Worms in the human body

Probably everyone knows what worms are and where they come from.But not everyone can answer what worms are, and most importantly, what damage they can cause to the human body.

Characteristics and types of helminthiasis

Helminthic infections are a group of human diseases caused by the ingestion of worms of parasitic origin, that is, helminths that parasitize the internal organs of a person, affecting the tissues and disrupting their normal function.

Parasites can settle in almost any organ: intestines, lungs, gall bladder, liver, and even the brain.The name of helminthiasis, its course, consequences and symptoms depend on the type of parasite that caused the disease.

But there are some generalized types of helminthiasis:

1. Contact.Transmission occurs directly from an already infected person through contact.The most common are hymenopiliosis, caused by dwarf tapeworm, and enterobiasis, caused by pinworms.Parasites crawl out of the rectum and lay eggs on a person's skin.Further distribution is through food and household items.The main cause of contact helminthiasis infection is non-compliance with personal hygiene rules, as well as improper processing of products and non-compliance with storage rules.
2. Geohelminthiasis.Typically there is no need for an intermediate host.parasitic worms complete their entire life cycle in an organism.Eggs and larvae of parasites can only live in the external environment, most often in the soil.Very rare species can be grown indoors, most only in soil or water.Children who often play with soil and workers in farms and pastures are more susceptible to geohelminthiasis.Human contamination occurs by consumption of unwashed vegetables and fruits and untreated drinking water.It is possible for helminths to enter through dust ingestion or through the skin.

3. Biohelminthiasis.For the development of helminths, the participation of an intermediate host, most often invertebrates, is necessary.Basically, the transmission of biohelminthiasis is through blood-sucking insects.These types of parasites live in the blood of the final host, enter the body of the insect through a bite, then develop in it and through the same bite reach another person.But it is also possible to release eggs and larvae into the external environment, as is the case with geohelminthiasis.Each type of helminth requires its own specific type of intermediate host.

Symptoms and causes of helminths

The clinical symptoms of helminthiasis directly depend on the type of parasites in the human body and their habitat.Depending on the affected organ, various manifestations of the disease appear, which often prevent an accurate diagnosis.

Helminthiasis goes through acute and chronic stages of development.The acute stage lasts no more than 8 weeks, but the chronic stage can last for years.The acute stage is distinguished by similar symptoms for all types of helminthiasis, since after the appearance of a foreign object in the human body, an immediate reaction of the immune system follows.

For the chronic stage, the symptoms become more specific to each particular disease and cannot be generalized.It all depends on the affected organ, for example, when parasites are located in the intestines, abdominal pain and problems with stools are typical.

Symptoms of helminthiasis:

1. Increased body temperature.
2. Excessive sweating and swelling.
3. Aching pain in muscles and joints.
4. Diarrhea or, conversely, frequent constipation.
5. Dehydration, frequent vomiting.
6. Swollen liver, spleen, lymph nodes, bloating.

7. Rash on human skin.
8. Increased level of white blood cells.
9. Iron deficiency anemia.
10. Itching of the skin and anus.
11. Nervous system disorders, apathy, irritability, depression.
12. The presence of bloody secretions in the stool or during urination.
13. Pancreatitis, jaundice, hepatitis, intestinal obstruction.

Some types of helminths are characterized by an asymptomatic, latent course of the disease.This is dangerous because, due to severe damage, the internal organ of a person can simply break, after which the whole body will inevitably become infected with parasites and, as a result, serious consequences such as anaphylactic shock or peritonitis.

Particular attention should be paid to the manifestations of helminthiasis in children, as they are at greatest risk.

They are often confused with other diseases and lead to critical stages of damage to the body.Children's immunity is not yet fully formed and does not show obvious signs of damage.

The most common childhood disease is enterobiasis.In second place are various types of roundworms, which are more characteristic of children's diseases.It is imperative to pay attention to the consistency and regularity of stools, the appearance of various skin rashes and do not ignore complaints of itching in the anus area.

The main causes of helminthiasis:

1. Eating unwashed vegetables, fruits and berries.It is very important to observe the rules of hygiene and sanitation.Handle your purchased products carefully.for children, it is recommended to use special products for washing fruits and vegetables.Hand washing is mandatory before every meal.
2. Meat and fish products.To avoid contamination and serious consequences, high-quality heat treatment is required, as well as certification for the purchased product.Monitor compliance with the storage conditions of the prepared semi-finished products.It is unacceptable to eat fish products bought on the side of the road.
3. Earth and sand.This is especially true for children, since they tend to put everything in their mouths.During games, do not let your child eat sand on the beach or dirt in the cottage.Anything dropped on the floor or open ground is excluded.

