Worm infestations often cause significant discomfort and health problems for a person. The symptoms of worms can be very diverse: fever, weakness, stomach pain, headache, etc.
Worms - what are they?
As we said above, adult worms traditionally have a stable location in the body, and their developing forms often migrate to different organs and tissues, and often the path of their movement is quite complex. For example, with ascariasis, a person becomes infected by eating food contaminated with worm eggs (ascaris eggs mature in the soil).
In the cavity of the intestinal tract, roundworm eggs hatch into larvae, which within a few hours enter the blood vessels through the wall of the intestinal tract and are transported to the lungs via the bloodstream. In the lungs, roundworm larvae grow and mature. The growing larva slowly gnaws through the adjacent bronchi and crawls along them, first into the trachea and then into the oral cavity, where it is swallowed again and transported to the intestinal tract.
The roundworm larva that re-enters the intestinal tract transforms into an adult worm. Pulmonary migration of roundworm larvae is manifested by an abundance of symptoms (cough, asthma attacks, increased body temperature, allergic skin rash), and the presence of a small number of adult worms in the intestinal tract may not manifest itself in a some.
What are helminthiases (helminthic diseases) - Symptoms of worms
The term "helminthiasis" usually means a number of human diseases, the premise of which is various parasitic worms - helminths (another collective name for these parasites - worms).
Unlike diseases caused by bacteria, protozoa or fungi, in helminthiasis, the number of adult helminths (worms) in the body of an infected person does not increase by one point (with the exception of cases of reinfection). This is due to the fact that worms reproduce only outside the human body.
What are they?
Medicine knows more than a hundred varieties of helminths. The following are the most common types of worms:
- Pinworms are small worms in the human body that reach a length of 12 mm. This type of worm is diagnosed in the intestinal mucosa. Parasites enter the body with dust through the respiratory tract and can be easily transmitted from person to person.
- Roundworms are large roundworms most often found in the small intestine. Infection of the body occurs through unwashed hands and food. More often, roundworms are found in children's bodies.
- Trichinella - these parasites have round bodies no more than 5 mm long and cause trichinosis of the body. Larvae and eggs prefer to be in poorly fried meat (boar, pork, bear). In the human body, Trichinella takes up to 4 days to become an adult and its life cycle is 40 days. The main objective of this type of worm is to enter the bloodstream through the intestinal walls and settle in the muscles. Additionally, the muscles of the respiratory and musculoskeletal systems are often affected.
- Pork/beef tapeworm. The body length of the parasite is 5-6 meters, and its larvae hide in the meat of large animals (pigs, cattle). The disease caused by these helminths is called taeniasis and taeniarinhoz. The larvae of both types of tapeworms are whitish vesicles attached to the walls of the small intestine. The parasite takes 3 months to reach and form an adult, and the worm develops every day. The total number of segments reaches 2, 000, with the ends freely "furrowing" the large intestine. The worms then leave the body along with feces through the anus. The most common and obvious symptom of helminthiasis is disruption of the digestive tract, as well as the consumption of food in large quantities, and the patient does not visually gain weight.
- Necator/hookworm. The link between these parasites is direct, due to the diseases and biological characteristics they cause. They live in the duodenum and due to their small size (10-15 mm) they move freely in their environment. Larvae can only enter the body through the skin if the person has come into contact with contaminated soil. The worms' other target is the lungs, along with the digestive tract. They feed only on the blood that comes out of the chopped blood vessels. As a result of the vigorous activity of these parasites, blood clotting is disturbed. Adults consume blood in the range of 0. 1-0. 35 ml per day.
- Echinococcus. In this case, a person acts as an intermediate host, since the final host is wolves, cats and dogs. Animals can become infected through direct contact with contaminated objects or people. As soon as the parasite eggs enter the intestine, larvae with six hooks immediately develop, which in medicine are called oncospheres.
- Whipworms are diagnosed in a person's stomach. They are thin and quite large worms.
You can determine the type of helminths by looking at the color of the worms in the stool when they emerge. Infection occurs through vegetables and meat that have undergone insufficient heat treatment. You can avoid infection by following food preparation rules.
How common and dangerous are worms?
Symptoms of worms. Data from modern epidemiological studies have revealed that every 4th person around the world is infected with worms. The incidence of worm infection is significantly higher in children than in adults. In children and adults, worms can become a prerequisite for various acquired diseases of internal organs (gastritis, pancreatitis, enterocolitis, cholecystitis) and from time to time lead to the development of unsafe complications and death.
According to the World Health Organization and the Global Disease Bank, helminthic diseases rank 4th in terms of economic damage among all other diseases and injuries.
