The presence of parasitic organisms in the body leads not only to discomfort and the appearance of unpleasant symptoms, various diseases develop and health deteriorates sharply. Some types of parasites threaten not only health but also life. Dangerous neighborhood causes a decrease in immunity, damage to the integrity of internal organs. Doctors are sounding the alarm, more than eighty percent of all diseases are caused by parasites or are the result of their life in the body. The statistics are alarming: one in four adults and one in two children are infected with helminths. Very often a person does not realize the presence of worms until the condition becomes critical. Where do human worms come from? After all, the infection occurs even in those people who strictly follow the recommendations and try to exclude all contact with the pathogenic environment. Let's try to understand how to avoid an infection that causes the development of helminth infestation.
The main routes of infection: where worms come from
There are different ways to get infected with parasites. Worms are a problem for people of all ages, although children are the most vulnerable category. They get to know the world by actively exploring objects to taste and do not have constant hygiene habits. Babies become infected mainly due to the use of plant products without prior washing, violations of hygiene rules after contact with pets, licking dirty fingers. Worms in children are very common.
The mechanism of infection with parasites by adults is practically the same. Most helminthiases develop as a result of neglecting the rules of personal hygiene. Often the infection occurs as a result of contact with sick people or animals, the use of contaminated household items and belongings. Insufficient heat treatment of meat and fish also carries a high risk of disease. Biohelminthiases penetrate the human body in this way. To minimize the likelihood of developing pathology, it is necessary to carefully cook, stew or fry fish and meat. Drinking contaminated water, swimming in an unfamiliar body of water or working in the garden with unprotected hands can cause worms in an adult's body.
The main routes of infection are:
- Oral-fecal. The pathogen enters the body through contaminated food or water. This group of helminths lives mainly in the intestines. The pathogen goes through a full cycle of development and secretes eggs that come out with the feces of the host. After entering the environment, the parasite is introduced into the body of another host.
- Through the ground. The transmission of parasites in this way is due to human contact with contaminated soil. The mode of transmission is similar to the previous version of the infection, but the eggs enter the ground not only with feces but also with other secretions from the host's body.
- Hematogenous. Parasites enter the body of the host through insect bites. Infected bloodsuckers lay helminth eggs.
- Biohelminthiasis. A complex infectious system in which several intermediate and permanent hosts are present.
Life cycle of parasites
The different species of helminths have their own cycle of development, but their general scheme is identical: from an egg a larva develops, which eventually transforms into an adult sexually mature individual.
Taking into account the peculiarities of development, there are three groups of parasites:
- contact;
- geohelminths;
- biohelminths.
Infection with contact parasites occurs mainly through dirty hands. Geohelminths develop without an intermediate host. The eggs ripen in the ground. This group of parasites enters the human body through the oral cavity or skin. Biohelminths have the most complex developmental cycle with several intermediate hosts.
Symptoms of helminthiasis
After the penetration of parasites into the human body, the first symptoms may appear immediately or after some time, when the number of worms increases significantly or the only representative of the species grows to large sizes. The first blow is taken by the immune system.
Gradually, signs of general deterioration appear:
- fatigue;
- bad sleep;
- apathy;
- lethargy;
- dizziness.
Such symptoms are due to the growing deficiency of nutrients and components that are absorbed by parasites, impoverishing the human body. People with helminthiasis become weak and irritable. Gradually, specific symptoms appear, which depend on the type of helminth, the location in a particular organ.
Worms in the liver
Parasites enter the body through the blood or through the mouth. As the disease progresses, the following symptoms are observed:
- The body temperature rises by several degrees. With the mass of parasites in the body can begin necrosis, abscess, in which case the temperature rises to critical figures.
- The mucous membranes and skin become yellowish as the gland produces large amounts of bilirubin.
- On palpation, an enlargement of the liver is felt. The patient feels a rupture in the organ, he compresses the adjacent tissues. Begins to disturb the pain in the abdomen on the right, breathing becomes difficult.
- A clinical blood test shows an elevated eosinophil count.
