The presence in the body of parasitic organisms not only leads to discomfort and the appearance of unpleasant symptoms, various diseases develop and the state of health deteriorates sharply. Some types of parasites threaten not only health, but also life. A dangerous neighborhood leads to a decrease in immunity and damage to the integrity of internal organs. Doctors are sounding the alarm, more than eighty percent of all diseases are caused by parasites or the result of their life in the body. The statistics are alarming: every fourth adult and every second child are infected with helminths. Very often a person is unaware of the presence of worms until the condition becomes critical. Where do human worms come from? After all, infection also occurs in people who strictly adhere to the recommendations and try to exclude all contact with the pathogenic environment. Let's try to figure out how to avoid infection, which will become the cause of the development of helminthic invasion.
The main routes of infection: where do the worms come from
There are several 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 have no stubborn hygiene habits. Babies become infected mainly through the use of plant products without washing, violating the rules of hygiene after contact with pets, licking dirty fingers. Worms in children are very common.
The mechanism of infection with parasites in adults is practically the same. Most helminthiasis develop as a result of disregarding the rules of personal hygiene. Often the infection occurs through contact with sick people or animals, through the use of contaminated household items and objects. If meat and fish are inadequately heat treated, there is also 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 to appear 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 predominantly in the intestines. The pathogenic organism goes through a full cycle of development and secretes eggs that get outside with the host's feces. After entering the external environment, the parasite is introduced into the body of another host.
- Through the ground. The transmission of parasites in this way occurs through human contact with contaminated soil. The method of transmission is similar to the previous version of infection, but the eggs get into the soil not only with feces, but also with other secretions from the host's body.
- Hematogenous. Parasites enter the host organism through insect bites. Infected bloodsuckers carry helminth eggs.
- Biohelminthiasis. A complex infection system in which there are several intermediate and permanent hosts.
Parasite life cycle
Different types of helminths have their own development cycle, but their general scheme is identical: a larva develops from an egg, which eventually transforms into an adult, sexually mature individual.
Taking into account the specifics of development, there are three groups of parasites:
- Contact;
- Geohelminths;
- Biohelminths.
Contact parasites are mainly infected by dirty hands. Geohelminths develop without an intermediate host. Eggs ripen in the ground. This group of parasites enters the human body through the oral cavity or the skin. Biohelminths have the most complex development 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 a while, if the number of worms increases significantly or the only representative of the species grows to a large size. The first blow is absorbed by the immune system.
Gradually there are signs of a general deterioration in health:
- Fatigue;
- bad sleep;
- Apathy;
- Lethargy;
- Dizziness.
Such symptoms are due to an increasing lack of nutrients and components that are ingested by parasites and impoverish the human body. People with helminthiasis become weak and irritable. Gradually, specific symptoms appear, depending on the type of helminth and its location in a particular organ.
Worms in the liver
Parasites enter the organ via the blood or orally. As the disease progresses, the following symptoms are observed:
- The body temperature rises by several degrees. With the mass of parasites in the organ, necrosis and abscesses can begin, in which case the temperature will rise to critical levels.
- The mucous membranes and skin become yellowish as the gland produces large amounts of bilirubin.
- An enlargement of the liver can be felt on palpation. The patient feels the organ bursting, he presses on the adjacent tissue. When the pain in the lower abdomen on the right begins to interfere, breathing becomes difficult.
- A clinical blood test shows an increased level of eosinophils.
- Often worried about nausea, an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Some patients complain of dizziness.
Intestinal worms
Most parasites prefer to live in the intestines. It is an ideal place for feeding, developing and multiplying. In the intestine, sexually mature individuals secrete eggs that are released into the environment with the patient's feces.
Symptoms of the localization of helminths in this organ are as follows:
- Indigestion in the form of constipation or diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
- Aversion to food, complete loss of appetite.
- Change eating habits. The patient refuses his favorite dishes and prefers an unusual taste.
- The presence of blood in the feces.
- Very severe cramping abdominal pain.
- The presence of parasites or their fragments in feces, vomit.
- Intestinal obstruction.
Worms in the lungs
Worms get into the lungs with the blood. The localization of helminths in the respiratory tract causes great harm to the body. Symptoms of lung damage are the following:
- Chest pain.
- Exhausting cough with sputum.
- Increased body temperature.
- Hear wheezing in the chest.
- Difficulty breathing, the development of an asthmatic component.
With mass sowing of the lungs, there is a high likelihood of 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 visual disturbances. The symptoms of the presence of parasites in the eyes are as follows:
- Visible seals under the eyelids.
- Pain and movement in the eyes.
- A sharp decrease in visual acuity.
- Changing the position of the eyeball.
- Progressive squint.
- Constant discharge from the eye.
Worms in the brain
The presence of parasites in the brain is one of the most serious diseases, as helminths cause irreversible damage to 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.
- Accession of neuropsychiatric disorders.
Helminthic Invasion Therapy
Parasites in the body of adults and children are often detected. The awareness of the presence of pathogens in one's own body is rather unpleasant. It is necessary to start proper treatment in a timely manner. Only a qualified specialist can prescribe antihelminthics.
In order to confirm or refute your suspicions, you need to be investigated and tested.
The doctor recommends any method of detecting helminths: a complete blood count, feces, urine, ultrasound or X-ray, endoscopy, or CT. Treatment is prescribed based on the type of parasite identified. The pharmaceutical industry is ready to offer many effective drugs against worms. Treatment can be carried out once or in a course with the use of a drug. It all depends on the type of parasite, the place of localization, the amount, as well as the general condition of the patient.
When diagnosing helminthiasis in the family, it is recommended that all people living together undergo treatment for parasites in the body. Human helminths are not only an unpleasant, but also a very dangerous disease, threatening the development of many complications. You can not ignore the situation or take the medication yourself. Only a doctor can prescribe a remedy that is as effective as possible and does not cause harm.
There are folk recipes that can be a powerful support for the body against helminthiasis. The drugs can be used in addition to drug therapy or prophylaxis. It should be understood that you cannot take traditional medicine on your own. First of all, you need to find out information about the parasite and the place of its localization. If possible, your doctor will recommend adding alternative drug prescriptions to your therapy plan.
The following herbal ingredients are considered to be the best folk remedies: pumpkin seeds, wormwood, ginger, herbal supplements, tansy, sea buckthorn.
Preventive measures
A worm infestation is not as harmless as it might seem at first glance. The disease undermines health, negatively affects the general condition. Helminthiasis is much more dangerous for babies: the child is severely retarded in development, is often sick.
Preventive measures are simple and easy to do, you just need to learn a few good habits:
- Wash your hands before eating, after walking, and visiting public places.
- Perform deworming of pets.
- Eat only washed vegetable foods.
- Do not drink uncooked water, refuse to swim in unfamiliar waters.
- Work in the garden or vegetable garden with gloves.
- Thoroughly prepare meat and fish dishes.
- Refuse to buy food in impromptu markets.
And although it is impossible to completely protect yourself from a helminth invasion, it is really possible to minimize the risks by following the recommendations of specialists. Don't be sick!