Intestinal worms can appear in humans in different ways. The most common routes of infection are contact with an infected animal or the consumption of inadequately processed food. No one is immune from infection. Helminthic invasion (damage to the body with tape, round and flat worms) leads to poor health, and in some cases - and serious complications. The problem must be fought.
Modern medicines allow to remove worms from the small intestine, and in the large intestine to stop their negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract. It is very important to know how you can try to protect yourself from infection.
Causes of helminthic invasion
The causative agents of the invasion are worms that live in the intestines, which can be of various types. They enter the body, and over time, intestinal parasites become more and more. These organisms take root in the human body, multiply in it, feed on substances entering the body. Due to their fault, a person may not receive important nutrients: proteins, fats and carbohydrates, trace elements, vitamins. During the invasion, pathogens pass from the larval stage to full-fledged worms, seriously affecting the state of the body. Parasites live in the human intestine for a long time and do not disappear without therapy.
You can get infected with worms in the following ways:
- Through food.Worms are often found on the surface of unwashed vegetables and fruits. Some types of parasites (bovine and pork tapeworm) leave larvae in the meat. If it is not fried, then the larvae will enter the human body and begin to develop there.
- Contact-household way.By touching door handles in public places, handrails, and other elements without observing hygiene skills, a person puts himself at risk of invasion. The contact method involves getting the disease through a handshake with an infected person, and the household method is infection through dirty dishes or other household item.
- Via pets.Some types of parasites in the rectum use four-legged friends as intermediate hosts. The larvae are transmitted by contact with the pet. This can happen with hugs, with an unexpected "kiss". A dog can bring roundworm eggs on its paws by picking them up from the soil outside.
With parasites in the intestines, the symptoms and causes of the disease can be different. The main reason for the onset of infection is inadequate hygiene. With proper personal care, regular hand washing, and handling fresh food, the risk of becoming infected is dramatically reduced.
Types of worms
What parasites live in the intestines? The body becomes infected with not one or two, but several different types of worms. They can coexist in the intestine at the same time, but more often worms in humans are found separately.
The main classification of worms is by their appearance. The parasites are intestinal, the symptoms are similar.
Important!Only a doctor can determine what type of worm has affected the gastrointestinal tract. You cannot try to define the disease yourself.
There are three main types of worms:
- tape;
- flat;
- are round.
Tapeworms in the intestines are distinguished by a segmented body and a semi-flat shape, which is why helminths got their name (see photo). Round parasites in the human intestine look the closest to a standard earthworm. They are translucent, with a white or colorless body through which the main vessel shines through. Flatworms are usually oval in shape, occasionally slightly segmented. The length of any type can be from 10 mm to 10 meters. There are many different parasites in the small intestine, some of which are much smaller.
Experts identify more than 10 types of helminthic invasion, which are based on various pathogens. The most common type is ascariasis, that is, infection with roundworms 15 to 40 cm long with characteristic abdominal pain and intoxication. But there are other options:
- Trichocephalosis.The causative agent is whipworm. Vlasoglav is one of the most versatile worms. It penetrates into the cecum and into the large and small intestines. The main symptoms are dizziness, vomiting, nausea and other signs of worms and intoxication. Parasites that live in the small intestine are easily removed by drugs.
- Teniarinhoz.This is the development of bovine tapeworm in the human body. This worm is transmitted through meat products and large domestic animals. As a result, there is a constant intoxication of the body and pain in the abdominal cavity.
- Metagonimosis.One of the most dangerous forms of parasites in the human intestine, requiring urgent removal. It is caused by flukes, which can cause intestinal inflammation. Infection occurs through untreated fish.
- Trichinellosis.The most severe form, leading to the death of the patient with prolonged absence of therapy. The causative agent, Trichinella, can penetrate from the intestines into the internal organs and seriously disrupt their work. Due to the increased activity of the parasite, pain is felt not only in the abdomen, but also in the muscles. As an allergic reaction, conjunctivitis begins.
There are more than a dozen variations of worms, and the groups of diseases that they cause - 10. It is difficult to distinguish one from another, even for specialists, so you should not make a diagnosis yourself. This will only lead to inappropriate therapy and an increase in negative symptoms. Only a highly qualified doctor with special equipment can correctly recognize the type of helminth, because intestinal parasites show symptoms that are similar to each other (teniarchosis and trichocephalosis are difficult to distinguish).
Consequences of helminthic invasion
With a long absence of treatment, various complications are possible. Kidneys, bile ducts, and some internal organs are affected. Even the heart and brain are at risk if the symptoms are not noticed in time with dangerous parasites in the intestines.
Pay attention!If you suspect a serious helminthic invasion with damage to internal organs, contact a specialist should be immediate. The parasite can be fatal at any time if the case is neglected. Symptoms and treatment should be monitored by a doctor.
