The types of worms that infect a person's internal organs are called helminths (worms). According to statistics, today about 30% of the total population is susceptible to the Helminthic invasion. The worms that poison the body can infect any part of the body. This is dangerous not only for diseases that can provoke helminths. Its presence in the body can be fatal.
To date, helminthiasis can be completely cured not only with medications, but also with folk remedies. Each type has its own treatment methods. Therefore, it is worth knowing and understanding what the types of worms are, as well as the symptoms of a parasitic infection, in order to take the appropriate measures.
Helminthiasis classification
Parasitic worms are divided into two large groups: intestinal and tissue.
The first species lives directly in the intestines. This group includes:
- pinworms and pinworms;
- hookworms and lamblia;
- whipworms and dwarf tapeworms;
- had bovine and broad tapeworms;
- pork tapeworm.
Tissue worms can inhabit any organ of the human body and parasitize for many years. These include:
- cysticerci and flukes;
- trichinella and liver fluke;
- echinococcus and alveococcus.
Intestinal worm
They are the most common and complicated types of worms that live in the small intestine of an adult or child. Infection with this type of helminth is called ascariasis.
In the first days of the invasion, a person begins to feel discomfort, nervousness, fever, shortness of breath, cough, and pain in the chest area. Such symptoms are justified by the fact that helminths initially affect the respiratory system.
Infection can occur from drinking raw water from unverified sources, poorly processed fresh fruits and vegetables. In summer, the risk of ascariasis increases.
Pinworms
The tiny helminths that settle in the intestines cause a disease called enterobiasis. The worms lay their eggs in the anal area. The laid eggs hatch into larvae and can re-enter the body only through the oral cavity.
Reinfection is caused by the contact of the dirty hands of a person suffering from enterobiasis with the food they eat. Symptoms of infection can include itching around the anus and increased irritability.
Important! The disease is transmitted by humans.
Hookworm
Hookworm infection occurs through damaged skin when it comes into contact with the ground, where the larvae of this type of worms live.
Hookworms, before entering the intestines, follow the same path as roundworms.
Symptoms include cough, lower abdominal pain, nausea, and stool disturbance. This type of helminthiasis can lead to anemia.
Giardia
Giardiasis progresses in people who have a habit of biting their nails and other objects (pencils, pens). Infection can also occur in the case of drinking poor quality water, unwashed products, contact with dirty clothes, where the larvae can be, and a carrier of the disease.
Symptoms of infection can include loose stools and pain in the lower abdomen.
Vlasoglava
Whipworm occurs during infection with whipworm larvae. They come in along with raw fruits and vegetables. Dirty hands and water are vectors too.
The invasion is accompanied by acute abdominal pain, diarrhea, and decreased appetite. The signs of infection are usually similar to appendicitis.
Had dwarf
Infection with the worm occurs not only through dirty hands and unwashed food, but insects can also be carriers.
The dwarf tapeworm affects the intestines and liver, causing inflammation and poisoning.
Hymenolepiasis can be accompanied by the appearance of dysbiosis, decreased appetite, increased thirst, increased fatigue and nervousness.
Beef tapeworm
One of the most dangerous types of worms that parasitize the large intestine.
An adult worm reaches several meters in length. The individual removes all the nutrients from the human body and produces severe intoxication.
Symptoms of invasion are:
- diarrhea and abdominal pain;
- vomiting and nausea;
- sleep without rest;
- dizziness and fainting.
The risk of contracting the disease from teniarinhoses arises from eating insufficiently processed beef contaminated with larvae of bovine tapeworms.
Wide ribbon
The cause of diphyllobothriasis is the consumption of poorly processed fish products and caviar.
The worm that causes the disease is one of the largest and can reach ten meters.
Symptoms of infection are severe pain in the lower abdomen and anemia.
Pork tapeworm
Infection with this type of helminth is extremely dangerous for humans. Eating undercooked pork can cause Finns to enter the body and become adults.
From the body of the pig tapeworm, the so-called segments are periodically separated, which can leave the body by themselves through the anus or with the feces, entering the environment. The signs of tapeworm are similar to those of a bovine tapeworm infection.
Cysticerki
It is a type of tissue worm that is the product of a segment of the porcine tapeworm. Segments containing tapeworm eggs enter the external environment and can re-enter the body through external environmental objects and lead to the development of cysticercosis.
