Worms in humans cause the development of diseases collectively called helminthiasis. Worms are parasitic worms that can be found in almost all organs of our body: intestines, muscles, lungs, liver, heart and even eyes.
If a person has worms, symptoms do not always appear, if they do, they are disguised as other diseases of the liver, gastrointestinal tract, gall bladder, etc. Sometimes these symptoms are so vague that it can be very difficult to determine the cause; of a certain problem, especially when it comes to children.
Today, many parasites are known that can infect the human body. In total, there are about 150 types of helminthiasis. All worms, according to their shape and body structure, are divided into two large groups: roundworms or nematodes and flatworms.
Children are most often infected with worms, and the most common forms of helminthosis (diseases caused by parasitic worms) are ascariasis and enterobiasis. The most dangerous worms that can live in the human body are echinococcus and alveococcus. Special means have been developed for each group of parasites, the treatment of which will remove worms from the body of an adult or a child.
Types of worms in humans
There are more than two hundred species of worms that infect humans. Most of them are not found in the middle zone, so around sixty species are common in our country. Parasites are divided into contact parasites (worms that are transmitted from one person to another), geohelminthosis (the larva lives in the soil, and invasion occurs when soil particles enter with food) and biohelminthosis (parasites enter the human body through the meat of infected animals or fish).
Here are some of the most common groups of worms in humans:
- Annelids - pinworms, roundworms, whipworms, trichinella;
- Tapeworms – various types of tapeworms, echinococci, tapeworms;
- Flatworms - all types of flukes, flukes.
Let's take a closer look at each type of worm that can live in an adult's body.
- Roundworms are large roundworms, red-yellow in color, which in adulthood reach a length of up to 40 cm.
- The whip is a round worm 30-50 mm long, which got its name from the shape of its body: the front part is long and narrow, like a hair, and the back part is short and wide.
- The broad tapeworm is a large tapeworm that reaches a length of about 10 meters, individuals over 20 meters can be found.
- Hookworm is a combined name for two types of worms: duodenal hookworm and nekator, roundworms 10-15 mm long.
- Trichinella are small round worms 2-5 mm long that cause a serious disease - trichinosis.
- Liver fluke (cat fluke) is a flatworm from the fluke class, 7-20 mm long. The disease caused by this parasite is called opisthorchiasis.
- Pork and beef tapeworms are similar in structure to tapeworms up to 6 meters long.
- Echinococcus parasitizes in the human body not in an adult form, but in the form of an intermediate form - Finns. The echinococcus itself is a tapeworm 3-5 mm long
- Alveococcus is a worm similar to echinococcus, with a similar structure and mechanism of development.
Symptoms and signs of worm infestation depend on the type of parasite, its location in the body and stage of development.
Helminths in the human body
Worms are scientifically called helminths. Helminths are all worms that parasitize the bodies of humans, animals and plants. Accordingly, helminths are not a separate type of parasite, but a whole group of different worms, of which three are the most common.
In modern society, helminths are still widespread. Especially often, helminthic infestation occurs in children, hunters, fishermen and their families, as well as village residents.
Helminths are a large order of parasitic worms that live on animals and plants, feeding and multiplying inside the body of the donor. Man is no exception. There are more than 70 types of parasites in our country alone. According to statistics, every third inhabitant of the Earth is infected with parasitic worms. It is assumed that there is not a single adult in whose body a single worm has not settled during his life.
Helminths. No matter how carefully parents monitor the cleanliness of their children's hands, it is almost impossible to protect them from pinworms. Children explore the outside world, it has a special interest. They want to touch everything with their hands and taste it. People who eat fish, meat from wild animals and birds, and domestic milk are at risk of contracting trichinosis and diphyllobothriasis.
Modern medical data show that many diseases are caused by helminthic infestation. For example, the association between oncology and long-term parasite infection has been clinically proven. Doctors and patients often misinterpret the signs of the presence of worms in humans. They begin to treat non-existent diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
How can you get infected?
The causes of infection of human worms are very diverse, the route of infection directly depends on the type of worms and their life cycle, and can be:
- eating dirty vegetables;
- non-observance of hygiene rules when preparing food;
- poor thermal processing of some food products, especially animal meat and fish;
- communication with pets – cats, dogs, some types of rodents;
- non-observance of hygiene rules before eating, after visiting the toilet, after returning from a walk;
- swimming in contaminated water bodies.
During their lifetime, worms produce toxic substances that are absorbed into the blood and spread throughout the body, causing damage to the most important organs and systems.
