Many of us after the summer holidays will think about the presence of worms (helminths).
Some believe that it is necessary to get rid of them at all costs, others, on the contrary, believe that these parasites are even very useful for the body. Who will tell us the truth?
Certainly many of you are familiar with the famous Dr. House. In one of the series there was a case when a teacher got sick right in class. The children were scared and the doctors did not know what was happening to her because she was in a very serious condition. Every doctor promotes his theory. Some thought the patient had a tumor, others thought she was suffering from inflammation of the vessels in her brain. The protagonist of the TV series, Dr. House himself, solves this problem by finding the culprit for the teacher's suffering. It was the tapeworm that tormented the woman. The teacher was then prescribed a course of pill treatment and she recovered.
Although this series may seem like fiction, the script of this series was made by real professionals. The real cases of worm infections are also similar to a myth, but, alas, the consequences can not always be corrected, as in the case of the series. How do we know if we are infected or not? Are we in danger or not?
On the prevention of worms
When people hear about various miraculous means of destroying these parasites, they forget about everything just to get rid of them.
We have developed such a strong aversion to these animals that even when we think of them, it becomes bad. We are ready to test ourselves with even the most abnormal drugs, to drink any suspicious herbs and even to make enemas with garlic.
It is very important not to overdo any medications and to stop in time. In parasitic diseases, care should be taken when choosing drugs for helminths, because without taking the right drugs, we can even complicate the situation. Do not take anything for treatment! It is very important to know what you are struggling with, what medicine helps, what dose is optimal and what contraindications there are. So it could be a whole detective story in the fight against parasites.
It is known on our planet that more than 300, 000 species of helminths affect vertebrates. There are 300 species of helminths in humans (according to other sources, more than 12, 000 species). So treating yourself with anything just won't work. Although it is good that most of them are in the tropics. This is only if we do not take such "tourists" from tropical countries, where we like to rest (Turkey, Cyprus, Egypt, Thailand).
Every region of the world is characterized by certain worms. And everyone has a different form of entry into the body.
How many species of helminths are there on Earth?
schistosomes
Africa and Asia are known for their schistosomes. And you can get infected with them very easily if you swim in a local freshwater tank or drink water from local sources. Schistosomes mainly enter the body through the urogenital organs.
How to avoid schistosome infection?
If you do not swim in fresh water and wash only with boiled water, you can generally avoid this.
Filaria and elephantiasis (filariasis)
You can also "get acquainted" with filariasis during your vacation on the islands of Fiji, Mozambique, Goa, Tahiti, and also in Egypt. The main vectors of these parasites are mosquitoes (native mosquitoes).
Filariasis is dangerous because it causes filariasis (elephantiasis), which affects the lymph nodes and is very difficult to treat.
Mosquitoes are also dangerous because they can be carriers of leishmaniasis (caused by leishmaniasis) and malaria. Leishmaniasis affects the mucous membranes and skin.
How to avoid filariasis infection?
The basic rule is not to allow mosquitoes to approach, let alone bite. Use curtains, repellents and special mosquito nets.
When in the tropics, avoid running or walking barefoot on local trails or sandy beaches. The fact is that this way you can catch other types of parasites. Various parasitic larvae are often hidden in the "harmless" sand, which can very quickly penetrate the body even through the skin of the feet! So sometimes after returning from travel you can find some larva under the skin. Just like in a horror movie!
How to avoid infection with such parasites? Walk only in shoes and it is not recommended to lie on the sand or grass without bedding.
Fluke
The most dangerous food is raw fish and also uncooked.
Broom is one of the many parasites that can be found in raw fish in:
- China;
- Japan.
After trying a piece of such fish (which means infected), after 1/2 - 1 month you may feel unpleasant sensations in the liver, as well as a rash.
It's not just methyl that's transmitted. Many worms are waiting for the next host to bite raw fish. Lovers of caviar, sushi, salted and dried fish are also at risk of methyl infection.
