Worms (helminths) are parasitic worms that penetrate the human body, causing harm to his health, and the diseases caused by them are helminthiasis. More than 300 species of these parasites have now been identified. Helminth infections are widespread, but mainly in areas with a warm and humid climate. The risk group for them includes children 5-15 years old. They often have roundworms and pinworms. This is explained by the desire of children to get acquainted with the outside world, low immunity to helminths, as well as insufficient acidity of gastric juice. The main habitat of helminths is the intestines.
They enter the human body through the integumentary tissue, when ingesting eggs, worm larvae with water and food. From ripe eggs, larvae form in the digestive tract. They enter the bloodstream through the intestinal mucosa and are carried to the liver, gall bladder, bronchi, lungs, heart, and brain. In the process of coughing up sputum and swallowing saliva, the worms again end up in the intestines of a person. There, after 70-75 days, they will be able to reproduce.
From damage by eggs or larvae to the appearance of mature helminths lasts up to 3 months - the early stage of the disease. From the moment the adult forms, the late stage begins. Worms in the human body live in the intestines for up to a year and lay eggs there, which pass into the environment through defecation.
Types of worms
There are several types of worms:
- Roundworms (nematodes) - roundworms, hookworms, pinworms, whipworms.
- Tapeworms (cestodes) - pork tapeworm, broad tapeworm.
- Flukes (trematodes) - pulmonary and liver flukes, cat fluke.
Also, helminthiasis differs in the characteristics of development and infection:
Geohelminthiases. Parasite eggs are found in the ground and enter the human body with unwashed fruits and poor personal hygiene.
Biohelminthiasis. These types of worms have an intermediate host - dogs, fish, and shellfish. The defeat of humans, who are the final host of the parasites, is associated with the consumption of low-quality fish or contact with animals.
Causes of worms in humans
Often, worm eggs are carried into the house on the paws and fur of pets that are walked or released outside. The most common cause of helminthiasis is a violation of personal hygiene rules. For example, a person forgot to wash his hands after leaving the house, the toilet, or before eating.
The risk of helminthiasis increases if you have a habit of sucking fingers, biting nails, or holding a pen or pencil in your mouth.
Poor quality washing of plant products causes great harm to health.
Helminthiasis can occur when drinking raw water, as well as washing food with water from an untested source.
The cause of helminthiasis can be fish or meat if the technology for their preparation is violated. If beef is not properly cooked, you can become infected with bovine tapeworm; if fish is poorly processed, then infection with broad tapeworm is possible; if pork is undercooked, there is a high risk of infection with pork tapeworm.
Worms can also be found indoors if it is rarely wet cleaned and people walk on it without taking off their outdoor shoes.
Helminthiasis can be contracted from a sick person through bedding, dishes, or close contact.
The causes of morbidity are associated with violation of hygiene rules, poor care of domestic cats and dogs, and poor food hygiene. If you exclude these factors, then the likelihood of becoming infected with helminths is minimal.
Signs of worms in humans
Helminthiases are acute and chronic. The former lead to an allergic reaction. The patient's complaints show signs of allergy and intoxication:
- weakness and fatigue;
- skin itching and rash;
- dyspnea;
- cough without phlegm;
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- increased gas formation in the intestines.
In case of chronic infection by helminths, the manifestations are varied and are associated with the location of the worms, their number, and the characteristics of the human body’s response immunity. The most common symptoms of worms are:
- weakness, increased fatigue;
- increased body temperature;
- darkening of the skin under the eyes;
- hives;
- appetite disorders;
- nausea, vomiting;
- smell from the mouth;
- pain in the abdomen;
- diarrhea or constipation;
- weight loss;
- perianal itching;
- presence of worm fragments in feces.
In addition, there may be disturbances in the functioning of organs affected by helminths. For example, when parasites are in the liver or gall bladder, pain in the right hypochondrium, nausea, and yellowing of the skin are typical. If helminths have penetrated the lungs, then bronchitis and asphyxia are possible. Roundworms can cause myocarditis and heart failure. Children who are repeatedly diagnosed with worms often suffer from ARVI, stomatitis, gingivitis, and girls have vulvovaginitis.
A characteristic symptom is bruxism (night grinding of teeth). With helminthiases, the nervous system suffers - a person experiences increased irritability, difficulty concentrating, decreased tolerance to physical activity, and disturbed sleep.
Against the background of worms in the body, the immune defense suffers, so fungal, pustular skin diseases, caries are added, allergies and concomitant diseases are more severe.
If helminthiasis is not treated promptly, the parasite larvae will damage blood vessels, intestines and all vital organs. This affects the condition and well-being of the patient.
The products that the larvae secrete during their life poison the human body. They provoke local allergies, urticaria, bronchial asthma, and atopic dermatitis.
Worms feed on proteins, minerals, and vitamins of the human body. In children, this may cause developmental delays. Hookworms and whipworms feed on the blood of the host, that is, humans, and cause anemia.
