Almost the entire population is infected with worms, according to WHO studies. Many people are unaware of the presence of helminths and protozoa, and attribute the discomfort to a cold or poisoning. But sometimes a person can see a whole worm or part of it in the feces. It is better to be checked regularly for foreign organisms in the body.
The main types of worms.
Helminths of various types can live in the human body, they affect not only the stomach, but also other internal organs.
Depending on the habitat, they are divided into several main classes:
- geohelminths - larvae live in feces, human infection occurs orally, flies can be carriers;
- biohelminths - the body of fish or animals is chosen as an intermediate host, in the form of larvae they enter the human body, where they begin to actively develop;
- contact helminths - a small species, transmitted by contact through objects of common use.
The greatest damage can be caused by 3 types of parasites: flukes, tapeworms, and roundworms. Worms are divided according to their habitat into intestinal and extraintestinal forms. Intestinal helminths have a complex structure, they multiply mainly outside the human body: pinworms, pinworms, tapeworms. They live only in the large and small intestines, feeding on the mucous membranes of the organ.
The simplest organisms - giardia, cryptosporidium - can also settle in the intestines. Despite the primitive structure, it is difficult to get rid of them - they multiply very quickly and quickly become immune to drugs. Against the background of infection, various infectious diseases develop.
Extraintestinal forms can move throughout the body with the help of the bloodstream. Most often, these helminths affect the cells of the liver, pancreas, and spleen. Less often - the brain, respiratory and visual organs, lymph nodes, soft tissues. It is difficult to make a diagnosis with this form of infection, since it is not always possible to detect these worms in a person's stool.
Cestodes and trematodes enter the body with poorly fried meat and fish, dirty water. The rest of the parasites can be infected if hygiene rules are not followed.
In 80% of helminth infections, it is caused by dirty hands and poorly washed plant-based foods.
What is a human worm like? These are parasites in the form of worms, mostly light in color. Their length varies from a few millimeters to 2-3 m.
round worms
Most often, roundworms occur in children.
Main types:
- roundworm - has a spindle-shaped structure, the length of females reaches 40 cm, they leave the body along with feces;
- pinworms - small gray-white worms, their length does not exceed 10 mm, adults and eggs can be found in feces;
- hookworm nectars - apparently similar parasites, length - no more than 15 mm, have sharp teeth;
- Vlasoglav - a worm about 5 cm long, completely white.
Plus:
- Enterobiasis: infection by parasites from contact with pinworms. Helminthiasis refers to epidemiological diseases: when a person is infected, all people in contact with him quickly become infected. Pinworms enter the body orally. Enterobiasis is accompanied by severe itching in the anus, which often leads to reinfection.
- Trichuriasis is a whipworm infection. It lives in the initial section of the small intestine, feeds on tissues of mucous membranes and blood. With a large accumulation, severe diarrhea begins, prolapse of the rectum is possible.
- Hookworms affect the duodenum. The larvae enter through the skin upon contact with the ground and are carried by the bloodstream to all internal organs and lungs. A person begins to have a strong cough, along with sputum, the larvae penetrate the organs of the digestive system. After the defeat of the blood vessels, the worm injects it with a special enzyme that prevents blood coagulation.
- Roundworms can freely move around the body, a person swallows eggs of parasites along with dirty vegetables, untreated water. Flies can be carriers of eggs.
Symptoms of helminthiasis
The main danger of helminthic invasions is the long-term absence of signs of infection. And when symptoms do appear, they are similar to other common illnesses. A person begins to take pills for cough, fever, intestinal disorders or constipation on his own, but self-medication does not give positive results.
Outwardly, infection with parasites can manifest itself in the form of acne, seborrhea, cracked heels, convulsions at the corners of the mouth, papillomas. In women, they can provoke the release of leucorrhoea, inflammation occurs in the ovaries, menstruation becomes painful and irregular. With prolonged infection, fibroids, fibroids and mastopathy appear. In men, helminthiases cause impotence, prostatitis and prostate adenoma. The worms cause the formation of sand and stones in the kidneys and bladder.
Symptoms of invasion in humans:
- frequent colds, respiratory diseases;
- chronic inflammation of the respiratory organs and paranasal sinuses;
- constipation, diarrhea, flatulence;
- joint and muscle pain;
- sudden fluctuations in weight;
- manifestation of anemia.
Granulomas are a clear sign of infection. In these tumors the destroyed ova accumulate, they are formed in the walls of the intestines, in the lungs, liver and uterus. Against the background of constant poisoning by parasites, oncological diseases develop. Severe intoxication leads to allergic reactions, hives, eczema. A person's mental state also changes: aggression is replaced by apathy, chronic fatigue and worries about insomnia appear.
The main symptom is worms in the stool. They can be seen visually or detected by special analysis.
children and parasites
Worms in children are diagnosed more often than in adults. The child puts his hands dirty, toys in his mouth, loves contact with animals, plays in the sand and dirt. According to statistics, every third child attending a preschool has helminths. In children, pinworms, ascaris, Giardia and Toxocara are often found.
Giardia are small parasites that affect even newborns. When infected, severe diarrhea begins, there is a high temperature, abdominal pain. Many parents attribute the signs to the manifestation of intestinal infection, treatment does not give the desired result, helminthiasis passes into the chronic stage.
Toxocara lives in the body of cats and dogs, comes out with feces. A child becomes infected when he plays in the sandbox or on the ground, after contact with stray animals. These worms look like white threads of different thicknesses and lengths. A large photo depicting the parasite can be used as a visual aid when communicating to a child the need for thorough handwashing.
The consequence of infection is increased aggressiveness, constant whims, apathy. The child quickly begins to tire, the quality of sleep worsens. The main symptom that allows you to reliably find out about the infection is itching in the anus, the presence of parasites in the feces.
Teeth grinding at night is not a sign of a parasite infestation in a child.
Worm infestations are dangerous for a child: chronic diseases develop, the immune system is disturbed, appetite and weight problems arise. When infected with whipworms, a child begins to develop developmental delay, severe anemia.
Medical treatment
Since there can be more than 200 different helminths in the human body, there is no single method of treatment. Modern types of diagnostics help to accurately recognize which worms are present in the body, which allows you to prescribe adequate therapy. Quite often, parasites of various types are found in humans.
Medicines affect only adults, they are powerless against larvae and eggs. Therefore, for complete release, it is necessary to undergo several courses of antiparasitic therapy.
Worms in the body can cause many serious diseases: chronic diseases of the digestive and respiratory organs, nervous disorders, glaucoma, tumors of various origins. It is easy to avoid helminth infection: wash your hands often, use antibacterial agents on the street, subject meat and fish to high-quality heat treatment, do not drink raw water, pour boiling water over all vegetables and fruits without exception.