Intestinal worms can appear in humans in different ways. The most common routes of infection are contact with an infected animal or consumption of inadequately processed food. No one is immune to infection. Helminthic invasion (damage to the body by tapeworms, roundworms and flatworms) leads to poor health, and in some cases serious complications. The problem needs to be tackled.
Modern drugs allow you to remove worms from the small intestine and colon to stop their negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract. It is very important to know how you can try to protect yourself from infection.
Causes of helminthic invasion
The causes of the invasion are worms that live in the intestines and can be of different types. They enter the body, and over time the intestinal parasites become more and more. These organisms take root in the human body, multiply in it, feed on substances that enter the body. Because of their guilt, a person can get less important nutrients: proteins, fats and carbohydrates, trace elements, vitamins. During the invasion, pathogens pass from the larval stage to full-fledged worms, seriously affecting the condition of the body. Parasites live in the human gut for a long time and do not disappear without therapy.
You can be infected with worms in the following ways:
- Through food.Worms can often be found on the surface of unwashed vegetables and fruits. Some types of parasites (beef and swine tapeworm) leave larvae in the meat. If it is not fried, the larvae will move into the human body and begin to develop there.
- Contact household.By touching handles in public places, handrails and other elements without respecting hygienic skills, a person is exposed to the risk of invasion. The contact method involves getting the disease by handling an infected person, and the household method is infecting with dirty dishes or other household items.
- Over pets.Some types of parasites in the rectum use four-legged friends as indirect hosts. The larvae are transmitted by contact with a pet. This can happen with hugs, with an unexpected “kiss”. A dog can bring roundworm eggs to its paws by lifting them from the ground outside.
In intestinal parasites, the symptoms and causes of the disease can be different. The main reason for the infection is inadequate hygiene. With proper personal care, regular hand washing and handling fresh food, the risk of infection is dramatically reduced.
Types of worms
Which parasites live in the intestines? The body becomes infected with not one or two, but several different types of worms. They can coexist in the gut at the same time, but more often worms in humans are found separately.
The main classification of worms is according to their appearance. The parasites are intestinal, the symptoms are similar.
Important!Only a doctor can determine which type of worm has affected the digestive tract. You cannot try to define the disease yourself.
There are three main types of worms:
- bar;
- stan;
- are round.
The tapeworms in the intestine are characterized by a segmented body and a semi-flat shape, which is why helminths got their name (see photo). Roundworms in the human gut look closest to a standard worm. They are transparent, with a white or colorless body through which the main vessel passes. Flatworms are usually oval in shape, occasionally slightly segmented. The length of any type can be from 10 mm to 10 meters. There are many different parasites in the small intestine, some of which are much smaller.
Experts identify more than 10 types of helminthic invasion, which are based on different pathogens. The most common type is ascariasis, ie infection with roundworms 15 to 40 cm long with characteristic abdominal pain and intoxication. But there are other options:
- Trichocephalus.It is caused by bichera. Vlasoglav is one of the most versatile worms. It penetrates the caecum and the large and small intestine. The main symptoms are dizziness, vomiting, nausea and other signs of worms and intoxication. Parasites living in the small intestine are easily removed by medication.
- Teniarinhoz.This is the development of bovine tapeworm in the human body. This worm is transmitted through meat products and large domestic animals. As a result, there is constant intoxication of the body and pain in the abdominal cavity.
- Metagonimosis.One of the most dangerous forms of parasites in the human intestine, which requires urgent removal. It is caused by flukes that can cause inflammation of the intestines. Infection occurs through untreated fish.
- Trichinosis.The most severe form, which leads to the death of the patient with prolonged absence of therapy. The causative agent, Trichinella, can penetrate from the intestines into the internal organs and seriously disrupt their work. Due to the increased activity of the parasite, pain is felt not only in the abdomen but also in the muscles. Conjunctivitis begins as an allergic reaction.
There are more than a dozen variations of worms, and the group of diseases they cause - 10. It is difficult to distinguish one from the other even for experts, so you should not make the diagnosis yourself. This will only lead to inappropriate therapy and an increase in negative symptoms. Only a highly qualified doctor with special equipment can correctly recognize the type of helminth, because intestinal parasites show symptoms that are similar to each other (teniarchosis and trichocephaly are difficult to distinguish).
Consequences of helminthic invasion
With a long absence of treatment, various complications are possible. The kidneys, bile ducts and some internal organs are affected. Even the heart and brain are in danger if the symptoms are not noticed in time with dangerous parasites in the gut.
Pay attention!If you suspect a serious helminthic invasion with damage to internal organs, a complaint to a specialist should be urgent. The parasite can be deadly at any time if the case is ignored. Symptoms and treatment should be monitored by a physician.
