and other objects that the child touches. It is clear how the worms are further transmitted: other children and adults become infected with eggs, after which small white pinworms multiply in the body. That is why it is very important to wash your hands before eating after coming home from public places.
waterborne infection
Many parasite eggs are found in open water bodies as well as in well water. That is why people using such water should use a special bactericidal filter. It is also very important to boil the water that people drink and eat dishes made from it. It is very dangerous to swallow water from reservoirs.
It should be borne in mind what helminth invasion is, that this is a disease that mainly affects children, since they are very susceptible to helminthiasis. The fact is that the protective barriers in children are not yet developed to the same extent as in adults, their stomach acid is lower.
Also, signs of the presence of worms in a child are very common, since young children, mastering the world, taste everything that is at hand. Therefore, parents very often notice the symptoms of helminthic invasion in children, in particular, itching of the anus, loss of appetite, coughing in children during infection, etc. Despite this, it is impossible to accustom the baby to strictly observe the rules of hygiene in the first years of his life. Therefore, the risk of infection at this time is high for all family members.
Speaking of eggworm - what is it and how is this disease treated? It should be remembered that worms do not multiply in the human body. Worms in the human body die over a period of time. For example, pinworms live for several weeks, roundworms for about a year. Eggs that adult parasites lay in the body will most certainly leave the intestines -- either when feces or baby feces come out, or get on the skin near the anus, as is the case with pinworms. When the eggs are outside the human body, they mature in the external environment, after which they return to the human body and parasitize in it.
Since the reproduction of worms in the body does not occur, many helminths are observed only with re-infection, when the eggs again enter the body through the mouth.
Therefore, if reinfection does not occur, the pinworms living in the body will die in about 4 weeks. And if you follow all preventive measures very carefully, you can get rid of the presence of worms without treatment. However, in children, compliance with all these rules is a very difficult task.
Signs of helminths
When infected with parasites, certain early symptoms of worms appear in humans. You can find out in detail from a specialist what symptoms appear in worms if you have an infection. But some signs of worms in humans can be seen on their own.
So, the most noticeable sign that an infection with parasites has occurred is the presence of a sharp loss of weight. In addition, the patient's skin becomes pale - this is how anemia manifests itself. When they appear, signs of a helminthic invasion are also indicated - a person looks exhausted, his level of fatigue may increase.
Helminths cause itching in the anus when the intestines are infected. However, they can also parasitize in other organs - in the lungs, liver, bladder and even in the arm or leg, etc.
However, all the above symptoms of parasites in the human body are only the first general signs of infection, which develop when the body is massively damaged by worms, and which make it possible to recognize that something is wrong with health. There are other, more specific symptoms of helminthic invasion in adults. The patient may perceive them as a manifestation of other diseases. At the same time, of course, he can treat such diseases for a long time without success. This continues until the exact cause of such symptoms is determined - helminthiasis. More details can be found in the corresponding videos on the network.
What are the symptoms of worms that can appear in an adult and a child?
indigestion
If the parasites are localized in the intestines, and not in other organs, then the main signs in an adult and a child are a violation of the digestive function. A person can be bothered by constant diarrhea or constipation, periodically manifested by nausea, vomiting, pain in the stomach, pain in the right hypochondrium, near the navel, and intestinal disorders. If intestinal parasites are agitated, flatulence is often a concern.
All these signs can be both strong and weak, both long-term and periodic. It all depends on the severity of the infection. There are types of helminths that produce hormone-like substances, under the influence of which persistent diarrhea develops. When large worms grow large (such as a tapeworm), they block the intestines and cause constipation.
General malaise, nervous system disorders
Worms live and excrete very large amounts of toxic substances, regardless of whether parasites live in a person's blood, liver or lungs. The more massive the infection, the more pronounced are the signs of intoxication of the body, affecting the nervous system.
As a result, headaches, dizziness and nausea develop. Some people confuse such signs with developing a migraine and therefore take painkillers.
