The presence of parasitic organisms in the body not only causes anxiety and unpleasant symptoms, various diseases develop and the health condition deteriorates sharply. Some types of parasites threaten not only health but also life. A dangerous neighborhood leads to a decrease in immunity, a violation of the integrity of internal organs. Doctors are sounding the alarm, more than eighty of all diseases are caused by parasites or live in the body. The statistics are alarming: every fourth adult and every second child is infected with helminths. Often, a person is unaware of the presence of worms until the condition is critical. Where do human worms come from? After all, the infection occurs even in people who strictly follow the recommendations and try to exclude all contact with the pathogenic environment. Try to understand how to prevent the infection that causes the development of helminthic invasion.
Main ways of infection: where do worms come from
There are different ways of infecting parasites. Although children are the most vulnerable category, worms are a problem for people of all ages. They get to know the world by actively exploring objects with pleasure, and they do not have constant hygiene habits. Babies become infected mainly due to the use of plant products without pre-washing, violation of hygiene rules after contact with pets, licking dirty fingers. Worms are very common in children.
The mechanism of parasitic infection in adults is practically the same. Most helminthiasis develops as a result of neglecting the rules of personal hygiene. Infection often occurs as a result of contact with sick people or animals, and the use of contaminated household items and utensils. Adequate heat treatment of meat and fish also increases the risk of disease. Biohelminthiases penetrate the human body in this way. Fish and meat should be carefully cooked, steamed or fried to minimize the likelihood of developing pathology. Drinking contaminated water, swimming in unfamiliar water, or working with unprotected hands in the garden can cause worms to form in adults.
The main ways of infection are:
- Mouth-stool. The pathogen enters the body through contaminated food or water. This group of helminths lives mainly in the intestines. The pathogen goes through a full developmental cycle and secretes eggs that are excreted in the feces of the host. After entering the external environment, the parasite enters the body of another host.
- Through the land. Transmission of parasites in this way occurs as a result of human contact with contaminated soil. The method of infection is similar to the previous version of the infection, but the eggs enter the ground not only with feces, but also with other secretions of the host body.
- Hematogen. Parasites enter the host through insect bites. Those who shed infected blood carry helminth eggs.
- Biohelmintosis. A complex infection system in which there are several intermediate and permanent hosts.
Life cycle of parasites
Different types of helminths have their own developmental stages, but their general scheme is the same: the larvae are formed from the eggs, and as a result, the adult sex becomes an adult.
There are three groups of parasites, taking into account the characteristics of development:
- contact;
- geohelminths;
- biohelminths.
Infection with contact parasites occurs mainly through dirty hands. Geohelminths grow without an intermediate host. Eggs grow on the ground. This group of parasites enters the human body through the oral cavity or skin. Biohelminths have the most complex developmental cycle with several intermediate hosts.
Symptoms of helminthiasis
After the parasites enter the human body, the first symptoms may appear immediately or after a while, when the number of worms increases significantly, or when the only representative of the species grows to a large size. The first blow is taken by the immune system.
Signs of general deterioration of health appear gradually:
- tiredness;
- poor sleep;
- indifference;
- lethargy;
- dizziness
Such symptoms are caused by an increasing deficiency of nutrients and components absorbed by parasites, which impoverish the human body. People with helminthiasis are weak and irritable. Gradually, specific symptoms appear in a particular organ, depending on the type and localization of the helminth.
Worms in the liver
Parasites enter the body through the blood or mouth. As the disease progresses, the following symptoms are observed:
- Body temperature rises by several degrees. Necrosis, abscesses can begin with the mass of parasites in the body, in which case the temperature rises to critical figures.
- The condition causes the mucous membranes and skin to turn yellow because it produces large amounts of bilirubin.
- On palpation, the liver is enlarged. The patient feels an explosion in the body, squeezing the adjacent tissues. Pain in the right abdomen begins to bother, breathing becomes difficult.
