Worm infestation belongs to a common group of diseases among humans and animals. It is caused by the penetration into the body of various worms, of which in our time there are more than three hundred species. The parasites are located mainly in the intestines and liver, but some species are able to penetrate the lungs, heart, brain and other vital organs, which can have very serious consequences. It is important to detect the presence of helminths in the body as soon as possible and take measures to eliminate them in order to avoid health problems. After all, this disease can have many consequences, up to death. But it is quite difficult to determine the presence of helminthic invasion in the body, since the symptoms are similar to other diseases, and it is difficult to say exactly which infection is attacking the body. It is important to understand what to look for when contacting a parasitologist.
Types of helminths dangerous to humans.
Worms that pose a danger to humans are divided into two groups:
- Cavity: pinworms, roundworms, whipworms, tapeworms and other parasites that live in the intestines.
- Tissue: Echinococcosis, paragonimiasis, cysticercosis and other types of parasites that can spread to and affect all major internal organs.
Most often, the following types of helminthic invasions are diagnosed in the human body: enterobiasis, ascariasis, trichuriasis, strongyloidiasis.
Methods of infection with worms.
There are many ways in which the larvae of the parasite enter the body, among them the main ones can be distinguished:
- Contact: the larvae are transmitted from person to person.
- Through an insect bite.
- through the ground
- Through the water.
- With dust particles.
- From foods that have suffered insufficient heat treatment.
- Fecal-oral.
The first manifestations of worms in the body
Once in the human body, the worms do not manifest themselves immediately. This is the main problem. The first signs of helminthic invasion may appear only after two weeks. These include:
- increased body temperature;
- skin rash;
- aching pain in the abdomen;
- loss of appetite;
- the appearance of a headache;
- alteration of the intestines.
If, having felt the first signs, in time to consult a doctor, many problems can be avoided.
Symptoms of the presence of worms in the human body
Being in the body, parasites eat most of the nutrients and vitamins, which significantly affects well-being.
Symptoms of helminthic invasion in adults:
- the presence of allergies;
- the appearance of acne and boils;
- bothersome cough;
- reduced immunity;
- depressed and irritable state;
- joint pain;
- digestive system disorders.
Symptoms of infection with worms of the lungs.
Helminth infection of the lungs may be asymptomatic for several years. After penetration into the human body, the parasites actively multiply, when a significant amount is reached, symptoms such as:
- weakness and lack of strength;
- dyspnoea;
- wet cough;
- pain and discomfort in the chest area;
- nausea and vomiting;
- decreased appetite and weight loss.
In the places where the parasites enter the lungs, adhesions form, and over time the shape of the lungs changes. Parasites cause diseases such as pneumonia, asthma, bronchitis and pleurisy. In an advanced case, it is likely to have a fatal outcome.
The main signs of intestinal helminthiasis
Most often, the habitat of worms in the human body is the intestines. The first symptoms appear when the helminths begin active reproduction:
- indigestion;
- nausea;
- flatulence;
- lack of strength and fatigue;
- itching in the anus;
- dermatitis and eczema on the skin.
Parasites poison the body with the products of their vital activity, and all this leads to a general state of weakness and apathy.
Symptoms of the presence of worms in the stomach.
This place is also a favorite for worms, the symptoms are as follows:
- frequent indigestion, constipation can abruptly turn into diarrhea;
- pain in the stomach and navel;
- decreased appetite;
- constant feeling of hunger;
- gnashing of teeth;
- insomnia.
Signs of heartworm infection
This type of parasite occurs in humans due to insect bites. There are two forms of heartworm disease - ocular and cutaneous:
- The cutaneous form is the most common and can appear from a mosquito bite, a small seal forms in this place and gradually migrates under the skin, causing discomfort. If you do not seek qualified help in a timely manner, severe redness and pain appear at the site of injury.
- In the ocular form, the parasite lives under the skin of the eyelids and there is a possibility that it penetrates the eyeball. The symptoms are redness and swelling, conjunctivitis and an itchy sensation in the affected area, in addition to this, the person constantly feels a foreign body in the eye. All this is accompanied by insomnia, increased nervousness and general weakness.
Symptoms of helminths in the throat.
The throat is one of the most sensitive places in the human body. When it becomes inflamed, we immediately feel pain and discomfort, but sometimes a strong tickling and agitation can be felt in the throat, which is often caused by helminths. It is worth noting that parasites cannot live in the throat, since this is not a favorable habitat for them. It happens that the parasites that develop in the digestive system grow to such a size that they enter the throat through the esophagus, this is usually accompanied by suffocation and severe cough.
Symptoms of helminthic invasion of the brain.
Brain damage usually occurs through the nasal passages. Getting into the brain, helminths infect the cortical center, destroy brain cells, actively multiply. Instead of dead cells, dead tissues remain, leading to inflammatory processes in the brain. If urgent medical attention is not given to the patient, he may die within two weeks.
