When worms enter the human body, they begin their parasitic activity, thus making a person feel ill. Helminth infestations often cause severe allergic reactions, gastrointestinal diseases and other pathologies not related to the gastrointestinal tract. However, traditional treatment of these diseases does not lead to recovery. Worms in humans can be suspected with high probability on the basis of certain symptoms, but clinically helminthiasis is manifested only when the worms multiply massively. In the case of asymptomatic cases, laboratory tests will help to reliably diagnose helminthiasis. Symptoms of worms in humans can be different, but first of all, abdominal pain, discomfort near the anus, nausea and general malaise appear. To restore good health, it is necessary to get rid of worms using anthelmintic drugs or folk remedies.
What are worms
Worms are parasites of humans and animals belonging to the class of flatworms or roundworms. Worms have a fairly common structure.
In their development, worms traditionally pass through several stages: egg - larva - adult. Most human worm infestation occurs when he ingests worm eggs.
Ingested eggs in the human intestinal tract quickly hatch into larvae, which begin to migrate to the place of permanent life, where they transform into adults. In the process of movement, almost all helminths make real "journeys" through the human body.
Only a few parasites (e. g. pinworms) hatch from eggs in the intestinal tract and remain there. Usually, tissue and organ destruction and symptoms caused by larvae and other developing forms of helminths during movement are more pronounced than symptoms caused by mature forms of parasites
As we said above, adult worms traditionally have a stable localization in the body, and their developing forms often migrate to different organs and tissues, and often the path of their movement is quite complex. For example, with ascariasis, a person becomes infected by eating food contaminated with worm eggs (ascaris eggs ripen in the ground).
In the cavity of the intestinal tract, ascaris eggs hatch into larvae, which, within a few hours, penetrate the wall of the intestinal tract into the blood vessels and are carried to the lungs by the bloodstream. In the lungs, roundworm larvae grow and mature. The growing larva slowly bites through the adjacent bronchi and crawls along them, first into the trachea, and then into the oral cavity, where it is again swallowed and transferred to the intestinal tract.
The roundworm larva, which re-enters the intestinal tract, transforms into an adult worm. Pulmonary migration of roundworm larvae is manifested by an abundance of symptoms (cough, asthmatic attacks, increased body temperature, allergic skin rash), and the presence of a small number of adult worms in the intestinal tract may not be manifested in any way.
What are worms? Worms are scientifically called helminths. Helminths are all worms that parasitize the body of humans, animals and plants. Accordingly, worms are not a specific type of parasite, but a whole group of different worms, three of which are the most common.
Some scientists claim that almost the entire population of the Earth is infected with one or another parasitic worm. In this case, however, helminth infestations must be the most common types of diseases in the world, and besides, a number of serious studies prove that, in fact, everything is not so bad. But the thought that a person still has helminths makes him immediately seek an answer to the question of how to get rid of worms.
It should also be understood that helminthic invasion is not something rare and insignificant. There are more than three hundred species; the larvae in humans penetrate far beyond the intestines and continue to develop there, gradually poisoning the body. Let's find out what are the symptoms of worms in humans, because the forewarned, as we know, is forewarned. And then we'll find out how to get rid of worms effectively and what it takes to make sure they don't come back.
In fact, it is very easy to determine the presence of worms in the body of any person - you just need to take a stool test. However, the problem is that most people don't even think about going through such a test. The problem is that helminths in adults and children manifest themselves, masquerading as a huge number of diseases and at first do not reveal their presence at all.
A person can spend years treating the intestines, liver, kidneys, stomach, gall bladder, and the root of the evil will be helminthiasis and parasites that feel great when they are not fighting them.
Often the helminth invasion causes the development of diseases that have nothing to do with the helminths themselves. And in this case, you can be treated endlessly if you do not find out in time what is happening.
All this proves that worms are not just an unpleasant phenomenon. And given the vast number of ways of infection, knowing the signs of worms in humans is vital.
How do worms (parasites) appear?
The symptoms of helminthic diseases depend on the stage of development of the parasite. The development of helminthiasis is usually divided into acute and acquired stages.
- The acute stage of development of parasites begins from the moment the patient is infected with worms and lasts 2-3 weeks (in case of severe disease - up to 2 months).This stage is characterized by the dominance of allergic manifestations (rash, dry suffocating cough, increased levels of eosinophils in the blood), which develop in response to the appearance of antigens (fragments) of migrating larvae in the blood. The immune response is strongly expressed at the stage when the early forms of the parasite (larvae) are in the body of the infected person;
- the acquired stage of development of worms occurs after the acute stage and lasts for several weeks, months or years (for some helminthic diseases - up to 10 years).The symptoms of this stage for us depend on the location of the worms, their number and feeding habits.
