Many of us, after a summer vacation, will think about the presence of worms (helminths).
Some argue that it is necessary to get rid of them at any cost, others, on the contrary, argue that these parasites are even very useful for the body. Who will tell us the truth?
Surely, many of you are familiar with the famous house Dr. In one series, there was a case where a teacher fell ill during class. The kids were scared, and the doctors didn't know what was happening to her, because she was in a very serious condition. Each physician promotes his own theory. Some think the patient has a tumor, others think she has inflammation of the blood vessels in her brain. The main character of the TV series, Dr. House himself, solves this problem by finding the culprit of the teacher's suffering. It's a tapeworm that torments a woman. Then the teacher was prescribed a course of medication and she recovered.
Although this series may seem like a sci-fi movie, the script of this series is done by real professionals. True cases of worm infections are similar to a myth, but alas, the consequences are not always repairable, as is the case with the series. How do we know if we are infected or not? Are we in danger?
About worm prevention
People, when they hear about various miraculous remedies for killing these parasites, forget everything just to get rid of them.
We have developed such a strong aversion to these animals that even when we think about them, it turns ugly. We are ready to try our hand at even the most "unusual" drugs, drink all sorts of questionable herbs and even douche with garlic.
It is very important not to overdo it with any medication and stop it in time. In the case of parasitic diseases, one must be careful in choosing an anthelmintic drug, since if we do not take the right medicine we can even complicate the situation. Do not take anything for treatment! It is very important to know what difficulty you are having, what drugs help, what dosage is optimal and what contraindications it has. So it can become a whole detective story in the fight against parasites.
On our planet, more than 300, 000 species of helminths are known to affect vertebrates. In humans, there are 300 species of helminths (according to other sources more than 12, 000 species). So to be treated with anything, just won't work. The good thing though is that most of them are in the tropics. That's only if we don't bring such "tourists" from tropical countries where we like to relax (Turkey, Cyprus, Egypt, Thailand).
Each region of the world is characterized by certain species of worms. And each person has a different form of entry into the body.
How many types of worms are there on Earth?
Schistosomes
Africa and Asia are famous for their populations of schistosomes. And you can get them very simply if you swim in your local freshwater reservoir or drink water from local sources. Mainly schistosomes enter the body through the genitalia.
How to avoid infection with schistosomes?
In principle, if you don't swim in fresh water and only shower with boiled water, you can avoid this.
Filaria and elephantiasis (filariae)
You can also "get to know" filaria on vacation to the islands of Fiji, Mozambique, Goa, Tahiti, and even in Egypt. The main carrier of the parasite is the mosquito (local mosquito).
Heartworm diseases are dangerous because they cause filariasis (elephant's edema), affect the lymph nodes, and are difficult to treat.
Mosquitoes are also dangerous because they can be carriers of leishmaniasis (caused by leishmania) and malaria. Leishmaniasis affects the mucous membranes and skin.
How to avoid filariae infection?
The main rule is to not let mosquitoes get near you, let alone bite. Use special curtains, repellents, and mosquito nets.
When in the tropics, avoid running or walking barefoot on local roads or sandy shores. The fact is that in this way you can catch other types of parasites. In the "harmless" sand, various parasitic larvae very often hide, which can very quickly enter the body, even through the skin of the feet! So sometimes after returning from trips you can find some kind of larvae under the skin. Like in some horror movie!
How to avoid being infected with such parasites? Wear only shoes and don't lie on the sand or grass without a mat.
Fluke
The most dangerous foods are raw and undercooked fish.
The fluke is one of many parasites that can be found in fish that live in:
- China;
- Japan.
After tasting such a fish (that is, infected), after 1/2 - 1 month you may experience discomfort in the liver area, as well as a rash.
It's not just flukes that are transmitted this way. Many worms are waiting for the next host to bite a live fish. Fans of caviar, sushi, salted fish, and dried fish are also at risk for fluke infections.
How to avoid infection?
First of all, exclude from the menu all kinds of exotic dishes from raw fish. If you still can't turn down such dishes, at least eat them at good, certified restaurants.
If you buy raw fish at the market or from a stranger, you should cook it thoroughly, or you are at risk.
Trichinella and trichinosis
What do you think, that there are no other worms? Make no mistake, we have found them in other well known products.
Here Europeans are very fond of blood steaks. And here comes another danger - trichinosis.
Other helminths can't even compare with this one, because Trichinella is one of the most dangerous! They can deposit in muscle tissue and lead to death.
In addition to trichinella, such a European dinner can "supply" other parasites: pork and beef tapeworms.
How to avoid getting infected with roundworms and tapeworms?
Eat well-prepared meat dishes and only in good restaurants.
roundworms and pinworms
Even as we eat vegetables and fruits, we need to consider the fact that there is another infectious threat looming: roundworms and pinworms. That's why our mother taught us to wash fruits and vegetables before eating them. Usually, the threat comes from spicy herbs (greens), brought to us from the southern regions.
How to avoid getting roundworms and pinworms?
If you buy vegetables from the market, wash them thoroughly. First, leave the grass in the water for an hour so that the worm eggs on the leaves sink to the bottom of the vessel, then wash each leaf separately. Like this!
Positive aspects of worms
I think the thought that such "pets" are wandering around is not very heartwarming. But let's be optimistic, because life is beautiful.
The miniature world around us is full of surprises:
- bacteria,
- virus,
- parasites.
And we store a whole kilogram of such biomass and there is nothing pathological in this. We are not designed to live in an absolutely sterile environment, where we will simply die.
Some of these organisms have a positive effect, because they are involved in the improvement of immunity, the synthesis of certain vitamins, and digestion of various activities thanks to them.
