Unfortunately, even in developed modern times, there is a risk of helminth infection. In order to be able to treat and prevent this phenomenon, it is necessary, at the very least, to familiarize yourself with the main types of worms.
types of worms
In medical sources, where you can find the answer to the question of what types of worms a person has, they provide data on a huge variety of varieties. Of course, certain types are more common. According to classification, they can be divided into 3 main types. These are: roundworms and tapeworms, as well as worms.
worms
First on the list of types of worms in humans is to indicate roundworms. They are also known as nematodes. They got their name because of their body structure, as if you take a cross-section of an individual you can see the resulting roundness. Although there are over 20, 000 of its species in the world, only a few of them are generally found in humans.
The most common roundworms include:
- worm. These worms are quite large in size. They can reach half a meter in length. The width varies between 4-5 cm, the color is usually pink, but in different cases it can be whiter or redder. These helminths are mainly located in the small intestine, but in rare cases they can also be in the bile ducts. The larvae at the same time easily move through the body, through the bloodstream. Your final stop is the lungs. This is where the most comfortable conditions exist for its maturation, as this type of parasite belongs to the anaerobes. When they become more viable, they pass into the intestines. Roundworms have a long lifespan, which can be 12 to 14 months. Outside the human body, these worms live in soil conditions, where they lay several thousand eggs daily;
- earthworms. Most often found in children as the cause of infection can be poorly washed hands or products. A little less often they enter the body with dust particles. Its size is much smaller than that of roundworms. Males reach 3 mm in length, and females - up to 13-14 mm. The color is completely white. Their favorite habitat is the initial part of the large intestine. Eggs are laid in the anus, closer to the anus. Their life expectancy is also much shorter than that of roundworms and is only a few months.
- Trichinella. These modest-sized worms, which only reach 4 mm in length, usually enter the live human body as part of infected flesh. Larvae live in muscle tissue, mainly oculomotor and masticatory tissues, but adults prefer to locate in the intestines. Trichinella is a danger to humans as without proper treatment it can be fatal.
tapeworms
Tapeworms are characterized by a flat body structure and a complete absence of the gastrointestinal tract. The length of individuals can reach several meters, due to which they look like a long ribbon. They prefer to live in the intestines or gastric ducts. Among them are the following types:
- Bull tapeworm. This is one of the largest varieties of tapeworm. The length of an individual can reach 15-20 meters. The worm sticks to the surface of the small intestine and begins to absorb substances necessary for a person. Without proper diagnosis and treatment, it can live up to 10 years. Infection usually occurs by eating contaminated, undercooked meat;
- Dwarf tapeworm. It got its name because of its small size, on average 4-5 mm. You can get infected with this tapeworm through poorly washed vegetables and even dirty hands;
- wide range. Another great sight. Its length can reach 10 meters, the width is usually greater than that of other worms. Larvae enter the body with infected fish and grow to an adult in just 3. 5 weeks. It lives mainly in the small intestine. Life expectancy can reach tens of years;
- Echinococcus. Small worms, the length of which, as a rule, is not more than 5 mm. Infection occurs from infected animals: cats and dogs. This species differs in that individuals are not located in the intestines, but in the lungs or liver. They are dangerous because they can cause cysts to form, which later require surgical removal.
These worms can be very harmful to the body, so the sooner they are detected, the better.
chance
Worms, like tapeworms, are flat parasites due to the structure of their bodies. They are also called liver flukes because their main habitat is the liver and biliary tract. Its main types are:
- Luck. Also known as a cat cat. It mainly lives in rivers and lakes, which means it enters the human body along with infected fish that have undergone improper processing. Pets can act as a carrier. Individuals are quite small and rarely reach 12-13 mm. Inside a person they can live in absolutely any organ;
- Chinese or Oriental Fluke. It is characterized by a transparent red tint of the body and small size, not exceeding 2. 5 cm. It enters the human body, identical to the common worm. It can lay more than 3. 5 thousand eggs daily;
- Fasciola. This is a larger worm, its length can be 5-7 cm. It is viable only in freshwater conditions. Dies in salty springs. A person can become infected with fluke by drinking raw contaminated water, for example while bathing, and also by eating plants. The risk is especially great if they are aquatic or wild species.
Liver flukes, although small in size, can be dangerous to humans. The patient, in addition to the standard symptoms, may develop fever.
The simplest organisms
The simplest organisms have existed on Earth for millions of years. To date, science reads more than 14. 5 thousand species. Like other parasites, their favorite habitat is the soil, water from reservoirs and, of course, the human body. They can remain on the surface of vegetables and fruits for some time, the use of which often causes infection.
In the vast majority of cases, when it comes to infecting a person with protozoa, it is Giardia that is referred. Your vitality must be envied. They withstand even the harshest environmental conditions.
In their structure, they are distinguished by the presence of four pairs of flagella and a special disk that performs a suction function. Due to them, Giardia reliably clings to the inner surface of the intestine and begins to parasitize.