In the places where they spread, the parasites damage the tissues with their fixing organs (hooks, spikes, cutting plates, cuticular spikes). The damage causes tissue irritation and the development of an inflammatory reaction.
Some fast-growing parasites, such as cysticerci or hydatid cysts found in the brain, eyeballs, and liver, compress surrounding tissues, often causing dysfunction of vital organs, leading to serious consequences.
In the acquired stage of helminthiasis, the metabolism is disturbed, as the parasite constantly absorbs valuable nutrients, such as proteins, minerals, carbohydrates and vitamins. In addition, the process of assimilation of digested food in the intestinal tract is disturbed. The acquired phase in most digestive helminth infestations is often asymptomatic, especially in cases where the parasites are represented by a single individual.
All symptoms of the disease appear only when the parasite is huge, such as roundworms or tapeworms.
In other helminthiasis, for example, in enterobiosis, night itching in the anal area may occur; intensive invasion with trichuriasis contributes to the development of hemorrhagic colitis; in children, symptoms of rectal prolapse may occur.
How can you get worms?
You can acquire parasites in different ways. In this case, worms are transmitted by larvae, which are almost invisible to the naked eye.
Main methods of infection:
- lack of hygiene skills - dirty hands, work on the ground;
- eating food infected with helminths - unwashed fruits and food that the spouses ate, as well as insufficiently heat-treated meat and fish (skewers, rare steaks, smoked foods, sushi, etc. );
- drinking unboiled water contaminated with worm eggs;
- contact with animals that are natural reservoirs for worms - cats and dogs, wild animals (hunting, fishing, working on fur farms);
- contact with a person with helminthiasis - shaking hands, through bedding, door handles, etc.
In what organs can worms live?
Helminth parasites are divided into two categories, which correspond to the site of activity in the body of the donor:
- cavitary– worms that live in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract. There are about 100 species of intestinal parasites, with several dozen species for each part of the intestine. The small intestines are ready to accept roundworms, antelostomes, broad tapeworms and other less common "fellows". The small intestines will "share living space" with pinworms, dwarfs and others. Cases have been described in the medical literature where one person was simultaneously infected with several types of parasites;
- cloth- worms localized in organs, tissues and even in the blood. Modern medicine successfully deals with paragonimosis (lungs), cysticercosis (brain), echinococcosis (liver) and filariasis (lymphatic vessels). Some worm larvae move around the body via the circulatory system and randomly attach to any organ. If many eggs are introduced, the whole body can become infected.
How can you get worms?
To protect yourself, you should know about 4 ways to spread and get infected with worm eggs:
- through soil and water - geohelminthosis. They develop in sand, soil and water, then enter the human body and start laying eggs there. The eggs of the worms then enter the external environment along with the excrement and wait to infect a new person. Eating poorly washed vegetables and fruits, dirty hands and dust on food can cause a person to become infected with geohelminths. Some parasitic eggs enter the human body through the skin of the feet and ankles;
- through direct contact.Pinworms in pets and humans are transmitted through hand contact, play and shared activities.
- by consuming infected food of animal origin - biohelminthiasis. Eating raw and lightly processed meat (skewers, lard, canned, home-cooked game) and fish (sushi, dried fish, canned fish) is potentially dangerous. There is a possibility of infection with intestinal infections and biohelminths;
- for insect bites. This type of infection is quite rare. These include intestinal myiasis, canthiasis and scoleciasis. Do not confuse parasite eggs with insect larvae, which are also deposited under the skin of animals and humans (for example, fly larvae).
Symptoms of worms
To understand how to remove worms from a person, you need to know the symptoms that occur with each type of tapeworm. Depending on the location of the dislocation, helminthic invasions can be:
- shiningCavity species of worms inhabit the area of the small and large intestines. For example, the area inhabited by roundworms and tapeworms is the small intestine. Pinworms live in the lower part of the small intestine, whipworms live in the large intestine;
- muscle (cellular).They live in muscle cells, lung tissue, brain cells, liver, lymph nodes and eyes. Some of the worms are luminal and cellular because in the early stages they migrate with the circulation and colonize the upper organs.
Symptoms of worms in adults can be different. As mentioned above, they are often easily confused with signs of other diseases. In some cases, everything happens according to the classic scenario of a massive infection. In this case, the signs of worms in an adult and a child will be similar, most likely in children - more pronounced.
Obvious symptoms of worm infection: itching in the anus, especially at night; sudden weight loss or gain; anemia, externally manifested in paleness of the skin; tired, exhausted look.