Sometimes when infected with parasites, the temperature rises, pain in the joints is annoying. In addition, helminthic lesions provoke a lack of vitamins and nutrients in the body. This phenomenon, as well as the depression of the nervous system, leads to the manifestation of chronic fatigue syndrome. The patient feels tired, he worries about drowsiness, a feeling of weakness in the body. When we talk about a child, they are naughty and constantly nervous. Young children have trouble sleeping, they cry or scream at night. School-age children can learn poorly due to inattention and fatigue.
allergies and skin conditions
Signs of helminth worms cause skin deterioration. The toxins with which the worms infect the body adversely affect its general condition and can provoke the manifestation of various reactions on the skin. Eruptions occur as a result of the release of histamine from mast cells and the accumulation of the liquid part of blood in tissues with elevation of the epidermis.
The same reasons lead to the development of allergic reactions. In particular, there may be itching, red spots, acne, urticaria, as well as dry cough, allergic rhinitis and manifestations of bronchial asthma. In addition, when infected, nails can become detached, brittle hair is noted, and cracks appear on the heels.
Deterioration of immunity and infectious diseases
As the worms feed inside the body, they excrete toxic waste products. The toxic effect, a decrease in vitamins and minerals in the body, leads to the fact that the immunity of the infected person deteriorates significantly. As a result, the state of health in chronic diseases also worsens, inflammatory processes in the nasopharynx begin to interfere - sinusitis, stomatitis. In women and girls, vulvovaginitis, bacterial vaginosis are possible. There is evidence that with prolonged infection with pinworms, the development of inflammation of the appendages is possible. In this case, it is very important to recognize their presence in time. Parasites in the liver also cause bad breath, a persistent bad taste.
There is also an opinion that worms provoke the appearance of snoring and nightly grinding of teeth in a person. However, this connection has not yet been proven.
Where do parasites live in the human body?
The types of parasites in the human body are determined by where in the body they live. How to determine the presence and how to remove parasites from the body depends on their type.
translucent
These worms mainly inhabit the intestines and live in its various departments. Hookworms, roundworms, broadband worms, and other tapeworms are localized in the small intestine. In the small intestine live dwarf tapeworms, pinworms, in the large intestine - whipworms. There are about a hundred species of cave parasites in total. Pictures and images can be found online.
material
In humans, these types of worms do not live in the intestines, but in organs and tissues. There are species that live in the brain (cysticercosis), liver (echinococcosis), lungs (paragonimiasis), muscles, lymphatic vessels (filariosis) and other helminths.
What else the worms are in a person, you can find out from a specialist.
Roundworms are both lumen and tissue parasites because they can move through the blood and infect any organ in the early stages of their development. How to get rid of ascaris will tell the doctor who will prescribe the treatment regimen for infection with such parasites.
What worms look like in humans can be seen in the picture of the corresponding parasite species. Special literature shows what the eggs of worms look like.
Signs of infection depending on the type
How worms manifest themselves and how dangerous they are depends on the type of parasites, where exactly they live in the body, and also on the intensity of the infection. Signs of invasion in humans can be detected after a few days. For example, if roundworms appear, after 2-3 days health will deteriorate. When infected with other types of helminths, the first signs in the patient are detected after 2-3 weeks. The incubation period of filariasis is 6 to 18 months.
Intestinal worms are dangerous from the point of view that when a single person is in the intestines, it is impossible to understand that a person is infected, since there are no signs. Certain symptoms may only be bothersome if the worms are long (Ascaris, broad tapeworm, etc. ) or if a massive infection has occurred. Almost all worm diseases are accompanied by headache, fatigue, dizziness and irritability.
What are worms, what are they called and what do they look like?
Pinworms (enterobiasis) - you can identify the presence of this type of helminth by the manifestation of the main signs, as well as the manifestation of itching in the anus, which becomes more intense at night. If there are only a few pinworms in the body, the itching may appear for several days, then go away and come back after a few weeks. With a strong invasion, itching is constantly felt.
