Helminths, which people usually call worms, are able to penetrate the body of animals and humans. A disease caused by worms is called helminthiasis. In the modern world, doctors count several hundred different types of worms. Some species do not cause much harm to the human body, while others can lead to a variety of diseases, sometimes fatal. Infection occurs unnoticed and many do not even realize that parasites and their larvae are the cause of constant ailments and deterioration in health.
What are the causes of worm infection?
Worms in the human body can appear for various reasons:
- consumption of vegetables and fruits that have not undergone heat treatment or have not been washed before consumption;
- when preparing food, a person does not comply with hygiene rules;
- improper heat treatment of meat and fish products;
- frequent contact with animals infected with worms;
- caring for pets that often walk outside;
- complete lack of hygiene rules after visiting the toilet, before eating, after walking outside;
- eating raw fish;
- living together, communicating with a person suffering from helminthiasis;
- water procedures in a river, lake;
- in rare cases with insect bites.
Most often, children aged 3 to 10 years are exposed to pinworms due to poor hygiene. Human worms are highly contagious and can be transmitted from animals or another person. Many young children ignore the rules of personal hygiene, so they are more likely to become infected with worms than adults. Parents should instill in their children the concepts of personal hygiene from childhood, because often in kindergarten the teacher cannot keep track of everyone and infection can occur. Basic good hand washing skills and a ban on touching the mouth after playing in the sandbox can protect a child from infection.
People who work with various animals, those who constantly cut meat and fish, are at great risk of infection. Simply touching the mouth after direct contact with contaminated fish or meat is a direct cause of parasitic infection.
Some types of worms can enter the human body through food, others enter through contact with an infected person or animal, and others live in water, which is often used for cooking or water procedures.
Worms in humans symptoms
Some types of parasites can be easily detected, others are carefully disguised in the human body. Symptoms of worms in a person infected with roundworms and pinworms are intense itching in the anus, bloating, and upset bowel movements. These worms live in the intestines and when going to the toilet they can leave the body along with feces. Symptoms appear due to the vital activity of the parasite; they release strong allergens into the intestinal microflora, causing damage to the intestinal walls, after which inflammatory processes begin in the stomach.
It should be noted that not every parasite can live in the stomach. Echinococcus most often affects the lungs and liver. A small worm penetrates deep into the organ and creates a protective shell around itself. During examination, specialists may mistake the parasite's protective capsule for a tumor.
If a person has worms, what symptoms may appear:
- Chronic headache.
- Weakness.
- Nausea.
- Digestive disorders.
All of these symptoms may indicate some type of parasitic infection. Signs of the presence of worms in a person are increased allergic reactions; special attention should be paid to this symptom by people who were not previously prone to allergies. In this case, such a reaction is one of the signs of the presence of worms and their active activity in the body.
Signs of the disease
Signs of worms in humans may vary, depending on what type of parasite the patient is infected with and where he is located. The first signs of worms.
- Inflammation of the lymph nodes.
- Allergic skin damage.
- Diarrhea.
- Constipation.
- Excessive gas formation.
- Abdominal pain.
- Nausea.
- Enlarged spleen, liver.
- Dry cough.
- General weakness.
- Excessive itching - on the skin, genitals, rectal area.
- Weight loss.
- Increased body temperature.
- Constant headaches.
Worms in people may not cause any symptoms for a long time. Echinococcus most often affects the liver and can manifest itself six months or more after entering the body. The worm begins to manifest itself at the moment when the protective capsule grows to such a size that it compresses the internal organs, the structure of the connective tissues, which is why there is pain in the right side, a yellowish tint to the skin, nausea, and indigestion.
In rare cases, the pulmonary fluke, echinococcus, can parasitize the brain or muscle tissue. They usually live in the liver and lungs, so a chronic dry cough and shortness of breath may occur. Any of the parasites that enter the human body causes intoxication - general weakness, muscle pain, headache, increased body temperature. Symptoms may not appear simultaneously, but separately and at different times. Ignoring the symptoms that appear for a long time will only worsen the situation, the body’s defenses will be greatly weakened, and the person will constantly suffer from viral or other diseases. Internal organs will also be subject to long-term negative effects and will take a very long time to recover.
Symptoms and treatment of worms
Today, there are many ways to get rid of worms, which are offered by traditional folk medicine. It should be noted that worms, symptoms and treatment in adults that are left unattended will negatively affect well-being, and the parasite will continue to progress. Worms provoke inflammatory processes in the body, suppress the immune system, and worsen overall well-being and health.
The method of ridding the body of worms is called deworming, which is carried out using specific medications. Before prescribing the medicine, the specialist conducts a full diagnosis to identify what type of worm is parasitic in the body and whether the patient has an allergic reaction to individual components of the drug.
During the course of treatment with anthelmintic drugs, the doctor may additionally prescribe antihistamines that will help reduce or eliminate an allergic reaction to the components of the main medication.
Also, to get rid of worms, you can resort to traditional medicine, which has proven itself in the fight against parasites. However, it should be remembered that before starting to take folk remedies, it is better to consult with your doctor. Self-treatment should be avoided, especially considering the severity of the disease. After completing the course of prescribed treatment, as a rule, the specialist prescribes drugs that restore the normal functioning of all internal systems and organs. If necessary, a person is prescribed sorbents.
Traditional means of fighting worms
Symptoms of worm infection will help a specialist select the right medications to remove worms from the body.
A drug that helps naturally remove worms from the body has a paralyzing effect on parasites and is suitable for both adults and children over two years of age.
In cases where drug treatment does not help in the fight against worms, specialists prescribe surgical intervention. Doctors need to remove the parasitic worm and the area of the organ in which it is located.
Preventive measures
At first, it is not the worm itself that enters the body, but only the eggs of worms, which after some time grow into adult parasites. To avoid the penetration of certain types of parasites into the body, you should adhere to certain hygiene rules:
- After walking outside, when coming home, you must wash your hands well with soap.
- Before preparing or consuming vegetables and fruits, they must be washed thoroughly.
- Meat and fish must undergo complete, proper heat treatment before consumption.
- Kitchen tools used for cutting meat and fish must be thoroughly washed and disinfected.
- If you have a pet, it is good to monitor its health. Visit a veterinarian at least once a quarter for preventive purposes.
- If you suspect the presence of worms, be sure to go to the hospital for examination and timely medical care.
Traditional medicine in the fight against worms
Mixture. Mix tansy, wormwood, and cloves in equal proportions. Grind each ingredient. Mix until smooth. When you wake up in the morning, take 1 tsp. dry mixtures. After consumption, you can drink a glass of water to eliminate the bitter taste. The course of admission is 1 month.
Garlic for pinworms. Grind the garlic until it becomes porridge. Mix 1 tsp. porridge with 200 ml of warm boiled water. Leave for 1 hour. 2 hours before bedtime, take an enema with this infusion. To completely get rid of the parasite, you should carry out the procedure every evening for a week.
In folk medicine, there are a large number of recipes for eliminating worms. However, it should be remembered that self-medication can aggravate an already existing situation, and folk remedies are best used as additional treatment. It is best to discuss the use of any medication with your doctor.
Parasitic infection with helminths may not bother you for a long time; the worms will develop, parasitize and slowly poison the body. The combination of characteristic signs of the disease is the main reason to seek help from a specialist and strictly follow all his recommendations.