The modern rhythm of life often does not allow us to pay attention to minor ailments: increased fatigue, dizziness, pain in the joints and intestines.We often associate minor ailments with overwork, lack of sleep, stress and anxiety.But few people think that such ailments can be caused by worms (helminths), which can live in our body for a long time, causing a number of symptoms that we often perceive as signs of other diseases.Symptoms of worms in an adult or child depend on many factors, but in any case, the presence of parasites in our body causes discomfort and disgust, so it is very important to identify the parasite as quickly as possible and carry out appropriate treatment to remove it.
What is helminthic infestation?
Worms in humans, or the medical term “helminthic infestation,” is a large group of diseases that develop after the penetration of parasites into the human body.According to medical indicators, it was found that about 80% of the population is infected with worms, but not everyone knows about it.As a rule, human parasites can be found in the human intestines or internal organs and tissues.Worms are retained in the human body using special organs: suction cups, hooks, and spines.They feed on tissue juices or nutrients found in the blood.
In the course of their life, worms produce toxic substances that are absorbed into the bloodstream, lymph, and then spread throughout the entire body, penetrating into internal organs and systems, where they disrupt their functionality.Modern medicine knows more than a hundred species of helminths that parasitize the human body.Some of them do not cause much harm, while others are quite dangerous to human health and life.It is important to remember that worms, after entering the body, use our “resources” for their vital functions, causing numerous disruptions in the functioning of the whole organism.
At the initial stage, the symptoms of worms are blurred or completely absent.In such cases, detecting parasites is quite difficult and is only possible when a person is attentive to his health, notices the slightest violations and takes measures to eliminate them.
Types of worms parasitizing the human body
Over many years of evolution, worms have learned to adapt well to the human environment.In parasitology, human worms are divided into two groups:
- Tissue helminths - parasitize in human tissues or internal organs: cysticercosis, paragonimiasis, echinococcosis, filariasis and others, which can affect the human brain, liver, lungs, joints, etc.
- Cavity worms - live in the small or large intestine: tapeworms, hookworms, roundworms, pinworms, whipworms.
Worms do not have the ability to reproduce in the human body.The lifespan of some parasites is several weeks (pinworms), but some individuals can live for years (roundworms, tapeworms) and reach large sizes.The life span of cavitary worms is most often increased due to re-infection.Worm symptoms in an adult or child directly depend on the number of helminths in the body, their type, general health and other characteristics of the human body.
How does worm infection occur?
You can become infected with helminths in several ways:
- Through the soil: consumption of unwashed vegetables and fruits, lack of personal hygiene when working with soil.
- Swimming in reservoirs.
- Domestic or street animals - cats, dogs - are frequent carriers of parasites.Infection can occur both during fun games with pets, and through soil or sand.
- Through food - animal meat that has not undergone the necessary heat treatment - the main source of infection with tissue worms.In addition to meat products, worms can also be found in dairy products, fish meat, and canned food.
- Failure to comply with the rules of personal hygiene is the main cause of worms in children, who, while playing or walking on the street, often put their dirty hands in their mouths and rub their eyes with them.
Infection with helminthic infestation can occur in another way.After diagnosing a parasitic disease, identifying the source of infection is difficult and almost impossible.
The first signs of helminthic infestation
After parasites enter the human body, they encounter barriers of the immune system, which recognizes them as foreign agents.If the immune system is strong, then there is every chance that helminths will not penetrate the body or will be quickly destroyed.In cases where a person’s immunity is weak, it cannot resist parasites that penetrate the intestines without barriers, develop, and turn into adults.After some time, when the parasites turn into adults, they begin to secrete large amounts of toxins that poison the human body.The waste products of worms penetrate the blood and spread throughout the whole body, causing the first signs, such as:
- periodic headache;
- increased fatigue;
- appetite increases or decreases;
- nausea;
- abdominal pain;
- constipation or diarrhea;
- anal itching;
- sleep disturbance;
- increased sensitivity to allergens;
- increased irritability.
Worm infestation symptoms in an adult or child negatively affect the state of the immune system; skin rashes due to worms are also noted, which are often confused with dermatitis.Almost always, when the above symptoms appear, a person does not even suspect the presence of a parasitic disease, but begins to be examined by doctors in other fields of medicine, who, after the test results, do not note any significant abnormalities and give a referral or recommend testing for worms.
