There is a risk of becoming infected with worms without leaving the house.Different types of helminths are found on household items, banknotes, dishes, food and drinking water.
Parasites enter the human body in a way convenient for them: they can enter through the digestive system with food, water, through dirty hands or insect bites.
In addition, helminths infect certain internal organs, use the resources of the human body, cause mechanical damage and actively reproduce.Their vital processes are accompanied by unpleasant and often dangerous symptoms and damage to various organs.
How do you recognize intestinal worms?
Intestinal helminthiasis includes a group of diseases caused by worms of various types.Most commonly, ascariasis (roundworms), enterobiasis (pinworms) and hookworm disease (hookworms) can be detected.These parasites live in the lumen of the human intestine, feed on its contents, and their presence can be suspected by a number of characteristic symptoms:
- Drastic weight loss without changing your diet and physical activity.Helminths of the intestinal group use nutrients from the human body as a source of energy for growth and reproduction, and their devices for anchoring in the intestine (suction cups, hooks) injure its walls and impede the absorption of remaining microelements.
- Pain in the stomach, navel and itching in the rectum are caused by the movement of the worms, the mechanical damage they cause, as well as the release of larvae or adults from the body into the external environment.
- Various digestive disorders: diarrhea or constipation, flatulence, mucus, foam or blood in the stool, nausea, vomiting.In some cases, adult parasites may be found in stool.
- The human body can react to the appearance of parasites with allergic reactions and symptoms of intoxication caused by waste products of helminths.More often, this is manifested by itching of the skin, redness of certain areas and rashes (vesicles, blisters of various sizes).
Diagnosis of intestinal helminthiases includes stool examinations, clinical and biochemical blood tests (eosinophilia, leukocytosis) and, if necessary, ultrasound data of the body.
Signs of parasites in the liver
A large amount of nutrients accumulates in the human liver, and there is also intensive blood circulation, which is favorable for parasites.Common liverworm disease: fascioliasis, opisthorchiasis, dicroceliosis, caused by worms from the liver fluke group.
They can be recognized by certain signs:
- Sharp pain in the right hypochondrium is caused by the mechanical action of helminths.So, Echinococcus forms cysts in the tissues of the organ, which provokes the development of inflammatory processes or even necrosis.
- Adult worms (roundworms) can block the bile ducts, as a result of which the outflow of bile is disrupted, the digestion process in the body is complicated, and the patient shows signs of jaundice.The visible mucous membranes of a person acquire a yellow hue, and as the pathology develops, the skin also changes color.
- Nonspecific symptoms of the appearance of parasites are a deterioration in the general condition of the body, weight loss, nausea and lethargy.
To clarify the diagnosis, they donate blood for analysis.Leukocytosis and eosinophilia are detected, and biochemical tests indicate increased activity of liver enzymes (ALT, AST).Ultrasound examination reveals liver damage in the body: enlargement, inflammation and, in some cases, parasitic cysts.
What does the presence of lungworms mean?
Some parasites (Ascaris, Toxoplasma, Echinococcus, Acenur) can enter the human lungs from the gastrointestinal tract via the blood or lymph.They multiply in the alveoli, making breathing difficult, and some species (Echinococcus unilocular) form cysts that damage the structure of the organ.
Determining the presence of parasites in the lungs can be difficult, since the symptoms are similar to the manifestations of respiratory diseases of viral and non-infectious genesis (bronchitis, ARVI).Cough, difficulty breathing, chest pain and increased temperature indicate the need for additional examination of the patient's body.
The X-ray method is the most informative method for diagnosing pulmonary helminthiasis.The photos show lesions in the human body caused by echinococci (cysts) and bovine tapeworms (fibrous structures), which then need to be differentiated from neoplasms, cysts of various origins and pneumonia.
Parasites that live in the blood
Single-cell protozoa are found in the lumen of blood vessels.Babesia, plasmodia (malarial plasmodium), trypanosomes, microfilariae and schistosomes cause dangerous diseases that pose a threat to human life.
By destroying formed elements, they disrupt energy metabolism in the body and block the flow of nutrients to organs and tissues.
In most cases, human infection occurs after an insect or tick bite.After some time, signs of anemia develop in the body: pallor and then cyanosis of the mucous membranes, dizziness, sudden weight loss and deterioration in health.Without timely medical care, blood parasites can pose a serious threat to human life.
For diagnosis, microscopic blood tests are carried out, in which single-cell parasites and destroyed red blood cells can be found and the type of worm can be determined.The treatment is long-term and is carried out on an inpatient basis under the supervision of a qualified doctor.
Unusual habitats of parasites
Some types of helminths can invade the human heart, subcutaneous tissue (Dirofilaria), brain and spinal cord (cysticerci, echinococci).They can become infected not only in exotic countries, but also by eating familiar, improperly prepared foods, and pets can become carriers.Signs of invasion depend on the degree of damage to a particular organ.
In the brain, worms can form cysts and fibrous structures that cause nervous phenomena.
Headaches of unknown etiology, tremors (tremors) of the limbs, changes in tactile sensitivity, impaired coordination of movements, a sharp deterioration in hearing and vision - signs of the development of an invasion depend on the location of the worms and their larvae.
Adult parasites can be detected visually under the skin, usually accompanied by itching and tingling, as well as in the eyes, ear canals and other places.
What to do if signs of worm infestation are detected?
Diseases of parasitic etiology are treated under medical supervision after carrying out all the necessary examinations and determining the type of parasite.Anthelmintics of narrow or broad spectrum of action are prescribed, general strengthening and symptomatic therapy are carried out and help to remove worms from the body.In some cases, surgery is indicated.
For most diseases, the prognosis is good if treatment is started in a timely manner.If you postpone a doctor's visit or start taking medication yourself, the recovery process may be delayed, and many types of parasites can damage vital organs or body systems or even cause death.