Helminthiasis are widespread in the modern world. They are able to affect many organs and tissues, disrupting their work. In addition, the clinical picture of helminthiasis in humans can be very diverse. What are the symptoms of worms in humans?
According to statistics, every year about two million people are infected with helminths. However, taking into account unregistered cases, this number may increase several times. Infection of children and adolescents is more common.
All helminths can be divided into extra-intestinal (tissue) and intestinal. The hosts of the tissues are animals, man serves as their intermediate host. In this case, the disease will manifest itself in different ways, depending on the organ to which the larva migrates. For example, if the larva migrates through the lungs, the symptoms will mimic pneumonia, if through the intestines - bleeding, inflammatory reaction; migration through the pancreas or bile ducts threatens to block them.
How can you get infected?
What are the routes of infection?
- Through soil and water (soil-transmitted helminths) - soil contamination occurs when helminth eggs enter it with the feces of people or animals. If you eat poorly processed root vegetables or water from open tanks, helminth eggs will enter the body. Therefore, all vegetables, fruits and berries should be washed thoroughly in tap water and treated with boiling water. It is forbidden to drink water from open tanks. This route of infection is also possible when people come into contact with animals, especially pets. Most often, therefore, children are infected when playing with them.
- Contact with an infected person (for example, pinworms). During sleep, pinworm is able to crawl out of the anus and lay eggs. The patient is itchy. The eggs remain on the hands, under the fingernails and, if not removed from the skin in time, remain on all objects that the infected person has come in contact with.
- Biohelminthiasis - infection when eating meat, lard, fish that has not undergone sufficient heat treatment or has been eaten raw.
- By insect bites.
Helminths are basically a problem for children, because children, in the process of getting to know the world, put dirty hands and various objects in their mouths, tasting them. This problem will not be resolved until the age of three to six, and before that date, children have a higher risk of infection than adults.
Common signs of infection
What signs will indicate the onset of helminthiasis?
Symptoms of helminthiasis can be similar to diseases of certain organs: gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, nervous system, immune system. Helminthiasis can manifest as allergic reactions.
Gastrointestinal tract disorders
Localization of parasites in the intestine is manifested by symptoms of upset stomach and intestines: the appearance of vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, nausea, bloating, pain in the umbilical region, in the right hypochondrium. Constipation may be associated with mechanical obstruction of the intestinal lumen by helminths. The severity of symptoms depends on the number of helminths in the body.
Nervous system disorders and general manifestations
They are associated with the release of toxic substances by parasites. The intensity of manifestation also depends on the number of helminths. Symptoms of nervous system dysfunction are: dizziness, headache, nausea - symptoms that resemble a migraine. Fever, muscle and joint pain are possible. Drowsiness, irritation, sleep disturbances, anemia appear.
Allergic manifestations
With allergic manifestations, the gastrointestinal tract, skin and respiratory system are affected. Itching, shortness of breath, headache, dizziness appears, sometimes vomiting can be observed. A burning sensation is possible in the throat, mouth and nose. Nasal congestion and sneezing appear. How do you distinguish allergies from the symptoms of helminthic infection? The following anamnestic and biological signs should be taken into account:
- relatives of the patient have no history of allergies;
- the patient had no history of allergic reactions;
- attendance of a child in kindergarten;
- have difficulty breathing every two weeks;
- eosinophils in the blood test by more than 8%;
- lack of effect of antiallergic treatment;
- in the study of immunoglobulins, IgE is increased, while the study of allergens is negative.
If the patient has the listed symptoms, allergic manifestations are associated with a parasitic invasion.
Respiratory dysfunction
When the parasites enter the lungs, symptoms similar to pneumonia may appear: cough, fever, hemoptysis. A sore throat can also indicate helminthiasis. When the worms migrate from the intestines to the lungs, a sore throat can occur. A sore throat is a sign of the presence of a foreign body. There is a dry cough that cannot be stopped. A cough of this type can appear not only due to the presence of parasites in the throat, but also if they migrate through the nasopharynx. Mucus taken for analysis will help identify worms in the throat.
Decreased immune defenses
Due to the fact that helminths deprive the host of vitamins and minerals, and also have a toxic effect, a decrease in immune defenses is observed. This is manifested by frequent colds or exacerbations of chronic diseases in remission, inflammation of the throat.