General symptoms and signs of helminthic infestation in children
General symptoms of helminthiasis include:
- worsening or increased appetite;
- nausea, possible vomiting;
- excessive salivation;
- stool disorders;
- appearance of pain in the lower abdomen;
- dizziness, headache;
- allergic reactions;
- increased frequency of colds;
- irritability, moodiness;
- sleep disorder;
- deterioration of mental and physical activity;
- dry cough.
Symptoms of worms in humans
Sometimes worms are able to parasitize the body of an adult for a long time without noticeable symptoms, in some cases they become the cause of the development of various chronic diseases, causing dangerous complications and even death.
With the beginning of the acute period of helminthiasis, the worms begin to feed intensively on the intestines of the sick person, causing various signs of disorders of the digestive system: dysbacteriosis, abdominal pain, diarrhea.
Let's see what signs of helminths can be observed? Let's list the most common, general symptoms of worms in humans.
- Gastrointestinal dysfunction - diarrhea, constipation and abdominal pain;
- Pain in joints and muscles - parasites can move throughout the human body to settle in the most favorable places for their life, for example, in joint fluid and muscles. When this happens, the person experiences painful sensations;
- Disorders of the nervous system and general weakness - manifested in the form of fatigue, irritability, sleep disorders and memory problems;
- Allergic reactions and skin manifestations - the appearance of pimples, blackheads and other rashes - are also signs of the presence of worms in humans;
- Reduction of immunity and, as a consequence, the development of infectious diseases;
- A sharp drop in body weight;
- Anemia – some worms suck blood from the intestinal walls like leeches;
- Grinding teeth during sleep and sleep disturbance;
- Itching in the anus, especially at night. At this moment, the female actively lays eggs, which causes itching in the anus;
- Enlarged lymph nodes, low body temperature;
- Inflammation of the respiratory tract - cough, fever, production of sputum, runny nose - this is how the presence of worms can be manifested.
The specific first signs will directly depend on the pathogen and the location of the worm in the human body. For example, large worms, flukes and tapeworms like to parasitize the liver, this can lead to degeneration of liver cells, blockage of bile ducts, blood clots and cirrhosis. Roundworms and pinworms live in the intestines, so they will be excreted together with the feces. To find out how to remove these worms from a person, you need to consult a doctor, he will prescribe the appropriate medicine.
Symptoms of worm infection can appear at different times from the moment of infection with worms. So, the first symptoms of ascariasis appear after 2-3 days. In most other helminthic infestations, the symptoms of the disease appear after 2-3 weeks.
Most often, the main signs of worm infection in an adult are allergic manifestations in the form of itching and rashes, swelling, weakness, muscle pain, headache, fever, muscle and joint pain, an increase in the number of eosinophils in the blood, etc.
Being parasites, worms feed on the body of their host. At the same time, they absorb a significant amount of proteins and carbohydrates, mineral elements, vitamins and other nutrients. Helminthiasis can be acute or chronic. The first ones last 2-3 weeks and often manifest as allergies, while the chronic phase can last for months, years and even decades.
What organs can be affected by worms?
There are two types of invasion: cavity and tissue. Depending on the species, habitats are also divided into:
- Cavity worms live in the small and large intestines. In particular, the first parts of the small intestine are affected by tapeworms, hookworms and roundworms. The lower part of the small intestine is home to dwarf tapeworms and pinworms. The large intestine most often becomes the habitat of whipworms.
- Tissue helminths affect organs of any kind: liver, brain, lymph nodes, bile ducts.
Important! It is impossible to determine the signs of the presence of worms in the patient in the initial stage of the development of the infestation. As long as the number of worms is low, poisoning by toxic waste products within normal limits, the body copes with the invasion on its own. The appearance of characteristic or acute symptoms indicates a significant increase in the number of helminthic infestations: maturation of individuals and their dynamic development.
Complications of worms
Numerous helminths can cause serious disturbances in the patient's condition. Here are the most common complications:
- B12-deficient anemia, iron-deficient anemia - leads to disruption of tissue oxygen supply, which requires long-term recovery. It is manifested by pale skin, dry mouth, weakness, disturbances in various body functions;
- Intestinal obstruction occurs when the parasite blocks the lumen with its body. Surgical treatment is required. Symptoms – stomach pain, lack of stool, vomiting;
- Intestinal bleeding - if the worm attaches itself to the intestinal wall, it can damage its blood vessels. Symptoms: abdominal pain, weakness, blood in the stool, vomiting. Requires surgical treatment;
- Liver fibrosis and cirrhosis develop with a long course of opisthorchiasis. Changes are irreversible. Symptoms: sleep and wakefulness disorder, fluid accumulation in body cavities, loss of liver function;
- Abscesses of the affected organs are purulent inflammations. Symptoms are pain, high temperature, weakness. The condition is rapidly deteriorating. An examination is required to find the source of the inflammation and surgical treatment.