The main complication of advanced helminthic invasion is withdrawal symptoms. This is a state of constant poisoning. The patient feels weak, cannot be active, suffers from bouts of vomiting and dizziness. Such signs will disappear only with the complete removal of the parasite from the body.
During the research, other consequences of infection were also identified:
- the skin becomes significantly thinner, becomes covered with viral growths (papillomas), takes on an unhealthy shade;
- due to the developing vitamin deficiency, hair, nails become thinner and break, bones become more fragile;
- the person feels constant sleepiness;
- due to changes in the nervous system, the infected person may become more aggressive;
- In severe cases, the invasion is fatal.
Death is likely if the problem is ignored for several years. During this time, helminths have time to grow to significant sizes, and begin to actively eat nutrients, almost completely taking them away from humans.
Symptoms of the invasion
Helminthic invasion manifests itself already in the first stages of development. The longer the parasite is in a state of development, the more pronounced the symptoms of worms in humans.
There are a number of nonspecific signs that do not distinguish the invasion of other diseases. The symptoms of parasites in the intestines are many. The most common are the following:
- nausea;
- vomiting;
- feeling tired;
- dizziness;
- loss of consciousness;
- gastrointestinal disorders;
- rectal inflammation;
- constipation.
A specific symptom that is rare in other conditions is wandering abdominal pain. She "walks" through the intestines, while stabbing in several places at once. The reason is the movement and activity of parasites. Parasites in the intestines show symptoms of poisoning or intoxication, which makes the diagnosis of the disease difficult.
Diagnosis of ailment
The disease, first of all, must be differentiated from similar gastrointestinal problems. It is necessary to distinguish it from the usual poisoning, infection, appendicitis. Differentiation occurs on the basis of data obtained from the anamnesis. For more accurate results, it is recommended to undergo an additional check on the type of worm.
How do I know if there are parasites? You can find the exact type of parasite using stool analysis. The parasites that live in the human large intestine secrete eggs, which are released with the feces. In it, experts find helminth eggs and determine which type of parasite they belong to. Based on the data obtained, treatment is carried out.
Tip:go to a specialist with a ready-made stool analysis, and to maximize the speed of the procedure, order a check at a paid medical center. This will allow you to find out about your diagnosis as early as possible and find out if there are worms.
When diagnosing, anamnesis is collected, an irrigoscopy is done, and palpation of the abdominal region. The latter allows you to assess the degree of damage to the body. In case of serious deviations, a person may be sent for additional examinations. There they will find out how dangerous damage to internal organs is and whether it is present at all. After that, therapy is prescribed, the main function of which is to cleanse the intestines at home. You can also determine the diagnosis with a colonoscopy of the abdomen.
Course of therapy
How to remove parasites? You need to cleanse your intestines at home. The infection is treated by killing the parasites. To combat them, specialized preparations for parasites are used.
Choosing a cure for parasites in the intestines should be based on the type of worm. Most of the drugs are complex pills, that is, they allow you to fight both ascaris, and flatworms, and tapeworms. Medications work in slightly different ways.
Terms of getting rid of worms
A course of medication usually requires only one or two days to fully recover the body. Many of the antihelminthic drugs are sufficient to use once, maximum - twice.
But this rule applies only to specialized medicines, after which the symptoms of worms in an adult disappear almost instantly. Dietary supplements are taken at different intervals.
Dietary supplements are effective when taken for about one month. The optimal course length is one and a half months. After it, a break is made for at least two months, if necessary, after this period, the drug is taken again.
Both biologically active additives and specialized medicines can be used repeatedly, but with repeated use, you should definitely consult a doctor. Treatment for parasites with folk remedies is not recommended.
Prevention of infection
Worm infestation is easy to avoid with simple hygiene practices. First of all, experts recommend limiting contact with untested animals and improving food hygiene. Any vegetables, fruits, herbs and other products must be washed. On their surface there may be helminth larvae invisible to the human eye. When frying, the meat must be brought to a state of readiness, while killing possible parasites.
It is important to follow basic rules of personal hygiene:
- the brush used to clean the teeth must be separate;
- the same goes for body towels;
- after eating, the dishes for yourself or your household must be washed;
- cannot eat from someone else's dirty plate;
- Hands should be washed after going outdoors, handling pets and before eating.
Compliance with basic rules will allow you to forget about the problem of invasion forever. Prophylactic formulations can be taken as a guarantee of health. Before buying an herbal dietary supplement, which will provide constant protection of the body, you need to consult your doctor.
Cleansing the intestines from worms is an extremely important procedure for the health and well-being of the patient. People who have parasites in their bodies cannot live fully.
It is also useful to cleanse the body for preventive purposes: it also allows you to remove toxins with the help of cleansing techniques. With timely therapy, helminthic invasion is not dangerous.