Helminthiasis is a common problem among certain categories of the population. Children are usually parasitized by pinworms, people who frequently eat fish are diagnosed with diphyllobotriasis, and trichinosis is common among hunters.
The fact that human worms provoke the development of many diseases that seem to have nothing to do with helminthiasis is currently confirmed by a wide variety of studies. In particular, there is a theory that helminthic diseases are associated with the development of oncological processes.
In addition, you should be aware that if there are helminths in the body, it does not mean that the patient will show symptoms of such an infection. Signs of their presence can be disguised as other diseases of the liver, gallbladder, gastrointestinal tract. As a result, a person may use various means for a long time and not detect an infection. And once the right anthelmintic treatment regimen is chosen for the patient, the disease can be cured. Therefore, asking myself: "What should I do if I have helminths, how to check for parasites and will I infect my relatives? "You should not be afraid to contact a doctor and get all the answers and also find out what to do if you are dirty.
To answer questions about what worms are, how dangerous such parasites are and how not to get infected with different types of parasites, read the article below. We will also talk about the signs of worm infection, both general and specific.
How can you get helminths?
Helminth eggs can enter the human body in different ways. There are four main ways to become infected:
Biohelminthiasis. Worms can be found in raw or poorly cooked meat, as well as in fish. You can get infected by eating lard, barbecue, dried fish, sushi and more.
Geohelminthiasis. Mature helminth eggs, which are in the soil and in the water, enter the body. They fall into this environment because human feces, as well as animal feces, fall there. Also, infestations occur when a person comes into contact with animals, for example, constantly removes the feces of cats or dogs, as well as when food is contaminated with fly eggs.
Contact. The most common worms, pinworms, are transmitted from person to person. In this case, the risk of getting this disease is the highest.
A number of parasites can enter the body when insects bite a person.
In trying to find an answer to the question of what causes worms and how they are transmitted, it should be borne in mind that the main mode of infection with parasites is oral-fecal. That is, a person simply swallows worm eggs when eating food, drinking water. In rare cases, worms in humans are found after being bitten by insects that have been infected.
Infection with worms through the soil
After contact with soil, sand, etc. , you should not only wash your hands very well, but also clean your nails. It is better for children to trim their nails very short. All vegetables that grow in the ground should be washed very carefully and, if possible, scalded with boiling water.
Animals and flies
Wikipedia shows that worm eggs can also appear in the house from pets - cats, dogs walking on the street. There is a high risk of infection if children play with such animals. Therefore, you should take immediate action if you suspect that worms have started in cats. The symptoms and treatment of infection in animals can be obtained from a veterinarian or watch the relevant video online. In this way, all kinds of worms can appear in the body. Therefore, the answer to the question of whether they are transmitted from dog to human and whether it is possible to be infected by a dog is unequivocal: yes, it is possible.
Another carrier of helminths are flies. Initially, they can land on feces, livestock waste, and then fly and land on food. As a result, they spread helminth eggs and people develop helminth diseases after infection.
How are worms transmitted from person to person?
How can you get pinworms and are these parasites transmitted from person to person? The answer to this question is simple: if a female squirrel crawls out of the rectum into the baby's pap during the night, it can lay a large number of eggs near the anus - up to 5, 000 pieces. As a result, severe itching occurs, the baby itches and the eggs fall on his hands. In addition, the baby's eggs fall on the baby's hands on clothes, bedding and other objects that the child touches. It is clear how worms are transmitted: other children and adults become infected with eggs, after which small white spikes multiply in the body. That is why it is very important to wash your hands before eating after coming home from public places.
Water infection
Many parasitic eggs are found in outdoor water pools as well as in wells. Therefore, people who use such water should use a special bactericidal filter. It is also very important that the water that people drink is boiled and that dishes made from it are eaten. It is very dangerous to ingest water from tanks.
It should be borne in mind when talking about helminth infestation that it is a disease that mainly affects children, as they are very susceptible to helminthiasis. The fact is that in children the protective barriers are not yet developed to the same extent as in adults, their stomach acidity is lower.
Also, the signs of the presence of worms in a child appear very often due to the fact that young children, in the process of mastering the world, taste everything they come across. That is why parents often notice the symptoms of helminth infestation in children, in particular itching of the anus, poor appetite, cough in children during infection and others. However, it is impossible to get your baby used to strict hygiene in the first years of life. Therefore, at this time the risk of infection is high for all family members.
Speaking of egg worms - what is it and how to treat this disease, we must remember that worms do not reproduce in the human body. Worms in the human body die over a period of time. For example, pinworms live a few weeks, roundworms - about a year. Eggs that adult parasites lay in the body will certainly leave the gut - either when feces or baby feces come out, or get on the skin near the anus, as is the case with pinworms. When eggs are outside the human body, they mature in the external environment, then re-enter the human body and parasitize it again.
Because worms do not reproduce in the body, a large number of helminths are only observed if re-infection occurs, if the eggs re-enter the body through the mouth.
