People are exposed to the risk of infection from various parasites throughout their lives. The most common are helminths (worms in humans). These parasites in the human body lead to many complications, including: disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, physical damage to internal organs and helminthiasis. Helminthiasis is not a single disease, but a group of diseases caused by parasites living in humans. All helminths are divided into three main types:
- Nematodes (belong to the order of roundworms), prominent representatives - roundworms, pinworms, whipworms;
- Tapeworms or cestodes (an order of flatworms) are represented by tapeworms, bovine tapeworms;
- Flukes or trematodes (order of flatworms) are represented by the liver fluke.
Since helminths leave the host's body during the reproductive period to maintain the species and are transmitted to another host or into the environment, they are also divided according to the method of transmission:
- Mechanical transmission involves movement over long distances, while no worm development occurs in the wearer's body. These include most arthropods (crustaceans, arachnids and millipedes), which are often carried on the legs of common flies.
- An intermediate host is a specific route of transmission in which one of the developmental stages takes place in the body of the vector. In the case of bovine tapeworm, for example, the vector (intermediate host) is cattle and humans are the final vector.
Helminths also differ in their mode of transmission:
- active (contact);
- passive (food).
Contact helminths can enter the human body via mucous membranes and skin (schistosomes, hookworms). Foodborne illnesses are more common; they develop in a person after eating unwashed food, contact with sick people or non-observance of personal hygiene rules.
In total, there are more than 250 species of lower worms worldwide that parasitize humans. Since the symptoms of the presence of worms in humans have different manifestations, at the slightest suspicion you should contact a specialist and get tested.
Life cycle of worms, their reproduction and development
An example of helminth development is the classic roundworm life cycle diagram. The parasite's eggs are extremely resistant to external influences and can remain in the soil for up to six months. The development of the larva itself takes between 2 weeks and 2 months, depending on the environmental conditions: temperature, humidity, oxygen availability. A mature egg enters the stomach with food, where the gastric juice eats up the egg shell and releases the larva.
The roundworm then enters the bloodstream through the intestinal wall and begins to move through the entire vascular system until it reaches the alveoli in the lungs. The roundworm larva is aerobic; it is only here that it becomes active and develops further. It feeds on blood and is 3–4 mm long. After the roundworm reaches primary maturity 4-5 days after invasion, it begins to move towards the bronchi. Its movement causes coughing in humans, as a result of which the larva, together with mucus, enters the oral cavity and again into the intestines. This is where the final stage of the larva's development into an adult takes place.
The life cycle of an adult roundworm lasts about a year. During this time he lays up to 250, 000 eggs. Human health, and sometimes even life, directly depends on the presence of worms in the body and their quantity, which is why it is important to start treatment as early as possible. Ascariasis is accompanied by intoxication and a complication can be intestinal obstruction, which in some cases requires urgent surgical intervention.
Helminth reproduction occurs in two ways, on the basis of which worms are divided into biohelminths and geohelminths. Typically, parasite eggs enter the external environment where they mature. Then the egg must enter the host, where it either develops fully (geohelminths) or goes through the stage of transformation into a larva (biohelminths).
For biohelminths, the development process is more complex; the stages of developing into an adult and reaching maturity are separate from the stage of larval hatching. This means that the egg first travels from the external environment into an intermediate carrier, where the larva hatches. It then needs to be ingested by its definitive host to reach its adult form. Sometimes biohelminths change up to 4 intermediate carriers before reaching their final host.
Symptoms
How to determine the presence of worms? Polymorphic symptoms and the absence of painful sensations in the first stages of the disease complicate the diagnosis. The reasons for the appearance of worms in humans are often associated with the consumption of stale or contaminated food, and the parasites themselves live directly in the gastrointestinal tract, so signs of their presence in the human body in most cases are associated with the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Intestinal tract related offal:
- loose (unstable) stools;
- pain and bloating;
- allergic skin rashes;
- Flatulence;
- nausea;
- to throw up;
- lack or excessive appetite;
- at night - sleep disturbances, tossing and turning, teeth grinding, salivation;
- itching in the anus;
- the presence of mucus or blood in the stool.
