How worms appear in humans and how to deal with them

The presence of parasitic organisms in the body not only leads to discomfort and the appearance of unpleasant symptoms, but also to the development of various diseases and a marked worsening of the state of health. Some types of parasites threaten not only health but also life. A dangerous neighborhood causes decreased immunity, damage to the integrity of internal organs. Doctors are sounding the alarm, more than eighty percent of all illnesses are caused by parasites or are the result of their life in the body. The statistics are alarming: every four adults and every two children are infected with helminths. Often, a person is not aware of the presence of worms until the condition becomes critical. Where do human worms come from? After all, the infection occurs even in those people who strictly follow the recommendations and try to exclude all contacts with the pathogenic environment. Let's try to find out how to prevent infection, which becomes the cause of helminth invasion developing.

The main routes of infection: where do worms come from

There are different ways to get infected with parasites. Worms are a problem for anyone of any age, although children are the most vulnerable category. They know the world by actively exploring objects for taste and have no persistent hygiene habits. Babies are mainly infected by the use of unwashed vegetable products, violation of hygiene rules after contact with pets, licking dirty fingers. Worms in children are a very common occurrence.

The mechanism of infection of parasites in adults is practically the same. Most helminthiasis develop as a result of ignorance of personal hygiene rules. Infection often occurs as a result of contact with sick people or animals, the use of contaminated household items and things. With insufficient heat treatment of meat and fish, there is also a high risk of becoming ill. Biohelminthiases enter the human body in this way. To minimize the likelihood of developing pathologies, it is necessary to cook, stew or fry fish and meat carefully. Drinking contaminated water, swimming in an unfamiliar body of water, or working in the garden with bare hands can cause worms to develop in an adult's body.

The main routes of infection are:

1. Oral-fecal. The pathogen enters the body through contaminated food or water. This group of helminths lives predominantly in the intestines. The pathogenic organism goes through a complete development cycle and secretes eggs, which come out with the host's feces. After entering the external environment, the parasite is introduced into the body of another host.
2. On the floor. Transmission of parasites in this way occurs due to human contact with contaminated soil. The method of transmission is similar to the previous version of the infection, but the eggs enter the soil not only with feces, but also with other secretions from the host's body.
3. Hematogenous. Parasites enter the host organism through insect bites. Infected bloodsuckers carry helminth eggs.
4. Biohelminthiasis. A complex infection system in which several intermediate and permanent hosts are present.

Parasite life cycle

Different types of helminths have their own developmental cycle, but their general scheme is identical: a larva develops from an egg, which eventually develops into a sexually mature adult.

Taking into account the peculiarities of development, there are three groups of parasites:

• contact;
• geohelminths;
• biohelminths.

Infection with contact parasites occurs predominantly through dirty hands. Geohelminths develop without an intermediate host. Eggs ripen in the ground. This group of parasites enters the human body through the oral cavity or the skin. Biohelminths have the most complex developmental cycle with several intermediate hosts.

helminthiasis symptoms

After penetration of the parasites into the human body, the first symptoms may appear immediately or after some time, when the number of worms increases significantly or the only representative of the species grows to a large size. The first blow is taken by the immune system.

Signs of a general deterioration in health gradually appear:

• fatigue;
• sleep badly;
• apathy;
• lethargy;
• dizziness.

These symptoms are due to an increasing deficiency of nutrients and components that are absorbed by the parasites, impoverishing the human body. People with helminthiasis become weak and irritable. Specific symptoms appear gradually, which depend on the type of helminths, location in a particular organ.

liver worms

The parasites enter the organ through the blood or orally. As the disease progresses, the following symptoms are observed:

1. Body temperature rises by several degrees. With the mass of parasites in the organ, necrosis, abscess can begin, in which case the temperature rises to critical values.
2. Mucous membranes and skin turn yellow as the gland produces large amounts of bilirubin.
3. On palpation, an enlarged liver can be seen. The patient feels an overflow in the organ, it presses on the adjacent tissues. Pain in the right abdomen begins to disturb, breathing becomes difficult.
4. A clinical blood test shows an increased eosinophil content.
5. Often worried about nausea, an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Some patients complain of dizziness.

intestinal worms

Most parasites prefer to live in the intestines. It is an ideal place to feed, develop and reproduce. In the intestines, sexually mature individuals secrete eggs, which enter the environment with the patient's feces.