In the case of mass reproduction of worms in the human body, disruption of the intestinal microflora and incomplete closure of the lumen of the intestines and bile ducts are possible. This is a possible cause of appendicitis, cholecystitis, and intestinal obstruction.
When to go to the doctor
Helminthiasis must be treated immediately. In the human body, worms interfere with the absorption of nutrients in the intestines. They secrete foods that are harmful to the digestive tract. Without treatment, worms can penetrate the brain, lungs, and other organs.
It is recommended to make an appointment with a qualified gastroenterologist if you have the following signs of pathology:
- lethargy, malaise;
- allergic reaction, for example, skin rash, bronchial asthma;
- a person eats a lot or a little;
- nausea and vomiting appear, but there are no signs of poisoning;
- diarrhea, constipation;
- weight loss with good appetite;
- poor sleep;
- increase in body temperature;
- pain in muscles and joints without physical activity;
- enlargement, inflammation of the lymph nodes;
- bruxism;
- worms in feces;
- itching in the perianal area.
If helminthic infestation is suspected, then the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes are felt. The listed organs can be enlarged.
In case of helminthiasis, the general blood test shows leukocytosis, eosinophilia, and increased ESR.
Helminthic diseases are most accurately detected after 3 months from the onset, when the helminths become sexually mature individuals. For the purpose of diagnosis and monitoring the effectiveness of therapy, laboratory tests are indicated:
- perianal scraping for pinworm eggs;
- stool analysis for worm eggs;
- coprogram.
Sputum, urine, vomit, contents of the duodenum, and pieces of skin are used as material for examination and diagnosis.
To identify intestinal helminthic diseases, allergy tests are performed. Changes in internal organs are detected using:
- X-ray of the lungs.
- Ultrasound examination of the liver.
- Computed tomography of internal organs.
- Colonoscopy.
- Esophagogastroscopy.
Sometimes it is not easy to identify helminthiasis in humans, since worms lay eggs irregularly. To detect them, it is important to take material for research during the breeding season of helminths. Antibodies to worms are detected in the blood 2 months after infection. They are then not detected in the bloodstream but accumulate in the intestinal wall. Diagnosis is also difficult given the variety of clinical signs. Often, specialists prescribe research and treatment based on indirect symptoms of helminthiasis.
Folk remedies against parasites
A widely known folk method for treating worms is pumpkin seeds. This product is suitable for children and adults. This product contains cucurbitins, which negatively affect the vital activity of helminths. However, it will not be possible to completely cure yourself of parasites with pumpkin seeds alone. If you don’t see a doctor or get examined, you can get complications, because worms multiply quickly. They are especially dangerous when affecting internal organs and the brain.
How to get rid of worms - traditional medicine can be used in addition to treatment prescribed by a doctor.
Tansy infusion.Pour 1 tablespoon of tansy flowers into 200 ml of boiling water, cover with a lid, leave for 20 minutes, strain. Take the cooled infusion 3-4 times a day, 4 tablespoons. The first dose is in the morning on an empty stomach, then 30 minutes before lunch and dinner.
Wormwood infusion.The bitter taste of this plant irritates receptors in the oral cavity, which promotes the formation of gastric juice, bile, and pancreatic enzymes. This plant contains chamazulene, which has a laxative and anti-inflammatory effect. It negatively affects the life cycle of helminths and has an anthelmintic effect.
To prepare the infusion, dried wormwood is ground in a coffee grinder. Then 2 teaspoons of plant material are poured into 300 ml of boiling water and left in a thermos for 6-8 hours. Then the infusion needs to be filtered. Take it 100 ml in the morning before meals for 2-3 weeks. The product is stored in the refrigerator for no more than 2 days.
Infusion of cloves. This spice is widely used in folk medicine. Dried buds of this plant enhance the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, normalize digestion, and increase immunity. Clove infusion is effective against worms.
To prepare it, pour 500 ml of water into 30 g of buds and wait for the product to cool completely. Take 1 glass orally before breakfast.
Clove tincture. Pour 30 g of buds into 500 ml of vodka (alcohol). Infuse the liquid in the dark for 2-3 weeks, then filter. Take 1 teaspoon of tincture before meals for 2-4 weeks.
Prevention
To prevent worms in adults, it is important to follow the rules of personal hygiene. It is also necessary to instill them in children from the first years of life. These rules include:
- Wash your hands with soap after going outside, contacting animals, using the toilet, and before eating.
- Rinse fruits and herbs well with water and rinse them with boiling water.
- Fish and seafood should be thermally processed for a long time.
- Use high-quality and safe water for domestic purposes.
- You need to use hygiene products, individual dishes, towels, and linen.
- For drinking, you can use boiled, filtered water.
- Indoors, you should regularly wipe surfaces with a damp cloth and wash the floors.
- Once every 2 weeks you need to wash the floors with detergent.
How to remove worms - in spring and autumn it is recommended to prevent helminthiases with broad-spectrum anthelmintic agents. Pets should also be periodically subjected to anthelmintic therapy.
Are worms transmitted - if the rules of personal hygiene and prevention of helminthiasis are violated, all family members can become infected.