Worms in the human body

Probably everyone knows what worms are and where they come from.But not everyone can answer what worms are and, most importantly, what harm they can cause to the human body.

Features and types of helminthiasis

Helminth infections are a group of human diseases caused by the ingestion of worms of parasitic origin, namely helminths, which parasitize the internal organs of a person, affecting tissues and disrupting their normal functioning.

Parasites can colonize almost any organ: the intestines, lungs, gallbladder, liver and even the brain.The name of helminthiasis, its course, consequences and symptoms depend on the type of parasite that caused the disease.

However, there are some generalized types of helminthiasis:

1. Contact.Transmission occurs directly from an already infected person through contact.The most common are hymenolepidosis, caused by dwarf tapeworms, and enterobiasis, caused by pinworms.Parasites crawl out of the rectum and lay eggs on a person's skin.Further spread occurs through food and household items.The main cause of infection by contact helminthiasis is non-compliance with personal hygiene rules, as well as improper processing of products and non-compliance with storage rules.
2. Geohelminthiases.Typically no intermediate host is required;Parasitic worms complete their entire life cycle in an organism.Eggs and larvae of parasites can only live in the external environment, usually in the soil.Very rare species can develop indoors, most of them only in soil or water.The most susceptible to geohelminthiasis are children who frequently play with the earth, as well as workers on farms and pastures.Humans become infected through consumption of unwashed vegetables and fruits as well as untreated drinking water.It is possible for helminths to enter by ingesting dust or through the skin.

3. Biohelminthiasis.For the development of helminths, the involvement of an intermediate host, usually invertebrates, is necessary.Basically, the transmission of biohelminthiases occurs through blood-sucking insects.These types of parasites live in the blood of the definitive host, enter the insect's body through a bite, develop there and reach another person through the same bite.However, it is also possible to release eggs and larvae into the external environment, as with geohelminthiases.Each species of helminth requires its own specific type of intermediate host.

Symptoms and causes of helminthiases

The clinical symptoms of helminthiasis directly depend on the type of parasites in the human body and their habitat.Depending on the organ affected, the disease varies, which often makes an accurate diagnosis difficult.

Helminthiasis goes through acute and chronic stages of development.The acute stage lasts no more than 8 weeks, but the chronic stage can last for years.The acute stage is characterized by similar symptoms in all types of helminthiasis, since after the appearance of a foreign body in the human body, an immediate reaction of the immune system follows.

In the chronic stage, symptoms become more specific to each individual disease and cannot be generalized.It all depends on the organ affected; for example, if parasites are located in the intestine, abdominal pain and problems with bowel movements are typical.

Symptoms of Helminthiasis:

1. Increased body temperature.
2. Excessive sweating and swelling.
3. Muscle and joint pain.
4. Diarrhea or, conversely, frequent constipation.
5. Dehydration, frequent vomiting.
6. Enlarged liver, spleen, lymph nodes, flatulence.

7. Rash on human skin.
8. Increased leukocyte levels.
9. Iron deficiency anemia.
10. Itching of the skin and anus.
11. Nervous system disorders, apathy, irritability, depression.
12. The presence of bloody discharge in the stool or during urination.
13. Pancreatitis, jaundice, hepatitis, intestinal obstruction.

Some types of helminthiases are characterized by an asymptomatic, latent course of the disease.This is dangerous because due to severe damage, a person's internal organ can simply burst, after which the entire body will inevitably become infected with parasites and, as a result, such serious consequences as anaphylactic shock or peritonitis will appear.

Particular attention should be paid to the manifestations of helminthiasis in children, as they are most at risk.

They are often confused with other diseases and brought to critical stages of damage to the body.Children's immunity is not yet fully developed and does not show obvious signs of damage.

The most common childhood disease is enterobiasis.In second place are various types of roundworms, which are most characteristic of childhood diseases.Be sure to pay attention to the consistency and regularity of bowel movements, the appearance of various rashes, and do not ignore complaints of itching in the anal area.

The main causes of helminthiasis:

1. Eat unwashed vegetables, fruits and berries.It is very important to maintain hygiene and hygiene standards.Process purchased products carefully;It is advisable for children to use special products for washing fruits and vegetables.Washing your hands is mandatory before every meal.
2. Meat and fish products.To avoid infections and serious consequences, high-quality heat treatment is required, as well as certification of the purchased product.Monitor compliance with the storage conditions of the prepared semi-finished products.It is not acceptable to consume fish products purchased on the side of the road.
3. Earth and sand.This is especially true for children, as they tend to put everything in their mouths.Don't let your child eat the sand in the sandbox or the soil in the holiday home while playing.Anything that falls on the ground or in open areas is excluded.

