Worms are parasitic worms whose life activity takes place in the human body. Its result is helminthiasis. This is an acute disease of a chronic nature, which leads to weakened 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 examination 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 warm climates and high humidity.
The risk of the disease exists at any age, but children between five and fifteen years of age are most often 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 routes of penetration of parasites are mucous membranes and skin. The entry of larvae or eggs into the body can occur along with the food consumed. Mature eggs in the gastrointestinal tract receive optimal conditions for development, as a result, larvae emerge from them, which penetrate through the mucous membrane of the intestinal tract into the blood, and then can freely pass through all organs with the bloodstream.
The liver, kidneys, gallbladder, heart, bronchi and lungs receive the greatest damage. When the body tries to get rid of worms by coughing and expectorating sputum, they can linger in the saliva and, if swallowed, end up back in the intestines. There their 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 full-fledged worm ranges from 60 to 90 days. This time coincides with the early intestinal stage of the disease. At a late stage, adult individuals actively develop and reproduce throughout the body. Their place of residence is the intestines, where eggs are laid, which leave it 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 shared household items, clothing, 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 poor heat treatment of animal meat and fish.
On a note!
Parasite eggs can be carried on the paws and fur of pets when returning from a street walk. Therefore, you should take care of your pets, regularly take them for examinations to the veterinarian and do not forget to use anthelmintic drugs.
Types of worms
Depending on the environmental conditions where helminths exist, it is customary to distinguish three groups.
- Helminths– live in the soil; they do not need a living organism to develop.
- Biohelminths– for their development and reproduction, at least two organisms are needed.
- Contact helminths.They can move from the owner to a new object (between people) through contact and everyday life.
Scientists have identified about four hundred pathogens of helminthiasis, but only the following species can live in the human body:
- Nematodes.These include roundworms and pinworms. They occur most often.
- Cestodes.These include bovine and pork tapeworms, echinococcus.
- Trematodes (flukes).This group includes liver flukes and cat flukes. They become the cause of fascioliasis and clonorchiasis.
- Spinyheads:The giant acanthocephalan provokes acanthocephalosis.
According to the place of parasitism, worms are divided into intestinal and extraintestinal. The second group includes those species that carry out their vital functions in other organs, such as the liver or kidneys.
Symptoms of helminthiasis
Symptoms are very extensive and vary depending on the organ affected, the type of parasites and their number. Also, a person’s age and the initial state of all systems and organs and immunity have a great influence. The acute phase of the disease lasts from 14 to 60 days, and the chronic phase can last more than a year.
The acute stage is characterized by features of poisoning and allergic manifestations:
- weakness;
- chills;
- fever;
- skin rashes, often itchy;
- cough without phlegm;
- labored breathing;
- stomach ache;
- bloating.
Bruxism - teeth grinding - can also indicate the presence of parasitic worms in the body. Most often it manifests itself in a dream. Irritation in the anus and infection of the external genitalia may occur.
In the chronic stage, symptoms associated with the organs as a whole are observed. Particularly striking manifestations are disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, manifested in system malfunctions.
Those infected with parasites experience:
- pain in the lower abdomen;
- decreased appetite;
- nausea;
- frequent belching;
- the appearance of food allergies that were not observed before;
- weight loss;
- unstable stool - constipation alternates with diarrhea.
If worms are localized in the liver and gall bladder, then cysts form in these organs, and concomitant diseases appear - obstructive jaundice and hepatitis. Roundworms lead to bronchitis, heart failure, myocarditis (the cardiac lining of the muscle tissue becomes inflamed).
When the central nervous system is damaged by helminths, a person becomes irritated, attention and performance deteriorate, and sleep is disrupted.
Helminthiasis affects the immune system - the body becomes more susceptible to diseases, 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, this can lead to 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, 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 the risk of developmental delays increases. If the infection occurs with hookworms and whipworms, then 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 diseases.
Important!
Helminthic infection negatively affects the effectiveness of vaccine protection.
With a large number of parasites, the formation of dysbacteriosis, partial or complete blockage of the intestinal lumen, and blockage of the bile ducts is possible. This can cause inflammation of the appendix and gallbladder.
Diagnosis of worms
If alarming signs appear, an examination by several specialists is required, including a gastroenterologist, an infectious disease specialist and others. On palpation, an enlarged 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 be increased, and erythrocyte sedimentation will be increased.
A correct diagnosis can be made after three months from the moment of infection, when the larvae have become adults.
Laboratory methods will be useful for this:
- scraping from the anus to check for pinworm eggs;
- fecal analysis for the presence of helminth eggs;
- coprogram (detailed stool analysis to assess the quality of functioning of the gastrointestinal tract).
The biomaterial can be urine, feces, sputum, a piece of skin, or the contents of the duodenum.
To determine the condition of internal organs, instrumental diagnostic methods are used, which include:
- X-ray examination of the lungs;
- Ultrasound of the liver;
- CT scan of internal organs;
- colonoscopy (intestinal probing using a camera);
- gastroscopy and esophagoscopy (examination of the gastrointestinal tract using an endoscope).
It can be very difficult to accurately determine the presence of worms, because the egg laying 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 be prescribed only 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, anticestodal and extended-spectrum drugs are often prescribed.
Symptoms associated with disorders of the respiratory system are relieved with the use of glucocorticosteroids, antihistamines, and antispasmodics. To normalize the condition of the intestines and its microflora, prebiotics are prescribed. To normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract - enzyme agents. Various cyst-type growths are removed surgically.
After 14 days and another month (when therapy is completed), repeated tests three times are required for the presence of parasite eggs in the stool. Patients who are immunocompromised or at risk should undergo periodic screening for worms.
Reference
When a disease is detected in one or more family members, treatment is required for everyone who exhibits indirect signs.
Preventive measures against worms
To prevent the appearance of worms in the body, you must follow simple measures.
- Be sure to wash your hands after eating, going to the toilet, being outside, 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 through filters.
- At least once every two weeks, wet clean the house.
The use of anthelmintic drugs as preventive measures is required twice a year - in spring and autumn, when the immune system is weakened. Pets also need to take special anti-worm medications.