Helminthic infection of the human body can be quite a serious problem. Infection can occur in everyone, regardless of gender, age and social status of a person.
Worms can settle in the small or large intestine, entering there in different ways.
They have a serious toxic effect on the entire organ system, producing products of their vital activity.
All this has a negative impact on human resistance to all kinds of infections that hit the body.
Division of worms into types
Today, more than 300 different helminthic pathologies are known. They are provoked by nematodes and cestodes.
The first are roundworms, and the second are flatworms. They parasitize various organs and their tissues.
It is for this reason that specialists have worked on the classification of parasites. According to the possibility of parasitism in the human body, two groups of worms are known:
- intestinal
- extraintestinal.
Representatives of the intestinal group live in the area of the small or large intestine, and the second extraintestinal live in the heart, liver, lungs and even muscles.
They move through the body thanks to blood flow. Usually, a person with a good immune system has several protective barriers that prevent worms from entering the body.
There is a special enzyme in the mouth that has a negative effect on them. If the worms pass this barrier, they enter the stomach, where the acidic environment kills their eggs.
It is also common to divide worms according to the diseases they cause. For example, liver worms cause fascioliasis, bovine tapeworms - taeniarhynchosis, tapeworms - enterobiasis, roundworms - ascariasis, etc. Sh.
Thanks to intestinal immunity, certain antibodies are produced that fight against helminths.
Only these barriers are not of particular importance in the case when a person was seriously ill, i. e. i. The immune system is weakened.
Appearance of human worms
Today, there are a large number of helminths that differ in appearance and have special properties. This article will not cover everything, but the main features are still worth identifying.
In adults, helminths can be present in the form of roundworms, which are commonly referred to as pinworm, roundworm, trichina.
The next variety is elongated individuals with pointed edges, but flakies have a flattened body.
They are named so for a reason because they bind to the excretory tracts of the human body.
This is a special type of worm that does not have its own respiratory and circulatory system. Flukes feed on feces and mucous membranes, blood.
A special group should include tapeworms, they have a flattened body shape, similar to a ribbon.
Their habitat is intestines. Intermediate habitat can be fish and animals for tapeworms.
They have special suction cups that allow them to attach to the intestinal walls. Worms live there, feed and reproduce.
The appearance of eggs of human worms
Helminths can live in humans for a long time, symptoms will not be noticeable.
Many people become aware of their pathology only by chance when they start doing stool tests or feel much worse.
It is not always possible to notice them in feces with the naked eye and even if there is no microscope at hand.
The presence of worm eggs in humans, the symptoms of which are not noticeable from the beginning, is impossible without the use of special laboratory tools.
If you undergo a stool analysis, then the laboratory technician will be able to determine whether there are worms in the body and determine the type of these parasites.
The data will be based on the type and type of worm eggs, which are different from each other.
those. If the question arises: "How to determine whether a person has worms? ", the answer to it is that it is worth going to the hospital and taking tests prescribed by a doctor.
Ways of infection of the body
Worms enter the human body in several ways of infection. Oral is the most important.
In this case, worms enter the human body with dirty hands, unwashed fruits and vegetables. Parasite eggs are inside humans because they live in the soil. For this reason, it is worth washing your hands well after gardening and only then sit down to eat. Otherwise, only a few will be able to avoid the question of how to treat helminthic invasion.
It is also important not to eat heat-treated meat and fish not approved by sanitary control.
It should be noted here that some species of helminth eggs remain alive even if the meat is cooked.
Another way to infect the body with worms is through contact. those. Infection occurs through feces.
Feces of infected people or animals may contain helminth eggs. They enter the human body and begin to multiply when they become sexually mature individuals.
Experts identify other ways of infection. One of them is related to the skin. Helminths from the water environment enter the human body using the epidermis.
Invasion of worms is also possible by receiving the bite of an insect vector. This method is widespread in tropical countries.
But in the south of our country or even in exotic countries, it is very easy to catch this type of parasite, which will lead to the fact that a person will have to be interested in the treatment of helminths.
The ways in which worms are transmitted are truly countless, and there is also a path from infected to healthy.
But this does not necessarily mean that you will catch helminthiasis from an infected person.
Pathology cannot be transmitted by airborne droplets, there is only a contact method of worm transmission. Here it is necessary to establish other nuances.
The peculiarity of the ways of infection with worms is that the eggs of parasites can enter the human body. They will lose their ability to develop and become adults.
They can grow if they are in the environment. If the necessary nutrients are found together with the larva, then the egg will begin to develop and grow.
Inactive helminth eggs are excreted from the body with feces, a person will begin to infect himself and harm others if he does not follow the principles of hygienic regime.
Clinical picture of the presence of helminths in the human body
Many people are interested in the question of how to find out if you have worms. It can be answered if you pay attention to your well-being.
Symptoms of worms in adults vary depending on the type of parasites present in the body.
Many of them live in the digestive tract, and therefore the signs of the presence of worms in humans will be as follows:
- state of drowsiness;
- loss of previous performance;
- weakness
- intoxication of the body with helminths;
- increased appetite or, on the contrary, its sharp absence;
- weight loss with normal diet;
- Constipation
- diarrhea;
- scanty stool with blood;
- feces with worms;
- itching sensation in the anus;
- headache with migraine attacks;
- Violation of healthy sleep;
- Allergic reactions to certain products are caused by the fact that certain types of worms secrete special substances.
Signs of worms in adults can be accompanied by symptoms close to hepatitis.
The point is that parasites damage the liver and the gallbladder area. There are types of trematodes that can be confused with pancreatitis.
In case of pain in the muscles, excessive sweating and fever, it is worth suspecting that there may be trichinella in the body.