Worm eggs are all around us, so we should pay particular attention to personal hygiene in order to prevent possible helminthic diseases as much as possible.

Classification of parasites

Depending on their shape and appearance, helminths are divided into three classes:

• Roundworms.To date, more than 80,000 species of helminths in this class have been described.They can cause serious harm to the human body and cause various helminthic diseases.The development of roundworms goes through five stages, four of which are larval stages and one is adult stages.During each transition, the environment or intermediate host changes.The most common representatives:
  • Roundworm – causes a disease called ascariasis.This type of parasite can live and feed exclusively in the human body.Roundworms are characterized by a cough, during which the larvae are pushed into the throat of a person and return to the intestines as already adult individuals;
  • Pinworms cause enterobiasis in the human body and parasitize the intestines.Once in the host's body, they are characterized by digestive disorders, itching near the anus and, in some cases, inflammation of the genitals, especially in women.
• Tapeworms.There are more than 10 orders of tapeworms that live in the human body.This is the most common class of parasites that causes extremely dangerous diseases.They go through two larval stages of development and reach the final host as adults.They enter the human body via an intermediate host, usually the flesh of an infected animal.Therefore, to prevent the disease, it is important to monitor the correct preparation and selection of meat products.The most common species of helminths in this class:
  • Tapeworm – causes the disease taeniasis, which is characterized by frequent vomiting, nausea, or loss of appetite;
  • Beef tapeworm is a less dangerous disease, but requires very difficult and long-term treatment.
  • Echinococcus is a type of worm that causes migraines, dizziness and can even cause an epileptic seizure.
• Flatworms (leeches).What are random worms?Development of this class requires the presence of an intermediate host.These parasitic worms are the cause of trematodes.The most dangerous varieties of this class:
  • Fluke opisthorchiasis – enters the human body with fish meat, most often carp species, and affects the bile ducts of the liver;
  • Schistosomes – are water-borne and cause schistosomiasis, a very serious disease with extremely serious consequences;
  • Paragonim is a lung fluke, the cause of paragonimiasis, infection is only possible by eating crabs, crayfish or pork.

All listed types of worms in humans are only a small part of the variety of parasites that currently exist.According to some data, there are more than 1 million varieties.

Diagnosis and treatment of helminthiases

Science does not stand still and a large number of methods have already been developed and are actively used to identify helminthic diseases.Modern methods make it possible to accurately determine the type of parasites in humans and the degree of tissue damage at their location.

Basic methods for diagnosing helminthiases:

1. Microhelminthoscopic.Used to detect eggs and larvae of worms.These include the methods of Kato, Kalantaryan and Fulleborn.Individually, each of these methods is not capable of accurately identifying all types of parasites.But overall they give good results, especially in terms of the intensity of the spread of parasites living in the body.
2. Macrohelminthoscopic.Most effective for identifying pinworms and roundworms.Using a petri dish and a magnifying glass, they help detect parasites in the feces.
3. Biopsy.If there is a possibility of helminth parasitism in human muscle tissue, a sample is taken and sent for examination.This method allows you to make the most accurate diagnosis.
4. Immunological.They are carried out by examining the patient's blood to detect antibodies to certain types of helminths living in the human body.
5. Analysis of bile or duodenal contents.It is used for damage to the liver, gallbladder and duodenum.
6. Instrumental.These include ultrasound, x-rays and computer examinations.They are used to determine the degree of damage caused by worms in the human body.And also to check other internal organs.

Medical methods are used to treat identified diseases.However, complex multidrug therapy has been found to be more effective than monotherapy with a single anthelmintic.

Helminth infections are most often treated by prescribing a single dose of a tablet containing an active ingredient such as levamisole.The dosage is selected according to the patient's age.This helps weaken the parasites.

Then, after 3 days, a drug containing mebendazole or albendazole is taken.This integrated approach significantly accelerates and increases the effectiveness of treatment.

Very often a person does not even know that there are worms in his body.In this regard, it is recommended to carry out preventive treatments with antihelminthic drugs.This is especially true for preschool children and pet owners.

Parasites can cause serious damage to internal organs in humans.Timely diagnosis and treatment will help stop the development of these diseases in a timely manner and prevent serious consequences.