The symptoms of localization of helminths in this organ are as follows:

1. Indigestion in the form of predominance of constipation or diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
2. Aversion to food, total loss of appetite.
3. Changing eating habits. The patient refuses his favorite dishes, preferring an unusual flavor.
4. The presence of blood in the stool.
5. Very severe cramping abdominal pain.
6. The presence of parasites or their fragments in the stool, vomiting.
7. Bowel obstruction.

worms in the lungs

Worms enter the lungs with the bloodstream. The location of helminths in the respiratory system causes great damage to the body. The symptoms of lung injury are as follows:

1. Chest pain.
2. Exhaustive cough with sputum.
3. Increased body temperature.
4. Hearing wheezing in the chest.
5. Difficulty breathing, the development of an asthmatic component.

With the massive spread of the lungs, there is a high probability of developing complications in the form of pneumonia, airway blockage, necrosis, or abscess.

worms in eyes

The location of helminth larvae in the eyes causes serious vision problems. The symptoms of the presence of parasites in the eyes are as follows:

1. Seals visible under the eyelids.
2. Pain and movement in the eyes.
3. A marked decrease in visual acuity.
4. Changing the position of the eyeball.
5. Progressive strabismus.
6. Constant discharge from the eye.

worms in the brain

The presence of parasites in the brain is one of the most serious diseases, as helminths irrevocably damage nerve fibers. Often, the disease ends with the patient's death.

The symptoms of cerebral parasites are:

1. Violent migraine headache.
2. Dizziness.
3. Nausea, vomiting.
4. Access to neuropsychiatric disorders.

Helminth invasion therapy

Parasites in the bodies of adults and children are frequently detected. The awareness of the presence of pathogenic individuals in one's own body is quite unpleasant. It is necessary to start the correct treatment in a timely manner. Only a qualified specialist can prescribe anthelmintic drugs.

To confirm or deny your suspicions, you need to be examined and tested.

The doctor recommends any method of detecting helminths: complete blood count, stool, urine, ultrasound or X-ray, endoscopy or CT scan. Based on the type of parasite identified, treatment is prescribed. The pharmaceutical industry is ready to offer many effective drugs against worms. Treatment can be carried out with the use of a drug once or a course. It all depends on the type of parasite, location, quantity, as well as the patient's general condition.

When detecting the fact of helminthiasis in the family, it is recommended to treat parasites in the body of everyone who lives together. Human helminths are not only unpleasant, but also a very dangerous disease that threatens the development of many complications. You cannot ignore the situation or use drugs alone. Only a doctor can prescribe a medicine that is as effective as possible and does not cause harm.

There are folk recipes that can become a powerful support for the body against helminthiasis. Drugs can be used as adjuncts to drug therapy or for prophylaxis. It must be understood that you cannot take traditional remedies on your own. Initially, you need to find out information about the parasite, find out the location of its location. If possible, your doctor will recommend adding alternative medicine prescriptions to your therapy regimen.

The following herbal ingredients are considered the best folk remedies: pumpkin seeds, wormwood, ginger, herbal preparations, tansy, hawthorn.

Preventive actions

Worm infestations are not as harmless as they might first appear. The disease harms health, negatively affects the general condition. For babies, helminthiasis is much more dangerous: the child is seriously retarded in development, often sick.

Preventive measures are simple and easy to do, just form some good habits:

1. Wash your hands before eating, after walking, visiting public places.
2. Deworm pets.
3. Eat only washed vegetable foods.
4. Don't drink unboiled water, refuse to swim in unfamiliar bodies of water.
5. Work in the vegetable garden with gloves on.
6. Prepare meat and fish dishes carefully.
7. Refuse to buy food at spontaneous markets.

And while it's impossible to completely protect yourself against helminth invasion, it's actually possible to minimize the risks by following expert advice. Don't get sick!