Therefore, if re-infection does not occur, live spikes die in about 4 weeks. And if you follow all the preventive measures very carefully, then you can get rid of the presence of worms without treatment. For children, however, following all these rules is a very difficult task.
Signs of helminths
When infected with parasites, some of the first symptoms of worms appear in humans. You can learn in detail from a specialist about the symptoms of worms if you have an infection. But some signs of worms in humans can be seen for themselves.
So, the clearest sign that a parasite infection has occurred is the presence of abrupt weight loss. Also, the patient's skin turns pale - this is how anemia manifests itself. Appearance also shows signs of helminth infestation - a person looks exhausted, his level of fatigue may increase.
Helminths cause itching in the anus if the intestines are infected. However, they can also parasitize other organs - the lungs, liver, bladder and even the arm or leg, etc.
However, all the above symptoms of parasites in the human body are only the first common signs of infection that develop when the body is severely damaged by worms and allow to recognize that something is wrong with health. There are other, more specific symptoms of helminth infestation in adults. The patient may perceive them as a manifestation of other diseases. At the same time he can treat such diseases for a long time, of course, unsuccessfully. This continues until the exact cause of such symptoms is determined - helminthiasis. You can find more details about this in the relevant videos on the web.
What are the symptoms of worms in adults and children?
Digestive disorders
If the parasites are localized in the intestine and not in other organs, then the main signs in adults and children are impaired digestive function. A person may be disturbed by constant diarrhea or constipation, periodically manifested by nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, pain in the right hypochondrium, near the navel, intestinal disorders. If intestinal parasites are injured, flatulence is often a concern.
All of these signs can be both strong and weak, both long-term and periodic. It all depends on the severity of the infection. There are types of helminths that produce hormone-like substances, under the influence of which constant diarrhea develops. If large worms become large (such as tapeworms), they block the intestines and cause constipation.
General malaise, nervous system disorders
Worms live and excrete very large amounts of toxic substances, regardless of whether the parasites live in the blood, liver, lungs of man. The more massive the infection, the more pronounced are the signs of intoxication of the body, which adversely affects the nervous system.
As a result, headaches, dizziness and nausea develop. Some people mistakenly accept such signs of migraine development and as a result drink painkillers.
Sometimes when infected with parasites the temperature rises, the pain in the joints is disturbing. In addition, helminthic lesions provoke a deficiency of vitamins and nutrients in the body. This phenomenon, as well as depression of the nervous system, lead to the manifestation of chronic fatigue syndrome. The patient feels tired, worried about drowsiness, feeling weak in the body. If we talk about a child, he is naughty, constantly nervous. Young children have disturbed sleep, they cry or scream at night. School-age children may learn poorly due to inattention and fatigue.
Allergies and skin manifestations
Signs of helminths Worms cause skin deterioration. The toxins with which worms infect the body negatively affect its general condition and can provoke various reactions on the skin. The rash occurs as a result of the release of histamine from mast cells and the accumulation of the liquid part of the blood in the tissue with the rise of the epidermis.
These same causes lead to the development of allergic reactions. In particular, itching, red spots, acne, urticaria, as well as dry cough, allergic rhinitis, manifestations of bronchial asthma may occur. Also, when infected, nails can exfoliate, brittle hair can be seen, and cracks can appear on the heels.
Deterioration of immunity and infectious diseases
As worms feed on the body, they excrete toxic waste products. The toxic effect, the reduction of vitamins and minerals in the body leads to the fact that the immunity of the infected person deteriorates significantly. As a result, the health condition in chronic diseases also deteriorates, inflammatory processes in the nasopharynx begin to be disrupted - sinusitis, stomatitis. Vulvovaginitis, bacterial vaginosis are possible in women and girls. There is evidence that prolonged infection with pinworms may develop inflammation of the appendages. In this case, it is very important to detect their presence in time. Parasites in the liver also cause bad breath, constant bad taste.
It is also believed that worms in humans provoke the appearance of snoring and night gnashing of teeth. However, this connection has not yet been proven.
Where do parasites live in the human body?
The types of parasites in the human body are determined by exactly where they live in the body. How to determine the presence and how to remove parasites from the body depends on their type.
translucent
These worms inhabit mainly the intestines living in its various departments. Hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms and other tapeworms are localized in the small intestine. In the small intestine live small tapeworms, pinworms, in the large intestine - whip. In total there are about a hundred species of cavity parasites. Photos and images can be found online.
plat
These types of worms in humans do not live in the intestines, but in organs and tissues. There are species that live in the brain (cysticercosis), liver (echinococcosis), lungs (paragonimiasis), muscles, lymphatics (filariasis) and other helminths.
What are the worms in humans still, you can find out from a specialist.
Roundworms are a species that belongs to both luminal and tissue parasites, as in the first phase of their development they can move through the blood and infect any organ. How to get rid of roundworms will tell the doctor who prescribes the treatment of infection with such parasites.