How to avoid methyl infection?
First of all, exclude from the menu any exotic dishes of raw fish. If you still can't refrain from eating such dishes, at least eat them only in good, certified restaurants.
If you buy raw fish at the market or from strangers, then you should definitely cook it already, otherwise you risk it.
Trichinella and trichinosis
How do you think there are no other worms? Make no mistake, we found them in other well-known products.
Europeans love blood steaks here. And here lies another danger - trichinosis.
Other helminths can't even compare to this, because Trichinella is one of the most dangerous! They can settle in muscle tissue and lead to death.
In addition to Trichinella, such a European dinner can "give" other parasites: pork and beef tapeworm.
How to avoid infection with trichinosis and tapeworm?
Eat well-prepared meat dishes and only in good restaurants.
roundworms and pinworms
Even when we eat vegetables and fruits, we need to think about the fact that there is another threat of infection: roundworms and pinworms. That's why our mothers taught us to wash fruits and vegetables before eating. Most often the threat comes from spicy herbs (greens), which are brought to us from the southern regions.
How to avoid infection with round and pinworms?
If you bought greens on the market, be sure to rinse them well. First, leave the grass in the water for an hour so that the helminth eggs on the leaves sink to the bottom of the bowl, and only then wash each leaf separately. Like this one!
Positive aspects of worms
I don't think it's very warm to think that such "pets" are wandering around. But let's be optimistic, because life is beautiful.
The microcosm around us is full of all sorts of surprises:
- bacteria,
- viruses
- parasites.
And we contain whole kilograms of such biomass and there is nothing pathological in it. We were not created to live in an absolutely sterile environment where we will simply die.
Some of these organisms have a positive effect, as they are involved in improving immunity, the synthesis of certain vitamins, and digestion works differently thanks to them.
I do not want to call helminths useful animals for humans, but there are some that are safe (intestinal parasites) and especially dangerous (parasites that live in other organs: lungs, liver, eyes and even the brain! ). In the latter case, everyone thinks about how to recover quickly, because the problem is very serious.
It happens that helminths leave the owner's body, even when he does not know about their existence in his body.
For example, you can get rid of worms with a head of garlic or through hormonal changes (in the case of a pregnant woman), anything is possible. If you decide to rebel against these parasites without knowing what you are fighting against, you can infuriate them. In this way, they can complicate the situation by penetrating the bile ducts and provoking a liver abscess. So, keep in mind that regular prevention is not always helpful! It is better to pass the control in the hospital for the presence of helminths.
Symptoms of worm infestation
How to proceed? Worms surround us everywhere and thus we can easily become infected, it is not recommended to treat them without a diagnosis, and diagnosing helminths is not an easy task. Worms are very good at disguising themselves as other diseases.
And the most interesting thing: the bigger the helminth (there are giants that reach 10 meters), the calmer it behaves. So it is not always possible to analyze only some symptoms, it turns out, to establish the correct diagnosis. Without an examination by a parasitologist can not.
Of course, no one can help you better than a doctor. Here are some cases in which you should take the test:
- during a recent vacation in different parts of the world, eating various local dubious delicacies, swimming in hotel pools where the water is not chlorinated, walking barefoot on the beach, lying naked on the sand, grass, touching local dogs and cats;
- you have a fever, hives, redness, itching, rash, chills, bloating and abdominal pain.
If you understand your situation, then you should visit a parasitologist.
Rules of personal hygiene to avoid getting infected with worms
Food
- Let's start with the fact that in exotic countries you can only drink bottled water.
- Fruits, even if they look very appetizing, should be peeled or boiled. In simple form it is by no means recommended to use them.
- Other dubious products are
- uncooked meat;
- raw fish (any form, even marine).
- Freshly squeezed juices are also prohibited. Squeezing fruit juice does not always go through a thorough washing process.
