According to WHO studies, almost the entire population is infected with worms. Many people are unaware of the presence of helminths and protozoa and attribute the illness to colds or poisoning. But sometimes a person can see all or part of the worm in the feces. It is better to be examined regularly for foreign organisms in the body.
The main types of worms
Different types of helminths can live in the human body, they affect not only the stomach but also other internal organs.
Depending on the habitat, they are divided into several main classes:
- geohelminths - larvae live in feces, human infection occurs orally, flies can be carriers;
- biohelminths - the body of fish or animals is chosen as an intermediate host, in the form of larvae they enter the human body, where they begin to actively develop;
- contact helminths - a small species transmitted by contact through objects of common use.
The greatest damage can be caused by 3 types of parasites - flukes, tapeworms and roundworms. Worms are divided according to their habitat into intestinal and extraintestinal forms. Intestinal helminths have a complex structure, mainly multiply outside the human body - roundworms, pinworms, tapeworms. They live only in the large and small intestines, feed on the mucous membranes of the body.
The simplest organisms - giardia, cryptosporidium - can also settle in the gut. Despite the primitive structure, it is difficult to get rid of them - they multiply very quickly, quickly becoming immune to drugs. Against the background of infection, various infectious diseases develop.
Extraintestinal forms can travel throughout the body through the bloodstream. Most often these helminths affect the cells of the liver, pancreas, spleen. Less often - the brain, respiratory and visual organs, lymph nodes, soft tissues. It is difficult to diagnose this form of infection, as it is not always possible to detect these worms in human feces.
Cestodes and trematodes enter the body with poorly fried meat and fish, dirty water. Other parasites can be infected if hygiene rules are not followed.
In 80% of helminthiasis infections occur due to dirty hands and poorly washed food of plant origin.
What does a human worm look like? These are parasites in the form of worms, mostly light in color. Their length varies from a few millimeters to 2-3 m.
roundworms
Roundworms most often appear in children.
Main types:
- roundworms - have a spindle-shaped structure, the length of females reaches 40 cm, they leave the body with the feces;
- pinworms - small worms with grayish-white color, their length does not exceed 10 mm, adults and eggs can be found in the feces;
- some hookworms - externally similar parasites, length - no more than 15 mm, have sharp teeth;
- Vlasoglav - a worm about 5 cm long, completely white.
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- Enterobiosis - infection by contact parasites with pinworms. Helminthiasis refers to epidemiological diseases - when a person is infected, all persons in contact with him quickly become infected. Oysters enter the body orally. Enterobiasis is accompanied by severe itching in the anus, which often leads to re-infection.
- Trichuria is a whiplash infection. It lives in the initial part of the small intestine, feeds on mucous tissues and blood. With a large accumulation, severe diarrhea begins, rectal prolapse is possible.
- Hookworms affect the duodenum. The larvae enter the skin in contact with the soil and are transported by the bloodstream to all internal organs and lungs. Man begins to have a strong cough, along with sputum, the larvae penetrate the organs of the digestive system. After damaging blood vessels, the worm injects a special enzyme into it that prevents blood from clotting.
- Roundworms can move freely on the body, a person swallows eggs of parasites along with dirty vegetables, untreated water. Flies can lay eggs.
Symptoms of helminthiasis
The main danger of helminth infestations is the long-term absence of signs of infection. And when symptoms appear, they are similar to other common diseases. One starts taking cough pills, fever, intestinal disorders or constipation on one's own, but self-medication does not give positive results.
Externally, the infection with parasites can manifest itself in the form of acne, seborrhea, cracked heels, cramps in the corners of the mouth, papillomas. In women, they can provoke the release of leukorrhea, inflammation of the ovaries, menstruation becomes painful and irregular. With prolonged infection, fibroids, fibroids and mastopathy appear. In men, helminthiasis leads to impotence, prostatitis, prostate adenoma. Worms provoke 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 organs and paranasal sinuses;
- constipation, diarrhea, flatulence;
- joint and muscle pain;
- sharp fluctuations in weight;
- manifestation of anemia.
Granulomas are a clear sign of infection. In these tumors, destroyed eggs accumulate, forming on the walls of the intestine, in the lungs, liver and uterus. Against the background of constant poisoning by parasites develop cancer. Severe intoxication leads to allergic reactions, hives, eczema. A person's mental state also changes - aggression is replaced by apathy, chronic fatigue and insomnia appear.
The main symptom is worms in the stool. They can be seen visually or detected using special analysis.
Children and parasites
Worms in children are diagnosed more often than in adults. The child puts dirty hands, toys in his mouth, likes to come into contact with animals, plays in the sand and the ground. According to statistics, every third child attending preschool has helminths. In children, pinworms, roundworms, giardia and toxocara are often found.
Giardia are small parasites that affect even newborns. Infection begins severe diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain. Many parents attribute the signs of intestinal infection, treatment does not give the desired result, helminthiasis becomes chronic.
Toxocara live in the bodies of cats and dogs, go out with feces. The child becomes infected when playing in the sandbox or on the ground after contact with stray animals. These worms look like white threads of varying thickness and length. A large photo describing the parasite can be used as a visual aid when communicating with a child about the need for thorough hand washing.
The consequence of the infection is increased aggression, constant whims, apathy. The child begins to get tired quickly, the quality of sleep deteriorates. The main symptom that allows you to reliably find out about the infection is itching in the anus, the presence of parasites in the stool.
Gritting your teeth at night is not a sign of a parasitic infestation in a child.
Worm infestations are dangerous for the child - chronic diseases develop, the immune system is disrupted, there are problems with appetite and weight. When infected with a whip, the child begins to develop developmental delay, severe anemia.
Medical treatment
As there can be more than 200 different helminths in the human body, there is no single method of treatment. Modern types of diagnostics help to identify exactly which worms are present in the body, which allows you to prescribe adequate therapy. Parasites of various species are most commonly found in humans.
Medicines affect only adults, they are powerless against larvae and eggs. Therefore, for complete relief it is necessary to undergo several courses of antiparasitic therapy.
Worms in the body can cause many serious diseases - chronic diseases of the digestive and respiratory organs, nervous disorders, glaucoma, tumors of various origins. It is easy to avoid infection with helminths - wash your hands often, use antibacterial agents on the street, subject meat and fish to high-quality heat treatment, do not drink raw water, pour boiling water over all vegetables and fruits without exception.