Ascaris - what are the signs of ascariasis depends on the stage of development of these parasites. At the stage when the larvae migrate to the heart, lungs and other organs, there is weakness, subfebrile temperature, cough, during which sputum, sometimes with pus and blood, is released. If at this time an X-ray of the lungs is taken, fleeting infiltrates can be seen on it, which later disappear. Allergic reactions develop, a blood test shows a large percentage of eosinophils. If the invasion is severe, the development of bronchitis, pneumonia, and asthma attacks is likely. It is often of interest to know whether an infection can cause a cough? In fact it is possible. You may also experience a sore throat. Signs of the second phase are associated with indigestion. Roundworms produce substances that neutralize pepsin and trypsin, human digestive enzymes. As a result, proteins are not digested and the patient loses a lot of weight. With ascariasis, there are sometimes complications - pancreatitis, obstructive jaundice, intestinal obstruction, appendicitis.
Ankylostomiasis, schistosomiasis, diphyllobothriasis, trichuriasis - with such lesions, anemia and beriberi develop. After all, the toxins that the helminths of these varieties secrete significantly worsen the intestinal microflora and provoke the development of dysbacteriosis.
Opisthorchiasis, fascioliasis, clonorchiasis are liver parasites. The consequences of the invasion are icteric syndrome, enlarged liver, spleen, pancreatitis, cholecystocholangitis, neurological disorders, pathologies of the digestive system.
Trichinosis - with such a lesion, the most common symptoms are muscle pain, swelling of the eyelids, swelling of the face, fever.
Strongyloidiasis - cause roundworms, the symptoms are very diverse. There may be signs of dyspepsia, allergies, biliary tract dysfunction, etc.
Urogenital schistosomiasis - caused by flatworms, manifested by diuretic disorders. At the end of urination, there is blood in the urine. In men, it can lead to pathological lesions of the prostate, pathology of the seminal vesicles. In women, it causes consequences in the form of vaginal bleeding and lesions in the genital area. Fibrosis can occur in the bladder.
Cestodose - caused by tapeworms. These are bovine tapeworm, sheep brain, echinococcus, broadband worm, etc. Signs of the disease are sharp weight loss, weakness and dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract.
How to determine the presence of worms in a person?
When it comes to specific symptoms that indicate infection, a person is naturally concerned about how to tell if you have helminths. Whether an infection is present or not can of course only be said with certainty after a doctor's visit and all the necessary tests. But there are other options that are suitable for those interested in finding out if you have worms. To do this, you need to carefully monitor the state of health and pay attention to changes in the body. After all, the presence of some pronounced symptoms gives an answer to the question of how to understand that you have worms.
Prevention of infection with worms
In order to prevent infection, you need to understand exactly what are the causes of the invasion, what is helminthiasis, what are worms. It is important to take all preventive measures, which will significantly reduce the likelihood of infection.
- Fruits and vegetables must be thoroughly washed and poured with boiling water.
- It is important to fight flies, cockroaches, mosquitoes - to track where they come from to destroy them.
- Meat and fish should take at least 40-60 minutes to cook.
- You only need to use your own hygiene items - a towel, a comb (so that lice are not transmitted), etc.
- It is important to teach the baby to wash their hands with soap and water immediately before eating, as well as after any contact with animals.
- If there are large and small animals in the house, then you need to constantly give them means of preventing worms. You can find out what these are from your veterinarian.
- It is important that the youngest only play with clean toys, and a dropped pacifier or pacifier should be washed immediately.
- Children should be weaned from bad habits - sucking their fingers, biting their nails, putting different things in their mouths.
- The baby should have clean and short nails.
- To prevent re-infection with pinworms, the baby must wear tight panties at night, which will prevent the spread of parasites and eggs on the bed.
- It is important to iron baby clothes after washing them.
- In the morning you need to change panties and wash the child thoroughly.