Worm infestations usually cause significant discomfort and health problems to a person. Symptoms of worms can be very diverse: fever, weakness, stomach upset, headache, etc.
Worms - what are they?
As we said above, adult worms traditionally have a stable localization in the body, and their developing forms often migrate to different organs and tissues, and often the path of their movement is quite complex. For example, with ascariasis, a person becomes infected by eating foods contaminated with worm eggs (ascaris eggs ripen in the ground).
In the cavity of the intestinal tract, roundworm eggs hatch into larvae, which within a couple of hours enter through the wall of the intestinal tract into the blood vessels and are carried into the lungs through the bloodstream. In the lungs, roundworm larvae grow and mature. The growing larva slowly gnaws into the adjacent bronchi and crawls along them, first into the trachea, and then into the oral cavity, where it is again swallowed and carried into the intestinal tract.
The roundworm larva that re-enters the intestinal tract transforms into an adult worm. Pulmonary migration of roundworm larvae is manifested by an abundance of symptoms (cough, asthma attacks, increased body temperature, allergic skin rash), and the presence of a small number of adult worms in the intestinal tract may not manifest itself in any way.
What are helminthiasis (helminthic diseases) - Symptoms of worms
The term "helminthiases" usually means a number of human diseases, the premise of which are various parasitic worms - helminths (another collective name for these parasites - worms).
Unlike diseases caused by bacteria, protozoa, or fungi, with helminthiases, the number of adult helminths (worms) in the body of an infected person does not increase at one point (with the exception of cases of re-infection). This is due to the fact that worms reproduce only outside the human body.
What are they?
Medicine knows more than a hundred varieties of helminths. The following are the most common types of worms:
- Pinworms are small worms in the human body that reach a length of 12 mm. This type of worm is diagnosed in the intestinal mucosa. Parasites enter the body with dust through the respiratory tract and can be easily transmitted from person to person.
- Roundworms are large roundworms that are most often found in the small intestine. Infection of the body occurs through unwashed hands and food. More often, roundworms are found in the body of children.
- Trichinella - these parasites have round bodies no more than 5 mm in length and cause trichinosis in the body. Larvae and eggs prefer to be in poorly fried meat (boar, pork, bear). In the human body, Trichinella takes up to 4 days to become an adult, and its life cycle is 40 days. The main goal of this type of worm is to enter the bloodstream through the intestinal walls and settle in the muscles. Moreover, the muscles of the respiratory and musculoskeletal systems are often affected.
- Pork/ox tapeworm. The length of the parasite's body is 5-6 meters, and its larvae hide in the meat of large animals (pork, cattle). The disease caused by these helminths is called taeniasis and taeniarinhoz. The larvae of both types of tapeworms are whitish vesicles attached to the walls of the small intestine. It takes the parasite 3 months to reach and form an adult, and the worm develops every day. The total number of segments reaches 2000, the final ones of which freely "furrow" the large intestine. Then the worms leave the body along with feces through the anus. The most common and obvious symptom of helminthiasis is a disrupted digestive tract, as well as food consumption in large quantities, and the patient does not visually gain weight.
- Necator/hookworm. The connection between these parasites is direct, due to the diseases and biological characteristics they cause. They live in the duodenum, and due to their small size (10-15 mm) they move freely in its environment. The larvae can enter the body only through the skin if a person has been in contact with contaminated soil. The further target of worms is the lungs along with the digestive tract. They feed only on the blood that comes out of the bitten blood vessels. As a result of the vigorous activity of these parasites, blood clotting is disrupted. Adults consume blood in the range of 0. 1-0. 35 ml per day.
- Echinococcus. In this case, a person acts as an intermediate host, because the final host is wolves, cats, and dogs. Animals can become infected through direct contact with contaminated objects or people. As soon as the eggs of the parasite enter the intestine, larvae with six hooks immediately develop, which in medicine are called oncospheres.
- Whipworms are diagnosed in a person’s stomach. These are thin and quite large worms.
You can determine the type of helminths by seeing what color the worms are in the stool when they emerge. Infection occurs through vegetables and meat that have undergone insufficient heat treatment. You can avoid infection by following food preparation rules.
How common and dangerous are worms?
Symptoms of worms. Data from modern epidemiological studies have revealed that every 4 people worldwide are infected with worms. The incidence of worm infection is significantly higher in children than in adults. In children and adults, worms can become a prerequisite for various acquired diseases of internal organs (gastritis, pancreatitis, enterocolitis, cholecystitis), and from time to time lead to the development of unsafe complications and death.