Symptoms of worms in humans
Symptoms of helminths in an adult or child directly depend on the type of parasite, its location, and the intensity of infection.For example, after infection with roundworms, symptoms will appear on days 2–4.The clinic is always erased and is accompanied by a general malaise of the body.In other cases, when infection with parasites has occurred, the first signs may appear after 2 - 3 weeks, and if a person is infected with filariasis, then the incubation period lasts up to 18 months.Let's consider the main symptoms of parasitic diseases, which are noted along with signs of helminthic infestation (listed above), caused by a certain helminth:
- Pinworms or enterobiasis - cause itching in the anal canal, which intensifies at night, grinding teeth in sleep.
- Trichocephalosis, diphyllobothriasis, schistosomes lead to the development of vitamin deficiency and anemia, and contribute to the development of dysbacteriosis.
- Roundworms - increased body temperature to 37.5 degrees, dry cough with sputum production.Laboratory tests show an increased number of eosinophils and allergic rashes appear.In cases of severe infestation, bronchitis with attacks of suffocation and pneumonia may develop.In addition, gastrointestinal disorders and rapid and significant weight loss appear.
- Trichinosis - causes muscle pain, fever, swelling of the eyelids and limbs.
- Fascioliasis, Giardia, opisthorchiasis - affect the liver, causing symptoms of jaundice.There is an enlarged spleen, neurological disorders, and gastrointestinal disorders.
- Urogenital schistosomiasis - causes diuretic disorders, characterized by the release of blood during urination.
In addition to the above symptoms that may be present with helminthic infestation, there are also those that threaten human life, affecting the brain, central nervous system, eyes, joints and other organs.It is very important not to look for other diseases, but to undergo a comprehensive examination of the body with all tests for helminthic infestation.Only then can the parasite be identified and all treatment methods be aimed at eliminating it and restoring the functioning of internal organs.
Worms are so dangerous
Worms in children - symptoms often lead to decreased appetite, as well as the development of allergic reactions or bronchitis.In advanced forms, bronchial asthma, pneumonia and other serious diseases may develop.Severe forms of parasitic diseases often lead to intestinal obstruction and disorders of the nervous system.Worms significantly reduce immunity, making the human body defenseless against other diseases of infectious or non-infectious origin.In more severe cases, worms can lead to brain damage and even death in humans.
Test for helminthic infestation
Probably, each of us is concerned with the question: do I suffer from helminthic infestation?We provide you with a simple test, then count the number of positive answers to the following symptoms, which are most characteristic of parasitic diseases:
- Do you feel itching in the anus?
- Do you have skin rashes?
- Do you get headaches often?
- Do you often feel nauseous?
- Do you often worry about bowel movements: bloating, flatulence, constipation, diarrhea?
- Do you have a restful and sound sleep?
- Do you notice puffiness in your legs, body or under your eyes in the morning?
- Do you suffer from bronchial asthma?
- Do you notice enlarged lymph nodes?
- Do you often experience bitterness in your mouth?
- Do you get tired easily?
- Do you experience a slight and unmotivated increase in body temperature?
- Does your skin have a yellowish tint?
- Do you snore or grind your teeth in your sleep?
- Have you lost weight due to a good appetite?
You need to answer: yes or no.If you have 8 positive answers, then there is a risk of helminthic infestation.In cases where there are more than 12 positive answers, there is a high probability of a parasitic disease.In such cases, you need to consult an infectious disease specialist or parasitologist as soon as possible, take a stool test for worm eggs, and a general blood test.The test results will help confirm or refute helminthic infestation.
Treatment methods for helminthic infestation
Currently, there are many ways to treat worms in children or adults.The choice of treatment remains with the attending physician, the type of worm, the patient’s age and other factors.The process of getting rid of worms is currently called deworming, which consists of taking special medications that must be prescribed by a doctor in each specific case.Worms - symptoms and treatment depend on many factors that the attending physician must take into account.It is important to remember that you cannot independently treat worms, which at best will not bring results, and at worst will lead to complications, because all drugs for worms have a large number of contraindications and side effects.