Symptoms:
- severe pain in the head;
- threw up;
- hallucinations;
- soft spot.
Symptoms of helminthic invasion in human blood.
Blood is the habitat of various types of helminths, which have a very detrimental effect on the body. Symptoms include:
- dizziness;
- fever attacks;
- joint pain;
- limb numbness;
- enlarged lymph nodes.
How to recognize helminthic invasion by skin rashes
One of the main manifestations of the presence of helminths is a sharp deterioration in the condition of the skin and the appearance of various rashes on it. This is due to the toxic substances released by the parasites. The most characteristic signs are the following:
- urticaria;
- severe itching;
- allergic rhinitis;
- dermatitis;
- psoriasis;
- the appearance of papillomas;
- nail brittleness;
- increased hair loss;
- acne and furunculosis.
But you should not attribute all skin manifestations to the presence of worms in the body, the reasons may be different, and only a dermatologist, after conducting research, will be able to determine them.
Symptoms of helminthiasis in the form of metabolic disorders.
Failures in metabolic processes in the body should also alert. If, with a normal diet, there was a sharp decrease or increase in weight, anemia or hypovitaminosis was detected, a parasitic infection should be thought of. Rapid weight loss may be due to the fact that the worms absorb all the nutrients consumed by a person. Weight gain can be caused by toxic substances secreted by helminths, in response to them, the body requires more food to eliminate toxins.
Immune system symptoms.
Since the parasites eat all the nutrients and vitamins that enter the body, a strong suppression of the immune system occurs, and the person becomes susceptible to all infectious diseases and inflammatory processes of various organs. Chronic diseases are also on the rise.
Nervous system
From the side of the nervous system, the helminthic invasion is expressed by the following symptoms:
- insomnia;
- increased fatigue;
- memory impairment;
- depressive state;
- decreased activity and performance.
Signs of infection in children
Note! In children, the presence of pinworms and ascaris is most often diagnosed.
Worm infestation in children has the following symptoms:
- poor appetite;
- pale skin of the face;
- dark circles under the eyes;
- poor sleep, grinding teeth in a dream;
- headache, dizziness;
- general state of lethargy and weakness;
- the presence of worms in the feces of the child;
- itching in the anus;
- indigestion;
- a large amount of saliva in the mouth;
- lethargy and fatigue;
- an increase in body temperature for no apparent reason;
- allergic reactions, dermatitis, hives;
- inflammatory processes in the genitals;
- bad breath;
- fever;
- bothersome cough;
- nausea and vomiting;
- frequent colds.
Advice! If a baby has three or more signs, she should immediately see a doctor. Often even a stool study does not give accurate results, so it will be more effective to undergo a full examination.
It is important to understand that a small number of adult helminths in the body almost does not give any symptoms of helminthic invasion in adults and children. It is possible to confirm or deny the infection only by passing laboratory tests and studies prescribed by a parasitologist on an individual basis.
Diagnosis of helminthiasis
Since it is possible to treat the body from parasites only after detecting them, and the symptoms of infection are similar to those of other diseases, competent diagnosis is important. His methods include:
- Serological analysis: detection of antibodies against helminths in the blood;
- Fecal analysis - helps to identify the presence of larvae and fragments of adults;
- Coprological examination: the study of scraping, which is taken near the anus;
- Check for dysbacteriosis;
- computed tomography;
- endoscopy;
- ultrasound.
It is easy to get infected with worms, but it is difficult to treat, especially chronic forms of helminthic invasion. The course of treatment includes antiparasitic drugs, immunomodulators and sorbents. The therapy regimen is prescribed only by a doctor, self-medication can be not only useless, but also dangerous.
Preventive measures against helminth infection.
Prevention of helminth invasions is extremely important for children and adults, following certain rules, you can significantly reduce the chances of infection with parasites. The presence of helminthic invasion in humans, as a rule, is due to a lack of basic hygiene:
- be sure to wash your hands before any use of food, when returning home from the street, after contact with animals;
- So, preferably using special products, wash fruits and vegetables before eating them or scald them with boiling water;
- drink only purified or boiled water;
- try to avoid insect bites;
- fish, meat and other similar products undergo full heat treatment;
- make sure the child's nails are cut short;
- periodically wash children's toys with special products;
- be sure to boil the items used by the patient for five minutes;
- twice a year to undergo an examination of a child and an adult for the presence of helminths;
- weaning the child to put their hands and other objects in their mouths, especially those that had contact with the ground.
The implementation of these measures is not very difficult. Its observance will be enough to protect yourself and your children from parasites as much as possible. If something was missed and symptoms of helminthic invasion began to appear, treatment should be started immediately to prevent complications.