Worms in humans cause the development of diseases collectively called helminthiasis. Pinworms are parasitic worms that can be found in almost all organs of our body: intestines, muscles, lungs, liver, heart and even in the eyes.
If a person has worms, symptoms do not always appear, if they do appear, they are disguised as other diseases of the liver, gastrointestinal tract, gall bladder, etc. of a particular problem, especially when it comes to children.
Today, there are many known parasites that can infect the human body. In total there are about 150 types of helminthiasis. All worms, depending on the shape and structure of their body, are divided into two large groups: roundworms or nematodes and flatworms.
Children are most often infected by worms, and the most common forms of helminthiasis (diseases caused by parasitic worms) are ascariasis and enterobiasis. The most dangerous worms that can live in the human body are echinococcus and alveoli. For each group of parasites, special means have been developed, the treatment of which will remove worms from the body of an adult or child.
Types of worms in humans
There are more than two hundred species of worms that infect humans. Most of them are not found in the middle zone, so about sixty species are common in our country. Parasites are divided into contact parasites (worms transmitted from one person to another), geohelminthiasis (the larva lives in the soil and invasion occurs when soil particles enter with food) and biohelminthiasis (parasites pass into the human body throughmeat of infected animals or fish).
Let's mention some of the most common groups of worms in humans:
- Annelids - pinworms, roundworms, whipworms, trichinella;
- Tapes – different types of tape, echinococci, tapes.
- Flatworms - all kinds of flukes, flukes.
Let's take a closer look at each type of worm that can live in an adult's body.
- Roundworms are large roundworms, red-yellow in color, reaching a length of up to 40 cm in adulthood.
- The whipworm is a round worm 30-50 mm long, which got its name because of the shape of its body: the front is long and narrow, like a hair, and the back is short and wide.
- The broad band is a long band that reaches a length of about 10 meters, individuals over 20 meters can be found.
- Hookworm is the combined name for two types of worms: duodenal hookworm and nectotus, roundworms 10-15 mm long.
- Trichinella are small round worms 2-5 mm long that cause a serious disease - trichinosis.
- The liver fluke (cat fluke) is a flatworm from the class of flukes 7-20 mm long. The disease caused by this parasite is called opisthorchiasis.
- Pork and beef strips are similar in structure with strips up to 6 meters long.
- Echinococcus parasitizes the human body not in an adult form, but in the form of an intermediate form - Finns. The echinococcus itself is a tape 3-5 mm long
- Albococcus is a worm similar to Echinococcus, with a similar structure and growth mechanism.
The symptoms and signs of a worm infestation depend on the type of parasite, its location in the body and its stage of development.
Helminths in the human body
Worms are scientifically called helminths. Helminths mean any worm that parasitizes the bodies of humans, animals and plants. Therefore, helminths are not a specific type of parasite, but a whole group of different worms, three of which are the most common.
In modern society, helminths are still widespread. Especially often, helminthic infestation occurs in children, hunters, fishermen and their families, as well as rural residents.
Helminths are a large order of parasitic worms that live on animals and plants, feed and reproduce inside the host's body. Man is no exception. Only in our country there are more than 70 species of parasites. According to statistics, every third inhabitant of the Earth is infected with parasitic worms. It is assumed that there is not a single adult person during his life in which not a single worm has settled in his body.
Helminths. No matter how carefully parents monitor the cleanliness of their children's hands, it is almost impossible to protect them from pinworms. Children explore the outside world, nature awakens a special interest. They want to touch everything with their hands and taste it. People who eat fish, wild animal and bird meat, and domestic milk are at risk of contracting trichinosis and diphyllobothriasis.
Modern medical data show that many diseases occur due to helminthic infestation. For example, the link between oncology and long-term parasite infection has been clinically proven. Signs of the presence of worms in humans are often misinterpreted by doctors and patients. They begin to treat non-existent diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
How can you get infected?
The causes of human worm infection are very different, the route of infection directly depends on the type of worms and their life cycle, they can be:
- eats dirty vegetables;
- non-compliance with hygiene rules during food preparation.
- poor heat treatment of certain food products, especially meat and fish;
- communication with pets - cats, dogs, some types of rodents.
- non-compliance with hygiene rules before eating, after visiting the bathroom, when returning from a walk.
- swimming in contaminated bodies of water.
During their lifetime, worms produce toxic substances that are absorbed into the blood and spread throughout the body, causing damage to the most important organs and systems.
General symptoms and signs of helminthic infestation in children
General symptoms of helminthiasis include:
- worsening or increased appetite.