- A clinical blood test shows an increase in eosinophils.
- Frequent nausea, an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Some patients complain of dizziness.
Intestinal worms
Most parasites prefer to live in the intestines. It is an ideal place to eat, grow and reproduce. In the intestines, sexually mature individuals secrete eggs that enter the environment with the patient's feces.
Symptoms of localization of helminths in this organ are as follows:
- Constipation or diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, predominant indigestion.
- Hatred for food, complete loss of appetite.
- Changing eating habits. The patient refuses his favorite foods, preferring the unusual taste.
- The presence of blood in the stool.
- Very severe abdominal pain.
- Presence of parasites or their fragments in the stool, vomiting.
- Intestinal obstruction.
Worms in the lungs
Worms enter the lungs through the bloodstream. Localization of helminths in the respiratory system causes great damage to the body. Symptoms of lung damage include:
- Chest pain.
- Tired cough with expectoration.
- Increased body temperature.
- There is a rustling in the chest.
- Difficulty breathing, development of asthmatic component.
Complications in the form of pneumonia, airway obstruction, necrosis or abscess are more likely to develop with massive lung transplantation.
Worms in the eyes
Localization of helminth larvae in the eyes causes serious vision problems. Symptoms of parasites in the eyes are:
- Seals visible under the eyelids.
- Pain and movement in the eyes.
- A sharp decrease in visual acuity.
- Changing the position of the eyeball.
- Progressive review.
- Constant flow of sight.
Worms in the brain
The presence of parasites in the brain is one of the most serious conditions, because helminths irreversibly damage nerve fibers. Often the disease ends with the death of the patient.
Symptoms of brain parasites include:
- Severe migraine headache.
- Dizziness.
- Nausea, vomiting.
- Inclusion of neuropsychiatric disorders.
Treatment of helminthic invasion
Parasites are often found in the bodies of adults and children. It is very unpleasant to be aware of the presence of pathogenic individuals in your body. Proper treatment should be started on time. Only a qualified specialist can prescribe antihelmintic drugs.
You need to be examined and tested to confirm or deny your suspicions.
The doctor recommends any method to detect helminths: complete blood count, stool, urine, ultrasound or X-ray, endoscopy or CT. Treatment is prescribed depending on the type of parasite identified. The pharmaceutical industry is ready to provide many effective drugs against worms. Treatment can be carried out once or with the use of a course. It all depends on the type of parasite, the location, amount and general condition of the patient.
When finding the fact of helminthiasis in the family, it is recommended for everyone living together to undergo treatment for parasites in the body. Human helminths are not only unpleasant, but also a very dangerous disease that threatens the development of many complications. You cannot ignore the condition or use the medication yourself. Only a doctor can prescribe a drug that is as effective and harmless as possible.
There are folk recipes that can be a strong support against helminthiasis for the body. Medications can be used in addition to drug treatment or prophylaxis. It should be understood that you cannot use traditional medicine independently. First you need to find information about the parasite, learn the location of the localization. If possible, your doctor will recommend adding alternative prescriptions to your treatment regimen.
The following herbal ingredients are considered the best folk remedies: pumpkin seeds, wormwood, ginger, herbal preparations, tansy, sea buckthorn.
Preventive measures
The wolf invasion is not as harmless as it seems at first glance. The disease impairs health, adversely affects the general condition. Helminthiasis is more dangerous for infants: the child is severely retarded, often ill.
Preventive measures are simple and easy, you just need to develop good habits:
- Wash your hands before eating, after walking, and when visiting public places.
- Carry out deworming of pets.
- Eat only washed plant foods.
- Do not drink unboiled water, do not swim in unknown bodies of water.
- Work in the garden or vegetable garden with gloves.
- Prepare meat and fish dishes thoroughly.
- Refuse to buy food in spontaneous markets.
Although it is not possible to completely prevent helminth infestation, it is possible to minimize the risks by following the recommendations of experts. Don't be sick!