Many people don't understand why they are asked to test for "worm eggs" when applying. Even more often, patients with serious symptoms - vomiting, abdominal, heart or lung pain, constipation, allergies or headaches - are surprised by the diagnosis of helminth infestation. It turns out that parasites are far from harmless to humans and the above symptoms are just the beginning. Let's get to know them better?
Parasites are everywhere: outside and inside
The word "parasite" comes from the Greek word parasites, meaning parasite. These organisms live and reproduce in the organs and tissues of the host, causing serious illness and even death. Such an infection is called an invasion. Parasites are classified depending on their structure and"Habitat" is divided into several groups and are all very dangerous.
Ectoparasites
This group includes parasitic organisms that live on or in the skin. They cause itching, dermatitis, allergies and transmit dangerous infections.
- Head, body and pubic lice pierce the host's skin with their mouthparts and drink blood. Infection with them is called pediculosis. Insects transmit dangerous diseases – typhus and relapsing fever.
- The Demodex mite (mite) is the causative agent of a disease called demodicosis. The length of the parasite is 0. 48 mm, so it is not visible to the naked eye. The mite lives in human hair follicles and causes inflammation (folliculitis) and dermatitis. Damage to eyebrows and eyelashes also leads to eye infections.
- The scabies mite, as the name suggests, causes scabies. The female parasite, 0. 25–0. 38 mm long, gnaws through the epidermis (layers of skin) to lay eggs. Scabies arises in the thickness of the skin. Parasitism causes itching, rashes and allergic reactions. Affected are: armpits, groin, abdomen, interdigital spaces. The disease spreads quickly as the female lays 3-4 eggs daily, which hatch into larvae after 2-3 days.
Endoparasites
Internal parasites live in the host organs (intestines, kidneys, liver) and blood and cause infections (invasion). There are more than 25 species of endoparasites. Every year 15 to 16 million people die through their own fault.
Endoparasites include worms (worms) and protozoa. In recent years the number of infestations has increased. Hidden forms of parasitism predominate; In 80% of cases, the owner does not know that uninvited "guests" have settled in his body. Deaths due to parasitic diseases have also become more common. The development of tourism with visits to exotic countries has led to infection with tropical parasites, whichare difficult to identify and destroy in the conditions of our country.
Helminths
The most common of these parasites are:
- Roundworms are roundworms up to 40 cm long that live in the small intestine. The female lays up to 200, 000 eggs per day. Worms weaken the body, causing anemia and digestive disorders. When the worms gather in a ball, they clog the intestinal lumen and cause constipation. Sometimes a person has huge balls of tangled roundworms removed during surgery.
- Tapeworms (broad tapeworms) are tapeworms that, once they enter the human body, do not show any symptoms for a long time. The growing helminth causes flatulence, anemia, gastrointestinal disorders and intestinal obstruction. People become infected with tapeworms by eating poorly processed fish.
- Pork and beef tapeworms enter the body when eating undercooked meat that contains cysts (larvae) of the worm. Parasites multiply quickly and colonize the host's body. The case is described in which a person was parasitized by 104 pork tapeworms with a total length of 128 meters. Sometimes tapeworm larvae begin to "wander" through the body, causing tissue swelling, high fever, and muscle pain.
- Pinworms are small worms that live in the intestines. They are not as harmless as they seem. Infection leads to allergic reactions; Helminths crawl into the appendix and cause inflammation there.
- Nematodes are a group of roundworms that parasitize the intestinal tract. Worms cause irritation of the intestinal wall and blockage of the bile ducts. 45 species of nematodes inhabit the human body. The most common are intestinal eel and whipworm.
Some worms live outside the gastrointestinal tract and cause extraintestinal helminthiases (flukes, echinococci, pork tapeworm cysts). They damage the nervous system, brain and internal organs. Patients have fever, swelling and blood in the urine. Dirofilariasis, in which parasites occur in the heart, is dangerous. The parasite causes pain similar to that of ischemic heart disease.
Protozoa
In recent years, protozoan parasites have become widespread, affecting various organs and tissues:
- Giardia are organisms that infect the small intestine and lead to peristalsis disorders. The disease is often asymptomatic.
- Trichomonas and Chlamydia are protozoa that cause inflammation of the urogenital system.
- Blastocysts are intestinal parasites that irritate the mucous membrane and weaken immunity.
- Dysenteric amoebae are protozoa that cause a protracted form of ulcerative colitis. A person suffers from abdominal pain, loose stools and fever. The disease is dangerous due to intestinal perforation.
