Deterioration of health can be observed not only from infections that enter the body.
Parasites and worms can also cause malaise, weakness and decay. They can lead to many of the consequences that people usually perceive as a manifestation of a normal inflammatory process.
What is helminthiasis? And what symptoms does it manifest in the human body?
The answers are quite simple.
Helminths are parasitic, roundworms and tapeworms, as well as their bright representatives, such as roundworms, pinworms, bovine tapeworms, tapeworms and many others. Certainly many have encountered them in childhood or adulthood.
The disease, which received the appropriate name, similar to helminthiasis, is the result of the influence and activity of helminths in the body.
Worm infection
Parasites can enter a person's body, both unnecessarily clean and not obsessed with their health, in several ways. There are enough of them.
Consider how helminths appear in a healthy body:
- normal handshake. The easiest way to reach a new parasite host. Through the upper layers of the epidermis, they first enter the skin and then the blood. This method of transmission also works when in contact with stray street animals and when touching foreign objects. Thanks to the good blood circulation of a healthy person, it is not difficult for them to reach the goal and find themselves in the chosen place of their future habitat;
- through the water. Many helminths are perfectly preserved as larvae in fresh and even seawater. Do not forget about the rural wells and aqueducts. They are not too sensitive. Care should also be taken when visiting swimming pools, baths and saunas. They may be poorly processed;
- moist soil and sand. The eggs of many species of worms come out with feces and fall on these surfaces. It is easy to get infected in suburban suburbs and even in children's sandboxes;
- low quality products. These often include seafood, fruits and vegetables, eggs and milk, cottage cheese;
- places of public mass gathering of people. Supermarkets, shops, pharmacies and hospitals. It is here that every day many people cling to door handles, shelves, packaged products and railings. And not the fact that everyone is healthy. Do not forget about the dirt that gets into these rooms during rainy and humid periods;
- Insects are a danger during the summer and autumn seasons. Mosquitoes and flies, even with their paws, can lay small microscopic eggs.
To this list of the occurrence of helminth infestation in adults and children can be added non-compliance with the basic rules of personal hygiene.
What helminths can be infected
There are a huge number of parasitic representatives. And they all enter the body in different ways, migrate inside and affect certain organs. Some of them choose one host, while others spend their entire life cycle with different media.
People can observe several major isolated parasites in their body:
- the most common roundworms are nematodes. Small whitish individuals. Reaches 40 mm. Everyone knows roundworms, pinworms, whipworms and tropical guinea worms. They live in the intestines, lay eggs in the anus, and often defecate. Determining helminth infestation with nematodes is very simple and without analysis;
- parasitic tapeworms are larger and more dangerous. Reaching 10 meters, they migrate and enter almost all vital organs and systems. There are cases of suffocation after movement of the parasite through the respiratory system. Manifested by bovine tapeworm, tapeworm;
- trematodes, flukes. They are unpretentious to the habitat, which is why they penetrate the body through both soil and water. They travel throughout the human body and are easily seen under sebum. This is mainly the eye and eyelid area. They destroy not only the intestinal microflora, but also the tissues of other organs. Toxic effects lead to depletion of the body.
Of course, it is impossible to determine regardless of which helminth is in a person. Only the method of examination for worms and a complete examination determine the type and subsequent treatment, and in case of recovery, prevention is prescribed.
Symptoms of parasites in the body
If the helminths have entered the body, then you cannot immediately identify them by the symptoms of infection. Some appear only after a certain time.
But all the signs of worms in an adult are quite serious and at first glance occur for no reason:
- a sharp rise in temperature to the level of the inflammatory process. Usually 37. 6 ° C to 38 ° C;
- manifestation of nausea, vomiting;
- painful pain in the abdomen and navel;
- possible redness of the skin;
- weakness, drowsiness, fatigue;
- occasional involuntary gnashing of teeth at night;
- dry persistent cough and shortness of breath;
- violation of normal stool. diarrhea or constipation;
- itching in the anus;
- the acquisition of yellowish or too pale skin tone;
- muscle and joint discomfort.
It is not possible to make an accurate diagnosis immediately based on such signs. But helminths in humans show only those symptoms that correspond to the damaged organs. And these are usually the intestines, bronchi and liver with kidneys.
