Symptoms of worms in humans cannot always be noticed in time. Worm infestation most often presents with symptoms similar to other illnesses, such as allergies or indigestion. Helminths parasitize different parts of the human body. An infected person may treat liver failure, a chronic cold or a skin condition without knowing the true cause of their ill health.
What are helminths
Worms in humans are parasitic worms that can vary in size. They can enter the human body through the mouth, nasal passages, eyes, urethra or anus. Most often, parasites live in the intestines, attached to its walls using suction cups, tentacles or special teeth. Parasites can live in the tissues of the lungs and brain, on the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, in the muscles, liver and gallbladder.
Worms feed on substances that enter the bloodstream through the intestines, red blood cells and tissue juices.
Classification of helminthiasis: types of worms in humans
Different types of helminths can parasitize the human body. Medical helminthology divides them into groups taking into account the specificity of the body shape:
- Round (nematodes)- have a holistic shape in the form of a lemon, thread, barrel or spindle. The head and tail of nematodes are slightly pointed. The oral apparatus is characterized as being three-layered. The parasites move freely in soil, fresh water and sea water. The human body contains pinworms (which cause enterobiasis), roundworms, hookworms and trichinella, which are considered parasitesintestinal. Guinea worms – these roundworms spread through the subcutaneous tissue.
- Tape (cestodes). This includes the following types of parasites: cattle, pigs, dwarf tapeworm, large tapeworm. Their body resembles a finely segmented ribbon whose length can reach 10 meters or more. The anterior part of the parasitic worms is equipped with suction cups and hooks with which they attach to the intestinal walls. Echinococci have a complex attachment system - 4 suction cups surrounded by two rows of hooks.
- Trematodes (flukes)— this type of worm is characterized by specific habitats in the body: the gallbladder, the bile ducts. Representatives of the fluke class are Siberian fluke (4-13 mm), fasciola (length 3-7 cm).
The vital activity of helminths interferes with the normal functioning of the human body. Parasites poison the blood with toxins, causing dizziness, itchy skin, coughing and poor sleep at night.
How do you get infected with helminths?
Everyone should know why worms appear in humans and where they live in the body:
- Nematodes and dwarf tapeworm tapeworm enter the body through dirty hands, eating unwashed vegetables and drinking dirty water. Habitat: intestines.
- Trichinella, bovine tapeworm, pork - infection occurs when eating poorly thermally processed meat (beef, pork). Location: intestine.
- Opisthorchis, large tapeworm (class of trematodes or tapeworms). A person can become infected by eating raw, poorly salted or undercooked fish. In fish, parasite larvae live in the fat layer and muscles. In humans, they settle in the liver and gallbladder.
- Echinococci, Siberian fluke and fasciola are transmitted by contact with an infected dog; more rarely, cats are the source of the infection. Helminths can parasitize the human liver, lungs, kidneys and heart. They develop inside echinococcal cysts.
What do worms look like in human stool?
A person may see dead roundworms in the stool 3 to 4 days after taking anthelmintic tablets. The length of these parasites living in the human body can reach 40 cm. Their edges are sharp and their body is white.
Pinworms usually leave the body alive a few hours after consuming milk with garlic, too salty or spicy foods. Small (up to 12 mm long) white worms with sharp edges are clearly visible in the stool and around the anus.
Large flatworms or tapeworms are almost impossible to see completely (length 3 to 10 m). After being baited, the worms exit the body in rotten fragments.
Signs of the presence of worms in humans
In case of helminthic infestation, symptoms in adults and children usually resemble the manifestations of other diseases. This is due to the location (respiratory tract, liver, bile) and the life process of the worms.
During the acute period
The acute phase is believed to be asymptomatic. But in most cases, the first signs of worms are mild and the person is unaware of the parasitic disease. More rarely, in an infected person, signs of helminthiasis in the body are manifested by fever, nausea and vomiting. The person feels weak and loses their appetite.
In chronic phase
The symptoms of chronic helminthiasis depend on the type of worms, their number and their habitat.
Intestinal helminthiasis
Symptoms of worms in an adult in the intestine:
- deterioration of digestion;
- pressing pain in the navel area;
- intestinal dysfunction;
- lack of appetite;
- weightloss;
- pale skin;
- bruises under the eyes;
- anal itching.
Against the background of gastrointestinal diseases, intestinal obstruction may develop. The pathological condition is manifested by paroxysmal pain in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting with the presence of fecal odor.
Extraintestinal helminthiases
The main signs of helminth infection of the liver, gallstones and lungs:
- constant fatigue;
- nervous breakdown;
- paroxysmal pain in the epigastric region;
- decreased performance;
- greasy, foul-smelling stools (steatorrhea);
- hives, itchy skin;
- chest pain;
- chronic dry cough;
- change in skin color.
Extraintestinal parasites (giardia, opisthorchis, fasciola) can cause not only headaches or skin diseases, but also depression. Usually, a pathological condition occurs if the symptoms of a skin allergy do not disappear for a long time (itching, dry skin, rash) or reappear after treatment.
How to detect worms: diagnosis of helminthic infestations
To diagnose helminths, stool is collected from the eggs of the worm. But the analysis does not always show a positive result in the presence of parasites. First, not all types of worms are determined in this way. Second, the timing of submission of stools for analysis may not coincide with the timing of parasite reproduction. A new test for worm eggs is carried out after 2-3 days. If the result in the presence of symptoms is negative, the following examination methods may be prescribed:
- Blood test- an increased level of eosinophilic leukocytes and low hemoglobin indicate infection with worms.
