Worms remain one of the most controversial topics in the medical world.Some doctors consider teeth grinding and indigestion at night as the first symptoms of worms in humans.
Other experts believe that worm infection is not dangerous and recommend not taking any measures once the parasite is detected.
Types of worms in humans
Medicine knows more than 300 types of different parasites that can live in the human body.A worm is a worm of the genus Vermin that parasitizes the body of mammals (humans and animals).This may not cause direct harm to the host's body.But in some cases it leads to the development of serious pathologies.
What does a worm look like?It depends on the type of worm, of which there are two types in humans:
- Round.These are roundworms, pinworms and whipworms.Large roundworms can reach 10-40 cm in length, they often accumulate in the small intestine, causing it to become blocked.Pinworms are small roundworms no more than 1 cm in length.Whipworms parasitize the large intestine and reach a length of 4–5 cm.Worm eggs look different, but almost all are round.
- tape.These worms include tapeworms and tapeworms.They are characterized by a long (up to several meters) body with a small head.Long and flatworms in humans can settle in the intestines, liver and other organs.This subspecies includes floating insects with flattened, long bodies and heads.These also have suction grooves or suckers.
In addition to these varieties, the body is parasitized by giardia and protozoa, which affect the liver and small intestine.All types of parasites are characterized by the inability to exist completely outside the host's body, high reproductive function and the ability to spread throughout the body.
Where do they live?
To understand why worms are harmful, you need to know their types and location in the body.When the worms are initially localized in the intestines, they easily reach the lungs, liver, brain, and organs of vision through the bloodstream.
Most often, worms settle in the intestines.There they damage the mucous membrane, as the parasites suck or gnaw the inner lining of the intestines to obtain food.
For nutrition they continuously require digested food or blood.The more parasites there are in the intestines, the more nutrients are taken from the host.Poison poisoning occurs.The waste products of worms penetrate into the intestinal lumen and then into human blood, which causes general intoxication.
Classification
Depending on the habitat of the parasites in nature, the following types of worms are distinguished in humans:
- geohelminths.Part of the life cycle takes place in the soil.Usually the eggs of the parasite fall into the ground with feces, which enter the body of the new host along with soil, vegetables and fruits.Geohelminths include roundworms, whipworms, hookworms, and nectars.
- biohelminths.In order for such parasites to grow and mature, they must reside permanently in the body of the mammal.The eggs begin to develop when they enter the body of an intermediate host – an animal, bird or fish.To mature and reproduce, the worms must enter a new organism, usually a warm-blooded animal or person.Such worms include tapeworms, nematodes and echinococci.
- contact worm.Smallest group.Infection with these worms occurs through direct contact with the owner or his personal belongings and clothing.Infectious parasites include pinworms and dwarf tapeworms.
Why are insects harmful?
Doctors often debate whether worms are dangerous and how dangerous they are.There is an opinion that no parasite can survive in a healthy human body.If they remain, their numbers will be very limited and they will not cause much harm.
This theory is confirmed by its supporters by the fact that every day a person encounters many pathogenic bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms, which the body successfully copes with.
Thanks to natural defense mechanisms, a person can overcome worms that enter the gastrointestinal tract or on the skin.But if the infection was massive, and the parasites found themselves in a favorable environment, then worms in the intestines or liver can lead to the development of many diseases.
The amount of damage caused to the body depends on how long the worms survive in a person.The length of stay of parasites depends on their type.Some of them leave the body after one reproductive cycle if a person is an intermediate host, such as with infection with bovine tapeworm or cat fluke.But often, parasites remain present in the human body for years.
The consequences of infection with worms are a weakened immune system, impaired digestion and a general weakening of the body, which can no longer withstand normal stress and other diseases.Worm infection is especially dangerous in children and women.Parasites interfere with the full growth and development of the child, and in pregnant women they cause miscarriage or delayed fetal development.
symptoms of worms
With parasitic infections, there are manifestations that are common to all types of infections and have specific characteristics of each species.
Common symptoms of worms in adults:
- Increase in body temperature to low-febrile for no apparent reason;
- Pain in abdomen, right hypochondrium;
- stool instability;
- changes in appetite;
- weight loss;
- Weakness, decreased performance, headache.