- nausea, possibly vomiting.
- excessive salivation;
- stool disorders;
- the appearance of pain in the lower abdomen.
- dizziness, headaches;
- allergic reactions?
- increased frequency of colds.
- irritability, moodiness;
- Sleep disorder;
- deterioration of mental and physical activity.
- dry cough.
Symptoms of worms in humans
Sometimes worms can parasitize the body of an adult for a long time without obvious symptoms, in some cases, they become the cause of the development of various chronic diseases, causing dangerous complications and even death.
With the onset of an acute period of helminthiasis, worms begin to feed intensively in the intestines of a sick person, causing various signs of disorders of the digestive system: dysbacteriosis, abdominal pain, diarrhea.
Let's see what signs of helminths can be noted? Let's list the most common, general symptoms of worms in humans.
- Gastrointestinal dysfunction - diarrhea, constipation and abdominal pain.
- Pain in joints and muscles - parasites can move throughout the human body in order to settle in the most convenient places for their life, for example, in synovial fluid and muscles. When this happens, the person experiences painful sensations.
- Disorders of the nervous system and general malaise - manifested in the form of fatigue, irritability, sleep disorders and memory problems.
- Allergic reactions and skin manifestations - the appearance of pimples, black spots and other rashes - are also signs of the presence of worms in humans.
- Reduced immunity and, consequently, the development of infectious diseases.
- Sudden weight loss.
- Anemia - some worms suck blood from the intestinal walls like leeches.
- Teeth grinding during sleep and sleep disorders.
- Itching in the anus, especially at night. At this time, the female is actively laying eggs, thereby causing itching in the anus.
- Enlarged lymph nodes, low body temperature.
- Inflammation of the respiratory tract - cough, fever, production of sputum, runny nose - this is how the presence of worms can manifest.
The specific first signs will directly depend on the pathogen and the location of the worm in the human body. For example, large worms, roundworms and tapeworms like to parasitize the liver, this can lead to degeneration of liver cells, blockage of bile ducts, blood clots and cirrhosis. Roundworms and worms live in the intestines, so they will be passed out with the stool. To find out how to remove these worms from a person, you should consult a doctor, he will prescribe an appropriate treatment.
Symptoms of worm infection can appear at different times from the time of worm infection. Thus, the first symptoms of ascariasis appear after 2-3 days. With most of all other helminthic infestations, disease symptoms appear after 2-3 weeks.
Most often, the main signs of worm infection in an adult are represented by allergic manifestations in the form of itching and rash, swelling, weakness, muscle pain, headache, fever, muscle and joint pain, an increase in the number of eosinophils in the blood andetc.
Being parasites, worms feed on the body of their host. At the same time, they absorb a significant amount of proteins and carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins and other nutrients. Helminthiasis can be acute and chronic. The first ones last 2-3 weeks and often manifest as allergies, while the chronic stage can last months, years and even decades.
What organs can worms affect?
There are two types of invasion: abdominal and tissue. Depending on the species, the habitats are also divided:
- Cavity worms settle in the small and large intestines. In particular, the first parts of the small intestine are affected by tapeworms, hookworms and roundworms. The lower part of the small intestine is the habitat of the dwarf tapeworm and the worm. The large intestine most often becomes the habitat of whiplash.
- Tissue helminths affect organs of all types: liver, brain, lymph nodes, bile ducts.
Great! It is impossible to determine signs of the presence of worms in a patient at the initial stage of development of the infestation. As long as the number of worms is small, toxic poisoning from waste products is within normal limits, the body itself copes with the invasion. The appearance of characteristic or acute symptoms indicates a significant increase in the number of helminthic infestations: the maturation of individuals and their dynamic development.
Complications of worms
A number of helminths can cause serious disturbances in the patient's condition. Here are the most common complications:
- B12 deficiency anemia, iron deficiency anemia - leads to interruption of oxygen supply to tissues, requiring long-term recovery. It manifests itself with pale skin, dry mouth, weakness, disturbances in various body functions.
- Intestinal obstruction occurs when the parasite blocks the lumen with its body. Surgical treatment is required. Symptoms – abdominal pain, lack of stool, vomiting.
- Intestinal bleeding - if the worm attaches to the intestinal wall, it can damage its blood vessels. Symptoms: abdominal pain, weakness, blood in the stool, vomiting. It requires surgical treatment.
- Fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver develop with a long course of opisthorchiasis. Changes are irreversible. Symptoms: sleep and wakefulness disorder, fluid accumulation in body cavities, loss of liver function.