If you or your children begin to experience similar phenomena, you should definitely visit a doctor and insist on being examined for the presence of parasite eggs in the stool. Of course, it may not be their fault. The symptoms of helminth infestation are not always to blame for poor health, but communication with a doctor will be useful in any case, since the disorders in the body are obvious.
Symptoms of worms in humans, first signs
The first signs of worms in humans are always absent, symptoms of parasitic infestation appear only when there are a large number of worms (spindles, roundworms) or, for example, tapeworms reach a large size. The clinical picture of helminthiasis often mimics gastrointestinal pathology.
However, in addition to those characteristic of gastrointestinal lesions, there are signs indicating dysfunction of other organs.
Symptoms indicating the presence of helminths in the body:
- lack of appetite or, conversely, gluttony, bitterness in the mouth and excessive salivation;
- strong desire to eat sweets (worms feed on carbohydrates);
- nausea, vomiting - sometimes worms crawl into the stomach or their parts (segments) are found in the vomit;
- itching of the anus and grinding of teeth during sleep often indicate enterobiosis;
- unstable stool - always provokes intestinal dysbiosis, helminthiasis manifests itself with frequent changes in diarrhea and constipation; with significant infestation, worms may be excreted in the feces;
- flatulence - swelling and rumbling in the stomach is caused by toxins produced by worms;
- periodic abdominal pain - diffuse, often localized in the navel area, sometimes the pain is spastic;
- skin manifestations - sudden allergic rashes and purulent formations (acne, boils), caused by a decrease in local immunity and removal of toxins through the skin, often appear in a severe form, at the same time there is weakness of the nails and excessive hair loss;
- irritable bowel syndrome - impaired absorption of nutrients leads to the development of anemia and weight loss, especially with multiple helminth colonies;
- cough is a dry symptom that occurs in the pulmonary stage of helminthiasis (ascaris larvae enter the lungs with blood); severe infestation can provoke pneumonia;
- obesity - oddly enough, it can also be caused by intestinal parasites, which when eating carbohydrates cause a sharp drop in blood sugar and force a person to consume more food, and the body stores fat in reserve;
- symptoms from the nervous system - increased irritability, poor sleep or drowsiness, constant depression, reduced attention and memory problems are especially pronounced in children with helminthiasis;
- chronic fatigue syndrome - parasites often provoke constant weakness, a prolonged increase in temperature to 37-37. 5 C, a flu-like state and muscle pain;
- pathology of the upper respiratory tract - slow runny nose, incurable cough, even pneumonia and asthmatic conditions are often caused by the presence of helminths;
- reduced immunity - accompanying helminthiasis, intestinal dysbiosis and chronic intoxication lead to frequent colds and pathologies that are indicators of immunodeficiency (herpes, warts, etc. ), including oncopathology.
The effect of helminthiasis on the nervous system deserves special attention. Each type of parasite in the course of its life produces products that are perceived by the body as foreign substances. Their toxic effect, first of all, affects the nervous system, provoking irritability, depressive states and other disorders of emotional stability.
Flat parasites in humans. Symptoms
Fluke
Methyl is found in the hepatic tubules. It causes cancer of the digestive organs. You can become infected by eating lightly salted, raw fish products. Symptoms of worms in an adult: increased body temperature; bouts of vomiting; dyspepsia; soreness in the spleen, liver; alergy. The person periodically feels dizzy and sleep is disturbed; migraines are observed; he becomes irritable; mood changes often. Treatment of helminthiasis is carried out in a hospital.
Schistosoma
Routes of schistosome infection include swimming in recharge ponds and drinking dirty water. It parasitizes in the small veins of the large intestine, abdominal cavity, small pelvis, uterus, bladder. It can be localized in the brain.
Symptoms of a worm infection include loss of appetite; disruption of the digestive system; pale skin; stomach ache; dyspepsia; intestinal and uterine bleeding, weight loss, intestinal obstruction. In women, it causes irregularities in the menstrual cycle, miscarriages during pregnancy due to the presence of worms have been recorded.
Men develop impotence; sperm quality decreases (infertility). Children suffer from delayed growth and mental development. When brain cells are damaged, consciousness is impaired and paralysis and convulsions can develop. Such conditions can cause death
Sample
Paragonom - lung fluke: what causes worms in humans: from the consumption of freshwater crabs, fish, pork. The worm affects the bronchial organs and lungs. Signs of worms in adults: the temperature rises; the person begins to cough and for a long time.
When you cough, phlegm comes out. Migraine is observed; shortness of breath occurs in the absence of movement; impaired visual acuity; vomiting attacks.