The parasites settle in the muscles, the myocardium and even the brain.
Important! They have a compressive effect on the organs and cause inflammation.
Liver fluke
Opisthorchiasis occurs as a result of ingestion of the larvae of the liver parasite along with infected fish in the human body.
Signs of the presence of opisthorchiasis:
- nausea;
- Diarrhea;
- pains throughout the body;
- the appearance of allergies.
The most serious symptoms are chronic. This type of parasite is dangerous for the development of liver cancer.
Echinococcus
The worm takes up residence in the body, most often in the liver or lungs. Echinococcus can cause the formation of a cyst in the affected organ and the appearance of tumors. The infection can be fatal.
The larvae are transmitted to humans through contact with sick animals.
Trichinella
Trichinosis mainly affects people who eat poorly processed bushmeat. Pigs can also carry Trichinella.
The habitats of adults in the human body are various types of muscles (respiratory, facial, etc. ).
At an early stage, nausea and loose stools occur. Later symptoms of invasion are fever, edema, skin rash, muscle pain. Infection with this type of parasite without prompt treatment can be fatal.
Forms of human infection with helminths.
- Biohelminthiasis (infection of animals).
- Contagious helminthiasis (transmitted from person to person).
- Geohelminthiasis (diseases caused by parasites that carry out one of their life cycles on earth).
Factors that affect the manifestations of helminthiasis.
The way the parasite enters the body;
- The degree of adaptation of helminths to the human body;
- Population density (number) of parasitic individuals;
- The habitat of the worm (tissue parasites live in the thickness of soft tissues and luminals live in the hollow organs of hollow organs). Some helminths in different phases have luminal and tissue forms. The larval and developmental stages of worms, as a rule, cause more pronounced pathological changes.
In the absence of reinfection, the number of adult parasites in the human body does not increase. This characteristic significantly distinguishes helminthic invasions from diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa.
Worms in humans: symptoms
Helminthiasis is a disease characterized by 2 stages of the course (acute, from two weeks to two months) and chronic (from several months to several years).
Symptoms of the acute phase of helminthiasis.
The first signs of the disease can appear at different times (most often after 2-3 weeks, with ascariasis; after 2-3 days, and with filariasis, the incubation period can last from 6 to 18 months).
In the acute stage of parasitic invasion, the most characteristic symptom is an allergic reaction (antibodies are produced against the antigens of the migrant parasite larvae). Often in people infected with worms, itchy rashes appear on the skin, prone to a recurrent course, increased regional lymph nodes, generalized or local edema, muscle and joint pain. Additionally, migrating parasite larvae can cause chest pain, coughing, choking attacks, stool disturbances, nausea, and vomiting.
Signs of chronic helminthiasis
The symptoms of the chronic phase depend directly on which organ is "inhabited" by parasites, and their size and number also play an important role.
So, by parasitizing in the intestines of individual individuals, the disease can be asymptomatic (except in cases of infection with very large parasites). The characteristic signs of the chronic phase of intestinal helminthiasis are dyspeptic disorders. In children, pain and asthenoneurotic syndrome is more pronounced. With the massive invasion of pinworms, the development of intestinal obstruction, obstructive jaundice, and pancreatitis is possible.
In people suffering from helminthiasis, due to a weakened immune system and an improved process of cell division (a consequence of the constant restoration of tissues damaged by parasites), the risk of malignant tumors increases significantly.
Types of helminths that parasitize the human body
The causative agents of human helminthiasis are 2 types of worms: round (nematodes) and flat (tape and trematodes).
Round worms
Intestinal worm
The parasites that cause enterobiasis are small worms (up to 10 mm) with a thin cavity with a grayish-white coloration. The infection occurs by food (through the mouth). The reason for this is dirty hands. The parasite's eggs can be found in the soil, in the wool of infected animals, unwashed vegetables and fruits, etc. At the same time, with enterobiasis, cases of autoinfection are frequent (especially in children), as a consequence of scratching. of the itchy areas and subsequent ingestion of eggs. Pinworm larvae develop in two weeks in the digestive tract. Having become an adult, the worm parasitizes in the lower sections of the small and upper sections of the colon.
Ascaris
Ascaris is a large spindle-shaped parasite of red-yellow color, which reaches 40 cm (females) and 15-25 cm (males) in adulthood. Without suction cups or other holding devices, the roundworm can move independently towards the food masses. The eggs that the female of the parasite lays are excreted along with the feces.