I don't want to call helminths beneficial to humans, but there are species that are safe (intestinal parasites) and especially dangerous (parasites that live in other organs: lungs, liver, eyes andeven in the brain! ). In the latter case, everyone thinks how to restore health quickly, because the problem is very serious.
What happens is that the helminths leave the body of the owner, even if he is unaware of their existence in his body.
For example, you can deworm with a head of garlic, or through hormonal changes (in the case of pregnant women), whatever is possible. If you decide to fight these parasites without knowing what you are up against, you may anger them. Therefore, they can further complicate the situation by entering the biliary tract and causing liver abscesses. So keep in mind, regular prevention is not always helpful! It is better to pass control in the hospital for the presence of helminths.
Symptoms of worm infestation
How to proceed? Worms surround us everywhere and so we can easily become infected, it is not advisable to treat them undiagnosed and the diagnosis of helminthiasis is not an easy task. Worms are very good at disguising themselves as other diseases.
And the most interesting thing: the larger the helminth (there are giants up to 10 meters in length), the calmer it acts. Therefore, it is not always possible to analyze only a few symptoms to determine the correct diagnosis. You cannot do without the examination of a parasitologist.
Of course, no one can help you better than a doctor. Here are a few cases that you need to be sure to get tested for:
- on a recent vacation in various parts of the world, you ate many obscure local delicacies, swam in hotel pools where the water was not chlorinated, walked barefoot on the beach, lying naked in the sand, grass, groping local dogs and cats;
- you have a high fever, hives, redness, itching, rash all over your body, chills, bloating, and abdominal pain.
If you find your condition, you need to see a parasitologist.
Rules of personal hygiene so as not to get infected with worms
Food
- Let's start with the fact that in foreign countries you can only drink bottled water.
- Fruit, even if they look very appetizing, must be peeled or boiled. In a simple form, it is not recommended to use them.
- Other problematic products are
- undercooked meat;
- live fish (any form, even the sea).
- Freshly squeezed juices are also prohibited. Fruit juices don't always go through a thorough washing process.
Refuse to use such products.
Coast
Don't risk walking barefoot on sand, grass, trails in foreign countries. Use sun loungers and slippers.
Take a shower
It is forbidden to swim in freshwater reservoirs of India, Central Africa, South America. There are so many parasites that even the movie "Alien" seems like a children's fairy tale compared to these.
mosquito
Mosquitoes (or midges) are very dangerous parasites because they are carriers of many serious infections and worms.
Avoid direct contact with them.
You need to use repellents, wear long-sleeved clothes, and sleep under trees.
linen
It is strictly forbidden to air dry clothes in foreign countries.
The problem is that flies from tropical countries love to lay their eggs there, when you put on your swimming trunks, the larvae will hatch which can cause dermatitis.
Where can I get tested for worms?
Tests are only performed in state-owned specialist clinics. Doubtful institutions are not recommended to do such tests.
One of the reasons not to contact such clinics is the fact that they can find anything you want even if you don't have anything.
Yes, yes, to make friends, they can prescribe unnecessary treatments there. They will tell you that modern universal diagnostics see everything, even when standard analyzes see nothing. Don't trust the quacks, and feel free to go to standard public clinics.
Now let's talk about the so-called universal diagnostics. In cases like the detection of helminths, this is not possible.
If they have to urinate in the bladder, if in the intestines - then stools, if in the muscle mass - then they will have to have an X-ray of the muscle, if in the liver - an ultrasound.
What do you think? Positive results of such analyzes can only warn you to get rid of them as soon as possible. Only take drugs recommended by a parasitologist, as accuracy and precision are very important in this regard.
What to remember about helminths?
Theoretically, helminths can be infected almost anywhere - in the city, on vacation, in tropical countries, in the forest. But as the statistics show, even in such cases, not everyone gets 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 medicine for prevention, because there is no universal remedy for worms. Even deworming pills have their own classification according to different types of worms. It turns out that some pills help fight some parasites, while others do not. Your doctor will most accurately determine your diagnosis and prescribe the right medication. If you take care of your pet (dog or cat) by regularly prescribing dewormers and if none of the above symptoms bother you then you have nothing to worry about.
- If you have any doubts about this problem, then go to the doctor. Don't forget to tell us what and where you ate.
- Like I told you, you only need to get tested in good specialist clinics. In bad clinics, you can spend a lot of money and you will not be able to get treatment.
- Any medicine used for prevention can only cause harm. Do not use them "just for prevention", otherwise you can destroy the intestinal microflora and even "earn" toxic hepatitis. Echinococcosis is very dangerous and that is why such an initiative can explode the cyst where the larvae are located. This can cause death.
- If you are referred to "some anthelmintic supplements" in "several clinics", this does not mean that all of you will be cured. Many of these products contain toxins that can cause allergic reactions and you may not get the same results.
The most common myths about worms
Sea fish does not contain parasites
Who told you this? Most worms contain fish that has not undergone the necessary treatment or that has not been cleaned immediately before freezing. This is how you increase your chances of getting infected.
Dogs are more susceptible to worms than cats
Indeed, dogs have such a habit of tasting the feces of their loved ones. The most dangerous worm that can "steal" a dog is echinococci - a very dangerous liver and lung parasite. For prevention, prescribe a course of treatment to animals 4 times a year. So dogs can be more dangerous about this than cats.
Only children can get worms
Did you believe? This seems to be just because children are less precise, wash their hands less often and sometimes don't follow the rules of hygiene. Therefore, the rules of hygiene are important for everyone!
A person infected with worms can infect others
Of course that's the truth. Being around such a "patient, " you can take the risk, but you may not know it. So, after shaking hands, wash your hands as a precaution. In particular, you can easily become infected with pinworms (filariasis), as they are the most common type of helminth. In addition, children who are very dirty can infect their parents, so teach your children to observe the rules of hygiene.