Helminthiasis

Helminthiasis is a disease in which the human body becomes infected with parasites.This problem often affects children (80%), but adults can also become infected.Symptoms of the disease may vary depending on the penetration method and the number of parasites.

Helminthiasis is a disease that involves infection with worms.

Description of the disease

Parasitic worms (worms, helminths) are individuals that take root almost everywhere.The most common types of worms that infect the human body are pinworms, tapeworms and roundworms.Each infected adult or child carries over 400 different species of helminths, each of which has several classes.Therefore, only the attending physician can determine which worm is parasitizing in a particular organism and prescribe the exact treatment.

They are most commonly located in the intestines, but can also affect other areas.Worms attack the brain and eyes and cause allergies and metabolic disorders.Their prevalence is influenced by living conditions and climate.Therefore, in European countries in urban areas the percentage of the disease is much lower.

The larvae of worms are the most dangerous because they move through the body and cause additional damage to many important organs.Adult parasites settle in one spot and only infect a specific location.Intestinal helminthiases do not live permanently in the human body and die sooner or later depending on the type.

However, this does not mean that the problem does not need to be fixed.Both the parasites themselves and their decay products are dangerous.Worms worsen the general condition of the human body, weaken immunity and aggravate chronic diseases of the patient.In addition, helminths in the body reduce the effectiveness of various types of vaccines and medications.The most dangerous signs of helminthiasis affect the heart and eyes.

Irritating factors of the disease

Very often the carrier of helminths is a patient (more than half of cases of infection): female parasites penetrate the anal folds and lay eggs there (about 5,000 eggs per female).The infected person feels an itch, scratches the affected area and spreads the parasites further: on their own clothing and things they touch during the day.

Worms enter the body through food, but there are also other ways of transmission: through the skin (dust particles with the virus remain under the nails) or through droplets in the air.Therefore, patients are at risk of developing this disease if they do not follow the necessary hygiene rules, eat dirty vegetables and fruits, and drink non-distilled tap water.

You can become infected with worms by drinking tap water.

Therefore, helminthiasis most often affects people living in a private household, pet owners and gourmets who prefer medium-fried, smoked and sushi meat.Common carriers of parasites are dogs and cats (both domestic and stray cats).This parasite is called “Taxacara” and can invade another organism;The risk of infection is particularly high for people with a weak immune system.The following varieties are distinguished:

1. Contact.They are transmitted from person to person and are the most common type of infection.
2. Geohelminthiases.Transmissible through soil or water;In some cases, infection from a sick animal is possible.The infection vector contains adult worm eggs that reach humans through the feces of an animal, insect or human.People working the land are at risk, especially without gloves.
3. Biohelminthiasis.Worms that enter through poorly fried foods: fish or meat.
4. Worms that enter through insect bites (most commonly mosquitoes).

Without heat treatment, worms can enter the body along with food.

forms of the disease

Depending on the location, the following types are distinguished:

• luminal – located in the intestine;
• people of the hepatobiliary system;
• effects on the lungs;
• invading tissue;
• ophthalmic helminth infections.

The most common types of worms include roundworms and tapeworms.

The most common types of helminthiasis:

1. Roundworms.
2. Pinworms.
3. Whipworm.
4. Wide tape.
5. Trichinae.
6. Bull tapeworm.

The first variant enters the intestines via the mouth and from there into the lymph.Roundworms enter the lungs and other organs, causing fever, weakness and cough.The virus enters the stomach, where an adult forms.The patient develops allergies and the infected person suddenly loses weight.Patients often come to the hospital with other complaints (e.g. pneumonia, which has similar symptoms).

Pinworms are most often localized in the large intestine, where they grow within 2 weeks.They penetrate through unwashed food, dirty hands and soil.The most noticeable symptom is anal itching, which gets worse at night.With a large number of worms, the patient suffers from constant itching.

The whipworm enters through food.The infected person experiences abdominal pain, loss of appetite and anemia.When a whipworm invades, the infected person is often prescribed the wrong therapy and offered to eliminate acute appendicitis.

The fourth type colonizes in freshwater crustaceans or fish and is then localized in the human body via an infected freshwater fish or its eggs.The patient constantly feels stomach discomfort.

Trichinella enter through improperly thermally processed meat that contains the parasite egg.The facial, arm and leg muscles as well as the joints are affected.At first, a person feels nausea, suffers from diarrhea, after a few days the temperature rises, the face swells, and a rash appears on the body.After a month, the larvae die due to the active work of the body.

The beef tapeworm gets to humans through pork or beef.This has a negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract as it no longer functions normally (intestinal and digestive disorders).

Signs of illness

The symptoms have 2 stages of development.Acute lasts about 2 weeks when the parasite develops there.The symptoms are largely similar, which is absolutely independent of the type of worm.This form of the disease is characterized by the following symptoms:

1. General symptoms.They appear several weeks after infection: the temperature rises, a rash forms, the face swells, there is severe weight loss, pallor and itching.Respiratory problems are common in children.

2. Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.Diarrhea suddenly turns into constipation, the patient is diagnosed with vomiting and abdominal pain near the navel, and possibly active gas formation.These symptoms can be mild or severe depending on the type of parasite.
3. Problems with the nervous system.Parasites release toxic substances.The more of them there are in the body, the more actively they work.The patient often suffers from headaches, nausea and dizziness.In addition, the symptoms develop into an increased temperature, causing pain in the body and joints.The patient becomes tired quickly, cannot sleep adequately and cannot rest properly.Due to lack of sleep, irritability appears and work productivity decreases.
4. Allergy.The symptoms of a rash due to helminthiasis are similar to those of urticaria or allergic rhinitis.The skin begins to peel, nails and hair become thin and brittle.Another peculiarity is cracked heels.

5. Poor immunity.Helminthiasis significantly reduces immunity and a person gets sick more often.Some internal organs may be damaged.

The symptoms in the next stage, the chronic stage, are more varied.Depending on the quantity, location and type of worm, disorders of different organs become visible.If there are few helminths in the body, they do not manifest themselves in any way;Various symptoms only become noticeable when the worms are actively multiplying.

Diagnosis of the disease

Diagnosis of helminthiases consists of a general blood test showing elevated levels of eosinophils (which bind foreign proteins in the blood).In addition, urine and feces are submitted for examination.A repeat test may be necessary after 3 days as worms are not always detectable.In some cases, additional analysis for helminth infections is required.For this purpose, bile, sputum and muscle tissue are examined.

During laboratory diagnostics, the object under examination is searched for fragments of worm larvae or eggs.If symptoms are more chaotic, additional blood tests may be ordered.Other diagnostic tools: ultrasound, x-rays, endoscopy and computer tomography.

Worms absorb food that enters the human body, so laboratory tests will show significant deficiencies in vitamins and minerals.If roundworms or pinworms are suspected, a microscopic examination is prescribed.If symptoms indicate problems with the digestive system, fibrogastroduodenoscopy is prescribed.

Treatment of the disease

All complex treatments are prescribed only by the attending physician, since it is necessary to destroy not only the parasites themselves, but also all the consequences they cause.If a specific type of worm is detected, anthelmintics are prescribed.Most often, treatment consists of a single dose of a medication, although in some cases it is possible to take the medication again after a short period of time.

Additionally, the following medications may be prescribed:

1. Antihistamines (anti-allergic drugs), which remove all harmful substances from the body and normalize the condition of the skin.
2. If the level of hemoglobin or red blood cells in the blood is low, medications containing iron, B vitamins or folic acid are prescribed.
3. In addition, treatment includes taking vitamins and following a special low-carbohydrate diet.
4. The room in which the infected person lives, as well as his personal belongings, are thoroughly processed.
5. The diagnosis of helminthiasis is indicated for all family members or people who interact directly with the patient.
6. The treatment requires nail care.They should be cut short and cleaned thoroughly.
7. In more advanced cases, hormonal drugs, as well as drugs high in potassium, are prescribed.

In addition, treatment can consist of folk recipes.Natural plants also have anthelmintic properties.For example, celandine and elecampane juice.Vegetable juices (carrots) also help eliminate the symptoms of helminthiasis.Pomegranate, pumpkin seeds, mint or garlic are suitable for treatment.

Enemas with herbal decoctions help eliminate helminthiasis.

Wormwood decoction can be used as an enema or internally.Folk remedies are often used in combination with saline laxatives.Treatment of helminthiasis only with medical methods is unacceptable.However, in addition to the main method or as a means of prevention, such natural preparations benefit the body.

Children are often treated on an inpatient basis because their illness is more serious and lasts a long time.When choosing medications to treat a child, the doctor often adjusts them over time, since the initial medications are not always effective for the child's body.

Disease prevention

Prevention of helminthiasis is quite simple and does not require much effort.After each work with soil, wash your hands and also treat your nails, as parasites most often enter the body this way.You should always wash your hands before eating, after going outside, and after using a public restroom.Additionally, you can sometimes use hand sanitizer.

Everything must be carefully processed and scalded with boiling water.Care should be taken to protect food from flies and other insects as insects often carry infections on their wings.This is especially true in spring and summer.

You should always wash your pets after walking.After a long stay of an animal on the street (for example, in the summer season in a summer cottage), the animal's fur is treated with special antiparasitic drugs.It is necessary to carry out all pet vaccinations on time.

You should only drink boiled or filtered water and avoid water from wells or open reservoirs.Sources may include intestinal worm infections.Individual dishes, towels and personal hygiene items are provided for each family member.Fry meat and fish well before eating.Sushi lovers can try to find a dish that does not contain any raw product.

Preventive treatment with anthelmintics should be carried out every 6 months.

You can carry out drug prophylaxis twice a year: 1 tablet of an antiviral drug after meals once a day for 3 days.If the child is small, parents should consult their pediatrician about whether they can take such medications.