worm

Worms are parasitic worms whose life activities occur in the human body. The result is helminthiasis. It is a chronic acute disease that causes reduced immunity, damage to internal organs, dysfunction and exhaustion. Diagnostic methods include stool analysis to determine the presence of eggs, blood cultures, and sputum analysis using a microscope. To assess the damage caused by worms to internal organs, ultrasound, MRI and X-ray examinations are used. Choose treatment based on the type of parasite.

A disease caused by parasites - helminthiasis

Helminthosis is an infection caused by worms. The condition is common in most countries, but the vast majority of cases occur in areas with warm climates and high humidity.There is a risk of developing this disease at any age, but children between the ages of five and fifteen are most commonly affected. During this period, the immune system is still developing and gastric juices are less acidic than in adults and therefore less effective at destroying parasites. Various organs can be affected by worms, and their primary habitat is the intestines.The entry routes of parasites are mucous membranes and skin. The larvae or eggs enter the body with food intake. Mature eggs obtain optimal development conditions in the gastrointestinal tract, from which the larvae hatch, pass through the intestinal mucosa and enter the bloodstream, and can then pass freely through various organs with the bloodstream.The liver, kidneys, gallbladder, heart, bronchi, and lungs are most damaged. When the body tries to clear out the worms by coughing and phlegm, they remain in the saliva and, if swallowed, eventually make their way back to the intestines. There they undergo further development, and after 75 days a mature individual appears.The average time from entry to mature worm formation is 60 to 90 days. This timing coincides with the early intestinal stages of the disease. In later stages, the entire body of the adult individual actively develops and reproduces. Their residence is the intestines, where eggs are laid and expelled during defecation.

Cause of worms

The easiest way for parasites to enter is through food and water containing eggs, or through contact with fecal-contaminated soil. Worms can be transmitted from infected to healthy people through shared household items, clothing, tableware, etc.At risk are those who ignore the simplest rules of hygiene: they do not wash their hands, do not sterilize vegetables and perform poor heat treatment of animal meat and fish.

Please note!Pets may be carrying parasite eggs on their paws and fur when they return from a walk on the street. Therefore, you should take good care of your pets, take them to the vet for regular check-ups, and don’t forget to use deworming medication.

Type of worm

Worms are generally divided into three categories based on the environmental conditions in which they exist.

1. worm– Live in soil; they do not require living organisms to develop.
2. biological worm– For their development and reproduction, at least two organisms are required.
3. Exposure to parasites.They can be transferred from owners to new objects (from person to person) through contact and daily life.

Scientists have identified about four hundred species of helminth disease pathogens, but only the following species can survive in the human body:

1. nematodes.These include roundworms and pinworms. They occur most often.
2. tapeworm.These include the bovine and pork tapeworms, and Echinococcus.
3. Flukes (trematodes).This group includes liver flukes and cat flukes. They become the cause of fascioliasis and clonorchiasis.
4. Thorn head:Giant acanthus can cause acanthosis.

According to the site of parasitism, helminths are divided into intestinal and extraintestinal. The second group includes those species that perform important functions in other organs, such as the liver or kidneys.

Symptoms of helminthiasis

Symptoms are widespread and vary depending on the organ affected, the type of parasite, and its abundance. In addition, a person's age and the initial state of various system organs and immunity have a great impact. The acute phase of the disease lasts 14 to 60 days, and the chronic phase can last more than a year.The acute phase is characterized by intoxication and allergic manifestations:

• weakness;
• Chills;
• fever;
• Rash, often itchy;
• Cough without phlegm;
• Difficulty breathing;
• stomach ache;
• Bloating.

Bruxism (teeth grinding) may also indicate the presence of parasites in the body. Most often it appears in dreams. Anal irritation and external genital infections may occur.In the chronic phase, symptoms related to the entire organ are observed. Particularly striking manifestations are gastrointestinal disorders, manifesting as systemic malfunctions.People infected with parasites may experience:

• lower abdominal pain;
• decreased appetite;
• nausea;
• Frequent hiccups;
• Development of previously unobserved food allergies;
• lose weight;
• Erratic stools - Constipation alternating with diarrhea.