- Often worried about nausea, unpleasant taste in the mouth. Some patients complain of dizziness.
Intestinal worms
Most parasites prefer to live in the gut. It is an ideal place for feeding, development and reproduction. In the gut, sexually mature individuals release eggs that enter the environment through the patient's stool.
The symptoms of localization of helminths in this organ are the following:
- Indigestion in the form of a predominance of constipation or diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
- Aversion to food, complete loss of appetite.
- Changing eating habits. The patient refuses his favorite dishes, preferring an unusual taste.
- The presence of blood in the stool.
- Very severe spasmodic abdominal pain.
- The presence of parasites or their fragments in the stool, vomiting.
- Intestinal obstruction.
Worms in the lungs
The worms enter the lungs with the bloodstream. The localization of helminths in the respiratory system causes great harm to the body. The symptoms of lung damage are as follows:
- Chest pain.
- Exhausting cough with expectoration.
- Fever.
- Hearing wheezing in the chest.
- Difficulty breathing, development of an asthmatic component.
With mass seeding of the lungs there is a high probability of developing complications in the form of pneumonia, airway obstruction, necrosis or abscess.
Worms in the eyes
The localization of helminth larvae in the eyes leads to serious vision problems. The symptoms of the presence of parasites in the eyes are the following:
- Visible seals under the eyelids.
- Pain and movement in the eyes.
- Sharp decrease in visual acuity.
- Changing the position of the eyeball.
- Progressive squinting.
- Constant separation from the eye.
Worms in the brain
The presence of parasites in the brain is one of the most serious conditions, as helminths irreversibly damage nerve fibers. Very often the disease ends with the death of the patient.
The symptoms of brain parasites are:
- Severe migraine headache.
- Dizziness.
- Nausea, vomiting.
- Joining neuropsychiatric disorders.
Therapy with helminthic invasion
Parasites are often found in the bodies of adults and children. Awareness of the presence of pathogenic individuals in one's own body is quite unpleasant. It is necessary to start the correct treatment in time. Only a qualified professional can prescribe anthelmintic drugs.
To confirm or deny your suspicions, you must be reviewed and tested.
The doctor recommends any method of detecting helminths: complete blood count, stool, urine, ultrasound or X-ray, endoscopy or CT. Based on the type of parasite identified, treatment is prescribed. The pharmaceutical industry is ready to offer very effective drugs against worms. Treatment can be carried out with the use of a drug once or a course. It all depends on the type of parasite, the location, the amount, as well as the general condition of the patient.
Upon detection of the fact of helminthiasis in the family, it is recommended to undergo treatment for parasites in the body for all who live together. Human helminths are not only unpleasant, but also a very dangerous disease that threatens the development of many complications. You cannot ignore the situation or use drugs alone. Only a doctor can prescribe a drug that will be as effective as possible and will not harm.
There are folk recipes that can become a powerful support for the body against helminthiasis. The drugs can be used as an adjunct to drug therapy or for prophylaxis. It should be understood that you cannot take traditional medicine alone. First you need to understand information about the parasite, to understand its location. If possible, your doctor will recommend that you add prescriptions for alternative medicine to your treatment regimen.
The following herbal ingredients are considered the best folk remedies: pumpkin seeds, wormwood, ginger, herbal preparations, tansy, buckthorn.
Preventive actions
Red invasions are not as harmless as they seem at first glance. The disease undermines health, negatively affects the general condition. For babies, helminthiasis is much more dangerous: the child is seriously retarded, often ill.
Preventive measures are simple and easy to implement, you just need to create some good habits:
- Wash your hands before eating, after walking, visiting public places.
- Deworm pets.
- Eat only washed plant foods.
- Do not drink unboiled water, refuse to swim in unfamiliar bodies of water.
- Work in the garden or vegetable garden with gloves.
- Prepare meat and fish dishes thoroughly.
- Refuse to buy food at spontaneous markets.
And although it is impossible to fully protect against helminth infestation, it is indeed possible to minimize the risks by following the recommendations of experts. Don't get sick!