Worm infestation belongs to a common group of diseases among humans and animals. It is caused by the penetration into the body of various worms, of which in our time there are more than three hundred species. The parasites are mainly located in the intestines and liver, but some species are able to penetrate the lungs, heart, brain and other vital organs, which can lead to very serious consequences. It is important to detect the presence of helminths in the body as early as possible and take steps to eliminate them to avoid health problems. After all, this disease can have many consequences, even death. But it is quite difficult to determine the presence of helminthic invasion in the body as the symptoms are similar to other diseases and it is difficult to say exactly which infection is attacking the body. It is important to understand what to look for when contacting a parasitologist.
Types of helminths dangerous to humans
Worms that pose a danger to humans are divided into two groups:
- Cavitary - pinworms, roundworms, whipworms, broad tapeworms and other parasites that live in the intestines.
- Tissue - echinococcosis, paragonimiasis, cysticercosis and other types of parasites that can spread to all major internal organs and affect them.
Most often, the following types of helminthic invasions are diagnosed in the human body: enterobiasis, ascariasis, trichuriasis, strongyloidiasis.
Worm infection methods
There are many ways in which the larvae of the parasite enter the body, among them the main ones can be distinguished:
- Contact - the larvae are transmitted from person to person.
- Through an insect bite.
- through the ground
- By the water.
- With dust particles.
- From foods that have undergone insufficient heat treatment.
- Fecal-oral.
The first manifestations of worms in the body
Once in the human body, worms do not manifest immediately. This is the main problem. The first signs of helminthic invasion may appear only after two weeks. These include:
- increase in body temperature;
- skin rashes;
- aching pain in the abdomen;
- loss of appetite;
- the appearance of a headache;
- rupture of the intestines.
If, having felt the first signs, in time to consult a doctor, many problems can be avoided.
Symptoms of the presence of worms in the human body
Being in the body, parasites eat most of the nutrients and vitamins, which significantly affects well-being.
Symptoms of helminthic invasion in adults:
- the presence of allergies;
- the appearance of acne and boils;
- irritating cough;
- reduced immunity;
- depressed and irritable state;
- joint pain;
- digestive system disorders.
Symptoms of Infection with Worms of the Lungs
Infection of the lungs by helminths may be asymptomatic for several years. After penetration into the human body, the parasites actively multiply, when a significant amount is reached, symptoms such as:
- weakness and lack of strength;
- dyspnea;
- wet cough;
- pain and discomfort in the chest region;
- nausea and vomiting;
- decreased appetite and weight loss.
Where the parasites enter the lungs, adhesions form and, over time, the shape of the lungs changes. The parasites cause diseases such as pneumonia, asthma, bronchitis and pleurisy. In an advanced case, a fatal outcome is likely.
The main signs of intestinal helminthiasis
Most of the time, the habitat of worms in the human body is the intestine. The first symptoms appear when helminths begin active reproduction:
- indigestion;
- nausea;
- flatulence;
- lack of strength and fatigue;
- itching in the anus;
- dermatitis and eczema on the skin.
Parasites poison the body with the products of its vital activity, and all this leads to a general state of weakness and apathy.
Symptoms of the presence of worms in the stomach
This place is also a favorite for worms, the symptoms are as follows:
- frequent indigestion, constipation may abruptly turn into diarrhea;
- stomach and belly button pain;
- decreased appetite;
- constant feeling of hunger;
- gnashing of teeth;
- insomnia.
Signs of heartworm infection
This type of parasite occurs in humans due to insect bites. There are two forms of heartworm - ocular and cutaneous:
- The cutaneous form is the most common and can arise from a mosquito bite, a small seal forms there and gradually migrates under the skin, causing discomfort. If you do not seek qualified help in a timely manner, severe redness and pain appear at the site of the injury.
- In the ocular form, the parasite lives under the skin of the eyelids and there is a possibility of its penetration into the eyeball. The symptoms are redness and swelling, conjunctivitis and itching sensation in the affected area, in addition, the person constantly feels a foreign body in the eye. All this is accompanied by insomnia, increased nervousness and general weakness.
Symptoms of Throat Helminths
The throat is one of the most sensitive places in the human body. When it flares up, we immediately feel pain and discomfort, but sometimes you may feel a strong tickling and churning in your throat, which is usually caused by helminths. It is worth noting that parasites cannot live in the throat, as this is not a favorable habitat for them. It happens that the parasites that develop in the digestive system grow to the point that they enter the throat through the esophagus, usually accompanied by choking and severe coughing.
Symptoms of helminthic invasion of the brain
Brain damage usually occurs through the nasal passages. Upon entering the brain, helminths infect the cortical center, destroy brain cells and actively multiply. Instead of dead cells, dead tissue remains, leading to inflammatory processes in the brain. If urgent medical care is not provided to the patient, he may die within two weeks.