If the worms are located in the liver and gallbladder, cysts form in these organs, and accompanying diseases - obstructive jaundice and hepatitis. Roundworms can cause bronchitis, heart failure, and myocarditis (inflammation of the heart's lining, the heart muscle tissue).When the central nervous system is damaged by worms, people can become irritable, have reduced concentration and performance, and have their sleep disrupted.Helminthiasis affects the immune system - the body becomes more susceptible to disease, fungal skin diseases and dental caries are more common, and allergy symptoms become more severe.

Complications of helminthiasis

If helminthiasis is left untreated, it can cause severe damage to internal organs, disrupting their normal function, and causing a deterioration in a person's overall health.The life activities of larvae are accompanied by their secretions. High concentrations can cause poisoning, allergic reactions, rashes and bronchial asthma.In order to obtain nutrition and development, worms obtain nutrients and vitamins from the human body. This is especially dangerous for children, as the risk of developmental delays is increased. You're more likely to develop anemia if you're infected with hookworms and whipworms - these types of worms suck into the blood. Helminthosis leads to a weakened immune system, leading to frequent colds and other illnesses.

important!Helminth infection can negatively affect the effectiveness of vaccine protection.

When the number of parasites is high, dysbiosis, partial or complete blockage of the intestinal lumen, and bile duct obstruction may develop. This may cause inflammation of the appendix and gallbladder.

Diagnosis of worms

If there are worrisome signs, examination by multiple specialists may be necessary, including gastroenterologists, infectious disease specialists, and others. On palpation, enlargement of the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes will be felt. Standard blood tests will help confirm the presence of worms - if present, the number of white blood cells and eosinophils will be increased, as will the erythrocyte sedimentation rate.The correct diagnosis can be made three months from the date of infection, when the larvae have become adult worms.Laboratory methods are useful for this:

• Scrape from the anus to check for pinworm eggs;
• Stool analysis to determine the presence of worm eggs;
• coprogram (detailed stool analysis to assess the quality of gastrointestinal function).

Biological material can be urine, feces, sputum, a piece of skin, or the contents of the duodenum. To determine the condition of internal organs, instrumental diagnostic methods are used, which include:

• Lung X-ray;
• liver ultrasound;
• CT scan of internal organs;
• Colonoscopy (exploration of the intestines using a camera);
• Gastroscopy and esophagoscopy (use of an endoscope to examine the gastrointestinal tract).

Accurately determining the presence of worms can be difficult because the egg laying of these parasites is irregular. They are only discovered when they reach adulthood. Blood antibodies are only produced for the first 60 days, after which they disappear from the blood and accumulate in the intestinal wall. The wide range of clinical manifestations also complicates accurate diagnosis, so treatment options can only be based on the presence of indirect signs.

Treatments for helminthiasis

When treating helminthiasis, anthelmintics are usually prescribed. The type of medication and duration of treatment depend on the symptoms present and the type of parasite. Antinematodes, antitapeworms, and broad-spectrum drugs are often prescribed.Symptoms associated with respiratory disease can be relieved with the use of corticosteroids, antihistamines, and antispasmodics. In order to normalize the condition of the intestine and its microbiota, prebiotics are needed. Normalizes gastrointestinal function - enzymes. Various cystic growths are surgically removed.After 14 days and one month later (when treatment is completed), the stool needs to be tested again three times for the presence of parasite eggs. Immunocompromised or at-risk patients should undergo regular helminth screening.

refer toWhen an illness is detected in one or more family members, each person showing indirect symptoms needs to receive treatment.

Worm prevention measures

To prevent the appearance of worms in your body, you must take simple measures.

1. Always wash your hands after eating, using the bathroom, going outside, or playing with pets.
2. Follow healthy lifestyle rules and have a strong immune system.
3. Forced heat treatment of meat and fish, cleaning of vegetables and fruits.
4. Avoid drinking raw water – prefer boiled water, bottled water or water purified through a filter.
5. Wet clean the house at least once every two weeks.

Deworming medication is needed twice a year as a preventive measure - in spring and autumn, when the immune system is weak. Pets also need to take special anti-helminth medications.