According to the Global Health Organization and the Global Disease Bank, helminthic diseases rank 4th in terms of economic harm among all other diseases and injuries.
In our region, there are more than 15 types of worms, of which the most common are enterobiasis (about 90% in the group of patients with helminthic diseases), ascariasis (70%), opisthorchiasis, diphyllobothriasis, trichocephalosis (60%), toxocariasis (60%), and hymenolepiasis. As it becomes clear from the statistics, almost all sick people (especially children) are simultaneously infected with several forms of worms.
Where do worms spread in humans?
Many people believe that worms certainly live in the intestines, and for some types of helminths this is true. In general, worms can be found in a variety of organs and systems of the human body:
- all types of tapeworms, whipworms and nematodes "settle" in the large intestine;
- trematodes attack the liver and gall bladder;
- Pork tapeworm larvae can spread through the bloodstream to all organs - subcutaneous fatty tissue, the eye chamber, and blood vessels in the muscles can be affected.
How can you become infected with worms?
How do worms enter the human body? There are 4 main sources of helminth eggs entering the body:
Geohelminthiasis- through the soil (and then water) in which there are mature eggs of many helminths that enter the ground with human or animal feces, as well as through direct contact with animals and through the transfer of eggs by flies to food Contact - from person to personSuch well-known and most common worms as pinworms are transmitted; this is the highest risk of infection.
Biohelminthoses- when eating raw, half-raw or slightly heat-treated meat (pork, beef) or fish infected with helminths (sushi, kebab, dried fish, lard with streaks of meat, etc. ) Some parasites enter the body through insect bites
The main mechanism of any infection is most often oral-fecal, that is, a person simply swallows worm eggs along with food, water, and less often, some helminthic infestations occur from the bites of infected insects. Undercooked meat and raw fish are understandable, but how can you become infected with worms through contact and household contact and through the soil?
Through the soil
After any contact with soil or sand, you should not just wash your hands, but thoroughly clean your nails; it is better to have short-cut nails, especially for children. Food products that grow in the ground - vegetables, herbs, fruits, berries, mushrooms, everything connected to the ground requires thorough washing under running water and scalding with boiling water. Pets, primarily dogs and cats, walking on the street, bring a lot of sewage into the house, and children playing with them are at maximum risk of infection; the animal can easily infect it with any types of helminths. Flies are also the main carriers of helminths, being in public toilets, places where agricultural livestock live, the flies then calmly land on food, spreading eggs on their wings and paws.
From person to person
With pinworms, infection of others occurs very easily. When a female pinworm crawls out of the intestines at night, she lays about 5, 000 eggs near the anus, which causes severe itching; the child, scratching the itchy area, infests their hands, nails, panties, and bed linen with them. Without washing his hands right away, hundreds of eggs remain on all objects he touches - door handles, clothes, food, toys. Further, the infection process is clear; eggs also settle on the hands of another child or adult using these items, and without washing their hands before eating, they end up in the mouth of a healthy person.
Through the water
A huge number of worm eggs end up in open water bodies and well water. Therefore, those who live in rural areas or in the country should use a bactericidal filter and be sure to boil water; it is also dangerous to swallow water when swimming in open water.
Everyone knows that worms are mainly a problem for children. Firstly, because they are most susceptible to the development of helminthiases, since the protective barriers in the children’s body are not properly formed, and the acidity of the stomach is lower than in an adult. Secondly, children of preschool age, mastering the world, try all the surrounding objects not only with their hands, but also by taste. And parents, with all their desire, can teach their child to strictly follow the rules of personal hygiene, without reminders, only by the age of 3-6, which exposes not only the baby himself, but also all family members, to the risk of infection (pinworms).
It should be remembered that no worms can breed and multiply in the human body, each species has its own period of time after which they die, for example, for pinworms it is only a few weeks, for roundworms it is about a year. Eggs laid by adults must leave the body either with feces, or (in the case of pinworms) on the skin near the anus, into the external environment, into the soil, and only then, having matured outside the human body and entering it again, they begin to become activeand parasitize.
Symptoms of worms
The development of helminthiasis usually occurs in two stages: acute - from two, three weeks to two months and chronic - from several months to many years.
The acute stage coincides with the time of introduction and development of the parasite and is manifested mainly by an immune response to foreign antigens and allergic reactions. The symptoms of this stage of helminthiasis are similar when different types of parasites are introduced.
The chronic stage is distinguished by great diversity: depending on the location of the worms, their number and lifestyle, disturbances appear in the functioning of a variety of organs and systems. By integrating into the metabolic system, consuming substances necessary for itself, the parasite leads to disturbances, manifested by disorders of digestion and absorption of vitamins, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and minerals. The waste products of worms lead not only to the suppression of normal intestinal microflora, but also reduce immunity, promoting the development of chronic bacterial infections, reducing the effectiveness of preventive vaccinations.