Stool analysis and scraping for worm eggs
Worms are primarily intestinal parasites. Their eggs are released through the intestines. Therefore, for their diagnosis, feces are taken for analysis. At the pharmacy, you can buy a special container for collecting stool, but you can also use a matchbox or a jar.
So, to take the analysis, you will need a container for collecting the material and spatulas. If a person sees fragments of a worm or a whole helminth, then it should also be sent to the laboratory.
It is not necessary to take the stool to the laboratory immediately after collection. Must be submitted for review within 24 hours. Until then, the collected biomaterial should be stored in the refrigerator. An exception is stool collection for giardiasis testing. It must be served warm, because the parasite cysts are destroyed by cooling. While the stool is being delivered to the laboratory, the container should be wrapped in a warm cloth.
To diagnose enterobiosis, a scraping is taken from the perianal folds, as female pinworms lay their eggs in this area. Before the test, you must not wash your face or go to the toilet for about 12 hours. Therefore, the optimal time for analysis is in the morning.
Scraping is done using a cotton swab, which is placed in a clean container and delivered to the laboratory. You can also use adhesive tape, which is peeled off the glass, attached for a while to the anal area, and then torn off and put back on the glass with the sticky side.
Biological material delivered to the laboratory is studied under a microscope. If the person is infected, the laboratory technician will see worm eggs, larvae or segments. Each parasite lays eggs that are unique to its species. Therefore, by studying the structure of the egg, you can determine which worm is a parasite in the human body.
If there is a worm in the feces, it usually looks like a white strip of different lengths. Worms can remain motile. The type of worm can be determined in the laboratory.
However, it is not always possible to detect worms by stool analysis. For example, the analysis will be uninformative if the human body is parasitized only by male roundworms that cannot secrete eggs.
Blood test for worms
To identify worms in the blood, an immunological test is used to determine antibodies to the main types of helminths. The reliability and accuracy of ELISA is equal to 95%. It can be used to detect extraintestinal forms of helminthiasis.
Decoding ELISA results in a simplified form:
- Helminths parasitize in the body if immunoglobulin class M (IgM) is elevated in the blood.
- The worms were either previously present in the human body, or the helminthic infestation became chronic and caused a weakening of the human immune system. This conclusion can be made if the level of IgG immunoglobulin is elevated, but lgM is not detected in the blood.
In both cases, a more detailed diagnosis and specific treatment will be required.
How does the parasite infect and develop?
Each parasite has specific life cycle characteristics. Depending on the mechanism of infection, all helminthiasis are divided into three main groups:
- contact helminthiasis;
- geohelminthiases;
- biohelminthiasis.
Contact helminthiases
The development of parasites belonging to the group of contact infections with helminths takes place entirely in the child's body. Eggs of worms enter the digestive system, migrate to the intestines and after some time turn into adults. Sexually mature helminths form eggs, which are released into the external environment with feces. The development cycle repeats itself again.
Contact helminth infections include pinworm infection. The spread of these worms takes place through the fecal-oral mechanism. If a child does not wash his hands after using the toilet, microscopic pinworm eggs remain on his fingers. Other children can become infected through contaminated household items and food that a sick person has touched. In the spread of pinworms, non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene is of great importance. Therefore, this helminthiasis is more common in childhood.
In addition to being able to infect others, a sick child can become infected again. Pinworms that crawl out of the anus lay their eggs on the skin in the anal area. This process causes severe itching of the skin, so children often start scratching the painful area. If they don't wash their hands afterwards, a new batch of eggs penetrates the intestines. The population of parasites increases, which leads to the worsening of the child's condition.
Geohelminthiasis
The group of geohelminthiasis is represented by roundworms. In order for these parasites to develop, it is necessary for the feces of a sick child to enter the soil. The released eggs begin to actively develop and quickly reach the invasive stage, in which they can penetrate the human body.
Children are most often infected by eating unwashed vegetables and fruits that come into contact with the ground. Ascaris larvae remain on them, which penetrate the child's intestines and cause unpleasant symptoms of helminthiasis.
Biohelminthosis
The development of worms belonging to the group of biohelminths requires the presence of an intermediate host - a living organism in which the worm larvae will develop. It can be cattle (cows, pigs), as well as fish. Because of this, a child can become infected with worms by consuming food from untested sources. Insufficient thermal processing of meat or fish contributes to infection. You can get infected with echinococcus, beef and pork tapeworm, cat fluke through food.
