According to WHO studies, almost the entire population is infected with worms. Many are unaware of the presence of helminths and protozoa and attribute malaise to colds or poisoning. But sometimes a person can see a whole worm or part of it in the stool. It is better to look at foreign organisms in the body on a regular basis.
The main types of worms
Different types of helminths can live in the human body, affecting not only the stomach but also other internal organs.
Depending on the habitat, they can be divided into several main classes:
- geohelm samples - larvae live in feces, human infection occurs orally, flies can be carriers;
- biohelm samples - the body of fish or animals is chosen as an intermediate host, entering the human body in the form of larvae, where they actively develop;
- contact helmets - a small species that is transmitted through contact through objects in common use.
The biggest damage can be caused by 3 types of parasites - tapeworms, tapeworms and tapeworms. Worms are divided into intestinal and extraintestinal forms according to their habitat. Intestinal worms have a complex structure, they multiply mainly outside the human body - spindle worms, dumplings, tapeworms. They live only in the colon and small intestine, feeding on the mucous membranes of the organ.
Even the simplest organisms - giardia, cryptosporidium - can settle in the intestines. Despite their primitive structure, they are difficult to get rid of - they multiply very quickly, they become immune to drugs quickly. Various infectious diseases develop underlie the infection.
Extraintestinal forms can move throughout the body with the help of blood flow. Most commonly, these helminths affect cells in the liver, pancreas, and spleen. Uncommon - brain, respiratory and visual organs, lymph nodes, soft tissues. With this form of infection, it is difficult to make a diagnosis because these worms cannot always be detected in a person’s stool.
Cestodes and trematodes enter the body with poorly fried meat and fish and dirty water. Other parasites can become infected if hygiene rules are not followed.
80% of helminthiasis infections are caused by dirty hands and poorly washed foods of plant origin.
What does a human worm look like? These parasites are in the form of worms, mostly light in color. Their length varies from a few millimeters to 2-3 m.
earthworms
Roundworms are most common in children.
Main types:
- tapeworm - spindle-shaped, females reaching 40 cm in length, leaving the body with the faeces;
- pinworms - greyish-white small worms, not exceeding 10 mm in length, found in the faeces of adults and eggs;
- hookworm necators - externally similar parasites, length - up to 15 mm, have sharp teeth;
- Vlasoglav - about 5 cm long, completely white worm.
More:
- Enterobiasis - infection by contact parasites with pinworms. Helminthiasis refers to epidemiological diseases - when a person is infected, everyone who comes in contact with it quickly becomes infected. The worms enter the body orally. Enterobiasis is associated with severe itching in the anus, often leading to re-infection.
- Trichuriasis is an infection caused by a whipworm. It lives in the initial stages of the small intestine and feeds on mucous tissue and blood. In case of large accumulation, severe diarrhea begins, rectal prolapse is possible.
- Hookworms affect the duodenum. The larvae, in contact with the soil, enter through the skin and travel through the bloodstream to all internal organs and lungs. A person begins a strong cough, along with the sputum, the larvae penetrate the organs of the digestive system. After defeating the blood vessels, the worm injects a special enzyme into it that prevents the blood from clotting.
- Cylindrical worms can move freely in the body, man swallows the eggs of parasites with dirty vegetables, untreated water. Flies can be egg carriers.
Symptoms of helminthiasis
The main danger of helminthic invasions is the long-term absence of signs of infection. And when the symptoms appear, they are similar to other common diseases. A person starts taking pills on their own against coughing, fever, intestinal disorders, or constipation, but self-medication does not work.
Externally, infection with parasites can manifest as acne, seborrhea, a cracked heel, seizures in the corners of the mouth, and papillomas. In women, they can trigger the release of leukorrhea, inflammation in the ovaries, and menstruation becoming painful and irregular. With prolonged infection, fibroids, fibroids, and mastopathy appear. In men, helminthiasis leads to impotence, inflammation of the prostate, adenoma of the prostate. Worms induce 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 tract and paranasal sinuses;
- constipation, diarrhea, bloating;
- joint and muscle pain;
- sharp weight fluctuations;
- manifestation of anemia.
Granulomas are clear signs of infection. In these tumors, dead eggs accumulate in the intestinal wall, lungs, liver, and uterus. Oncological diseases develop in the background of the constant poisoning caused by parasites. Severe poisoning leads to allergic reactions, hives, and eczema. The mental state of a person also changes - aggression is replaced by apathy, chronic fatigue appears, insomnia.
The main symptom is worms in the stool. They can be seen visually or detected by special analysis.
Children and parasites
Worms are more often diagnosed in children than in adults. The child puts dirty hands, toys in his mouth, loves to come into contact with animals, plays in the sand and the ground. According to statistics, one in three children in kindergarten has a worm infection. In children, fungal worms, ascaris, Giardia and Toxocara are common.
Giardia are small parasites that affect even newborns. Infection begins with severe diarrhea, high fever, and abdominal pain. Many parents attribute the signs to intestinal infection, treatment does not give the desired result, helminthiasis enters the chronic stage.
Toxocaras live in the bodies of cats and dogs, going outdoors with feces. A child becomes infected when playing in the sandbox or on the ground after coming into contact with stray animals. These worms appear as white fibers of varying thickness and length. A large photograph describing the parasite can be used as a visual aid when communicating with a child about the need for a thorough hand wash.
The consequence of the infection is increased aggression, constant whims, apathy. The child gets tired quickly, the quality of sleep deteriorates. The main symptom that allows a reliable understanding of the infection is itching of the anus and the presence of parasites in the stool.
Gnashing of teeth at night is not a sign of a child's parasitic infection.
Infections from worms are dangerous for the child - they develop chronic diseases, the immune system is upset, and appetite and weight problems occur. If you become infected with whiplash, the child develops developmental retardation, severe anemia.
Medical treatment
Because there are more than 200 different intestinal worms in the human body, there is no single treatment method. The modern type of diagnostics helps to pinpoint exactly which worms are present in the body, allowing you to prescribe the right therapy. Different types of parasites are most commonly found in humans.
The drugs only affect adults, helpless against larvae and eggs. Therefore, several courses of antiparasitic treatment are required for complete recovery.
Worms in the body can cause a number of serious diseases - chronic diseases of the digestive and respiratory systems, nervous system disorders, cataracts, tumors of various origins. It is easy to avoid contamination of helminths - wash your hands often, use antibacterial agents on the street, expose meat and fish to high-quality heat treatment, do not drink raw water, pour hot water on all vegetables and fruits without exception.