Vlasoglav
Vlasoglav, the causative agent of whipworm, is a white helminth that parasitizes in the initial section of the large intestine and reaches a size of 4-5 cm. The parasite feeds on the blood and tissues of the rectal mucosa.
With a small number of worms, whipworms are asymptomatic. In a severe stage (with massive invasion), the patient develops abdominal pain, severe diarrhea develops, sometimes accompanied by rectal prolapse. This condition is seen most often in debilitated children. With a moderate phase of whipworm, a child may be stunted.
Trichinella
The causative agent of trichinosis is a small round helminth, which reaches 2 to 5 mm in length. The infection occurs when eating poorly roasted meat (pork, bear meat, wild boar). Upon entering the intestines, the larvae of the parasite mature in 3-4 days to the stage of a sexually mature individual. The worm's lifespan is 40 days, after which the parasite dies. By piercing the intestinal wall, the larvae enter the bloodstream and are transported to all organs of the human body, settling in the muscles. In this case, the respiratory and facial muscles, as well as the flexor muscles of the extremities, are the most affected.
In the first days after invasion, patients complain of abdominal pain. Then, after about 2 weeks, the body temperature rises to 39-40 C, itchy rashes appear on the skin, muscle aches develop, and the face swells. During this period, in the case of a massive infection, there is a significant risk of death. After about a month, the patient recovers. The parasite is encapsulated in a spiral fashion, after which it dies within two years.
Hookworm and nekator
These two parasites are similar in biological characteristics, as well as in caused diseases. In this sense, it is customary to combine them under a common name (hookworms). The worms, reaching lengths of 10-15 mm, parasitize at 12-p. intestine. It should be noted that this is one of the most common parasites, but, at the same time, very rarely detected. Worm larvae enter the human body through the skin when they come into contact with contaminated soil. Also, upon entering the bloodstream, like roundworms, they migrate to the lungs and then, through the bronchi, together with the expectorant sputum, to the digestive tract. The hookworm parasitizes in the intestine and attaches itself to the intestinal wall. Therefore, the most characteristic symptom of this helminthiasis is iron deficiency anemia, as well as a change in the proportion of protein fractions (dysproteinemia).
Flat worms
Wide ribbon
This is one of the largest helminths, reaching a length of 10-20 meters. The disease caused by this parasite is called diphyllobothriasis. The worm development cycle begins with freshwater fish or crustaceans. The larvae enter the human body, which is the ultimate owner of the broad tapeworm, along with infected eggs or fish fillets. Upon reaching the small intestine, the parasite attaches itself to its wall and grows into a mature individual in 20-25 days.
Diphyllobothriasis occurs in the context of digestive tract disorders and B12 deficiency anemia.
Liver fluke
The parasite that causes opisthorchiasis is a flatworm that reaches a length of 7-20 mm. Human infection occurs when contaminated fish meat that has not undergone sufficient heat treatment is ingested. The larvae of the liver fluke of the small intestine penetrate the bile ducts and the gallbladder, fixing there with the help of two suction cups.
In the acute phase of helminthiasis, the patient has pain in the upper abdomen, increased body temperature, nausea, muscle aches develop, diarrhea and skin rashes may occur. The chronic course of opisthorchiasis is manifested by symptoms of hepatitis, inflammation of the bile ducts, cholecystitis, disturbances in the digestive tract, nervous disorders, weakness, and increased fatigue. The parasite leads to the development of irreversible changes, and even after its expulsion, the patient does not suffer from chronic inflammatory processes and functional disorders.
Beef and pork tapeworms
These parasites, of almost identical structure, reach a length of 5-6 meters. Infection with teniarinhoses and taeniasis is caused by the consumption of meat from cattle or pigs infected by the Finns (one of the intermediate forms of helminthiasis). Viable Finns, presented in the form of whitish bubbles reaching a size of 0. 5 cm, adhere to the wall of the human small intestine and become adults in 3 months. The ribbon parasite, which consists of more than 2000 segments, is constantly growing.
Echinococcus
For this parasite, a person is an intermediate host. The worm parasitizes the human body in the form of Finns. The final owner of the echinococcus is a wolf, dog or cat. Infection occurs via food through contact with animals and environmental objects sown with Echinococcus eggs. After entering the intestine, oncospheres (six-hooked larvae) develop from them. From the intestines, they enter the bloodstream and are transported throughout the body.