How to get infected with helminths: raw water, exotic cuisine and unwashed hands
There is no reason to believe that parasites live only in people who do not take care of themselves and lead an antisocial lifestyle. Anyone can become infected, as people are not immune from communicating with sick people and "parasite carriers". Uninvited "guests" enter the body through food, water from pets, through dirty hands and insect bites.
The infection is facilitated by people buying homemade lard, raw meat, dried and smoked fish in unauthorized markets. You can become infected in a canteen or café if hygienic conditions are not maintained there. Uncooked meat and fish dishes are dangerous.
The parasites have also benefited from a passion for Japanese cuisine, where thermally unprocessed fish is added to dishes. Not all sushi bar chefs follow proper hygiene practices. As a result, a person becomes infected with helminths.
How to Suspect a Parasitic Infection
In the presence of external parasites (lice, scabies mites, demodex), itching of the skin occurs, which worsens at night. Irritation, redness, blisters and pustules appear on the skin. Sometimes allergies occur and the temperature may rise.
When infected with helminths, the clinical picture varies, but in all cases there are digestive problems (diarrhea or constipation), anemia and weakness. People also lose weight with an increased appetite, some people's taste preferences change - someone has cravings for fatty, salty foods, etc. In this way, the body tries to compensate for the loss of vitamins and microelements caused by worm parasitism.
Helminth infections are accompanied by bloating of the abdomen, pain in the various parts and itching around the anus. Sometimes worms fall out of the anus during a bowel movement or come out with the feces. In severe infestations, vomiting and the release of helminths occur. A sick person experiences enlargement of the liver and spleen and pain in the right or left hypochondrium.
With helminthiasis, neurological manifestations caused by poisoning by waste products of parasitic creatures often occur: insomnia, irritability, constant fatigue, bruxism (grinding of teeth during sleep).
Parasites weaken the body, weaken the immune system and cause allergies. Manifestations of bronchial asthma are often accompanied by the presence of helminths (pinworms, whipworms, echinococci).
How to recognize dangerous parasites
It is impossible to identify and treat dangerous residents on your own, especially since they can appear in a complex and by eliminating some you are only making room for others. There is a parasitologist in every clinic; he is the one who treats the infestation. If there is no such specialist, you can make an appointment with a therapist.
The doctor will prescribe a series of tests:
- Blood for clinical analysis. With helminthiasis, an acceleration of ESR, a decrease in hemoglobin and an increase in the number of eosinophils are observed.
- Biochemical blood test for ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, thymol test, amylase. An increase in these indicators is typical of infection with nematodes.
- Analysis of bile, mucus, sputum, muscle tissue.
Worm infestations are often disguised as another disease. People undergo surgeries that reveal an eroded pancreas or liver. It is not always possible to cure a patient with an advanced form, so you should not hope for a miracle - you need to do the same test for "worm eggs" in a timely manner. To make a diagnosis, an endoscopy of the intestines and stomach is prescribed.
Diseases caused by parasitic protozoa are difficult to detect. The infection is latent and destroys the body until the patient shows serious organ changes.
Treatment of helminthiasis
In order to cure a patient, he is freed from parasites and their metabolic products. For treatment, anthelmintics are used, which are selected taking into account the type of parasite and the patient's condition. This should be done by a doctor, as all anti-worm tablets contain dangerous substances.
To expel large worms, the patient is prescribed a siphon enema. At the same time, make sure that the head of the helminth does not remain in the body, otherwise the parasite will grow again. To prevent re-infection, anthelmintic treatment is carried out in several courses.
After the worms are expelled, drip infusions with solutions, tonics and vitamins are prescribed. Restore the functions of organs affected by parasites.
Pediculosis is treated with the help of special sprays and mercury ointment. If pubic lice are discovered, the hair in the groin area is shaved.
To treat scabies, sulfur ointment, benzyl benzonate and a number of other drugs are used. Demodicosis is treated with complex external agents, which include mercury, tar, zinc and sulfur.
Prevention of parasite infestation
To avoid "catching" exo- and endoparasites, you must do the following:
- Wash your hands and vegetables and fruits thoroughly before eating;
- remove dirt from under nails;
- Do not use other people's combs, shoes and household items.
- Avoid walking barefoot on the ground in public places and wear a swimming cap when swimming in the pool.
- Do not buy food at "spontaneous" markets or eat in questionable restaurants;
- boil or fry meat or fish;
- Monitor the health status of pets by carrying out timely deworming.
- Use insect repellent when traveling.
- If you arrived from an exotic country, you must undergo a full examination and pass tests.
Parasites infect people quickly. If they are discovered, the people living with the patient are examined and, if necessary, treated.
In a modern clinic you can get tested for the presence of worms and get advice from a general practitioner to quickly cure parasites.