Worms are parasitic worms that live in the intestines or tissues of humans. Most parasites have two hosts - intermediate and final. However, some helminths parasitize the body without leaving it and without entering the environment. Worms are ubiquitous. The largest number is in countries with warm and humid climates.
The symptoms of worms in the intestine depend not only on the type of invasion, but also on the characteristics of its course.
The most common types of parasites
There are seven main types of parasitic worms:
Oysters
Pinworms are small filamentous worms belonging to the nematode category. The size of an adult does not exceed 1 mm. In the human body, they live mainly in the large intestine, causing irritation, mucosal damage and enteritis. Enterobiasis caused by pinworms has an incubation period of about 15 days. Further, a characteristic clinical picture develops. The duration of the disease is 2 months, which is equal to the life of the worm. In fact, there is no independent resolution of the disease, as there is a mechanism of self-infection in enterobiosis.
Note: the symptoms of enterobiosis are rare. The disease often proceeds in a blurred form, there are no clear diagnostic signs. Suspicion of enterobiosis in children occurs if the child complains of itching in the perianal area.
Infection with pinworms occurs in violation of the rules of personal hygiene. The route of transmission is faecal-oral. A person who touches a contaminated surface and then does not wash his hands swallows helminth eggs. Re-infection with enterobiosis occurs in the same way. The patient who experiences itching in the perianal area scratches the affected area and then continues to eat. The eggs of the worms that fall on the hands are swallowed. The development cycle of the parasite begins again.
Ascaris
Roundworms are dioecious roundworms that live in the small intestines of humans and animals. The length of the female helminth is 40 centimeters. The size of the male is much smaller. Its length usually does not exceed 25 centimeters. The identifying feature of the male is the pointed end of the body.
The life cycle of roundworms is slightly more complex than that of pinworms. The route of infection is faecal-oral. Helminth eggs fall on a person's hands when working with the ground and contaminated objects. In the stomach, a young larva emerges from the egg, which enters the bloodstream with the help of hooks. It grows and migrates here. As the larva enters the lungs, it reaches a condition that allows it to develop into a sexually mature individual. The patient coughs up the larva, after which it is swallowed again, enters the intestine, turns into an adult roundworm.
Hairheads
Vlasoglav is a roundworm belonging to the group of nematodes. It is a parasite that lives in the colon of humans and domestic animals. Externally, the helminth looks like a thin grayish thread of varying thickness. The front of the whiplash is thin and long. The back is thickened and short. Here are the internal organs. The length of the body of the whip does not differ depending on gender and is 3-5 centimeters.
The eggs of whipworms, which are already parasitizing in the host's body, enter the environment in the feces. Here they mature and become invasive. A person becomes infected through the faecal-oral route if the rules of personal hygiene are not followed. The larvae of the whip enter the intestines, grow, feed on the microflora and develop. Subsequently, the young individuals of the helminth migrate into the colon. trichuriase develops.
Chains
Tapeworms are tapeworms, sometimes up to 25 meters long. The most famous representatives of this genus of parasites are:
- bull tapeworm;
- pork tapeworm;
- wide band.
The body structure of all tapeworms is similar. They have a head, neck and a body consisting of many segments. The segments closer to the end of the body have a uterus full of eggs. They separate from the tapeworm and come out with the feces.
As a rule, the life cycle of tapeworm presupposes the presence of two hosts - intermediate and final. The intermediate host may vary depending on the type of worm. Humans become infected by ingesting larvae contained in undercooked meat or fish.
Echinococcus
Echinococcus is the smallest tapeworm in existence. Its length is 2-8 mm. A mature individual has a scolex, neck and 3-4 segments. It lives in the intestines of carnivores of the canine family. Intermediate hosts may be herbivores or humans. The helminth eggs fall on the hands when in contact with the final host or when collecting berries sown with echinococcus eggs.
When eggs are ingested, a person becomes an intermediate host. In his body, the larvae penetrate the blood vessels, with the flow of blood are transported to the organs and tissues, where they settle and transform into a Finn - a bubble filled with fluid and containing the parasite's scolex. In this case, the Finn can reach large sizes, which leads to compression of organs and tissues. The localization of echinococcal cysts in the brain, liver and lungs is especially dangerous.
schistosomiasis
Schistosomes are dioecious helminths belonging to the flatworm category. They have oral and ventral suckers. The female is slightly longer than the male. The ultimate host of the schistosome is humans and mammals. The helminth is found in small vessels of the colon, small pelvis and bladder. The parasite's eggs are excreted in the blood, filtered by the kidneys and excreted in the urine.
The larvae of parasites trapped in a freshwater reservoir penetrate the bodies of mollusks, where they continue their developmental cycle. After 6-8 weeks, the embryos re-enter open water, where they turn into cercariae - tailed larvae that can penetrate the human body through intact skin. As a rule, the invasion in humans develops when swimming in open water, washing clothes in it or other contact with open water.
Filariasis
Filariae are round filamentous worms. There are about 8 species of filariasis that parasitize the human body. The intermediate host and carrier of the disease are blood-sucking insects. Human infection occurs when insect bites and helminth larvae enter the upper layers of the skin.
The distribution of larvae in the body of the final host is hematogenous. Worms spread throughout the body, settle in organs and tissues, cause allergic reactions, swelling of the affected area, lymphostasis, proliferation of endothelial cells.
