Helminthiasis

Helminthiasis are a group of parasitic diseases that progress through the penetration of various types of parasitic worms into the body. These diseases are not restricted in terms of gender and age. It is worth noting that helminthiasis is diagnosed more often in children. This is because children are less hygienic, eat unwashed food and often play in the fresh air (sandpit, garden, etc. ).

Helminths are a group of representatives of lower worms that can enter the human body and freely develop in it, causing the progression of parasitic diseases. All representatives of this group can conditionally be divided into three groups:

• roundworms;
• tape;
• leeches.

Depending on the type of transmission, all human helminthiases are divided into:

• Biohelminthiasis.In this case the parasite is carried by animals;
• contagious.An infection occurs in a sick person.
• geohelminthiasis.This type of helminthiasis is transmitted through the ground. This is because a certain part of the parasite's life cycle occurs precisely in the soil.

Larvae and developing forms of parasites are the most dangerous for the human body because they can move freely in the body and infect vital organs. Adults cannot move as freely and therefore have a more stable position.

Most types of helminths "prefer" to parasitize the gastrointestinal tract. It is worth noting that different species are localized in different parts of the digestive tract: pinworms - in the lower part of the small intestine, roundworms - in the upper part, and so on. In addition, depending on their location, helminths are divided into tissues and lumens.

It should be noted that parasites can infect not only the digestive tract, but also the lungs, biliary tract and the gallbladder itself. In the course of their lives, they release various toxic substances that poison the human body. If you suspect the presence of parasites in the body, it is important to immediately consult a doctor and begin treatment for the disease in order to avoid the development of dangerous complications.

characters

The characteristic signs of helminthiasis first appear in the peripheral blood. If you do a clinical analysis, you can see a significant increase in the number of eosinophils (especially in the acute stage of the disease). It should be noted that eosinophilia is often associated with severe leukocytosis.

Other signs of helminths are:

• Itching in the anus;
• unstable stool is possible - alternation from constipation and diarrhea;
• teeth grind in sleep;
• morning sickness. Most often occurs in a person while brushing their teeth;
• weight loss while the diet has not changed;
• hyperthermia, accompanied by joint and muscle pain;
• drooling in the morning;
• a person is constantly hungry;
• the appearance of elements of a rash on the skin (sometimes on the eyelids);
• The skin on the fingers can peel off.

Symptoms

The clinic for helminthiasis is divided into acute and chronic stages. The first symptoms of helminthiasis appear a month after parasites enter the body. The acute stage of the pathological process begins. A person experiences the following symptoms:

• diarrhea;
• hyperthermia;
• the upper respiratory tract becomes inflamed;
• elements of a rash appear on the skin;
• conjunctivitis;
• face swells. This symptom is particularly pronounced in children;
• young children sometimes have tonsillitis and lymphadenitis.

The pathological process can be complicated:

• hepatitis;
• bronchospasm;
• the appearance of infiltrates in the lungs;
• pneumonia;
• meningoencephalitis;
• myocarditis.

The above symptoms do not all appear at the same time in a certain type of helminthiasis. Usually only two or three symptoms dominate in the clinic of the disease. Such a clinical picture is observed in a patient for 7 days, after which the disease becomes chronic. The signs of pathology vary depending on the type of pathogen that parasitizes in the human body:

• Echinococcosis. Allergic reactions come to the fore. Allergy symptoms are at their peak. In the most severe clinical situations, even anaphylactic shock can develop.
• Filariasis and Strongyloidiasis. The rash will get worse and the face will be swollen.

The manifestation of helminthiasis also depends heavily on the location of the parasite. Most species parasitize the gastrointestinal tract, causing indigestion, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, and intoxication syndrome.

Experts refer to the most severe helminthiasis:

• echinococcosis;
• paragonimiasis;
• cysticercosis.

The specified helminthiases affect almost all vital organs and systems, so the prognosis is often poor even with timely treatment.

Diagnosis

Due to the fact that there are a relatively large number of helminthiasis, diagnosis includes many research methods. The most informative and commonly used are the following:

• Stool analysis. Doctors can use it to identify worm eggs and undigested food particles, which indicates a malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract.
• blood on microfilariae;
• To identify roundworms and pinworms in the human body, resort to a macroscopic examination.
• microscopic examination;
• bile research;
• coproovoscopy. Diagnosing helminthiasis using this method allows you to determine the intensity of the helminth invasion.
• examination of the contents of the duodenum;
• When doctors suspect a person has trichinosis, a muscle tissue biopsy is prescribed.
• ultrasound;
• X-ray;
• fibrogastroduodenoscopy;
• Blood test for the presence of specific antibodies against some helminthiasis.

treatment

The main goal of treating the disease is to remove parasites from the patient's body and restore the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. The treatment plan is prescribed only by a qualified specialist after a thorough diagnosis and evaluation of the test results. Treatment can be carried out both in the hospital and at home.

The basis for treating helminthiasis is the use of specific anthelmintics.

They should only be taken as prescribed by the attending physician and in the dosage prescribed by him. In the acute phase of the disease, a single dose of the drug is enough to get rid of helminths. Most often, however, treatment is carried out according to a certain scheme.

It is important to adhere to the following principles during treatment:

• strict compliance with the rules of personal hygiene;
• diet therapy;
• All used products must be processed.
• at the place where the patient is treated must be disinfected regularly.

Treatment of helminthiasis in children is carried out only under inpatient conditions, so that the doctor can constantly monitor the patient's condition and, if necessary, adjust therapy. It is worth noting that the disease is more serious in children, so the course of treatment can be long.

Prevention

Helminthiasis prevention in children and adults should be lifelong. Since helminths live in soil and can also be transmitted through contact, hygiene should be observed as much as possible - washing hands, using personal hygiene items, etc. It is also important to process fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating.

For prophylactic purposes, it is important to identify people infected with helminths in good time. For this purpose, surveys are regularly carried out on certain categories of adults (in particular on workers in the food, medical, etc. )