- Abscesses of the affected organs are purulent inflammations. Symptoms are pain, high fever, weakness. The situation is rapidly deteriorating. An examination is required to identify the source of the inflammation and surgical treatment.
Stool analysis and scraping for worm eggs
Worms are primarily intestinal parasites. It is through the intestines that their eggs are released. Therefore, for their diagnosis, feces are taken for analysis. You can buy a special container for collecting feces at the pharmacy, although you can also use a matchbox or jar.
So, to do the analysis you will need a container for collecting material and a spatula. If a person sees fragments of worms or a whole helminth, then it should also be sent to the laboratory.
It is not necessary to take the feces to the laboratory immediately after collection. It must be submitted for examination within 24 hours. Until then, the collected biomaterial should be refrigerated. An exception is the collection of feces for the control of yardiasis. It must be delivered warm, as the parasite cysts are destroyed when they cool. While the stool is delivered to the laboratory, the container should be wrapped in a warm cloth.
To diagnose enterobiasis, a scraping is taken from the perianal folds, as female pinworms lay eggs in this area. Before the test, you should not wash your face or visit the toilet for about 12 hours. Therefore, the optimal time to perform the analysis is in the morning.
The scraping is done using a cotton swab, which is placed in a clean container and delivered to the laboratory. You can also use adhesive tape, which is removed from the glass, fixed to the anal area for a while, then cut and returned with the sticky side to the glass.
The biological material delivered to the laboratory is studied using a microscope. If a person is infected, the lab technician will see worm eggs, larvae, or their parts. Each parasite lays eggs that are unique to its species. Therefore, by studying the structure of the egg, you can determine which worm is parasitic in the human body.
If there is a worm in the feces, then most often it looks like a white strip of different lengths. Worms can remain mobile. The type of worm can be determined in the laboratory.
However, it is not always possible to detect worms using stool analysis. For example, the analysis will not be informative if the human body is infested only by male roundworms that cannot secrete eggs.
Blood test for worms
To detect worms in the blood, an immunological test is used to determine antibodies to the main types of helminths. The reliability and accuracy of ELISA is equal to 95%. It can be used to detect extraintestinal forms of helminths.
Decoding the ELISA results in a simplified form:
- Helminths parasitize the body if M class immunoglobulin (IgM) is elevated in the blood.
- Either the worms were present in the human body before, or the helminthic infestation became chronic and caused a weakening of the human immune system. This conclusion can be made if the level of IgG immunoglobulins is increased, but lgM is not detected in the blood.
In both cases, more in-depth diagnosis and specific treatment will be required.
How is the parasite infected and developed?
Each parasite has specific life cycle characteristics. Depending on the mechanism of infection, all helminthiasis are divided into three main groups:
- contact helminthiasis;
- geohelminthiasis?
- biohelminthiases.
Contact helminthiasis
The development of parasites included in the group of contact helminth infections occurs entirely in the child's body. The eggs of the worms enter the digestive system, migrate to the intestines and after some time turn into adults. Sexually mature helminths form eggs, which are released in the feces into the external environment. The growth cycle repeats itself again.
Contact helminthiasis involves worm infection. The spread of these worms is through the fecal-oral mechanism. If a child does not wash their hands after using the toilet, then tiny worm eggs remain on their fingers. Other children can become infected through contaminated household items and food that the sick person has touched. Failure to observe the rules of personal hygiene is of great importance in the spread of pinworms. Therefore, this helminthiasis is more common in childhood.
In addition to infecting others, a sick child can become infected again. Worms that crawl out of the anus lay eggs in the skin around the anus. This process causes severe itching of the skin, so children often start scratching the sore spot. If they do not wash their hands after this, then a new batch of eggs penetrates the intestines. The parasite population increases, which leads to a worsening of the child's condition.
Geohelminthiasis
The group of geohelminthiasis is represented by roundworms. For these parasites to grow, it is necessary for the feces of a sick child to enter the soil. The released eggs begin to develop actively and quickly reach the invasive stage, in which they can penetrate the human body.
Infection of children usually occurs through eating unwashed vegetables and fruits that come into contact with the soil. Ascaris larvae remain on them, which penetrate the child's intestines and cause unpleasant symptoms of helminthiasis.
Biohelminthiasis
For the development of worms belonging to the group of biohelminths, the presence of an intermediate host is necessary - a living organism in which the larvae of the worm will develop. This can be cattle (cows, pigs), as well as fish. Therefore, a child can become infected with worms by consuming food from unverified sources. Inadequate heat treatment of meat or fish contributes to contamination. Through food you can be infected by echinococcus, cattle and swine tapeworm, and cat.