Treatment of worms in humans
The basis for the treatment of worms in humans is specific anthelmintics, and adults are prescribed the best proven tablets.
The choice of drug for treatment depends on the presence of specific worms in the human body. In the acute period of the disease, the doctor can prescribe the patient anti-allergic drugs, such as Suprastin or Claritin.
Only on the basis of tests and diagnosis, the doctor prescribes the treatment of worms in a person, because anthelmintic drugs are quite toxic. If worms are detected again during the analysis, then the expert determines how to remove the worms, proposing a new treatment regimen based on the use of other anti-worm pills that will better cope with the task.
Treatment
Anthelmintic therapy
Antihelmintic drugs are the basis for the treatment of parasitic diseases. They must be usedstrictly as prescribed by the doctor, since a number of important factors need to be taken into account when choosing a drug:
- form of helminthiasis;
- stage of disease development;
- pathogen;
- accompanying diseases of the child;
- characteristics of his condition.
Only a doctor can correctly assess these indicators and choose the optimal drug. Self-treatment of helminthiasis in children is unacceptable. Incorrectly selected therapy is often not only ineffective, but also accompanied by severe side effects.
How to make a stool test for helminths and their eggs?
When choosing a therapy, the doctor must take into account the cause of the disease. You should not rely on a universal drug, because most drugs act only on a certain circle of helminths. If the wrong medicine is used, the clinical picture of the disease in the child does not disappear, the disease continues to progress, which can lead to serious complications.
If there are several children in the family, doctors often recommend anthelmintic therapy for all family members at once. This will prevent repeated cases of helminth infection after treatment.
Symptomatic therapy
Along with anthelmintic therapy, the child is also prescribed symptomatic treatment aimed at eliminating the clinical manifestations of the disease. If a severe allergic reaction occurs, antihistamines are used - Suprastin, Tavegil, Claritin.
If the baby has severe manifestations of intoxication, he is prescribed antipyretics and painkillers. To alleviate acute symptoms, plenty of fluids are prescribed or infusion therapy is administered. If there is a risk of developing vasculitis and myocarditis, glucocorticoids (for example, prednisolone) are prescribed.
How to treat worms with folk remedies
Traditional treatment methods include medicinal plants that have anthelmintic and laxative effects. Although the effectiveness of these drugs has not been scientifically tested, many of them have been used since ancient times to treat intestinal worms in people at home.
- The best folk remedy is pumpkin seeds against worms. Take and peel the pumpkin seeds (80-100g), try not to damage the green skin. Grind them, add 2 spoons of honey and 100 grams of water, mix. This medicine must be taken strictly in the morning, on an empty stomach. One dining boat every 3 hours. After that, you should take a laxative, and after 1-2 hours, put an enema.
- Sgt. Pomegranate peel contains punicin, which is very toxic to worms. Adults and children suffering from parasites should take a decoction of the bark in fresh water three times a day.
- Onion broth (pour 1 onion with 200 ml of boiling water, leave for 2 days, drink before meals for 4 days)
As for prevention, to prevent helminthic invasion, it is necessary to wash hands with soap after returning from the street, heat treat meat and fish, do not drink raw water and do not swim in polluted waters.
Prevention
The main prevention of helminthiasis in children is observing the rules of personal hygiene.
Therefore, we can list precautionary measures to prevent helminthic infestations:
- instilling personal hygiene skills in children (washing hands after going to the toilet, contact with animals, walking outside, before eating);
- fight against bad habits (the child should be prohibited from sucking his fingers, biting his nails or putting foreign objects in his mouth);
- control of mosquitoes, flies and insects;
- high-quality meat and fish processing;
- high-quality water disinfection;
- deworming of domestic dogs and cats;
- avoid contact with stray animals;
- thorough washing of greens and vegetables, berries and fruits;
- frequent change of underwear and bedding (once a day);
- ironing underwear and bedding with a hot iron;
- performing hygienic procedures in the anal area twice a day to prevent enterobia;
- wearing panties with elastic bands at night;
- thorough wet cleaning of the premises.
When they enter the body, helminths disrupt the normal functioning of various organs and systems in children. And if adults have a strong immune system that constantly fights against "uninvited guests", then this does not happen with a child: his body is still weak and vulnerable. Therefore, it is important to teach the child to observe the standards of personal hygiene as soon as possible in order to prevent helminthic infection, and if symptoms appear, immediately contact a specialist for subsequent anthelmintic treatment.