Unfortunately, even in modern developed times there is a risk of infection with helminths. In order to be able to treat and prevent this phenomenon, it is necessary, at a minimum, to familiarize yourself with the main types of worms.
Types of worms
In medical sources, in which you can find the answer to the question of what types of worms a person has, they provide data on a huge variety of varieties. Of course, certain types are most common. According to the classification, they can be divided into 3 main types. These are: round and tapeworms, as well as flukes.
roundworms
The first in the list of types of worms in humans is to indicate roundworms. They are also known as nematodes. They got their name due to the structure of the body, because if you make a cross section of an individual, you can see the resulting roundness. Despite the fact that there are more than 20 thousand of their species in the world, only a few of them are usually found in humans.
The most common roundworms include:
- Roundworm. These worms are quite large in size. They can reach half a meter in length. The width varies between 4-5 cm. The color is usually pink, but in different cases it can be more white or more red. These helminths are localized mainly in the small intestine, but in rare cases they can also be in the bile ducts. The larvae at the same time quite easily move around the body, through the bloodstream. Their final stop is the lungs. It is here that there are the most comfortable conditions for their ripening, because this type of parasite belongs to anaerobes. When they become more viable, they move to the intestines. Roundworms have a long lifespan, which can be 12-14 months. Outside the human body, these worms live in soil conditions, where they lay several thousand eggs daily;
- Pinworms. Most often found in children, as the cause of infection can be poorly washed hands or products. A little less often they enter the body with dust particles. Their size is much smaller than that of roundworms. Males reach 3 mm in length, and females - up to 13-14 mm. The color is completely white. Their favorite habitat is the initial part of the large intestine. Eggs are laid in the anus, closer to the anus. Their life expectancy is also much shorter than that of roundworms, and is only a couple of months.
- Trichinella. These modest-sized worms, which reach only 4 mm in length, most often enter the living human body as part of infected meat. The larvae live in muscle tissue, mainly in the oculomotor and chewing tissues, but adults prefer to be localized in the intestines. Trichinella is a danger to humans, since without proper treatment it can be fatal.
Tapeworms
Tapeworms are characterized by a flat body structure and a complete absence of the gastrointestinal tract. The length of individuals can reach several meters, due to which they look like a long ribbon. They prefer to live in the intestines or gastric ducts. Among them are the following types:
- Bull tapeworm. This is one of the largest varieties of tapeworms. The length of an individual can reach 15-20 meters. The worm sticks to the surface of the small intestine and begins to absorb the substances necessary for a person. Without proper diagnosis and treatment, he can live up to 10 years. Infection usually occurs by eating contaminated, undercooked meat;
- Dwarf tapeworm. It got its name due to its small size, which averages 4-5 mm. You can get infected with such a tapeworm through poorly washed vegetables, and even dirty hands;
- Wide ribbon. Another big view. Its length can be as much as 10 meters, the width is usually greater than that of other worms. The larvae enter the body with infected fish and grow to an adult in just 3. 5 weeks. Lives mainly in the small intestine. Life expectancy can reach tens of years;
- Echinococcus. Small worms, the length of which, as a rule, is no more than 5 mm. Infection occurs from infected animals: cats and dogs. This species differs in that individuals are not localized in the intestines, but in the lungs or liver. They are dangerous because they can provoke the formation of cysts, which later require surgical removal.
These worms can be very harmful to the body, so the sooner they are detected, the better.
flukes
Flukes, like tapeworms, are flat parasites due to the structure of their body. They are also called liver worms, because their main habitat is the liver and biliary tract. Their main types are:
- Fluke. Also known as cat fluke. It lives mainly in rivers and lakes, which means it enters the human body along with infected fish that has undergone poor processing. Pets can act as a carrier. Individuals are quite small and rarely reach 12-13 mm. Inside a person they can live in absolutely any organ;
- Chinese or oriental fluke. It is characterized by a transparent red hue of the body and small size, no more than 2. 5 cm. It enters the human body, identical to the common fluke. It can lay more than 3. 5 thousand eggs daily;
- Fasciola. This is a larger flatworm, its length can be 5-7 cm. It is viable only in fresh water conditions. It dies in salty springs. A person can become infected with fasciola by drinking raw contaminated water, for example, while bathing, and also by eating plants. The risk is especially great if they are aquatic or wild species.
Liver flukes, although small in size, can be dangerous to humans. The patient, in addition to the standard symptoms, may develop a fever.
The simplest organisms
The simplest organisms have existed on earth for millions of years. To date, science reads more than 14. 5 thousand species. Like other parasites, their favorite habitat is the soil, water in reservoirs and, of course, the human body. They can stay on the surface of vegetables and fruits for some time, the use of which often causes infection.
In the vast majority of cases, when it comes to infecting a person with protozoa, it is Giardia that is meant. Their vitality is to be envied. They withstand even the most adverse environmental conditions.
In their structure, they are distinguished by the presence of four pairs of flagella and a special disk that performs a suction function. Due to them, Giardia reliably cling to the inner surface of the intestine and begin to parasitize.
