Worm infestation - infection of the human body with parasitic worms - worms (helminths). Symptoms of helminthic invasion are determined by the route of infection, the number of parasites received, the degree of their adaptability in the human body and other characteristics.
The first signs of the disease in adults can appear both 2-3 days after infection, and after a year and a half, but usually the incubation period is 2-3 weeks.
Helminths do not tend to multiply in the human body (with the exception of pinworms and some other worms)
Ways of infection:
- contact the family;
- food;
- transmissible;
- Percutaneous.
The source of the infection is a sick person or a carrier.
Classification of helminths
In adults, parasitism has been recorded in over two hundred varieties of helminths which, due to their structural characteristics, mainly belong to two types of worms:
- Nematodes are nematodes that cause diseases such as ascariasis, enterobiasis, tricuriasis, trichinosis, dracunculiasis, filariasis, toxocariasis.
- Flat worms divided into:
- a class of tapeworms that cause teniarinhoz, teniasis, cysticercosis, diphyllobothriasis, hymenolepiasis, echinococcosis;
- a class of flukes that cause schistosomiasis, opisthorchiasis, clonorchiasis, fascioliasis, dichroceliasis.
Depending on the characteristics of the life cycle and transmission factors, three main types of helminths are distinguished: geohelminths, biohelminths, contact helminths.
The influence of parasites on the human body
The vast majority of worms live in the intestines of adults, however, some types of parasitic worms in the larval stage mature in the tissues of other organs (liver, brain, heart, lungs, eyes, and so on). In the process of vital activity of helminths, toxic substances are formed that enter the bloodstream and are transported by it to different organs. In addition, helminths in the human intestine absorb substances necessary for life (amino acids, fatty acids, glucose, enzymes and others), leading to malfunctions in the physiological systems of the body.
During pregnancy, helminth invasions are doubly dangerous: the harmful effect is reflected not only on the condition of the mother, but also on the maturation of the embryo.
Worm infestation can complicate the development of pregnancy. Due to the infection in a woman's body, the absorption of nutrients is reduced, which is highly undesirable during gestation.
Also, helminths during pregnancy can cause severe toxicosis. Pinworms can penetrate a woman's genitals. This leads to severe itching and, as a result, constant discomfort and sleep disturbances.
There are helminths that can damage the intestinal wall. As a result, small but long-term blood loss is possible. This is fraught with the formation of iron deficiency anemia in a pregnant woman.
Helminths are able to penetrate the placental barrier and parasitize on the trunk and body of the fetus. In addition, they can enter the brain and lead to an increase in the size of the head, which complicates the course of childbirth.
Their presence in the lungs is also dangerous: subsequently the child will develop his chronic inflammation.
Clinic
Distinguish between the acute phase of the helminthic invasion, which is characterized by a more pronounced clinical, and chronic, which can last several years and manifest itself as canceled symptoms.
The most common symptoms of helminth invasion:
- The appearance of malfunctions in the digestive system, namely:
- constipation (due to blockage of the intestinal lumen, bile ducts with worms);
- loose stools (due to the influence of substances produced by helminths);
- excessive gas formation (due to indigestion).
- Joint and muscle pain: These appear when parasites enter joint fluid and muscles.
- Skin symptoms (rash, eczema, itching, acne) caused by the influence of toxic substances produced by helminths.
- Disorders of the nervous system, expressed:
- anxiety;
- irritability;
- wish;
- sleep disturbances, etc.
- Weight loss associated with metabolic disorders.
- Catarrhal symptoms of the respiratory tract (runny nose, cough), resulting from the penetration of helminths into them.
Indirect signs of helminth invasion:
- swollen lymph nodes;
- increase in body temperature;
- fatigue, asthenia;
- nausea (can be during pregnancy, as a manifestation of toxicosis);
- heachache;
- anemia (due to blood loss);
- itching in the perineum.
Diagnostics
Usually, to detect helminthic invasion in adults, a fecal analysis or scraping from the folds around the anus is done. Worm eggs are examined under a microscope and their appearance is determined.
However, this analysis does not always help identify helminths. The most specific for helminth invasion is a blood test for the presence of antibodies to various types of worms in it. In a general blood test, when the body is infected with helminths, an increase in the content of eosinophils and leukocytes is detected.
To identify worms during pregnancy, it may not be enough to analyze the stool. For a more reliable diagnosis, an ultrasound, blood test and amniotic fluid analysis should be performed.
Therapy
When signs of helminthic invasion are detected and the diagnosis is verified by blood and stool tests, treatment is carried out taking into account the type of parasite. For this, the doctor prescribes specific anthelmintic drugs. More often than not, these medicines do not enter the bloodstream, exerting an effect exclusively within the intestine. For this reason, the possibility of toxic effects on the body is minimal.
In some situations, only one use of the medicine is enough to get rid of the worms, in others a longer treatment is required, built according to an individual scheme by a specialist.
This is a prerequisite for the disease not to have a chronic course. The main task of repeated treatment is the destruction of parasites that have entered the human body in the form of eggs and have not yet completed their developmental life cycle. After some time, they will turn into adults and be destroyed under the influence of drugs.
Usually, to get a good result, the whole family must be treated under the supervision of blood and stool tests.
Pathogenetic therapy includes antiallergic drugs, drugs for normalizing the intestinal flora.
At the same time, concomitant diseases are treated, often developed as a complication of helminthiases (anemia, hypovitaminosis, malnutrition).
During pregnancy, in addition to the anthelmintic effect of the drug, its possible effect on the fetus is taken into account.
As a rule, in the first trimester of pregnancy, when the deposition of the main organs and systems of the embryo is in the formation stage, it is better to avoid such treatment. During this time, any drug can cause far more harm to the fetus than the likely risk from exposure to worms.
At this stage, you can try to get rid of parasites with the assistance of non-drug means.
Many recipes are known that can complement basic treatment and sometimes completely replace drug therapy. The most proven means of helminths are:
- pumpkin seeds;
- onion;
- garlic;
- pomegranate juice;
- infusions of tansy and wormwood.
In the second and third trimesters, the likelihood of a negative effect of drugs on the fetus and its bearing decreases.
After the end of the course of therapy, it is necessary to reanalyze for worms - scrape. This is done to make sure that the prescribed treatment is correct and that all worms are destroyed.
It should be remembered that therapy must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. Repeated analysis is carried out no earlier than 2 weeks after the end of the course of treatment. It is possible to consider the course of therapy completed with 3 negative tests with an interval of 2 weeks.
Prevention
Measures to prevent helminthiasis:
- adherence to personal hygiene measures (wash hands before eating, use the individual
- personal hygiene products, individual underwear and bed linen);
- obligatory washing with water of vegetables, fruits, vegetables before eating;
- complete heat treatment of meat, fish;
- fight bloodsucking insects;
- regular wet cleaning inside;
- full care of pets;
- periodic replacement of underwear and bed linen, with mandatory ironing of the same;
- exclusion of swimming in water bodies with a high probability of helminth infection.
When planning pregnancy, you should be examined for helminths. If they are present, it is necessary to undergo a course of treatment before pregnancy, so as not to harm the baby's body.
Timely and comprehensive treatment of the acute form of helminthiasis is the prevention of the chronic course of the disease.