Throughout life, a person is exposed to the risk of infection by various parasites. The most common are helminths (worms in humans). These parasites in the human body cause many complications, among which are: disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, physical damage to internal organs and helminthiasis. Helminthiasis is not a disease, but a group of diseases caused by parasites that live inside a person. All helminths are divided into 3 main types:
- nematodes (belong to the order of roundworms), prominent representatives: roundworms, pinworms, whipworms;
- tapeworms or cestodes (an order of flatworms) are represented by tapeworms, bovine tapeworms;
- Trematodes or flukes (order of flatworms) are represented by the liver fluke.
Since helminths leave the host's body during the reproduction period to preserve the species, transferring to another host or to the environment, they are also divided according to the type of transfer:
- Mechanical transfer involves movement over long distances, while no development of worms occurs in the body of the carrier. These include most arthropods (crustaceans, arachnids and millipedes), which are often carried on the legs of houseflies.
- An intermediate host is a specific mode of transmission in which one of the developmental stages occurs in the body of the vector. For example, in the case of the bovine tapeworm, the carrier (intermediate host) is cattle and humans are the final carrier.
Helminths are also differentiated by their mode of transmission:
- active (contact);
- passive (food).
Contact helminths can enter the human body through mucous membranes and skin (schistosomes, hookworms). Foodborne illnesses are more common; They develop in a person after eating unwashed food, during contact with sick people or non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene.
In total, there are more than 250 species of lower worms that parasitize humans in the world. Since the symptoms of the presence of worms in humans have different manifestations, at the slightest suspicion it is advisable to contact a specialist and undergo a test.
Life cycle of worms, their reproduction and development.
An example of helminth development is the classic diagram of the life cycle of the roundworm. The eggs of the parasite are extremely resistant to external adverse influences and can remain in the soil for up to six months. The development of the larva requires from 2 weeks to 2 months, depending on environmental conditions: temperature, humidity, availability of oxygen. A mature egg enters the stomach with food, where gastric juice devours the egg shell and releases the larva.
After this, the worm enters the bloodstream through the intestinal wall and begins to move through the entire blood vessel system until it enters the lung alveoli. The roundworm larva is aerobic, only here it becomes active and continues to develop. By feeding on blood, it grows up to 3-4 mm in length. Having reached primary maturity 4-5 days after invasion, the worm begins to move into the bronchi. Its movement provokes a cough in a person, as a result of which the larva, together with mucus, enters the oral cavity and again into the intestines. Here the final stage of the formation of the larva takes place until it becomes an adult.
The life cycle of an adult worm lasts approximately one year, during which time it lays up to 250, 000 eggs. Human health, and sometimes even life, directly depends on the presence of worms in the body and their number, so it is important to start treatment as soon as possible. Ascariasis is accompanied by poisoning and a complication will be intestinal obstruction, which in some cases will require urgent surgical intervention.
The reproduction of helminths occurs in 2 ways, according to which worms are divided into biohelminths and geohelminths. Normally, parasite eggs end up in the external environment, where they mature. The egg must then enter the host, where it develops fully (geohelminths) or goes through the stage of transformation into a larva (biohelminths).
For biohelminths, the development process is more complex; The stages of development to becoming an adult and reaching maturity are separate from the larval emergence stage. That is, from the external environment the egg first enters an intermediate conveyor, where the larva hatches. It then needs to be ingested by its final host to reach its adult form. Sometimes biohelminths change up to 4 intermediate carriers before reaching their final host.
Symptoms
How to determine the presence of worms? Polymorphic symptoms and the absence of painful sensations in the early stages of the disease complicate the diagnosis. Often, the reasons for the appearance of worms in humans are associated with the consumption of stale or contaminated food, and the parasites themselves live directly in the gastrointestinal tract, so signs of their presence in the human body in most The cases are related to the functioning of the digestive system. bowels:
- loose stools (unstable);
- pain and swelling;
- allergic skin rashes;
- flatulence;
- nausea;
- vomit;
- lack or excess of appetite;
- at night: sleep disturbances, shaking, teeth grinding, salivation;
- itching in the anus;
- the presence of mucus or blood in the stool.
These symptoms appear after infection and last a short time (about 7 days). In case of reinfestation, they are repeated after 2-3 weeks. In the absence of treatment or due to the appearance of an acute or chronic form of the disease, some symptoms do not disappear and to them are added the consequences of a long stay of the parasites in the body:
- Intoxication appears almost simultaneously with the infection, but in the early stages it is not so noticeable. The greater the number of worms in the human body, the stronger the symptoms of poisoning increase, from morning sickness to vomiting and abdominal pain.
