Almost the entire population is infected with worms, according to WHO studies. Many people are unaware of the presence of helminths and protozoa and attribute the malaise to a cold or poisoning. But sometimes a person can see a whole worm or part of it in the stool. It is best to be regularly examined for foreign organisms in the body.
The main types of worms
Helminths of various types 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 everyday objects.
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, they multiply mainly outside the human body: roundworms, pinworms, tapeworms. They live only in the small and large intestines, feed on the mucous membranes of the organ.
The simpler organisms - giardia, cryptosporidium - can also settle in the intestine. Despite the primitive structure, it is difficult to get rid of them - they multiply very quickly, quickly become immune to drugs. Against the background of the infection, various infectious diseases develop.
The extraintestinal forms can move throughout the body with the help of the bloodstream. Most often, these helminths affect the cells of the liver, pancreas, spleen. Less often: brain, respiratory and visual organs, lymph nodes, soft tissues. It is difficult to make a diagnosis with this form of infection, as it is not always possible to detect these worms in a person's stool.
Cestodes and flukes enter the body with poorly fried meat and fish, dirty water. The rest of the parasites can become infected if hygiene rules are not followed.
In 80% of helminthiasis infections it occurs due to dirty hands and poorly washed plant-based food.
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.
nematodes
Most often, round worms occur in children.
Main types:
- nematode - have a spindle-shaped structure, the length of females reaches 40 cm, they leave the body along with the feces;
- pinworms - small worms of grayish-white color, their length does not exceed 10 mm, adults and eggs can be found in the feces;
- hookworm necators - outwardly similar parasites, length - not more than 15 mm, have sharp teeth;
- Vlasoglav - a worm about 5 cm long, completely white.
More:
- Enterobiasis - contact parasitic infection with pinworms. Helminthiasis refers to epidemiological diseases: when a person is infected, all people in contact with him are quickly infected. Pinworms enter the body orally. Enterobiasis is accompanied by severe itching in the anus, which often leads to reinfection.
- Trichoriasis is a whipworm infection. It lives in the initial section of the small intestine, feeds on mucosal tissues and blood. With a large accumulation, severe diarrhea begins, prolapse of the rectum is possible.
- Hookworms affect the duodenum. The larvae enter through the skin upon contact with the soil and are transported by the bloodstream to all internal organs and the lungs. A person begins to have a strong cough, along with sputum, the larvae penetrate the organs of the digestive system. After the defeat of the blood vessels, the worm injects a special enzyme into them, which prevents blood clotting.
- Roundworms can move freely in the body, a person swallows parasite eggs along with dirty vegetables, untreated water. Flies can be egg carriers.
Symptoms of helminthiasis
The main danger of helminth invasions is the long-term absence of signs of infection. And when symptoms do appear, they are similar to other common diseases. A person starts taking cough pills, fever, intestinal upset or constipation on their own, but self-medication does not give positive results.
Externally, parasitic infection can manifest itself in the form of acne, seborrhea, cracked heels, seizures in the corners of the mouth, papillomas. In women they can provoke the release of leukorrhea, inflammation occurs in the ovaries, menstruation becomes painful and irregular. With a prolonged infection, fibroids, fibroids and mastopathy appear. In men, helminthiases lead to impotence, prostatitis, prostate adenoma. Worms cause sand and stone formation 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, form on the walls of the intestine, lungs, liver and uterus. Against the background of constant parasite poisoning, oncological diseases develop. Severe intoxication leads to allergic reactions, hives, eczema. The mental state of a person also changes: aggression is replaced by apathy, chronic fatigue and worries about insomnia appear.
The main symptom is worms in the stool. They can be seen visually or detected by special analyzes.
Children and parasites
Worms in children are diagnosed more often than in adults. The child puts his dirty hands and toys in his mouth, loves contact with animals, plays with sand and earth. According to statistics, every third child who goes to kindergarten has helminths. In children, pinworms, roundworms, Giardia and Toxocara are often found.
Giardias are small parasites that also affect newborns. When infected, severe diarrhea begins, there is a high temperature, abdominal pain. Many parents attribute the signs to the manifestation of an intestinal infection, the treatment does not give the desired result, helminthiasis passes to the chronic stage.
Toxocaras live in the body of dogs and cats, they come out with feces. A child becomes infected when playing in the sandbox or on the ground after contact with stray animals. These worms look like white threads of different thicknesses and lengths. A large photo describing the parasite can be used as a visual aid when communicating with a child about the need to wash their hands thoroughly.
The consequence of the infection is increased aggression, constant tantrums, apathy. The baby begins to get tired quickly, the quality of sleep worsens. The main symptom that allows you to reliably find out the infection is itching in the anus, the presence of parasites in the stool.
Teeth grinding at night is not a sign of a parasite infestation in a child.
Worm infestations are dangerous for a child: chronic diseases develop, the immune system is disrupted, appetite and weight problems arise. When infected with whipworms, a child begins to develop developmental delay, severe anemia.
Medical treatment
Since 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 accurately recognize which worms are present in the body, which allows you to prescribe adequate therapy. Most often, parasites of various types are found in humans.
The drugs affect only adults, they are powerless against larvae and eggs. Therefore, for complete release, 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 systems, nervous disorders, glaucoma, tumors of various origins. It is easy to avoid helminth infection: wash your hands often, use antibacterial agents on the street, subject meat and fish to high-quality heat treatments, do not drink raw water, pour boiling water over all vegetables and fruits without exception.