Echinococcus
Echinococcus is a very dangerous tapeworm. It can cause death. He lives next to a person for a long time and is able not to express himself. The route of infection is through domestic animals, often dogs. A person becomes infected without following hygiene rules.
Echinococcus causes the development of cysts in human organs. Treatment of worms in adults is carried out only surgically. It often affects the digestive system, respiratory system, brain, bone tissue. Symptoms in adults depend on which organ is affected.
Liver: pain in this area, varying in character, severity, fatigue, skin allergies, jaundice. Lungs: chest pain, coughing fits, shortness of breath. Brain: migraine, vertigo, paralysis, mental disorders, epilepsy. Bones: muscles, joints hurt; frequent fractures are observed.
Broad tapeworm
The broad tapeworm is one of the largest parasites. It lives in the small intestine. The route of infection is the consumption of slightly salted caviar, fish that has not undergone appropriate heat treatment.
Worms in the human body are characterized by frequent bouts of vomiting; pain in the abdominal area; dyspepsia; Lack of appetite; tiredness; anemia; low blood pressure; migraine. In addition, sometimes the pain is so strong that it leads to fainting.
Whipworm
Beef tapeworm: route of entry is contaminated beef. Helminth invasion colonizes the small intestine. How do I know an infection has occurred? Signs of worms in humans: stomach pain; severe nausea; excessive increase in appetite; weight loss; rumbling in the stomach; flatulence; increased frequency of stools.
Pork tapeworm
The pig tapeworm lives in different organs. Ways of infection are non-observance of hygiene, unwashed fruits. You can determine that a person has worms by dizziness, prolonged and regular migraines. A person sleeps poorly, often wakes up in a "cold sweat" due to nightmares, and therefore becomes irritable over time. Appetite is impaired and belching occurs.
Dwarf tapeworm
The dwarf tapeworm reaches humans through the oral cavity with dirty fruits and vegetables. It lives in the area of the small intestine. Symptoms: fever, nausea, salivation, belching, heartburn, rhinitis, dry mucous membranes.
Roundworms in humans. Symptoms
Ascaris
Ascaris: you can get infected after eating unwashed vegetables and fruits. Tapeworms live in the small intestine. Signs of the appearance of worms in a person: the anus is itchy, a person feels the movement of worms, which causes incredible discomfort. The temperature may rise, the lymph nodes may increase, there may be a headache in the evening. The liver is enlarged, manifestations of allergies are noticed (urticaria in the area of the legs and arms, dermatosis). Due to damage to the central nervous system, mental disorders occur - depression, convulsions, attacks of aggression, nightmares. The functioning of digestion is disturbed.
Pinworm
pinworms: this parasite starts with dirty hands. It lives in the large and small intestines of humans. The source of infection is sick people and non-compliance with hygiene standards.
The first signs of worms: the anal area itches (worse at night); I have a stomach ache; sick; sleep is disturbed. The person is restless and irritable; he gets tired quickly.
Some people develop urinary incontinence against this background; allergic manifestations. Girls with worms experience profuse vaginal discharge.
Trichinella
Trichinella is a dangerous helminth infestation. Symptoms do not always appear immediately. Ways of infection: consumption of pork, vegetation near pastures. Helminthic invasion affects all systems and organs without exception.
The following symptoms cause worms in humans: loss of appetite; people constantly experience nausea and a gag reflex periodically occurs. Stools are disturbed and there is pain in the abdomen. A distinctive feature is swelling of the face. Muscle pain; rashes appear on the skin; rise in temperature.
Hookworms
Hookworms are dangerous worms in adults. Symptoms may be severe or absent. The gastrointestinal tract (small intestine, duodenum) is affected. Routes of infection: contact with soil where there are larvae; orally with soil-contaminated vegetables and herbs.
Signs of worms: itchy skin allergies; coughing fits (streaks of blood are visible in the sputum); fever, migraine. People feel dizzy and weak; pain and bone pain (as in ARVI). I'm suffering from hunger pangs.
After eating, a person feels nauseous and may vomit. Almost always after a meal, the abdomen swells and the abdomen hurts. After eating, diarrhea occurs two hours later. Many, on the contrary, experience constipation due to impaired intestinal motility caused by worms. A person becomes sleepy and fatigue appears even in the absence of physical activity.
Is it worth taking deworming pills for prevention?
If one family member has shingles, preventive treatment is always carried out for the whole family.
Indications for prophylactic use of drugs against helminths:
- presence of pets;
- constant contact with the ground (play in the sand, villagers);
- if children constantly live in closed children's groups;
- regular trips to exotic countries;
- Hobbies: fishing, hunting, beach volleyball, soccer.