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 discomfort to a cold or poisoning. But sometimes a person can see the whole worm or part of it in the stool. It is better to go to the doctor regularly to detect foreign organisms in the body.
Main types of worms
There are many types of helminths that can live in the human body, they not only affect the stomach but also affect other internal organs.
Depending on the habitat, they are divided into several main classes:
- helminths - larvae that live in feces, infect humans through the mouth, flies can be carriers;
- biological helminths - the body of a fish or animal is chosen as an intermediate host, in the form of larvae they enter the human body, where they begin to develop actively;
- contact helminths - a small species, transmitted by contact through shared objects.
The greatest harm can be caused by 3 types of parasites - tapeworms, tapeworms and roundworms. Worms are divided according to habitat into enteric and extra-digestive forms. Intestinal worms have a complex structure, mainly multiplying outside the human body - roundworms, pinworms, tapeworms. They live only in the large intestine and small intestine, feeding on the mucous membranes of the organs.
The simplest organisms - giardia, cryptosporidium - can also settle in the gut. Despite their primitive structure, they are difficult to get rid of - they multiply very quickly, quickly becoming immune to drugs. Against the background of infection, various infectious diseases develop.
Gastrointestinal forms can travel throughout the body with the help of blood. Usually, 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 diagnose with this form of infection, as you cannot always detect these worms in a person's stool.
The flukes, flukes penetrate into the body of poorly fried fish and dirty water. The rest of the parasites can become infected if the rules of hygiene are not observed.
80% of helminth infections occur due to dirty hands and unwashed plant-based foods.
What does a human worm look like? These are parasites in the form of worms, which are mainly light in color. Their length varies from a few millimeters to 2–3 m.
roundworm
Most often, roundworms occur in children.
Main types:
- roundworm - has a rhomboid structure, the length of which reaches the female reaches 40 cm, they leave the body with feces;
- Pinworms - small worms of gray-white color, not more than 10 mm in length, adults and eggs can be found in the feces;
- hookworm necrosis - similar external parasites, length - not more than 15 mm, with sharp teeth;
- Vlasoglav - a worm about 5 cm long, completely white.
Than:
- Enterobiasis - infection caused by the parasite coming into contact with pinworms. Trichinosis refers to epidemiological diseases - when a person is infected, all those who come into contact with him are quickly infected. Pinworms enter the body through the mouth. Enterobiasis is accompanied by intense itching in the anus, which often leads to reinfection.
- Ringworm is an infection caused by the flagella. It lives in the initial part of the small intestine, feeding on mucous membrane tissues and blood. With a large accumulation, severe diarrhea begins, rectal prolapse is possible.
- Hookworm affects the duodenum. The larvae penetrate through the skin on contact with the soil and are carried by the bloodstream to all internal organs and lungs. A person begins to cough strongly, along with sputum, larvae penetrate the organs of the digestive system. After the blood vessels are destroyed, the worm injects a special enzyme into it to stop blood clotting.
- Roundworms can freely move around the body, a person swallows eggs of the parasite along with dirty vegetables, untreated water. Flies can be egg carriers.
Symptoms of helminthiasis
The main danger of helminthic invasions is that there is no sign of infection for a long time. And when symptoms appear, they resemble other common illnesses. A person begins to self-medicate for cough, fever, intestinal disorders or constipation, but self-medication does not give satisfactory results.
Externally, a parasitic infection can manifest itself in the form of acne, seborrhea, cracked heels, convulsions at the corners of the mouth, papillomas. In women, they can stimulate sebum secretion, inflammation in the ovaries, and menstrual periods become painful and irregular. When the inflammation lasts for a long time, fibroids, fibroids, mastoid disease will appear. In men, helminth infections lead to impotence, prostatitis, and prostate tumors. Worms cause 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;
- manifestations of anemia.
Granulomas are a clear sign of infection. In these tumors, damaged eggs accumulate, they form on the intestinal wall, in the lungs, liver, and uterus. Against the background of constant intoxication by parasites, cancers develop. Severe poisoning leads to allergic reactions, urticaria, eczema. The mental state of a person also changes - aggression is replaced by apathy, chronic fatigue appears, and anxiety and insomnia.
The main symptom is worms in the stool. They can be seen with the naked eye or detected using special analysis.
Children and parasites
Worms in children are diagnosed more often than in adults. Children put dirty hands, toys in their mouths, like to interact with animals, play on sand and soil. According to statistics, for every 3rd child going to preschool, there is a child with helminths. In children, pinworms, roundworms, Giardia and Toxocara are often found.
Giardia is a small parasite that affects infants. When sick, begin to have severe diarrhea, high temperature, abdominal pain. Many parents believe that the child's sign is a manifestation of an intestinal infection, the treatment does not give the desired results, the worms turn into a chronic stage.
Toxocara lives in the body of dogs and cats, passing stools. A child becomes infected while playing in a sandbox or on the ground, after coming into contact with a stray animal. These worms look like white threads of varying thickness and length. A large picture depicting a parasite can be used as a visual aid when communicating with children about the need for thorough hand washing.
Consequences of infection are increased aggression, frequent change of mind, apathy. Children begin to tire quickly, sleep quality deteriorates. The main symptom that allows you to accurately determine the infection is itching in the anus, the presence of parasites in the stool.
Teeth grinding at night is not a sign of a parasitic infection in your child.
Worm infections are very dangerous for a child - chronic diseases develop, the immune system is disrupted, problems with appetite and weight arise. When infected with flagella, children begin to slow down in growth and become severely anemic.
Medical treatment
Since there can be more than 200 different types of helminths in the human body, there is no single treatment. Modern diagnostics help to recognize exactly what kind of worms are present in the body, thereby allowing you to prescribe the right therapy. Usually, different types of parasites are found in humans.
The drug affects only adults, they are not resistant to larvae and eggs. Therefore, for a full delivery, several courses of antiparasitic treatment are required.
Worms in the body can cause many serious diseases - chronic diseases of the digestive and respiratory organs, neurological disorders, glaucoma, tumors of various origins. Easily avoid helminth infections - wash your hands often, use street sanitizers, meat, fish for high heat treatment, do not drink raw water, pour boiling water over all vegetables and fruits, noException.