Very rarely, but still there have been cases when signs of the presence of worms in a person were accompanied by deterioration of the functioning of the brain, eyes and lungs.
After all, these parasites can settle even in these places, which is not typical for them at all. Therefore, the signs of worms in humans were accompanied by such painful sensations in the area of their settlement.
Symptoms of the appearance of helminths in adults are different, for this reason there are various methods to understand that you have worms, but in reality they turn out to be ineffective.
Symptoms in adults appear only in cases of severe infection. A person may lose a lot of weight, the skin will turn pale, the itching in the anus will not stop.
As you can see, the symptoms of helminthic infestation in adults are very similar to other signs of pathologies.
Cases of deviation of some systems of the human body, if the worms settle in certain organs, will be discussed below.
Malfunction of the immune system
Worms cause a strong weakening of the body's immune forces, taking away all useful elements and vitamins.
A person can begin to get seriously ill with a cold, although until recently he did not have a tendency to such pathologies.
It is vulnerable to many infectious or viral diseases, and therefore no mineral or vitamin can help restore immunity.
First of all, you need to find out if a person has worms, and then start treating parasites.
respiratory disease
If the worms find themselves in the respiratory system, they inflict a merciless blow on it. It is possible to develop asthma, pneumonia, chronic bronchitis and other pathologies of the lung organs.
One way to determine if a person has worms is to pay attention to the presence of persistent discharge.
Disturbance of the functions of the gastrointestinal tract
Helminths can settle in the intestinal area. In adults, the symptoms in this case will be manifested in the form of stool disorders or constipation problems.
Nausea and vomiting are possible. There is also pain in the intestines, excessive bloating.
A person may eat more than the norm and not recover for a long time, or on the contrary, suddenly refuse to eat.
There are cases when the treatment of mild symptoms and other pathologies does not bring the desired result.
But there are cases when signs of infection with helminths are expressed. There can be severe diarrhea if helminths settle in the body, when large worms block the intestinal passage, causing complete constipation.
CNS disorder
A large number of helminths in the body requires early treatment of worms, because the central nervous system can be seriously affected.
Products secreted by parasites can hit the nervous system hard, send the body into a state of disarray, and cause malfunctions.
A person may suffer from memory loss, frequent headaches with migraine attacks, depression and fatigue.
It will not be easy for him to establish contact with other people, and communication can often lead to arguments.
Proper treatment of worms in adults is an important measure, because serious complications in the work of the central nervous system are possible.
They are accompanied by fever and an increase in body temperature up to 39 degrees.
The lack of useful elements due to parasitic infection can provoke fatigue syndrome at a chronic level, start the process of anemia and make a person constantly irritable.
Skin pathologies
If the worms enter the human body, the skin deteriorates. In many cases, acne and acne are observed.
No matter how much effort a person makes, it is simply impossible to cure these pathologies.
Helminths provoke such pathologies as dermatitis, seborrhea and papillomas. They can be manifested by cracks on the heels, itching of the skin and lamination of the nail plate.
A person begins to suffer from serious allergic skin reactions that cannot be treated, so it is important to start a course of treatment for worms in adults. Otherwise, there is a chance that the skin will age quickly and become pale.
It is important to note that the brightness of the clinical picture will largely depend on the number of individuals in the human body, their location and immunity.
Some helminths, for example, roundworms, can provoke a general violation of normal well-being, when filariasis goes through the incubation period throughout the year.
The danger of worms to humans
We found out what helminths are, now it remains to understand what harm they can do to a person.
In this case, it is necessary to indicate that helminths secrete active substances that poison the human body.
Helminths feed on digested nutrients, blood and also like different types of tissues. All this leads to the loss of iron, proteins and other vital vitamins necessary for the development of the body.
Worms can provoke malfunctions in the digestive tract, stool disorders, it turns out that in the best case only a person will feel much worse.
An adult has every chance to get rid of worms if you consult a doctor in time. Today, many means are known that help to clean the body of parasites without violating its integrity.
Diagnostic measures
During the week, the doctor will prescribe 3 tests for the patient, which can detect the egg. This measure is necessary to obtain a reliable result.
It is also very important to find effective tablets for worms, for this purpose a person should undergo a comprehensive medical examination, which includes:
- general and biochemical blood tests;
- to rub
- Analysis of urine and feces.
The specialist has a serious task to question the patient and examine the characteristic signs of worm infestation.
Symptoms may include itching of the anus, a bitter taste in the mouth, swollen lymph nodes, and joint and muscle pain.
The greater their number, the higher the risk of worms in the human body.
Medical therapy
After conducting the above-mentioned tests, it is necessary to select special anthelmintic means. The attending physician can tell you what an anthelmintic drug is and how it works.
If it is chosen incorrectly, then there is a chance that the body will be affected even more, but it will not be possible to get rid of the parasites.
Each patient is required to take medication according to a specific treatment regimen. The doctor will make it based on the patient's weight, the form of parasite infection, the patient's age and the degree of the disease.
In order to avoid the facts of self-infection, it is recommended to re-take anthelmintic drugs after a few weeks of the course of treatment. This method allows you to remove the remaining larvae and parasite eggs from the body.
Traditional medicine to get rid of worms
Pumpkin seeds are known for their great effectiveness in helping to remove parasites from the body. We must clarify that such a remedy should be eaten with a thin shell, necessarily raw.
It is recommended to take it in the morning on an empty stomach. If necessary, you can mix them with honey or jam.
The next stage of treatment will be an enema. You can start eating only 2 hours after this event. The course of treatment with pumpkin seeds should be repeated after another 14 days.