An increased risk of malignant tumors is associated with a negative effect on the immune system and enhanced processes of cell division (regeneration) in damaged tissues.
The first signs of helminthiasis development can appear from 2-3 days (with ascariasis) to 1. 5 years (with filariasis). Most often this period is 2-3 weeks. At the onset of the disease, skin rashes, enlarged lymph nodes, enlarged liver and spleen, pain in muscles and joints appear. Some helminthiasis are characterized by specific signs, such as jaundice for opisthorchiasis (liver fluke) or fever, muscle pain, swelling of the face and eyelids for trichinosis.
In the chronic phase, the presence of single specimens of worms occurs practically without any symptoms, the exception may be the presence of large specimens, for example, tapeworms and roundworms. In the case of a more widespread infection, the symptoms of helminth infections consist of digestive disorders (nausea, bloating, abdominal pain, loose stools) and some specific signs. With enterobiasis, for example, this is itching in the anus, intensifying in the evening and at night.
With trichocephalosis it is hemorrhagic (with hemorrhages) colitis. With hookworm - iron deficiency anemia. With ascariasis, mechanical obstruction of the intestines and bile ducts may occur. With helminthiasis with liver damage, chronic hepatitis and inflammation of the biliary tract (cholecystitis, cholangitis) develop.
A special place is occupied by helminthiases with the development of cysts (liquid formations in the membrane): echinococcosis, alveococcosis, cysticercosis. Even large cysts may not manifest themselves in any way, but their suppuration or rupture leads to severe consequences such as: anaphylactic shock, peritonitis, purulent pleurisy. Helminthiasis may be accompanied by symptoms of vegetative-vascular asthenia and neurotic conditions. Let us consider in more detail the most common special cases of helminthiases.
Diagnosis of worms. Treatment of worms
With enterobiasis, the main condition for successful treatment is simultaneous deworming of all family members (or children's team), strict hygiene measures and repeated administration of drugs 10-14 days after the first.
Folk remedies for treating worms
Traditional methods of treatment include medicinal plants that have anthelmintic and laxative effects. Even in ancient times, healers recommended using the juice of elecampane and celandine to expel worms. Carrots and carrot juice also have anthelmintic effects. Often in traditional medicine recipes you can find walnuts, pomegranates, mint, and even more often - garlic in the form of a nutritional component or enemas. A decoction of wormwood is used in the form of enemas or orally. Pumpkin seeds are an official medicine recognized remedy for worms. In folk medicine, the use of medicinal plants is often combined with saline laxatives. Although the effect of medicinal plants is not so high, they may well serve as a prophylaxis or an addition to the traditional treatment of helminthiases.
Complications of helminthiases
Complications of helminthiasis are associated primarily with the mechanical effect of the parasite on the organ; tissue destruction sometimes leads to fatal dysfunction of the affected organ. The addition of bacterial infections in places of mechanical damage is a common complication that masks the presence of the parasite in the body. For impressionable people, the sight of a parasite (for example, when expelled) can cause serious psychological trauma, requiring long-term rehabilitation treatment.
Prevention of worms
Contains timely identification and treatment of sick people and animals, adherence to personal hygiene measures (washing hands before eating, thoroughly washing food products, painstaking heat treatment of food, especially meat and fish).
FAQ
What symptoms may indicate the presence of worms in a person?
Symptoms of worms may include constant fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal pain, itching in the anal area, and digestive problems such as diarrhea or constipation.
How can you determine if a person has worms?
To determine the presence of worms in a person, you can perform a stool test for worm eggs or do a blood test for the presence of antibodies to worms. The doctor may also prescribe an ultrasound or other diagnostic procedures to confirm the diagnosis.
What precautions can be taken to prevent worm infections?
To prevent infection with worms, it is recommended to regularly wash your hands with soap and water, especially before eating and after using the toilet. You should also avoid contact with contaminated soil or water, drink only clean drinking water, and cook food properly to destroy any possible worm eggs.
Useful tips
Tip #1
Pay attention to changes in appetite and weight. If you or your child experience constant hunger or, conversely, loss of appetite, this may be a sign of a helminthic infection.
Tip #2
Pay attention to the condition of your skin and hair. If you or your child develop rashes, itching, or changes in hair texture (such as brittleness or hair loss), it may be due to the presence of worms.
Tip #3
Pay attention to the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. If you or your child frequently experience abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea, this may be due to a worm infection.