Treatment of worms in humans
The basis for the treatment of worms in humans is specific anthelmintic drugs in adults prescribed the best tested tablets.
The choice of drug for treatment depends on the presence of specific worms in the human body. In the acute period of the disease, the doctor can prescribe the patient anti-allergic drugs, such as Suprastin or Claritin.
Only on the basis of examinations and diagnosis, the doctor prescribes treatment for worms in a person, since anthelmintic drugs are quite toxic. If, during the analysis, worms are found again, then the specialist determines how to remove the worms, suggesting a new treatment regimen based on the use of other anti-worm tablets that will cope better with the work.
Treatment
Anthelmintic treatment
The basis for the treatment of parasitic diseases is anthelmintic drugs. They must be usedstrictly according to the doctor's instructions, as when choosing a drug it is necessary to take into account some important factors:
- form of helminthiasis;
- phase of disease development;
- pathogen?
- co-existing diseases of the child;
- characteristics of his condition.
Only a doctor can correctly evaluate these indicators and choose the optimal drug. Self-medication for helminthiasis in children is unacceptable. Incorrectly selected treatment is often not only ineffective, but also accompanied by serious side effects.
How to do a stool test for helminths and their eggs?
When choosing the treatment, the doctor must take into account the causative factor of the disease. You should not rely on a universal treatment, since most drugs act only on a specific circle of helminths. If the wrong medicine is used, the clinical picture of the disease in the child does not disappear, the disease continues to progress, which can lead to serious complications.
If there are many children in a family, doctors often recommend anthelmintic treatment for all family members at the same time. This will prevent repeated cases of helminth infection after treatment.
Symptomatic treatment
In addition to anthelmintic treatment, the child is also prescribed symptomatic treatment aimed at eliminating the clinical manifestations of the disease. If a severe allergic reaction occurs, antihistamines are used - Suprastin, Tavegil, Claritin.
If the baby has severe manifestations of intoxication, he is prescribed antipyretics and painkillers. To relieve acute symptoms, copious fluids are prescribed or infusion therapy is performed. If there is a risk of developing vasculitis and myocarditis, glucocorticoids (for example, prednisolone) are prescribed.
How to treat worms with folk remedies
Traditional treatment methods include medicinal plants that have anthelmintic and laxative effects. Although the effectiveness of these remedies has not been scientifically tested, many of them have been used since ancient times to treat intestinal worms in humans at home.
- The best folk remedy is pumpkin seeds for worms. Take and peel the pumpkin seeds (80-100g), try not to damage the green skin. Grind them, add 2 tablespoons of honey and 100 grams of water, mix. This medicine should be taken strictly in the morning, on an empty stomach. A food boat every hour for 3 hours. Then you need to take a laxative and after 1-2 hours do an enema.
- Pomegranate. Pomegranate rind contains punicin, which is highly toxic to worms. A decoction of the bark in fresh water should be taken three times a day by adults and children suffering from parasites.
- Onion broth (pour 200 ml of boiling water on 1 onion, leave for 2 days, consume before meals for 4 days)
As for prevention, to prevent helminthic infestation, it is necessary to wash your hands with soap after returning from the road, heat-treat meat and fish, do not drink raw water and do not swim in contaminated water bodies.
Prevention
The main prevention of helminthiasis in children is compliance with the rules of personal hygiene.
Therefore, we can mention preventive measures to prevent helminthic infestations:
- instilling personal hygiene skills in children (washing hands after visiting the toilet, contact with animals, walking outside, before eating);
- fighting bad habits (the child should be forbidden to suck his fingers, bite his nails or put foreign objects in his mouth);
- mosquito, fly and insect control.
- high quality meat and fish processing;
- high quality water disinfection.
- deworming of domestic dogs and cats;
- Avoid contact with stray animals.
- thorough washing of greens and vegetables, berries and fruits.
- frequent change of underwear and bedding (once a day).
- ironing underwear and bed linen with a hot iron.
- carrying out hygiene procedures in the anus area twice a day to prevent enterobiasis.
- wearing underwear with elastic bands at night.
- thorough wet cleaning of the premises.
Once inside the body, helminths in children disrupt the normal functioning of various organs and systems. And if adults have a strong immune system that constantly fights against "uninvited guests", then this does not happen to a child: his body is still weak and vulnerable. Therefore, it is important to teach the child to observe personal hygiene standards as early as possible to prevent helminthic infection, and if symptoms appear, immediately contact a specialist for subsequent anthelmintic treatment.