The following symptoms are characteristic of ascariasis:
- Nausea, pain in the stomach and right hypochondrium;
- A rash that appears from time to time all over the body;
- Loss of appetite and weight loss.
The following are observed with enterobiasis (pinworms):
- stomach pain;
- Itching in the anal area;
- Change in appetite.
Diphyllobothriasis (long tapeworms in humans) manifests itself:
- nausea vomiting;
- Pain in the abdominal area;
- indigestion;
- Weakness, headache, fainting.
If the worms enter the liver, lungs or other internal organs, no symptoms of infection may be seen for a long time.Then symptoms of dysfunction of a particular organ appear: cough, jaundice of the skin, tachycardia.
Which doctor should I contact for worm infection?
If you suspect stomach worms, you can contact a pediatrician or therapist, who will issue a referral for examination and prescribe treatment.In addition, stomach worms require consultation with an infectious disease specialist or parasitologist.
diagnosis
Worms are detected in several ways:
- Stool analysis and scraping for worm eggs.Most worms live in the intestines, so eggs or body parts of the parasites can be found in stool or stool.The disadvantage of this method is its low reliability, since worms in feces can be detected only with massive infection.
- Elisa for worm infection.The enzyme immunoassay method allows you to detect antibodies to parasites.In the acute form of infection, IgM is determined, and if a person has already had parasitosis, or the infection has become chronic, then IgG is determined.
- Blood test.Detects antibodies against certain types of worms.It is considered the most accurate diagnostic method.
Less common diagnostic methods are: determining helminthic infestation using a thermal imager or electromagnetic vibrations created by the parasites.But these methods are not widely used.To confirm the diagnosis, ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, heart, CT of internal organs and MRI of blood vessels are additionally prescribed.
treatment of worm infection
The diagnosis of parasitosis often causes a negative reaction in patients, which is why they even refuse treatment.So what to do if worms are found in your family members or on your body?
Today, the treatment of worm infections in adults and children does not cause any difficulties.There are a large number of drugs against parasites – broad-spectrum or highly specific.
Under no circumstances should you self-medicate, much less attempt to remove worms from the body of an adult or child.Each medicine has its own level of toxicity and can cause toxicity in the body.Only a doctor can prescribe the appropriate medicine and rules for its use.
drug treatment
The following are tips to get rid of insects:
- Universal preparation for all types of parasites.
- The drugs are active against roundworms and hookworms.
- Broad-spectrum medications.
All types of medicines for worms help to get rid of only adult worms.Therefore, to completely destroy all larvae and eggs, you need to undergo several courses of therapy.
traditional methods
There are the following tips to get rid of insects:
- Wormwood Powder.Take 0.5 tsp.Once a day for 3 days.
- Green walnut skins.It is infused in alcohol for 10-14 days and taken 1 tsp.Once a day.
- Clove seeds.Chopped cloves are taken on the tip of a knife.The course of treatment lasts 7-10 days.
Diet
When treating helminthic infections, it is advisable not to eat heavy food or temporarily refuse to eat in order to enhance the effect of therapy.And to remove toxins from the body faster, you need to drink as much fluid as possible.
Routes of infection and prevention
There are three main ways of infection with helminthiasis:
- Food ingredient.The most common route of infection.Worm eggs can be carried in water or soil;They can easily become infected by eating fruits, vegetables and berries without washing them.A large number of parasites live in river fish and seafood, raw meat and dairy products that have not been heat treated.
- Failure to follow personal hygiene rules.You can catch worms everywhere: in public catering places, transport, shops, on the street, through contact with the street and domestic animals.The only method of prevention is to monitor personal hygiene and the condition of the pet.
- Contact and domestic.In this way worm infection spreads in groups of children.It is also possible to infect members of the same family by sharing towels, bedding or clothes.
Are worms transmitted directly from person to person?This is rare, but close contact with an infected patient increases the risk of infecting others manifold.The only prevention of helminthiasis is to observe the rules of personal hygiene and careful processing of food.
It is recommended that you get tested and checked by your doctor annually.If worms are not treated, a person's health can be seriously affected.And attack by some types of parasites is life threatening.