- Congestion in the lungs (infiltrates), bronchial spasms, pneumonia. The main culprits are parasites that develop in the alveoli of the lungs and damage them, causing inflammatory processes.
- Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis). An infectious disease, the result of the vital activity of helminths and their subsequent poisoning.
- Meningoencephalitis is a dangerous inflammation of the brain and its membranes caused by bacteria and protozoa.
Different pathogens have their own manifestations and consequences, but most of the symptoms are common to all helminths.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is carried out in laboratory conditions. Only in this case, in the presence of worm eggs and their signs in the blood or feces, helminthiasis can be confidently diagnosed. However, analysis of feces is not always enough: some types of parasites do not manifest themselves in them. A special method for determining the presence of worms is a serological blood test for antibodies. For the diagnosis of helminthiasis, the following is used:
- bile studies;
- macroscopy (to identify intestinal worms and pinworms);
- biopsy of muscle tissue to detect trichinosis;
- X-rays and ultrasound.
Trichinosis is a parasitic disease in which the larvae of the pathogen spread throughout the host's body, causing extensive destruction of the organs and the central nervous system, after which they settle in the muscle tissue. Parasites in human muscles gradually create a capsule of infiltrates around them and the symptoms of their presence in the body decrease, but by that time serious damage has already been caused to the health of the host.
One of the main symptoms can be considered eosinophilia, in which the number of eosinophils in the patient's blood increases sharply. Eosinophils are a subtype of leukocytes that respond to the presence of the smallest foreign objects in the circulatory system. In places where parasite larvae accumulate, internal swelling and spots quickly appear on the skin - traces of infiltration. They also remain in sputum and lung fluid.
Since the symptoms of helminthic diseases are extensive and largely overlap with signs of other diseases, self-diagnosis cannot be completely reliable. There are cases when, after eating bananas, people noticed dark threads in their feces, which were mistaken for worms. Before starting treatment, it is necessary to undergo all tests to determine the presence and type of parasites.
Helminthiasis treatment
When treating parasitic diseases, several general rules should be followed:
- Thorough disinfection of the patient's bedding and the room in which they are located. Reduce contact to a minimum, separate dishes.
- Strict diet excluding alcohol. It is recommended to drink carrot juice and infusion of birch buds.
- Maintain personal hygiene, frequent washing of hands and clothes, cleaning of the home.
- Monitoring the progress of the treatment and its effectiveness.
Modern treatment methods exclude the use of a separate drug, since this does not guarantee complete coverage of all types of helminths. Most often, the doctor prescribes a drug of initial action that weakens the parasites. After 3 days, depending on the patient's age and the severity of the infection, anthelmintic medications are prescribed. Pregnant women or people with contraindications to medication are prescribed a non-toxic drug from the tetrahydropyrimidine group.
If it is not possible to consult a doctor, use home remedies. A good anthelmintic effect has the following:
- garlic infusion enema, taking garlic on an empty stomach;
- infusion of tansy on an empty stomach 4 times a day before meals;
- tincture of wormwood in alcohol, taken 3 times a day, 20 mg.
Nowadays, helminthiasis is diagnosed and treated in a short time. If you do not neglect the disease and start treatment on time, this will help avoid complications and re-invasions. Parasitic diseases pose the greatest danger to children: there is a delay in mental development, complications arise in the form of chronic diseases and inflammatory processes. It is extremely important to quickly explain to your child the need to wash hands and follow the rules of personal hygiene. Adults should also follow other preventive measures.
Helminthiasis prevention
In addition to personal hygiene, there are several factors that influence eliminating the cause of worms:
- wash vegetables and fruits in hot water;
- keep the house clean, regular wet cleaning;
- a balanced diet that provides the body with a sufficient amount of vitamins from all groups;
- monitoring the condition of pets, annual visits to the veterinarian;
- proper heat treatment of fish and meat;
- fight insects living in the house;
- refrain from swimming and resting in areas where livestock graze.
Compliance with preventive measures and timely consultation with a doctor in case of infection will help avoid complications. The correct dosage of medications prescribed by a specialist doctor will quickly eliminate parasites and home remedies can be used in combination with prescribed medications.