You can find out what worms look like in humans by looking at the image of the respective type of parasite. Special literature shows what worm eggs look like.
Signs of infection depending on the type
How worms manifest themselves and how dangerous they are depends on the type of parasite, where exactly they live in the body, and also on the intensity of the infection. Signs of invasion in humans can be detected after a few days. For example, if roundworms appear, then health deteriorates after 2-3 days. When infected with other types of helminths, the first signs are noticed in the patient after 2-3 weeks. The incubation period of filariasis is from 6 to 18 months.
Intestinal worms are dangerous in the sense that if there is an individual in the gut, then it is impossible to understand that a person is infected because there are no signs. Some symptoms can be disturbing only if the worms are long (roundworm, tapeworm, etc. ) or a massive infection has occurred. Almost all helminthiasis is accompanied by headache, fatigue, dizziness, irritability.
What are worms, what are they called and what do they look like?
Shingles (enterobiosis) - you can determine the presence of this type of helminth by the manifestation of the main symptoms, as well as the manifestation of itching in the anus, which becomes more intense at night. If there are only a small number of pinworms in the body, the itching may appear for a few days, then go away and reappear after a few weeks. In severe invasion, itching may be felt constantly.
Roundworms - what are the signs of ascariasis, depends on the stage of development of these parasites. In the phase when the larvae migrate to the heart, lungs and other organs, there is weakness, low-grade fever, cough, sputum, sometimes with pus and blood. If an X-ray of the lungs is taken at this time, volatile infiltrates can be seen, which later disappear. Allergic reactions develop, a blood test shows a high percentage of eosinophils. If the invasion is strong, it is likely the development of bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma attacks. Often people wonder if there may be a cough when infected? It is really possible. You may also feel a sore throat. The signs of the second phase are associated with digestive disorders. Roundworms produce substances that neutralize pepsin and trypsin, human digestive enzymes. As a result, the proteins are not absorbed and the patient loses a lot of weight. Ascariasis sometimes has complications - pancreatitis, obstructive jaundice, intestinal obstruction, appendicitis.
Hookworm, schistosomiasis, diphyllobotriasis, trichuriasis - such lesions develop anemia and beriberi. Ultimately, the toxins released by helminths from these varieties significantly worsen the intestinal microflora, provoking the development of dysbacteriosis.
Opisthorchiasis, fascioliasis, clonorchiasis are liver parasites. The consequences of the invasion are icteric syndrome, enlarged liver, spleen, pancreatitis, cholecystocholangitis, neurological disorders, pathologies of the digestive system.
Trichinosis - in such a lesion the most common symptoms are muscle pain, swelling of the eyelids, swelling of the face, fever.
Strongyloidiasis - caused by roundworms, the symptoms are very diverse. There may be signs of dyspepsia, allergies, biliary dysfunction and more.
Genitourinary schistosomiasis - caused by flatworms, manifested by diuretic disorders. At the end of urination, blood is found in the urine. In men it can lead to pathological lesions of the prostate, pathology of the seminal vesicles. In women it causes consequences in the form of vaginal bleeding, genital lesions. Fibrosis may occur in the bladder.
Cestodosis - caused by tapeworm. These are bovine tapeworm, sheep brain, echinococcus, tapeworm and others. Signs of the disease are severe weight loss, weakness and dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract.
How to determine the presence of worms in humans?
If some of the symptoms that indicate an infection are a concern, one is naturally worried about finding out if you have helminths. Of course, it is safe to say whether there is an infection or not only after visiting a doctor and conducting all the necessary tests. But there are other ways that are suitable for those who are interested in how to find out that you have worms. To do this, you need to carefully monitor your health and pay attention to the changes occurring in the body. After all, the presence of some pronounced symptoms answers the question of how to know that you have worms.
Prevention of worm infection
To prevent infection, you need to clearly understand the causes of the invasion, what is helminthiasis, what are worms. It is important to take all preventive measures, which significantly reduces the likelihood of infection.
- It is necessary to wash fruits and vegetables well, to pour boiling water over them.
- It is important to fight flies, cockroaches, mosquitoes - to watch where they come from, to destroy them.
- Cooking meat and fish should be at least 40-60 minutes.
- You should use only your own hygiene products - a towel, a comb (so as not to transmit lice), etc.
- It is important to teach the baby before feeding, as well as after each contact with animals, to go immediately and wash your hands with soap and water.
- If there are animals in the house, large and small, you should constantly give them means to prevent worms. To find out which ones, you need to contact your veterinarian.
- It is important that the youngest children play only with clean toys, and a dropped pacifier or pacifier should be washed immediately.
- Children need to be weaned from bad habits - sucking their fingers, biting their nails, taking various things in their mouths.
- The baby should have clean and short nails.
- To prevent re-infection with pinworms, the baby should wear tight bikinis at night, which prevents the spread of parasites and eggs on the bed.
- It is important to iron baby clothes after washing.
- In the morning you should change your panties and wash the child well.