How to identify worms at home
It is possible to assume the presence of worms in the body by one or another characteristic feature. In addition, for the rapid diagnosis of helminthiasis, a special test was developed consisting of several questions.
Signs of parasites in the body
The signs of worms in the body of an adult directly depend on the type of invasion.
- Enterobiosis - itching in the anus, insomnia, irritability, indigestion, diarrhea, loss of appetite, pain in the right abdomen, flatulence, false urges to defecate.
- Ascariasis - vomiting, navel pain, dry cough, nausea, shortness of breath, roundworm eggs or roundworms in the stool, wheezing, fever.
- Trichuria - flatulence, vomiting, stools mixed with blood and mucus, mental retardation of the child, abdominal pain, weight loss, anemia.
- Infection of tapeworm - long asymptomatic. Later, episodic abdominal pain, decreased hemoglobin in the blood, indigestion, diarrhea, and unexplained weight loss occur.
- Echinococcus - the symptoms of infection with parasites that form Finns, depends on which organ was affected. With the development of echinococcal cysts in the brain, neurological symptoms appear. With liver damage, patients complain of pain in the right side, yellowing of the skin, general deterioration of well-being and indigestion.
- Schistosomiasis - weight loss, abdominal pain, dizziness, enlarged liver, spleen, blood in the urine, fever, anemia, skin edema, urolithiasis, dry cough, impaired defecation.
- Filariasis - swollen lymph nodes, hyperthermia, weakness, headache, blood in the urine, stiffness of movements, enlargement of certain parts of the body, swelling of the skin, tearing.
Note: Most of the described symptoms are non-specific and can occur in many other diseases.
Test for parasites
This test allows you to assess the likelihood of helminth infection. When submitting, you must use answer options such as "yes", "no", "sometimes". For each answer "yes" 2 points are given, for answer "no" - 0 points. The answer "sometimes" requires one point.
- Is there morning sickness?
- Is there pale skin, gums?
- Is there persistent anemia that does not respond to drug therapy?
- Abdominal pain or discomfort?
- Are digestive disorders common?
- Stool disorders?
- Is there a weight on the right side?
- Frequent headaches?
- Periodic cough?
- Periodic tingling in the large joints?
- Sudden loss of vision?
- Gritting your teeth in your sleep?
- Eat large amounts of food while still feeling hungry?
- Frequent allergies?
- Does swelling occur?
- Reduced productivity?
- Chronic diseases?
- Periodic abdominal pain?
- Signs of inflammation in the blood?
- Itching in the anus?
- Do family members have similar symptoms?
A negative test can be considered a test in which no more than 6 points are scored. The probability of invasion exists in those who have scored from 6 to 17 points. People who scored 17 to 24 points on the test are almost certainly infected with one or another helminth. With an indicator from 24 to 42 points we can talk about multiple invasions of different types of helminths, which is extremely rare.
Laboratory diagnostics
Several types of laboratory tests are used to accurately diagnose helminthiasis:
Stool analysis
Sampling of biological material for analysis is performed in the morning. A small amount of stool taken from the middle of the total portion is sent to the laboratory. Here the resulting material is examined visually, trying to determine the presence of eggs in it. The eggs of some parasites are so large that they can be seen with the naked eye. If this does not happen, the biomaterial is stained by special techniques, seeded on nutrient media, and then examined under a microscope. One can speak of no invasion after only three or four studies, during which no signs of worms were found. The technique is suitable for determining all helminths whose eggs and segments are excreted in the feces.
Scraping, tampon
Signs of pinworms and roundworms can be detected by taking a scrape or swab from the patient's perianal folds. This method is appropriate due to the peculiarities of helminth breeding. The egg-laying blade leaves the intestine and goes out to where the laying process takes place. Smear should be taken in the morning, without prior hygienic procedures. Otherwise, the parasite's eggs will be washed and the test will be false negative.
Blood test
In the diagnosis of helminthiasis, a general blood test is of indirect importance. Undisputed signs of parasites in the blood with this method of examination are not detected. As a rule, the prolonged presence of parasitic worms in the body leads to a certain decrease in hemoglobin levels, the appearance of non-specific signs of the inflammatory process (increased ESR, leukocytosis).
ELISA blood test
The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method is based on the detection of antibodies against parasitic toxins and the body's enzymatic response to the presence of helminths. This method of examination allows the diagnosis of the disease, even if the helminth for one reason or another has not laid eggs. ELISA is most productive in the early stages of invasion, when the worm is just beginning to develop in the human body.
What to do if you get infected?
If there are signs of parasitic infection, no individual treatment attempts should be made. Regardless of the symptoms of worms in adults, the best course of action is to visit a parasitologist or gastroenterologist. He will prescribe the necessary tests, will be able to properly assess the danger of the disease, will choose drugs that will quickly and completely remove parasites from the body.
Despite the obvious simplicity of the disease, helminthiasis can have very serious consequences. There are cases when the presence of parasites has led to perforation of the intestine, its obstruction, peritonitis and sepsis. Modern medicines allow you to get rid of worms quickly and reliably. However, almost all of them have a number of contraindications and recommendations for use that only a specialist knows. Therefore, any anthelmintic or traditional medicine should be used only after consulting a doctor.