Symptoms of manifestation
The fact that worms appeared in the human body can be understood by a vast number of signs. But most of them are of a general nature, indicating the presence of an inflammatory process. This can confuse the patient, forcing him to look for the cause in other diseases.
So, the patient can note in himself during this period:
- Fatigue, malaise, fatigue;
- Paleness of the skin;
- Dizziness and sometimes headaches;
- Increased anxiety, irritability. In children, marked aggression can be seen;
- Sleep deterioration. Usually worried about insomnia;
- Pain in the joints, pulling sensations in the muscles;
- Increased salivation.
Fatigue is one of the signs of the presence of worms.
The following signs, reminiscent of an allergic reaction or diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, may mislead the patient:
- Yellowness of the skin;
- Rash on the body;
- Attacks of bronchial asthma;
- Stool disorders: constipation or diarrhea;
- Flatulence;
- Feeling of nausea, as well as vomiting;
- Pain in the abdomen and hypochondrium;
- Slightly elevated body temperature.
But the more typical symptoms for this situation, due to which people most often begin to suspect that they have parasites, are:
- Weight loss for no apparent reason. At the same time, it becomes very difficult to return the departed kilograms;
- Itching in the anus;
- Bruxism. This phenomenon is expressed in teeth grinding during sleep.
Despite the fact that there are a lot of signs of the presence of parasites in the body, sometimes this phenomenon is completely asymptomatic, and therefore, people may not be aware of it for months.
Diagnostics
To identify helminths in the body is not at all easy. The standard procedure in this case is the examination of feces for the eggworm. I must say that sometimes in order to detect worms in the stool, it may be necessary to take an analysis from 3 to 5 times.
How to identify certain types of worms, only a doctor knows. It is impossible to do this on your own without test results. Depending on the symptoms present, the doctor may prescribe the following examination procedures:
- Blood analysis. In this case, the number of indicators such as proteins and eosinophils is analyzed;
- Analysis of scrapings from the anus;
- Vaginal scraping analysis.
Also, in some cases, additional measures may be required. Such as:
- Sputum examination;
- The study of the composition of urine and bile;
- endoscopy;
- CT scan;
- Ultrasound procedure.
After the parasites have been identified, the doctor draws up a treatment plan.
Treatment
Self-treatment of parasites is not allowed. This is due to the following factors:
- The preparations contain a different active substance, which means they have a detrimental effect on different types of helminths;
- Some drugs are able to destroy only larvae of worms, but not adults;
- All medicines have some side effects.
In this regard, it is necessary to select medicines based on the results of diagnostic procedures.
Preparations may have the following active ingredients:
- mebendazole. It affects only worms from the genus of pinworms;
- Diethylcarbamazine. Medicines based on it are prescribed if there are filariae in the patient's body;
- Levamisole. Has a wide spectrum of action. Destroys both pinworms and roundworms, as well as other worms;
- Hydroxysinaphthoate bephenia. Effectively fights roundworms;
- Albendazole. Necessary in the treatment of diseases caused by echinococci;
- Piperazine adipate. It is used to remove roundworms and pinworms from the body.
Traditional medicine also did not stand aside in this matter. It offers various ways that may not always be able to completely cleanse the body of parasites, but, at a minimum, are able to slow down their reproduction and development.
Examples of such methods are:
- Pumpkin seeds. They are taken in their pure form or a decoction is made on their basis;
- Seeds of watermelon. Apply similarly to pumpkin;
- Wormwood tincture;
- Tincture of alcohol and wormwood juice;
- Garlic;
- Tansy;
- Sandy immortelle.
It is important to pay attention to the fact that before using folk methods, you should get approval from your doctor and, of course, exclude an allergic reaction to the components used.
What are dangerous worms for humans
Worms do not just live in the human body, they literally parasitize, taking useful substances, and also sucking out blood. The body experiences a state of intoxication. The result of a long stay of helminths inside a person can be such negative consequences as:
- Weakening of the immune system;
- Violation of the gastrointestinal tract. Poor digestibility of food, the appearance of ulcers;
- The development of allergies;
- formation of cysts;
- Damage to the organs in which they live.
And do not forget that some types of parasites are very, very dangerous. Ignoring their presence can lead to the worst outcome.
Prevention
The vast majority of people at least once in their lives faced with worms. Children are especially affected by this. And this is quite justified, in addition to the fact that they have weaker immunity compared to adults, they also often ignore the rules of hygiene.
In general, methods that help reduce the risk of infection are not difficult at all. They mean by themselves:
- Compliance with the rules of personal hygiene. Hands must not just be rinsed, but thoroughly washed with soap;
- Vegetables, fruits, berries must be washed with plenty of water;
- Any meat: livestock, poultry or fish, should be washed very well before cooking. Heat treatment must also be thorough. You should not take risks and cook meat with blood if you are not sure of its quality and safety;
- Periodic antihelminthic prophylaxis in children. It is best to do this by consulting a doctor;
- Also, livestock and pets are subject to drug prophylaxis. At the same time, there is no difference in whether they live in the courtyard of a private house or in the room itself. If a dog or cat eats raw meat, then prevention from worms should be carried out without fail.
Such procedures will help not to meet parasites for as long as possible.