These symptoms appear after infection and last for a short time (about 7 days). If the infestation occurs again, it will be repeated after 2-3 weeks. Without treatment or due to the appearance of an acute or chronic form of the disease, some symptoms do not disappear and the consequences of a long stay of parasites in the body are added:
- Poisoning occurs almost simultaneously with infection, but is not so noticeable in the early stages. The greater the number of worms in the human body, the more the symptoms of poisoning increase - from morning sickness to vomiting and abdominal pain.
- Lung congestion (infiltrates), bronchial spasms, pneumonia. The main culprits are parasites that develop in the alveoli and damage them, leading to inflammatory processes.
- Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis). An infectious disease caused by the vital activity of helminths and subsequent poisoning.
- Meningoencephalitis is a dangerous inflammation of the brain and its membranes caused by bacteria and protozoa.
Different pathogens have their own manifestations and consequences, but most symptoms occur in all helminths.
diagnosis
The diagnosis is made under laboratory conditions. Only in this case can helminthiasis be diagnosed with certainty if worm eggs and their signs are present in the blood or feces. However, a stool analysis is not always enough - some types of parasites are not noticeable. A special method for determining the presence of worms is a serological blood test for antibodies. To diagnose helminthiasis the following are used:
- biliary studies;
- macroscopy (used to identify roundworms and pinworms);
- Biopsy of muscle tissue to check for trichinosis;
- X-ray and ultrasound.
Trichinosis is a parasitic disease in which the larvae of the pathogen spread throughout the host's body, causing severe damage to organs and the central nervous system, and subsequently settling in muscle tissue. Parasites in human muscles gradually form a capsule of infiltrates around themselves, and the symptoms of their presence in the body are reduced, but by this time the host's health is already seriously damaged.
One of the main symptoms can be considered eosinophilia, in which the number of eosinophils in the patient's blood increases sharply. Eosinophils are a subtype of leukocytes that respond to the presence of tiny foreign bodies in the circulatory system. In places where parasite larvae accumulate, internal swelling and spots on the skin quickly appear - traces of infiltration. They also remain in sputum and lung fluid.
Since the symptoms of helminthic diseases are extensive and largely overlap with signs of other diseases, self-diagnosis cannot be completely reliable. There are cases when people noticed dark threads in the stool after eating bananas, which were mistaken for worms. Before starting treatment, all tests must be carried out to determine the presence and type of parasites.
Treatment of helminthiasis
When treating parasitic diseases, some general rules should be followed:
- Thorough disinfection of the patient's laundry and the room in which he is located. Reduce contact to a minimum, separate dishes.
- Strict diet without alcohol. It is recommended to drink carrot juice and birch bud infusion.
- Pay attention to personal hygiene, frequent hand washing and laundry, and cleaning of living quarters.
- Monitoring treatment progress and its effectiveness.
Modern methods of treatment exclude the use of a separate drug, as this does not ensure complete coverage of all types of helminths. The doctor usually prescribes an initially effective medication that weakens the parasites. After 3 days, anthelmintics are prescribed depending on the patient's age and the severity of the infection. Pregnant women or people with contraindications to medication are prescribed a non-toxic drug from the tetrahydropyrimidine group.
If it is not possible to see a doctor, use folk remedies. Have a good anthelmintic effect:
- Garlic infusion enema, take garlic on an empty stomach;
- Tansy infusion on an empty stomach 4 times a day before meals;
- Tincture of wormwood in alcohol, taken three times a day, 20 mg.
Today, helminth infections can be diagnosed and treated in a short time. If you do not neglect the disease and start treatment on time, complications and re-invasions can be avoided. Parasitic diseases pose the greatest danger to children: mental development is delayed, complications arise in the form of chronic diseases and inflammatory processes. It is extremely important to explain to your child in a timely manner the need to wash hands and adhere to personal hygiene rules. Adults also need to follow other preventive measures.
Prevention of helminthiasis
In addition to personal hygiene, there are a number of factors that affect the elimination of the cause of worms:
- Wash vegetables and fruits in hot water;
- keeping the house clean, regular wet cleaning;
- a balanced diet that provides the body with enough vitamins from all groups;
- Monitoring the condition of pets, annual visits to the veterinarian;
- proper heat treatment of fish and meat;
- Fight against insects living in the house;
- Avoid swimming and resting in areas where livestock graze.
Compliance with preventive measures and timely consultation with a doctor in case of infection will help avoid complications. Proper dosage of medications prescribed by a specialist will quickly eliminate parasites, and folk remedies can be used in combination with prescribed medications.