Refuse to use such products.
beach
Do not risk walking barefoot on sand, grass, paths in exotic countries. Use a deck chair and slippers.
Bathing
Swimming in freshwater bodies in India, Central Africa and South America is prohibited. There are so many parasites that even the movie "Alien" looks like a children's tale compared to these.
mosquitoes
Mosquitoes (or mosquitoes) are very dangerous parasites because they are serious carriers of many infections and helminths.
Avoid direct contact with them.
You need to use repellents, wear long-sleeved clothes, sleep under the canopy.
underwear
Drying clothes in the air in exotic countries is strictly prohibited.
The problem is that tropical flies love to lay eggs on it, and when you put on swimsuits, larvae will hatch, which can cause dermatitis.
Where to do tests for worms?
Perform tests only in specialized public clinics. Suspicious institutions are not recommended to perform such tests.
One of the reasons you do not contact such clinics is the fact that they can find everything you want, even if you have nothing.
Yes, yes, in order to tease you, they may prescribe you unnecessary courses of treatment there. They will tell you that modern universal diagnostics sees everything, even when standard tests see nothing. Do not trust charlatans and do not hesitate to go to standard public clinics.
Now let's talk about the so-called universal diagnostics. In such a case as the detection of helminths, this is impossible.
If you need to excrete urine in the bladder, if in the intestines - then the stool, if in the muscle mass - then you will need to take an X-ray of the muscles, if in the liver - ultrasound.
What did you think? The positive results of such analyzes can only warn you to expel them as soon as possible. Take only the medications recommended by the parasitologist, as accuracy and precision are very important in this regard.
What should be remembered about helminths?
Theoretically, helminths can be infected almost anywhere - in the city, on vacation, in tropical countries, in the woods. But according to statistics, even in such cases, not everyone is infected with them. Those who follow the basic rules of hygiene, as a rule, reduce the risk of infection for themselves.
- The main thing is not to panic and not to take any prevention drugs, because there are no universal remedies for worms. Even worm tablets have their own classification according to the different forms of helminths. It turns out that some pills help with some parasites and others do not. The doctor will best determine your diagnosis and prescribe the right pills. If you take care of your pets (cats and dogs) by regularly prescribing anthelmintics and if none of the symptoms mentioned above bother you, then you have nothing to worry about.
- If you have any doubts about this, see a doctor. Don't forget to tell us what you ate and where you were.
- As I told you before, you should only do research in good specialized clinics. In bad clinics you can spend a lot of money and you will not be able to be treated.
- All drugs taken for prevention can only do harm. Do not use them "only for prevention", otherwise you can destroy the intestinal flora and even "win" toxic hepatitis. Echinococcosis is very dangerous and therefore the initiative of such a thing can blow up the cyst where the larva is located. This can be fatal.
- If you've been recommended "some worm supplements" at "some clinic, " that doesn't mean you'll all be fine. Many of these products contain toxins that can provoke allergies and may not work.
The most common myths about helminths
Marine fish do not contain parasites
Who told you this? Most worms contain fish that have not undergone the necessary treatment or that were not cleaned immediately before freezing after being caught. This increases your chances of getting infected.
Dogs can get worms more easily than cats
Indeed, dogs have such a habit of tasting the feces of their relatives. The most dangerous helminths that can be "taken away" by dogs are echinococci - very dangerous parasites of the liver and lungs. For prevention, prescribe a course of treatment for animals 4 times a year. So dogs can be more dangerous than cats.
Only children can get worms
Did you believe? This may seem only because children are less accurate, wash their hands less often and sometimes do not follow the rules of hygiene. So hygiene rules are important for everyone!
A person infected with worms can infect others
Of course it is true. You take risks close to such a "patient", but you may not know it. So wash your hands after a handshake just in case. You can get infected with pinworms (enterobiasis) especially easily, because they are the most common helminths. Alsovery often dirty children can infect their parents, so teach your children to follow the rules of hygiene.