Helminthiasis

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

Helminthiasis is a disease characterized by infection by 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.Any infected adult or child carries more than 400 different types of helminths, each with several classes.Therefore, only the attending physician can determine which worm parasitizes a particular organism and prescribe the exact treatment.

They are most often located in the intestines, but can also affect other areas.The worms affect the brain and eyes, causing allergies and metabolic disorders.Their prevalence is influenced by living conditions and climate.So, in European countries, in urban areas, the percentage of the disease is much lower.

Worm larvae are the most dangerous, as they move throughout the body, causing additional damage to many important organs.Adult parasites settle in one point and only affect a certain area.Intestinal helminthiasis does not live permanently in the human body and, depending on its type, sooner or later dies.

However, that doesn't mean there's no need to fix the problem.The pests themselves and their decomposition products are dangerous.Worms worsen the general condition of the human body, reduce 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 concern the heart and eyes.

Irritant factors of the disease

Very often, the carrier of helminths is a patient (more than half of infection cases): the female parasites come out to the anal folds and lay eggs there (around 5,000 eggs per female).The infected person feels itchy, scratches the affected area and spreads the parasites further: to items in their own wardrobe and to objects they touch during the day.

Worms enter the body through food, but there are other routes of transmission: through the skin (dust particles containing the virus remain under the nails) or through droplets suspended in the air.That is why patients who do not follow the necessary hygiene rules, eat dirty vegetables and fruits, and drink undistilled tap water are at risk of contracting this disease.

You can become infected with worms by drinking tap water.

So, helminthiasis most often affects people living in a private house, owners of pets, gourmets who prefer medium-roasted, smoked and sushi meat.Frequent carriers of parasites are dogs and cats (domestic and stray).This parasite is called “taxacara” and can enter another organism;the risk of infection is particularly high for a person with a weakened immune system.The following varieties are distinguished:

1. Contact.Transmitted from person to person, they are the most common type of infection.
2. Geohelminthiasis.Transmitted by soil or water;in some cases, infection from a sick animal is possible.The vector of infection contains eggs of adult worms, which reach humans through the feces of an animal, insect or person.People who work the land are in danger, especially without gloves.
3. Biohelminthiasis.Worms that enter through poorly fried foods: fish or meat.
4. Worms which enter through insect bites (most often mosquitoes).

Worms can enter the body with food without heat treatment.

Forms of the disease

Depending on the location, the following types are distinguished:

• luminal – located in the intestine;
• individuals of the hepatobiliary system;
• affecting the lungs;
• penetrating fabric;
• ophthalmic infections caused by helminths.

Some of the most common types of worms include roundworms and tapeworms.

The most common types of helminthiasis:

1. Roundworms.
2. Pinworms.
3. Whipworm.
4. Wide band.
5. Trichinella.
6. Bull tapeworm.

The first variety enters the intestines through the mouth and from there into the lymph.Passing into the lungs and other organs, roundworms cause fever, weakness and cough.The virus enters the stomach, where an adult is formed.The patient develops allergies and the infected person suddenly loses weight.Often, patients arrive at the hospital with other illnesses (for example, pneumonia, which has similar symptoms).

Pinworms are most often located in the large intestine, where they develop within 2 weeks.They get on unwashed food, dirty hands and soil.The most striking symptom is anal itching, which gets worse at night.If there are a large number of worms, the patient is constantly bothered by itching.

The whipworm enters through food.The infected person experiences abdominal pain, lack of appetite and anemia.Often, when a whipworm enters, the infected person is prescribed poor treatment and is offered to relieve acute appendicitis.

The fourth variety takes hold in crayfish or freshwater fish and then is localized to the human body via an infected freshwater fish or its eggs.The patient constantly experiences stomach aches.

Trichinella enters through poorly heat-treated meat, which contains the parasite egg.The muscles of the face, arms and legs as well as the joints are affected.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 from the active work of the body.

The bovine tapeworm enters humans through pork or beef.This has a detrimental effect on the gastrointestinal tract, because it stops functioning normally (intestinal and digestive pathologies).

Signs of illness

Symptoms have 2 stages of development.The 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, severe weight loss, pallor and itching are observed.Respiratory problems are common in children.

2. Dysfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract.Diarrhea abruptly gives way to constipation, the patient is diagnosed with vomiting and abdominal pain near the navel, as well as possible active gas formation.These symptoms can be mild or severe depending on the type of parasite.
3. Nervous system problems.Parasites release toxic substances.The more of them there are in the body, the more actively they work.The patient experiences frequent headaches, nausea and dizziness.In addition, symptoms develop up to high temperature, which leads to pain in the body and joints.The patient gets tired quickly, cannot sleep enough and rest properly.Due to lack of sleep, irritability appears and productivity at work decreases.
4. Allergy.The symptoms of a helminthiasis rash are similar to those of hives or allergic rhinitis.The skin begins to peel, nails and hair become thin and brittle.Another distinctive feature 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 of the next stage, the chronic stage, are more varied.Here, disorders of different organs will be visible depending on the quantity, location and type of worm.If there are few helminths in the body, they do not manifest themselves in any way;various symptoms are only visible when the worms are actively reproducing.

Diagnosis of the disease

Diagnosis of helminthiasis consists of a general blood test, in which eosinophils (which bind to foreign proteins in the blood) are elevated.Additionally, urine and feces are subject to examination.Retesting may be necessary after 3 days, as worms are not always visible.In some cases, additional analysis for helminthic infections is necessary.For these purposes, bile, sputum and muscle tissue are examined.

During laboratory diagnostics, fragments of larvae or eggs of worms are looked for in the object of analysis.If symptoms are more chaotic, additional blood tests may be ordered.Other means of diagnosis: ultrasound, x-ray, endoscopy and computed tomography.

Worms absorb food that enters the human body, so laboratory tests will show a significant lack of vitamins and minerals.A microscopic examination is prescribed if roundworms or pinworms are suspected.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 caused by them.If a certain type of worm is detected, anthelmintic drugs are prescribed.Most often, treatment consists of a single dose of medication, but in some cases it is possible to restart the medication after a short period.

Additionally, the following medications may be prescribed:

1. Antihistamines (antiallergic drugs), which will remove all harmful substances from the body and normalize the condition of the skin.
2. If the level of hemoglobin or red blood cells is low, medications containing iron, B vitamins or folic acid will be prescribed.
3. Additionally, treatment will consist of taking vitamins and following a specialized low-carbohydrate diet.
4. The room in which the infected person lives, as well as their personal belongings, are carefully treated.
5. Diagnosis of helminthiasis is indicated for all family members or people who interact directly with the patient.
6. Treatment requires nail care.They must be cut short and carefully cleaned.
7. In more advanced cases, hormonal drugs are prescribed, as well as drugs with a high potassium content.

Additionally, treatment can consist of folk recipes.Natural plants also have anthelmintic properties.For example, celandine and elecampane juice.Vegetable (carrot) juices will 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 by medicinal methods is unacceptable.However, in addition to the main method or as a means of prevention, such natural preparations will benefit the body.

Treatment of children is often carried out in a hospital setting, because in them the disease is more serious and lasts a long time.When choosing medications to treat a child, the doctor often adjusts them over time because the initial medications will not always be effective for the child's body.

Disease prevention

Prevention of helminthiasis is quite simple and does not require much effort.After any work with the earth, wash your hands and also treat your nails, because this is how parasites most often enter the body.You should always wash your hands before eating anything, after going out, 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 these often carry infections on their wings.This is especially true in spring and summer.

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

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

Once every 6 months, a preventive course of anthelmintic drugs should be administered.

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