Damage to the female reproductive system
Violation of the functioning of the reproductive system in a woman does not always indicate gynecological diseases. Helminths in the female body can also manifest as symptoms of dysfunction of the reproductive system. By what symptoms can we suspect the presence of helminths in the female genitals? The defeat of the reproductive system by worms in women is manifested by secretions, an unpleasant smell from the genitals.
In women, thrush can become a sign of helminthiasis. Thrush in women can develop due to a decrease in immunity and a violation of the microflora, which is simply possible with helminthiasis. Possible inflammatory diseases of the reproductive system in women. Along with this, the hair may fall out and the nails may exfoliate, and drowsiness and fatigue may occur. All of the above are symptoms of helminthic invasion in women.
How to determine the type of helminth by symptoms
How to determine which helminths have invaded the body? Symptoms are determined by the location of the parasite in the body and its type. When do the first symptoms appear? The first signs of helminthic invasion can appear both after two days and six months, depending on the type of helminth.
Pinworms, enterobiasis - you may suspect an invasion of these helminths if you are concerned about itching in the anal area, which becomes more frequent at night. Usually the itchiness lasts for several days, then goes away for a while and reappears.
Trichocephalosis, schistosomiasis, diphyllobothriasis - the main symptom is anemia and vitamin deficiency. Such manifestations are associated with the toxic effects of worms on the intestines and the development of dysbiosis.
Roundworms - at the initial stage of infection with roundworms, weakness, cough, there may be blood in the sputum, fever, suffocation is possible (with a high number of parasites). In a blood test, the level of eosinophils is increased and allergic reactions appear. At a later stage, the functions of the gastrointestinal tract are disturbed: proteins are not digested, there is a strong loss of weight.
Trichinosis - the worms are localized in the muscles. At the initial stage, the disease manifests itself with nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite. At the next stage, the helminths are localized in the muscles and cause muscle pain, swelling of the eyelids, fever and rashes. Also, there is an apparent recovery, but the worms are in the muscles. The parasites cause dense lesions in the muscles.
Fascioliasis, opisthorchiasis - it is possible to suspect an invasion of these parasites if there is yellowing of the skin, enlarged liver, spleen, inflammation of the pancreas, dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract.
Strongylosis - manifests itself with symptoms indicating bile duct dysfunction, dyspepsia and allergies.
Helminthiasis test
When to seek help from a specialist? Positive answers to the following questions will help to diagnose the presence of helminths in the body with a high degree of probability:
- itching in the anal area;
- nausea Vomiting;
- constipation or diarrhea;
- allergic manifestations;
- rash on the skin;
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- frequent headaches, dizziness;
- agitated sleep;
- there is bitterness in the mouth;
- fatigue, drowsiness;
- stomach ache;
- yellowing of the skin;
- the family has children who attend kindergarten;
- pain in muscles and joints, not caused by anything;
- periodic increase in body temperature;
- there are animals in the house;
- eating insufficiently heat-treated meat, lard or fish;
- losing weight;
- the use of unwashed vegetables and fruits that have not been previously treated with boiling water.
The more positive the responses, the greater the risk of having helminths in the body. If there are seven positive responses, then there is a probability of the presence of a helminth, if more than fifteen, then the probability of the presence of a helminth in the body is very high.
Diagnostic
What methods of diagnosing parasites in the body are used?
- Faeces on the eggs of the worm.
- Scratching of the anus.
- Scratching for enterobiasis.
- Complete blood count (increased level of eosinophils).
- Scraping of the vagina in women.
- Blood test for giardiasis.
- Detection of antibodies by serological methods; when can we find antibodies in the body? Twenty-one days or more after the worm infestation.
- Study of the operative material (for echinococcosis).
- Lymph node biopsy (cysticercosis).
- Muscle biopsy - trichinosis.
Processing
For the treatment of helminthiasis, there are tablets with a narrow and wide spectrum of action. The treatment of a certain type of helminth should be carried out with certain drugs. Tablets are prescribed only by a doctor after all examinations, because anti-worm pills have a toxic effect on the body. Therefore, the doctor will select the necessary treatment regimen and duration, taking into account age and weight.
The following tablets are often used to treat helminthiasis:
- drugs containing mebendazole are suitable for the treatment of trichocephalosis;
- tablets containing levamisole - used for ascariasis, enterobiasis, trichostrongyliasis, strongyloidiasis.
In advanced cases, the pills may not help, so surgical treatment is used.