Speaking of helminths in humans, the symptoms, the treatment of which is well known to many even from childhood, can not but be noted that they are conditionally divided into several classes. Different types of parasites differ from each other not only in the form of damage to the human body, but also in the way of infection. Some of them are specific. For example, for hunters, this is trichinosis, which occurs in large quantities in wild birds, less often in ungulates. But how to correctly determine from the symptoms that a person has worms and what methods to get rid of them offers modern medicine?
Ways of infection
Worms in humans in 99% of cases occur due to violation of basic rules of individual hygiene. And they enter the body through the oral-fecal route, ie in contact with the waste products of some animals or infected people (it is enough to visit a public toilet). It is impossible to pinpoint the exact signs of the disease (the spread of parasites) in the human body, as there are many species of worms and each has its own clinical picture. And even these complex preparations used to destroy them act on only 2-3% of the species of helminths that are most common in the world. These include: pinworms, trichinosis, diphyllobotriasis, tapeworm and others. These are the ones that are most common in our body. But their greatest diversity is in Africa, where only 1 in 10 people is healthy. In them, the helminths are infected mainly through water, which does not pass through the necessary stages of purification and is simply teeming with pathogens and parasites.
Given the types of worms in humans, it is necessary to note those that enter the body through the meat of infected animals. They include, for example, the same spikes that are found mainly in the soil. But as soon as they come across the meat, they begin to multiply actively. By the way, their disseminators are often flies.
Quite often the infection occurs through water from the well. And here no filters will not help - just passing the liquid through a special thermal station, where it is heated to about 80-100 ° C. But they are quite expensive, so they are rarely installed in practice.
And, of course, if worms are found in a person, it means that he is also a carrier of the parasite. Helminths can even be transmitted by shaking hands if the patient does not wash their hands thoroughly after using the toilet. For this reason, anyone can be infected, regardless of place of residence, social status.
Keep in mind that helminths are most common in children. There are several reasons for this:
- Parents care little about the hygiene of their children, do not tell about the basic rules that before eating, after visiting the toilet, it is necessary to wash your hands with soap and water.
- The child's body is less resistant to helminths. Accordingly, even a few pinworms can lead to the rapid spread of parasites in the baby's body.
By the way, speaking of pinworms, remember that these are helminths that can not reproduce while in the human body. That is, their spread occurs only when the eggs fall back into the oral cavity. Accordingly, if the infected person follows strict rules of hygiene, after 3-4 weeks he will be completely healthy - some of the helminths will be destroyed by immunity, the rest will leave the body naturally along with the feces.
Varieties of parasites
Which helminths are recognized as the most common in the world? Of course, pinworms are found in almost every country on our planet. This is due to the fact that they are free to infect both humans and domestic animals and can be transmitted, including through food and water. The symptoms of their appearance in the body are classic: stool disorders, functions of the gastrointestinal tract, signs of primary intoxication.
Such types of parasites as roundworms are found mainly in domestic and wild animals, but they almost never infect humans. They easily enter our body, but die in just a few days. In severe cases, for example, when the patient's immunity is severely weakened, the parasites settle in the lungs, sometimes in the liver, which is accompanied by a sharp rise in temperature. As a rule, at the same time roundworms are clearly visible in the stool, even on visual inspection.
Trichinosis is another type of common helminth that enters the body mainly through poorly processed (thermally) meat from fish and animals. Causes muscle pain, sometimes swelling of the face and general intoxication of the body.
But the most dangerous of the common helminths is tapeworm, as it can even cause a spasmodic attack, as its metabolic products affect the functioning of the nervous system. It is also dangerous that this type of helminth can live safely in our body for about 30 years, growing up to several meters in length. In the later stages of the infection can only be removed surgically, as it can make tunnels in the organs for rapid movement.
Schistosomiasis - helminths that are more common in men (this is due to the differences that are inherent in the process of urination in men and women). Infection with such worms is accompanied by many symptoms, and in severe cases, helminths can pass through the urethra. It should be noted that these types of worms are more common in Africa, as the infection occurs only through water or food.
Symptoms of pathology
How can you tell if a person has been exposed to helminths in the body? In the early stages - only through a complete blood test, as well as feces, urine. In the laboratory, they study the change in the composition of these substances, the change in the background of antibodies. But the round and sharp ones are easily determined even when taking a smear from the rectal cavity. Such an analysis must be performed when passing a medical commission at school, upon receipt of a sanitary book.
But the primary symptoms of worm infection appear much later, when their number in the body increases significantly, and this is accompanied by intoxication with waste products of parasites. For example, if we are talking about flatworms, then the patient may not know about them even a few years after the onset of the infection. The suspicion causes only rapid weight loss (despite following a healthy diet), as well as lethargy. By the way, many people know that in the 19th century (as well as the early 20th century) worms were usually used in medicine to get rid of excess weight quickly. But that was only until scientists discovered that such therapy was irreparably harmful to health.
Speaking of helminths, it should be noted that most of them can cause allergic reactions. And this is probably one of the most dangerous symptoms. In some patients, this can lead to sudden anaphylactic shock and even death due to rapid inflammation of the airways. And all this is due to the fact that in the waste products of helminths there is a large percentage of those substances that cause allergies. Strongyloidiasis is the most common worm, whose symptoms include such a reaction.
Doctors often use the so-called symptom test to diagnose. This is a small sheet with about 20 questions. They suggest describing how often a person has a headache, after eating what food diarrhea begins, etc. In 80% of cases, the test results are reliable, which is why many doctors still use such diagnostic tools.
Therapeutic measures
Given the fact that there are worms and how different they are from each other, they must be treated by different means. Most types of helminths are easily eliminated with the help of pesticides. They, in turn, destroy the positive microflora for them, thus making the body temporarily unfit for life. However, the use of such drugs is quite harmful to our immunity, so they should be used only on prescription.
Remember that all worms are conditionally divided into round, flat and flukes and different types of anthelmintics are used to get rid of them. The variety of parasites, despite the harsh climate, still remains large - over 70 subtypes. Also, when determining the dose of the pesticide used, it is necessary to take into account such factors as the patient's age, body weight, duration of infection (conditionally, based on data from a complex analysis).
However, most helminths can be easily eliminated with the help of anthelmintic drugs. But keep in mind that you will need to be treated within 3-4 months after completing 2 courses of therapy. And here it will be quite important to follow a strict diet, recommendations for weight control.
The symptoms, the treatment inherent in one or another type of parasite, practically in no way depend on their subtype. The clinical picture for the most part depends only on the physiological characteristics of a particular patient and the period elapsed since the infection.
Precautions
As mentioned above, the most effective prevention of helminths is to follow basic rules of personal hygiene by eating only well-processed foods. But those who love meat with blood belong to the most vulnerable category of patients, in whom worms are found in almost 97% of cases. The same goes for those who like to eat fresh vegetables and fruits bought in a store or market, without subsequently washing them under running water. And all this is due to the fact that people who work at harvest do not observe hygiene (because it is not provided by the employer).
Therefore, in order to know for sure that a person's symptoms with which he goes to the clinic are in no way related to helminthiasis, he also takes blood, stool and urine tests. After all, some types of worms cause similar symptoms to those that occur in an infectious lesion. These include diphyllobotriasis, the infection of which is very similar to the common flu. However, such a reaction of the body is related to the properties of the toxins that the parasite will release into our body. This is accompanied by a sharp rise in body temperature, runny nose and sore throat. But it's all due to dehydration. Both these roundworms and the toxins they secrete cause the same symptoms as in gastrointestinal disorders.