Signs of ongoing helminthiasis
Late detection of parasites can lead to much more complex consequences:
- a sharp decrease in immunity. As a result, the ability of any infection and virus to enter the body;
- urticaria, bronchial asthma, as a consequence of the constant poisoning of parasites. Disposal of worms causes severe allergies in the body;
- intense hair loss, eyelashes;
- inexplicably brittle nails;
- caries, the enamel gradually disappears;
- heavy bleeding gums;
- nervousness, mental disorders.
Worms in humans not only show symptoms of infection, but also provoke many diseases, exacerbate the course of existing diseases and therefore the treatment of parasites is mandatory.
It is better to conduct an examination in time and start a complete complex removal of helminths from the body.
Diseases caused by parasites
The characteristic relentless signs of helminth infestation indicate that the body is subject to severe toxic effects or already damage to many organs and systems:
- disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Due to the fact that most helminths choose this place for further growth and development. It is expressed in intestinal obstruction, dysbacteriosis, diarrhea, pancreatitis;
- respiratory problems. Each migration of the parasite invariably leads it to the bronchi and lungs. This often leads to spasms, pneumonia;
- the central nervous system suffers. Migraine, dizziness, loss of spatial orientation, irritability and depression;
- increase in the spleen, liver, decrease in the level of bile flow;
- inadequate functioning of the excretory system. Urethritis, cystitis;
- problems with the reproductive organs. Vaginitis, inflammatory processes in the uterus, vagina, ovaries. Possible sexual infection.
These are severe symptoms that occur in helminths. If you care about your health, you should definitely see a doctor. Each of the presented signs obliges the specialist to prescribe a special examination.
The most common blood test will show that parasites have appeared in the body. At hemoglobin values less than 100 g / l, increased eosinophil count more than 6%, leukocyte increase of 9% and erythrocyte decrease of 3 g / l or less.
Also, the sharp decrease in protein and increase in immunoglobulins characteristic of allergies should be noted by a specialist.
Parasitic diseases and their symptoms
Depending on the type and class of worms, the signs of helminth infection get their individual names that distinguish them from each other. For specialists, this classification facilitates further treatment, recovery and prevention.
ascariasis. It naturally shows the symptoms of the roundworm parasite and possible concomitant diseases. Most often it is not observed immediately, but only 2 weeks after ingestion of helminths in the body.
The symptoms resemble a simple cough, acute bronchitis, mild allergies. Confused with a common infection, as it is accompanied by all the above characteristics and fever. There may be changes in the lymph nodes.
In advanced chronic ascariasis, all symptoms are complex. Jumps in blood pressure begin, anorexia may occur along with loss of appetite, painful constant abdominal pain. Regular vomiting, stool disorders. The face becomes pale, healthy skin color disappears, dark circles and swelling appear. At night, poor sleep or complete lack of sleep becomes common. Small whitish worms are visualized in the fecal secretions.
Penetration of pinworms or enterobiosis. A common phenomenon in young children due to non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene. The infection is caused by frequent itching in the anus. Oysters appear periodically. For 1-2 days with breaks. When parasites enter, the body's reaction will be involuntary gnashing of teeth at night, poor periodic sleep. It is not particularly dangerous, it does not cause pain.
Worms, like flukes, carry opisthorchiasis with them. The acute course of the disease lasts up to 8 weeks. During this period, fever, heaviness and swelling, diarrhea and a feeling of inflammation are observed. With chronic exposure to flukes, the symptoms spread to the respiratory system, causing severe allergies to the central nervous system.
Tapeworm parasites lead to many consequences of their presence in the human body. Tapeworm can damage the pancreas, lead to intestinal obstruction, vitamin B12 deficiency, decreased hemoglobin and anemia. In the same way, all representatives of tapeworm cause syndromes of abdominal pain, bloating and nausea.
Giardiasis. There are a small number of these parasites in the human body. But they are safe within normal limits. With exacerbation, their level increases. Which leads to vomiting, bitterness due to disorders of the liver and stomach, characteristic abdominal pain, bloating and impaired stool.
Naturally, such symptoms of helminthiasis must be treated and prevented by complete prophylaxis.