Symptoms:
- severe pain in the head;
- to vomit;
- hallucinations;
- weakness.
Symptoms of helminthic invasion in human blood
Blood is the habitat of various types of helminths, which have a very harmful effect on the body. Symptoms include:
- dizziness;
- fever attacks;
- joint pain;
- limb numbness;
- enlarged lymph nodes.
How to recognize helminthic invasion by rashes
One of the main manifestations of the presence of helminths is a sharp deterioration in the condition of the skin and the appearance of various rashes. This is due to the toxic substances released by the parasites. The most characteristic signs are the following:
- urticaria;
- intense itching;
- allergic rhinitis;
- dermatitis;
- psoriasis;
- the appearance of papillomas;
- nail fragility;
- increased hair loss;
- acne and furunculosis.
But you should not attribute all cutaneous manifestations to the presence of worms in the body, the reasons can be different and only a dermatologist, after conducting research, will be able to determine them.
Symptoms of helminthiasis in the form of metabolic disorders
Faults in metabolic processes in the body should also be a warning. If, with a normal diet, there has been a marked decrease or increase in weight, anemia or hypovitaminosis, parasite infection should be considered. The rapid weight loss may be due to the fact that worms absorb all the nutrients consumed by a person. Weight gain can be caused by toxic substances secreted by helminths, in response to them, the body needs more food to remove the toxins with it.
Immune system symptoms
As the parasites eat all the nutrients and vitamins that enter the body, there is a strong suppression of the immune system and the person is susceptible to all infectious diseases and inflammatory processes of various organs. Chronic diseases are also on the rise.
Nervous system
On the nervous system side, helminthic invasion is expressed by the following symptoms:
- insomnia;
- increased fatigue;
- memory impairment;
- depressed state;
- decreased activity and performance.
Signs of infection in children
Observation! In children, the presence of worms and ascaris is most often diagnosed.
Worm infestation in children has the following symptoms:
- little appetite;
- pale skin of the face;
- dark circles under the eyes;
- bad sleep, gnashing of teeth in a dream;
- headache, dizziness;
- general state of lethargy and weakness;
- the presence of worms in the child's feces;
- itching in the anus;
- indigestion;
- a large amount of saliva in the mouth;
- lethargy and fatigue;
- increase in body temperature for no apparent reason;
- allergic reactions, dermatitis, urticaria;
- inflammatory processes in the genitals;
- bad breath;
- fever;
- irritating cough;
- nausea and vomiting;
- frequent colds.
Addendum! If a baby has three or more signs, you should immediately see a doctor. Often, even a stool study does not provide accurate results, so it will be more effective to pass a comprehensive examination.
It is important to understand that a small number of adult helminths in the body show almost no symptoms of helminth invasion in adults and children. It is possible to confirm or deny the infection only by going through laboratory tests and studies prescribed by an individual parasitologist.
helminthiasis diagnosis
Since it is possible to treat the body of parasites only after they are detected, and the symptoms of infection are similar to those of other diseases, competent diagnosis is important. Its methods include:
- Serological analysis - detection of helminthic antibodies in the blood;
- Fecal analysis - helps to identify the presence of larvae and adult fragments;
- Coprological examination - the study of scraping, which is done near the anus;
- Check for dysbacteriosis;
- computed tomography;
- endoscopy;
- ultrasound.
It is easy to get infected with worms, but difficult to treat, especially chronic forms of helminthic invasion. The course of treatment includes antiparasitic drugs, immunomodulators and sorbents. The therapy regimen is prescribed only by a doctor, self-medication can be not only useless, but also dangerous.
Preventive measures against helminth infection
Prevention of helminthic invasions is extremely important for both children and adults, by following certain rules you can significantly reduce the chances of infection with parasites. The presence of helminthic invasion in humans, as a rule, is due to a lack of basic hygiene:
- be sure to wash your hands before any use of food, when returning home from the street, after contact with animals;
- well, preferably using special products, wash fruits and vegetables before eating or scald them with boiling water;
- drink only purified or boiled water;
- try to avoid insect bites;
- fish, meat and other similar products undergo complete heat treatment;
- make sure that the child's nails are cut;
- periodically wash children's toys with special products;
- be sure to boil items the patient has used for five minutes;
- twice a year to undergo an examination of a child and an adult for the presence of helminths;
- wean the child to take the hands and other objects to the mouth, especially those that had contact with the ground.
The implementation of these measures is not very difficult. Your observance will be enough to protect you and your children from parasites as much as possible. If something has been missed and symptoms of helminthic invasion have started to appear, treatment should be started immediately to avoid complications.