- Duodenal catheterization- helps identify opisthorchiasis, giardiasis and other extraintestinal worms in humans by examining secretions from the duodenum.
- Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and other parts of the human body— the gastrointestinal tract, liver, gallbladder, its ducts, pancreas, muscles, brain, lungs are examined for the presence of pathological changes characteristic of the life of worms (seals, cysts, lymph nodes, blockages).
- Pulmonary radiography- carried out if pulmonary parasites are suspected (roundworms, echinococci, tapeworm larvae detected).
- CT scan- to detect worms in the human brain, eyes and lungs.
- Capsule endoscopy- to identify tape interference.
- ELISA— detects antibodies in the blood against most known parasites.
To assess the severity of damage to the body caused by worms, an immunological study is prescribed. It helps identify weaknesses in the human immune system. After that, complex therapy for the pathological condition is prescribed.
How to get rid of worms quickly and effectively
It is best to learn how to remove helminths from the human body at an appointment with a parasitologist. Treating worms without a doctor's advice can lead to poisoning and liver dysfunction.
Diet and hygiene features
Treatment of helminthiasis in adults and children should be accompanied by a diet that will help quickly eliminate worms and cleanse the body of toxins. It is necessary to exclude from the menu products that contribute to the vital activity of parasites or intoxication of the body:
- meat, lard;
- all kinds of sweets;
- fresh milk;
- baked goods;
- wheat porridge, pasta;
- coffee, alcohol.
The daily diet should include fresh carrot salad, fermented milk products containing probiotics, eggs, freshly prepared vegetable juices, dishes from potatoes, vegetables and mushrooms. The duration of the diet during the treatment of worms is determined by the doctor.
Hygiene procedures for helminthic infestation include frequent and thorough hand washing with soap. The procedure should be carried out before eating, after going to the toilet and when returning from the street. Bed linen is changed 2 to 3 times a week. Be sure to iron after washing. After bathing, take a clean towel each time.
Drugs
Treatment of worms in adults and children is carried out with the following drugs:
- A broad-spectrum anthelmintic drug of the benzimidazole type - effective against nematode worms and trematodes. Contraindicated in children under 2 years old, prescribed with caution to pregnant and breastfeeding women. The dosage and frequency of taking the medication depends on the type of worms. For roundworms and mixed infestations, 1 tablet is prescribed. 2 times a day for three days. Enterobiasis is treated three days in a row, with 1 tablet per day. The course is repeated after 21 days. Echinococci in an adult are eliminated by increasing the dosage of the drug: the first 3 days - 500 mg in the morning and evening, the next three days - 500 mg three times a day until the parasites are completely cured. The duration of treatment for echinococcosis is determined by the doctor (4 to 6 weeks).
- A broad-spectrum antihelminthic drug from the pyrazinisoquinoline group. Contraindicated in children under 4 years old and pregnant women (1st trimester). Effective against muscle/tissue worms. Urogenital (worms live in the blood vessels near the bladder), intestinal and abdominal schistosomiasis are treated with a single dose of the drug (40 mg/10 kg). In severe forms of parasitic vascular pathology, tablets are taken 3 times a day (every 6 hours) at a rate of 20-25 mg/10 kg.
- A broad-spectrum drug from the benzimidazole group. Not prescribed for children under 2 years old, pregnant or breastfeeding women. Adults are prescribed 400 mg/day in one go, children - 60 mg/10 kg for intestinal helminthiasis. For parasites in the brain, adults are prescribed 800 mg/day, children - 15 mg/kg, the duration of treatment is 8-30 days.
Antihelminthic drugs are toxic. They are not prescribed for people with liver failure, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn's disease.
Traditional methods
How to Cure Worms with Home Remedies:
- Grind the flax seeds (1 tablespoon). Pour the powder into 0. 5 liters of cold water. Bring the mixture to a boil, cook over low heat, covered, for 20 minutes. Drink 100 ml morning and evening on an empty stomach for 10 consecutive days. The recipe helps against almost all parasites that can live in the human body - pinworms, tapeworms, Giardia.
- Grind 300 g of dried but not fried pumpkin seeds. Add enough warm boiled water to the powder to make a paste. Add a large spoonful of honey. Eat the entire mixture on an empty stomach. After 4 hours, take a laxative. The recipe is effective against intestinal worms in humans.
Pumpkin seeds are an allergenic product, so itchy skin may occur during worm treatment. An antiallergic tablet will help to cope with it.
Which parasites can only be removed surgically?
Surgical treatment of helminthiasis requires the following conditions:
- Obstruction of the intestinal tract - a pathological condition is caused by roundworms, tapeworms, flukes and other worms.
- Perforation of the intestinal wall – the bovine tapeworm makes a hole and exits into the human abdominal cavity.
- Parasitic cholecystitis with subsequent necrosis of the pancreas is a blockage of the bile ducts by a ribbon parasite.
Most often, surgery is used for echinococcosis. Parasitic cysts in an infected person in the lungs, kidneys, liver and spleen are removed by laparotomy or laparoscopy.
How dangerous is helminthic infestation for the body?
If left untreated, the pathology takes a chronic form. The most dangerous thing that can happen in the body during a severe form of the disease is the destruction of the tissues of internal organs, suffocation and the appearance of blindness.
How to protect yourself from infections
Prevention of helminthic infestations in the body requires that a person:
- Strictly observe the rules of personal hygiene.
- Treat parasites in pets quickly.
- Process fish for 60 minutes and meat for 2-3 hours.
In people with strong immunity, worm eggs are neutralized, so the immune system must be constantly strengthened. To do this, it is enough to lead a healthy lifestyle and periodically take vitamin and mineral complexes.