In our region there are more than 15 types of worms, the most common of which are enterobiasis (about 90% in the group of patients with helminthic diseases), ascariasis (70%), opisthorchiasis, diphyllobothriasis, trichocephalosis (60%), toxocariasis ( 60%) and hymenolepiasis. As is clear from statistics, almost all sick people (especially children) are simultaneously infected with various forms of worms.
Where do worms spread in humans?
Many people believe that worms certainly live in the intestines, and for some types of helminths this is true. In general, worms can be found in various organs and systems of the human body:
- all types of tapeworms, whipworms and nematodes "settle" in the large intestine;
- trematodes attack the liver and gallbladder;
- Pork tapeworm larvae can spread through the bloodstream to all organs - subcutaneous fatty tissue, the eye chamber and blood vessels in muscles can be affected.
How can you get infected with worms?
How do worms enter the human body? There are 4 main sources of helminth eggs entering the body:
Geohelminthiasis- through the soil (and then water), where there are mature eggs of many helminths that enter the soil with human or animal feces, as well as through direct contact with animals and through the transfer of eggs by flies to food. Contact - from person to person Worms as well-known and common as pinworms are transmitted; this is the greatest risk of infection.
Biohelmintoses- when eating raw, semi-raw or slightly heat-treated meat (pork, beef) or fish infected with helminths (sushi, kebab, dried fish, lard with meat streaks, etc. ) Some parasites enter the body through insect bites
The main mechanism of any infection is most often oral-fecal, that is, a person simply swallows worm eggs along with food, water, and less often, some helminth infestations occur from infected insect bites. Undercooked meat and raw fish are understandable, but how can you become infected with worms through household and soil contact?
Through the ground
After any contact with earth or sand, you should not only wash your hands, but also clean your nails well; It is better to have short nails, especially for children. Food products growing in the ground - vegetables, herbs, fruits, berries, mushrooms, everything that is attached to the ground requires thorough washing in running water and scalding with boiling water. Pets, especially dogs and cats, that walk on the street bring a lot of sewage into the house, and children who play with them are at maximum risk of infection, the animal can easily infect you with any type of helminths. Flies are also the main carriers of helminths, being in public bathrooms, places where agricultural livestock live, the flies then calmly land on food, spreading eggs on their wings and feet.
From person to person
With worms, infection of others occurs very easily. When a female pinworm crawls out of the intestine at night, she lays about 5, 000 eggs near the anus, which causes intense itching; the child, scratching the itchy area, infests his hands, nails, underwear and bedding with them. Without washing his hands immediately, hundreds of eggs remain on every object he touches – doorknobs, clothes, food, toys. Furthermore, the infection process is clear: the eggs are also deposited on the hands of another child or adult who uses these items and, without washing their hands before eating, they end up in the mouth of a healthy person.
Through the water
A large number of worm eggs end up in open bodies of water and wells. Therefore, anyone who lives in rural areas or the countryside should use a bactericidal filter and be sure to boil their water. It is also dangerous to swallow water when swimming in open water.
Everyone knows that worms are a problem especially for children. Firstly, because they are more susceptible to the development of helminthiasis, since the protective barriers of the child's body are not properly formed and the acidity of the stomach is lower than in adults. Secondly, children of preschool age, mastering the world, try all the objects that surround them not only with their hands, but also with their taste. And parents, with all their desire, can teach their child to strictly follow the rules of personal hygiene, without reminders, only at 3-6 years old, which exposes not only the baby himself, but also all family members, to risk of infection (pinworms).
It must be remembered that no worm can reproduce and multiply in the human body, each species has its own period of time after which they die, for example, for pinworms it is just a few weeks, for roundworms it is about a year. Eggs laid by adults must leave the body with feces or (in the case of pinworms) on the skin near the anus, into the external environment, into the soil, and only then, having matured outside the human body and entering it again, they begin to become active and parasitize.
Worm symptoms
The development of helminthiasis usually occurs in two phases: acute - from two, three weeks to two months and chronic - from several months to many years.
The acute phase coincides with the moment of introduction and development of the parasite and is mainly manifested by an immune response to foreign antigens and allergic reactions. The symptoms of this stage of helminthiasis are similar when different types of parasites are introduced.
The chronic phase is distinguished by great diversity: depending on the location of the worms, their number and lifestyle, disturbances arise in the functioning of various organs and systems. By integrating into the metabolic system, consuming substances it needs, the parasite leads to disorders, manifested by disorders of digestion and absorption of vitamins, proteins, fats, carbohydrates and minerals. Worm waste leads not only to the suppression of normal intestinal microflora, but also reduces immunity, promoting the development of chronic bacterial infections, reducing the effectiveness of preventive vaccinations.
