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Worms in the human body

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

Characteristics and types of helminthiasis

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

Parasites can settle in almost any organ: intestine, lungs, gallbladder, 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:

types of contact parasites in the human body
  1. Contact.Transmission occurs directly from an already infected person through contact.The most common are hymenolepidosis, caused by dwarf tapeworms, and enterobiasis, caused by pinworms.The parasites exit the rectum and lay eggs on a person's skin.Further distribution takes place through food and household items.The main cause of contact helminthiasis infection is failure to comply with personal hygiene rules, as well as improper processing of products and failure to comply with storage rules.
  2. Geohelminthiasis.An intermediate host is typically not needed;parasitic worms complete their entire life cycle in an organism.Pest eggs and larvae can live only in the external environment, most often in the soil.Very rare species are able to develop indoors, most only in soil or water.Children who often play with the earth and workers on farms and pastures are most susceptible to geohelminthiasis.Human infection occurs by eating unwashed fruits and vegetables and untreated drinking water.It is possible for helminths to enter through ingestion of dust or through the skin.
    3. pinworm parasites in the human body
  3. Biohelminthiasis.For the development of helminths, the participation of an intermediate host, most often invertebrates, is necessary.Basically, the transmission of biohelminthiases occurs through blood-sucking insects.These types of parasites live in the blood of the final host, enter the insect's body through a bite, then develop in it and reach another person through the same bite.But it is also possible to release eggs and larvae into the external environment, as in the case of geohelminthiasis.Each type of helminth requires its own specific type of intermediate host.

Symptoms and causes of helminthiasis

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 occur, which often interfere with an accurate diagnosis.

parasites extracted from the human body

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

In the chronic phase, symptoms become more specific to each specific disease and cannot be generalized.It all depends on the affected organ, for example, when parasites are localized in the intestine, abdominal pain and problems with stool are typical.

Symptoms of helminthiasis:

  1. Increased body temperature.
  2. Excessive sweating and swelling.
  3. Muscle and joint pain.
  4. Diarrhea or, conversely, frequent constipation.
  5. Dehydration, frequent vomiting.
  6. Liver, spleen, swollen lymph nodes, swelling.
    7. itching in the anus as a symptom of the presence of parasites
  7. Rash on human skin.
  8. Increased leukocyte level.
  9. Iron deficiency anemia.
  10. Itching of the skin and anus.
  11. Nervous system disorders, apathy, irritability, depression.
  12. The presence of blood loss in the stool or during urination.
  13. Pancreatitis, jaundice, hepatitis, intestinal obstruction.

Some types of helminthiasis are characterized by an asymptomatic and latent course of the disease.This is dangerous because, due to severe damage, a person's internal organ can simply rupture, after which the entire 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 manifestations of helminthiasis in children, since they are most at risk.

They are often confused with other diseases and brought 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 the most characteristic of childhood diseases.It is imperative to pay attention to the consistency and regularity of the stool, the appearance of various rashes and not ignore complaints of itching in the anal area.

The main causes of helminthiasis:

eating unwashed fruit as a cause of parasite infection
  1. Eat unwashed vegetables, fruits and berries.It is very important to respect hygiene and health regulations.Carefully process the purchased products;for children it is advisable to use special products for washing fruit and vegetables.It is mandatory to wash your hands before each meal.
  2. Meat and fish products.To avoid infections and serious consequences, high-quality heat treatment is required, as well as certification of the purchased product.Monitor compliance with the storage conditions of the prepared semi-finished products.It is unacceptable to consume fish products purchased on the street.
  3. Earth and sand.This is especially true for children, as they tend to put everything in their mouths.During games, do not let your child eat sand in the sandbox or dirt in the summer cottage.Anything that falls to the ground or open ground is excluded.

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

Classification of parasites

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

  • Nematodes.To date, more than 80 thousand species of helminths of this class have been described.They can cause serious harm to the human body and cause various helminth diseases.The development of nematodes goes through 5 stages, of which four are larval and one adult.With each transition, the environment or intermediate host changes.The most common representatives:Ascaris parasite in the human body
    • roundworm – causes a disease called ascariasis.This type of parasite is able to live and feed exclusively in the human body.Roundworms are characterized by a cough, in which the larvae are pushed into a person's throat and return to the intestine as already mature individuals;
    • Pinworms cause enterobiasis in the human body and parasitize the intestines.Once in the host's body, they are characterized by indigestion, itching near the anus, and in some cases inflammation of the genitals, especially in women.
  • Tapeworms.There are more than 10 orders of tapeworms that live in the human body.This is the most common class of parasites that causes extremely dangerous diseases.They pass through two stages of larval development and reach the final host as adults.They enter the human body from an intermediate host, most often through the flesh 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 of this class:
    • tapeworm – causes the disease taeniasis, characterized by frequent vomiting, nausea or lack of appetite;
    • bovine 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 (trematodes).What are fluke helminths?For the development of this class the presence of an intermediate host is necessary.These parasitic worms are the cause of flukes.The most dangerous varieties of this class:Opisthorchis parasites in the human body
    • fluke opisthorchiasis - enters the human body with fish meat, most often carp species, 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 fluke, the cause of paragonimiasis, infection is possible only by eating crabs, shrimp or pork.

All types of worms listed in humans represent only a small part of the variety of parasites that currently exist.According to some data, there are more than 1 million varieties.

Diagnosis and treatment of helminthiasis

Science does not stand still, and a large number of methods have already been developed and actively used to identify helminth diseases.Modern methods allow you to accurately determine the types of parasites in humans and the degree of tissue damage in their location.

Basic methods of diagnosing helminthiasis:

  1. Microhelminthoscopic.Used to detect worm eggs and larvae.These include the Kato, Kalantaryan and Fulleborn methods.Separately, each of these methods does not allow you to accurately identify all types of parasites.But overall they give good results, especially regarding the intensity of the spread of parasites living in the body.
  2. Macrohelminthoscopic.More effective in identifying pinworms 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 helminth parasitism in human muscle tissue, a sample is taken and sent for research.This method allows you to make the most accurate diagnosis.
  4. Immunological.They are performed by examining the patient's blood to detect antibodies against certain types of helminths that live in the human body.
  5. Analysis of bile or duodenal contents.It is used in case of damage to the liver, gallbladder and duodenum.
  6. Instrumental.These include ultrasounds, x-rays, and computer studies.They are used to determine the degree of damage caused by worms in the human body.And also to check other internal organs.

Medicinal methods are used to treat identified diseases.However, it has been established that complex multidrug therapy is more effective than monotherapy based on a single anthelmintic.

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

Very often, a person may not even be aware of the worms in his body.In this regard, 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.Timely diagnosis and treatment will help stop the development of these diseases in time and prevent serious consequences.