Alveococcus
This parasite, considered a type of echinococcus, is the cause of one of the most dangerous helminth infections (alveococcosis), similar in severity to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Infection occurs when oncospheres (eggs with mature larvae) enter the intestines. Laurocysts are very aggressive formations that are constantly growing due to the enlarged bubbles and also have the ability to grow towards the liver, like cancer metastases. Necrotic changes due to alterations in the functioning of blood vessels undergo necrotic changes in nearby tissues. When spreading to nearby structures, the alveococcus forms fibrous ganglia with inclusions of multicameral bubbles. This condition can last for several years and therefore requires mandatory surgical intervention.
Diagnosis of helminthiasis
Diagnosis of helminthic invasions includes the following activities:
- careful collection of anamnesis, which helps to find out the possible causes of infection;
- laboratory tests of stool, blood, intestinal contents 12p, rectal and perianal mucus, muscle tissue, lung sputum, bile. Analysis may reveal parasite eggs, segments, or fragments. At the same time, an increased content of eosinophils in the blood is also a sign of the presence of helminthiasis.
- Serological tests (ELISA, RSK, indirect agglutination reaction, immunofluorescence analysis, etc. ) are performed in the diagnosis of diseases caused by larval stages or tissue parasites.
- To identify worms that affect liver tissue, ultrasound scans, CT scans, and endoscopic studies are prescribed.
Worms in humans: treatment
In the acute phase of parasitic infection, the patient is prescribed detoxification and desensitization therapy. In severe cases of the disease (liver flukes, trichinosis), glucocorticoids are used according to medical indications.
As specific therapy drugs, taking into account the nature of the pathogen, special anthelmintic chemotherapeutic agents are prescribed.
In parallel, the patient is recommended to take antihistamines and enterosorbents. The final stage of treatment includes the use of probiotics that normalize the intestinal microflora.
A special soft diet is also prescribed (food must be digestible and low in fat).
During the period of anthelmintic therapy, the patient must strictly observe personal hygiene (to avoid reinfection). At the same time, for many helminthiases, all family members and people who are in constant contact with those infected must undergo treatment.
An underestimation of their danger, combined with a lack of knowledge of the biology of these creatures and the ways of infection with them, has led to the fact that at least several billion people are now carriers of certain parasites.
Parasites can also be present not only inside a person, but even outside the human body.
Prevention of parasite infestation.
Rule 1:You cannot eat any fish that is not salty enough, fried or boiled. Sushi, lightly salted herring or sashimi can be considered gourmet food. But, in essence, it is raw fish, and fish is one of the components of the life cycle of parasitic worms.
How it all happens:first, the larva enters the mollusk, where it does not grow more than a certain limit, then the fish eats the mollusk, the larva enters its digestive tract, remains alive, then grows and multiplies, entering the muscle tissue of the fish, thenthis fish is eaten by a dolphin, a seagull or a polar bear. Or a visitor to a restaurant who decides to join in on Japanese high culture.
In theory, there is safe raw fish. For this, it must be frozen immediately after capture and thawed just before cooking, or it must be specially cultivated in a fish farm with control of the absence of parasites. But generally it is impossible to verify whether a risky dish was actually prepared from it.
The same care must be taken with meat; don't try raw ground beef and freshly salted bacon.
Also, in order not to become infected with helminths, vegetables should be washed before eating, as well as hands. As a component of the natural environment, these parasites in the human body are found almost everywhere.
Any contact of food or hands with soil, dust and vegetation can leave their microscopic eggs in food. If they enter the intestines, the worms will hatch from the eggs, which will not be easy to remove.
There are parasites that attack a person who walks or relaxes in nature, for example:
- plasmodium malaria, contained in the saliva of mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles,
- the causative agent of encephalitis contained in the saliva of ixodid ticks,
- horsefly and wolfarth fly.
Its prevention consists in the use of all kinds of repellants in nature walks, as well as in the maximum protection of open areas of the body (mosquito nets, mosquito nets, special gel).
However, what can you do if prevention has not helped? Since the attack has been known for a long time, treatment with folk methods has also been known for a long time.
And, in conclusion, it can be seen that compliance with simple rules of hygiene and sanitation, the extermination of flies and cockroaches, can significantly reduce the risk of infection by parasites, which has serious consequences.