An increased risk of malignant tumors is associated with a negative effect on the immune system and enhanced cell division (regeneration) processes in damaged tissues.
The first signs of the development of helminthiasis can appear from 2-3 days (with ascariasis) to 1. 5 years (with filariasis). Most often this period is 2-3 weeks. At the beginning of the disease, skin rashes, enlarged lymph nodes, enlarged liver and spleen, pain in muscles and joints appear. Some helminthiases are characterized by specific signs, such as jaundice for opisthorchiasis (liver fluke) or fever, muscle pain, swelling of the face and eyelids for trichinosis.
In the chronic phase, the presence of single specimens of worms occurs practically without any symptoms, the exception may be the presence of large specimens, for example, tapeworms and roundworms. In the case of a more generalized infection, the symptoms of helminthic infections consist of digestive disorders (nausea, bloating, abdominal pain, loose stools) and some specific signs. In enterobiasis, for example, it is an itch in the anus, which intensifies in the afternoon and at night.
In trichocephalosis it is hemorrhagic colitis (with hemorrhages). With hookworm - iron deficiency anemia. In ascariasis, mechanical obstruction of the intestines and bile ducts may occur. In helminthiasis with liver damage, chronic hepatitis and inflammation of the biliary tract (cholecystitis, cholangitis) develop.
A special place is occupied by helminthiases with the development of cysts (liquid formations on the membrane): echinococcosis, alveococcosis, cysticercosis. Even large cysts may not manifest themselves in any way, but their suppuration or rupture leads to such serious consequences as: anaphylactic shock, peritonitis, purulent pleurisy. Helminthiasis can be accompanied by symptoms of vegetative-vascular asthenia and neurotic conditions. Let us consider in more detail the most common special cases of helminthiasis.
Worm diagnosis. Worm treatment
With enterobiasis, the main condition for successful treatment is simultaneous deworming of all family members (or children's team), strict hygiene measures and repeated administration of medications 10-14 days after the first.
Folk remedies to treat worms
Traditional treatment methods include medicinal plants with anthelmintic and laxative effects. Even in ancient times, healers recommended using elecampane and celandine juice to expel worms. Carrots and carrot juice also have anthelmintic effects. Often in traditional medicine recipes you can find walnuts, pomegranates, mint and, more often, garlic in the form of a nutritional component or enemas. A decoction of wormwood is used in the form of enemas or orally. Pumpkin seeds are a recognized official remedy for worms. In folk medicine, the use of medicinal plants is often combined with saline laxatives. Although the effect of medicinal plants is not as high, they can serve as prophylaxis or complement to the traditional treatment of helminthiasis.
Complications of helminthiasis
Complications of helminthiasis are mainly associated with the mechanical effect of the parasite on the organ; tissue destruction sometimes leads to fatal dysfunction of the affected organ. The addition of bacterial infections at sites of mechanical damage is a common complication that masks the presence of the parasite in the body. For impressionable people, the sight of a parasite (for example, when expelled) can cause severe psychological trauma, requiring long-term rehabilitation treatment.
Worm prevention
It contains timely identification and treatment of sick people and animals, adherence to personal hygiene measures (washing hands before eating, thoroughly washing food products, meticulous heat treatment of food, especially meat and fish).
Common questions
What symptoms may indicate the presence of worms in a person?
Symptoms of pinworms can include constant fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal pain, itching in the anal area, and digestive problems such as diarrhea or constipation.
How can you determine if a person has worms?
To determine the presence of worms in a person, you can perform a stool test to detect worm eggs or do a blood test to detect the presence of worm antibodies. Your doctor may also prescribe an ultrasound or other diagnostic procedures to confirm the diagnosis.
What precautions can be taken to prevent worm infections?
To prevent worm infection, it is recommended to regularly wash your hands with soap and water, especially before eating and after using the bathroom. You should also avoid contact with contaminated soil or water, drink only safe water, and cook food properly to destroy any possible worm eggs.
Useful Tips
Tip #1
Pay attention to changes in appetite and weight. If you or your child feel constant hunger or, conversely, loss of appetite, this may be a sign of helminthic infection.
Tip #2
Pay attention to the condition of your skin and hair. If you or your child develops rashes, itchiness, or changes in hair texture (such as brittleness or hair loss), it may be due to the presence of worms.
Tip #3
Pay attention to the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. If you or your child frequently experience abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea, it may be due to a worm infection.