Helminth eggs surround us everywhere, so we should pay special attention to personal hygiene to prevent possible helminthic diseases as much as possible.

Classification of pests

Helminths are divided into three categories, depending on their shape and appearance:

• Roundworms.To date, more than 80 thousand species of helminths of this category have been described.They can cause serious damage to the human body and cause various helminthic diseases.The development of roundworms goes through 5 stages, of which four are larvae and one is an adult.With each transition, the environment or intermediate host changes.The most common representatives:
  • roundworm - causes a disease called ascariasis.This type of parasite is able to live and feed exclusively on the human body.Roundworms are characterized by coughing, in which the larvae are pushed into a person's throat and return to the intestines as already mature individuals.
  • Pinworms cause enterobiosis in the human body and parasitize the intestines.Once inside the host's body, they are characterized by indigestion, itching near the anus, and in some cases inflammation of the genitals, especially in women.
• Movies.There are more than 10 orders of films that live in the human body.This is the most common category of parasites that cause extremely dangerous diseases.They go through two larval stages of development and reach the final host as an adult.They enter the human body from an intermediate host, most often through the meat of an infected animal.Therefore, to prevent the disease, it is important to monitor the correct preparation and selection of meat products.The most common types of helminths in this category:
  • tapeworm – causes the disease taeniasis, characterized by frequent vomiting, nausea or lack of appetite.
  • Cattle tapeworm is a less dangerous disease, but requires very difficult and long-term treatment.
  • Echinococcus is a type of worm that causes migraines, dizziness and can even cause seizures.
• Flatworms (flukes).What are helminths?Deploying this class requires the presence of an intermediate host.These parasitic worms are the cause of hookworms.The most dangerous varieties of this category:
  • opisthorchiasis - enters the human body with fish meat, most often a type of carp, affecting the bile ducts of the liver.
  • schistosomes - transmitted through water, causing schistosomiasis, a very serious disease with extremely serious consequences.
  • Paragonim is a lung puncture, the cause of paragonimosis, infection is possible only by eating crabs, crayfish or pork.

All the mentioned types of worms in humans are only a small part of the variety of parasites that exist today.According to some figures, there are more than 1 million varieties.

Diagnosis and treatment of helminths

Science does not stand still, and a large number of methods have already been developed and are actively used to detect helminthic diseases.Modern methods make it possible to accurately determine the types of parasites in humans and the degree of tissue damage in their place.

Basic methods for diagnosing helminthiasis:

1. Microhelminthoscope.Used to detect worm eggs and larvae.These include the methods of Kato, Kalantaryan and Fulleborn.Separately, each of these methods does not make it possible to accurately identify all types of pests.But overall they give good results, especially in terms of the intensity of the spread of parasites living in the body.
2. Macrohelminthoscopic.Most effective in detecting worms and roundworms.They help detect parasites in feces through the use of a petri dish and a magnifying glass.
3. Biopsy.If there is a possibility of helminthic parasitism in human muscle tissue, then a sample is taken and sent for research.This method allows you to make the most accurate diagnosis.
4. Immunological.They are carried out by examining the patient's blood for the detection of antibodies to certain types of helminths that live in the human body.
5. Analysis of the contents of the bile or duodenum.It is used in cases of damage to the liver, gall bladder and duodenum.
6. Organic.These include ultrasound, x-ray and computer studies.They are used to determine the degree of damage caused by worms to the human body.And also check other internal organs.

Medicinal methods are used to treat localized diseases.However, it has been found that combination therapy using several drugs is more effective than monotherapy based on a single anthelmintic.

Helminth infections are most often treated by prescribing a single dose of a tablet with an active ingredient such as levamisole.The dosage is selected depending on the age of the patient.This helps to weaken the parasites.

Then, after 3 days, a drug containing mebendazole or albendazole is taken.This integrated approach significantly accelerates and increases the effectiveness of treatment.

Very often, a person may not even know about the worms in his body.In this context, it is recommended to conduct preventive courses of anthelmintic drugs.This is especially true for preschoolers and pet owners.

Parasites in humans can cause serious damage to internal organs.Early diagnosis and treatment will help stop the development of these diseases in time and prevent serious consequences.