The main complication of advanced helminthic invasion is withdrawal symptoms. This is a state of constant poisoning. The patient feels weak, cannot be active, suffers from attacks of vomiting and dizziness. Such signs will disappear only with the complete removal of parasites from the body.
Other consequences of the infection were identified during the study:
- the skin becomes much thinner, covered with viral growths (papillomas), takes on an unhealthy hue;
- due to the development of vitamin deficiency, hair, nails become thinner and break, bones become more brittle;
- the person feels constant drowsiness;
- due to changes in the nervous system, the infected person may become more aggressive;
- In severe cases, the invasion is fatal.
Death is likely if the problem is ignored for several years. During this time, helminths have time to grow to significant sizes and begin to actively eat nutrients, almost completely depriving them of humans.
Invasion symptoms
Helminthic invasion manifests itself already in the first stages of development. The longer the parasite is in a state of development, the more pronounced the symptoms of worms in humans.
There are a number of non-specific signs that do not distinguish the invasion of other diseases. The symptoms of parasites in the gut are many. The most common are:
- nausea;
- vomiting;
- feeling tired;
- dizziness;
- loss of consciousness;
- gastrointestinal disorders;
- rectal inflammation;
- prison.
A specific symptom that is rare in other conditions is wandering abdominal pain. It “walks” through the intestines while stinging in several places at the same time. The reason is the movement and activity of parasites. Intestinal parasites show symptoms of poisoning or intoxication, making it difficult to diagnose the disease.
Diagnosis of the disease
The disease must, above all, be distinguished from similar gastrointestinal problems. It is necessary to distinguish it from ordinary poisoning, infection, appendicitis. Differentiation is performed on the basis of data obtained from the anamnesis. For more accurate results, it is recommended to undergo an additional worm type check.
How do I know if there are parasites? You can find the exact type of parasite by analyzing the stool. Parasites living in the human colon secrete eggs that are released with the feces. In it, experts find helminth eggs and determine which type of parasite they belong to. Based on the obtained data, treatment is carried out.
Tip:go to a specialist with a ready-made stool analysis and to maximize the speed of the procedure, order an examination at a paid medical center. This will allow you to find out about your diagnosis and detect worms as soon as possible.
During the diagnosis, anamnesis is collected, irigoscopy and palpation of the abdominal region are performed. The latter allows you to assess the degree of damage to the body. In case of serious deviations, the person can be sent for additional examinations. There they will find out how dangerous the damage to the internal organs is and whether it is present at all. After that, therapy is prescribed whose main function is to clean the intestines at home. You can also diagnose by colonoscopy of the abdomen.
Course of therapy
How to remove parasites? You need to clean your intestines at home. The infection is treated by killing the parasite. To combat them, specialized preparations for parasites are used.
The choice of drug for intestinal parasites should be based on the type of worm. Most medications are complex tablets, that is, they allow you to fight ascaris and flatworms and tapeworms. Medications work in slightly different ways.
Worm Removal Conditions
A course of medication usually requires only one or two days for the body to fully recover. Many anthelmintic drugs are enough to use once, and at most twice.
But this rule only applies to specialized drugs, after which the symptoms of worms in an adult disappear almost instantly. Dietary supplements are taken at different intervals.
Dietary supplements are effective when taken for about a month. The optimal course length is one and a half months. After that, there is a break for at least two months, if necessary, after that period, the medicine is taken again.
Both biologically active additives and specialized drugs can be used more than once, but be sure to consult a doctor when using them again. Treatment of parasites with folk remedies is not recommended.
Prevent infection
Worm infestations are easy to avoid with simple hygiene practices. First of all, experts recommend limiting contact with untested animals and improving food hygiene. All vegetables, fruits, herbs and other products must be washed. On their surface may be helminth larvae invisible to the human eye. During frying, the meat must be brought to a state of readiness, while killing possible parasites.
It is important to follow the basic rules of personal hygiene:
- The toothbrush used to clean the teeth must be separated;
- the same goes for body towels;
- you must wash the dishes for yourself or your family after eating;
- can’t eat from someone else’s dirty plate;
- Hands should be washed after going outdoors, handling pets and before eating.
Following the basic rules will allow you to forget about the invasion problem forever. Prophylactic formulations can be taken as a guarantee of health. Before buying a herbal dietary supplement, which will ensure constant protection of the body, you should consult your doctor.
Cleaning the intestines of worms is an extremely important procedure for the health and well-being of the patient. People who have parasites in their body cannot live fully.
It is also useful to cleanse the body for preventive purposes: it also allows you to remove toxins by cleansing techniques. With timely therapy, helminthic invasion is not dangerous.