Manifestation symptoms
The fact that worms appear in the human body can be understood by a huge number of signs. But most of them are general in nature, indicating the presence of an inflammatory process. This can confuse the patient, forcing him to look for the cause in other diseases.
Thus, the patient may notice in himself during this period:
- Fatigue, malaise, fatigue;
- Skin pallor;
- Dizziness and sometimes headaches;
- Increased anxiety, irritability. In children, marked aggressiveness is observed;
- Sleep deterioration. Usually worried about insomnia;
- Joint pain, muscle pulling sensation;
- Increased salivation.
Fatigue is one of the signs of the presence of worms.
The following signs, which resemble an allergic reaction or diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, can mislead the patient:
- Yellowing of the skin;
- rash on the body;
- Bronchial asthma attacks;
- Stool disorders: constipation or diarrhea;
- Flatulence;
- Feeling of nausea, as well as vomiting;
- Pain in the abdomen and hypochondrium;
- Body temperature slightly elevated.
But the most typical symptoms for this situation, due to which people begin to suspect that they have parasites, are:
- Weight loss for no apparent reason. At the same time, it becomes very difficult to return the lost pounds;
- Itching in the anus;
- bruxism. This phenomenon is expressed in the grinding of teeth during sleep.
Despite the fact that there are many signs of the presence of parasites in the body, sometimes this phenomenon is completely asymptomatic, and therefore people may not be aware of it for months.
Diagnosis
Identifying helminths in the body is not easy. The standard procedure in this case is stool examination for egg larvae. I must say that sometimes to detect worms in the stool, it may be necessary to do an analysis 3-5 times.
How to identify certain types of worms, only a doctor knows. It is impossible to do this alone without test results. Depending on the symptoms present, the doctor may prescribe the following examination procedures:
- Blood analysis. In this case, the number of indicators such as proteins and eosinophils is analyzed;
- Analysis of anus scrapings;
- Vaginal scraping analysis.
Also, in some cases, additional measures may be necessary. Such as:
- Sputum examination;
- The study of the composition of urine and bile;
- endoscopy;
- computed tomography;
- Ultrasound procedure.
Once the parasites are identified, the doctor draws up a treatment plan.
Treatment
Self-treatment of parasites is not allowed. This is due to the following factors:
- The preparations contain a different active substance, which means that they have a harmful effect on different types of helminths;
- Some drugs are capable of destroying only worm larvae, but not adults;
- All medications have some side effects.
In this sense, it is necessary to select drugs based on the results of diagnostic procedures.
Preparations may have the following active ingredients:
- mebendazole. It only affects pinworms;
- Diethylcarbamazine. Medicines based on it are prescribed if there are filariae in the patient's body;
- Levamisole. It has a broad spectrum of action. Destroys pinworms and roundworms as well as other worms;
- Hydroxysynaphthoate bephenia. Effectively fights roundworms;
- Albendazole. Necessary in the treatment of diseases caused by echinococci;
- Piperazine adipate. It is used to remove roundworms and worms from the body.
Traditional medicine was not left out in this matter either. It offers several ways that are not always able to completely cleanse the body of parasites, but at the very least are able to slow down their reproduction and development.
Examples of such methods are:
- Pumpkin seeds. They are taken in their pure form or a decoction is made from them;
- Watermelon seeds. Apply similarly to the pumpkin;
- Wormwood tincture;
- Alcohol tincture and absinthe juice;
- Garlic;
- Tansy;
- Immortal Sandy.
It is important to pay attention to the fact that before using popular methods, you must obtain the approval of your doctor and, of course, exclude an allergic reaction to the components used.
What are dangerous worms for humans
Worms do not just live in the human body, they literally parasitize, taking out useful substances and also sucking blood. The body experiences a state of intoxication. The result of a long stay of helminths inside a person can be negative consequences such as:
- Weakening of the immune system;
- Violation of the gastrointestinal tract. Poor digestibility of food, appearance of ulcers;
- The development of allergies;
- cyst formation;
- Damage to the organs in which they live.
And don't forget that some types of parasites are very, very dangerous. Ignoring their presence can lead to the worst outcome.
Prevention
The vast majority of people at least once in their lives have faced worms. Children are especially affected by this. And this is quite justified, in addition to the fact that they have weaker immunity compared to adults, they also tend to ignore the rules of hygiene.
In general, methods that help reduce the risk of infection are not complicated at all. They mean by themselves:
- Compliance with personal hygiene rules. Hands should not only be rinsed, but washed well with soap;
- Vegetables, fruits, berries should be washed with plenty of water;
- Any meat: cattle, poultry or fish, must be washed very well before cooking. Heat treatment must also be complete. It is not worth taking risks and cooking meat with blood if there is no confidence in its quality and safety;
- Periodic anthelmintic prophylaxis in children. It is best to do this by consulting a doctor;
- In addition, livestock and pets are subject to drug prophylaxis. At the same time, it makes no difference whether they live in the courtyard of a private house or in their own room. If a dog or cat eats raw meat, worm prevention must be carried out flawlessly.
Such procedures will help not to find parasites for as long as possible.