Worms - scientifically "helminths" - parasites in the human body. There are 200 known species of human parasites. They have their own structure, symptoms, way of penetrating the body. Parasites are divided into bio-, geo-, contact helminths.
Source classification:
- Biohelminths. They are parasites that change "hosts". From insects, mollusks, to bulls and humans. Representatives: tapeworms - beef, pork, echinococcus.
- Geohelminths. Combine worms with one "host". Worms, whips, some - the most famous worms.
- Contact helminths. The difference between contact helminths in the ease of infection using patient items. Pinworms are a bright representative, a common type of helminth.
Common types of helminths in humans
Treatment for helminthiasis involves knowing the types of human worms. The color of the worm is from white to reddish, brown. There are transparent worms - they are difficult to diagnose.
Roundworms
Roundworms are a type of worm of round cross-section, similar to worms. Representatives:
- Ocal worms are parasitic worms that live in the small intestine and reach a length of 40 cm. The average lifespan of roundworms is 1 year. Worms go through a long developmental path, starting with the intestines, lungs, developing eggs into a larva in the ground, and then entering the intestine again. Roundworms are found in humans and animals. The person is not infected with animal roundworms.
- Pinworms are the simplest white parasites, size 0, 3-1, 2 cm. They become infected by handling, underwear, inhaling dust, ascaris eggs. The life of pinworms is short - a maximum of 2 months. Pinworms often occur in children.
- Trichinella is a parasite 0. 4 cm long. The source of the infection is raw pork infected with larvae. Treating trichinosis is a difficult task. A person can only partially get rid of worms. The reason is the uniqueness of their lives. Adult Trichinella vapors in the intestines and die. Eggs from the gut enter the muscles, where they are located and can parasitize for years.
- Vlasoglava is a representative of roundworms, 3 cm long, which forms the large intestine. Helminths cling to the intestinal wall, sucking blood. The lifespan of the whip is 5 years.
Tapeworms
The tapeworm parasites got their name because of the peculiarity of the body structure that looks like a tapeworm. The flatworm can grow up to 20 m in size.
- Beef tapeworm is a large worm 10 m long, the causes of infection are insufficient roasting of beef. If there is a tapeworm egg in the meat, an infection will occur.
- Pork tapeworm is similar to beef, only 5 times shorter. The source of infection is pork.
- Wide tapeworm - adult helminth reaches a length of 15 m. You can catch tapeworm from fish that live in freshwater springs.
- Echinococcus is called the most dangerous. The ability to penetrate the liver causes echinococcal cysts. Carriers of adult dogs, cats. Length - 4 cm Invasion occurs through dirty door handles, toilet seats.
Naive
The group got its name because of the way it parasitizes on people.
- The Siberian fluke is 1 cm long on average. Ingestion is caused by consuming uncooked, insufficiently salted fish. It parasitizes in the human gallbladder.
- Fasciola parasitizes in the gallbladder, up to 7 cm long. The route of infection is raw water.
Methods of parasite infestation
People who do not take care of hygiene and cleanliness at home can get helminthiasis. Under the impact falls "purity", convulsive washing of hands after the street, thorough frying of meat. Depending on the type of helminth, the infection occurs in different ways.
- Oral-fecal - helminth eggs enter through the mouth.
- Contact - The method is common when pinworms are infected. Helminths lay eggs on the anus, causing itching, brushing and fertilizing the hands. With unwashed hands, an infected person transfers eggs to objects, door handles, etc.
- Through the water. Raw water is a place where helminth (fasciola) larvae live, which are dangerous to health.
- Through the soil - sand, the soil is infected with helminth eggs. It is worth following the length of the nails, if you have to dig into the ground, wash your hands thoroughly. Eggs can be ingested through unwashed food.
You can get infected by insect bites - a rather rare case.
Symptoms of helminthiasis
The first symptoms appear when the helminthiasis reaches its peak. Symptoms appear depending on the type of worm.
A sharp weight loss, lean appearance, body aches, pale skin and itchy anus are unequivocal signs of invasion.
Gastrointestinal disorders: vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, diarrhea and bloating, abdominal pain near the navel - a sign of the presence of helminths localized in the intestines.
Manifestations of rash, brittle nails and hair are indirect, but an indicator of infection. Worms in the body of an adult, a child, become intoxicated with worm waste. The body usually perceives human proteins as allergens, causing skin rashes. Diseases such as allergic rhinitis or urticaria, bronchial asthma are helminthic symptoms.
Persistent headache is a symptom of worms. In cases when it is impossible to diagnose, the cause of the headache, painkillers do not help.
Decreased immunity, immune response indicates a clear weakening of the body that occurs with helminthiasis. Stomatitis, sinusitis, sinusitis, vaginosis - make you think about the prevention of helminths. All types of diseases can affect the human body.
The presence of worms is indicated by diseases that have been incurable for a long time. An organ affected by worms does not respond to treatment.
Diagnosis of helminthic invasion
Diagnosis, treatment - this should be entrusted to professionals. An infectious disease doctor who diagnoses helminthiasis will be able to draw the right conclusions. Infectious disease specialists will be able to understand and determine the cause of the disease, localize it and prescribe treatment.
Parasites live in the intestines, organs and tissues. Diagnosing a separate area will not help recreate the image. Depending on the affected organ, tissue, the purpose of treatment also depends.
For a complete diagnosis it is worth conducting a complete examination of the body: X-rays, taking for analysis of feces, urine, sputum lungs, scraping from the anus, scraping the navel, vagina (for girls), blood.
X-rays show the possible movement of worms in the lungs - ascaris. In the blood, a high number of eosinophils indicates the presence of helminths. Stool analysis is checked for the presence of worm eggs. It is easy to prescribe worm treatment. Sputum is taken to check for the presence of ascaris larvae, etc.
If such an incident occurs that helminths have appeared, it is worth starting the therapy immediately.
Treatment
After a complete diagnosis, in the presence of helminths, treatment is prescribed - drugs, folk or complex. It really does cure worms. They do not heal for long, but it all depends on the severity of the invasion.
Pharmaceutical preparations
Medications are a more effective solution for helminths. After the treatment of helminthiasis, the appearance of worms in humans is reduced while maintaining personal hygiene.
Chemotherapeutic drugs are used to remove parasites from the body. They are most suitable here. They deal with the impact on biostructure, bioprocesses of parasites. By interfering with the work and paralyzing the worms, the tablets are carried with the task, and the worms are excreted from the body in the feces.
The dose, time interval and medication are prescribed by the doctor. In that case, the worm disease will be eliminated.
Folk ways
Nature is diverse - there are many ways to treat it. The fight against worms has long roots. Traditional medicine is suitable for those who have some types of contraindications, allergic reactions to drugs.
The main set of herbs, anthelmintic products: walnuts, pumpkin seeds, garlic, wormwood, tansy.
The wormwood plant will help if worms appear. Wormwood tincture is effective for tapeworms, roundworms. Pumpkin seeds, garlic are eaten easily, without further processing. Tansy, like wormwood, is infused and then used. These agents can be used as an anthelmintic or as a prophylactic agent.
After such treatment, the worms leave the body.
Helminth prevention
If there are no signs of infection, but the likelihood of occurrence is daunting, it is worth implementing prevention. The most successful are the drugs. When it comes to self-help, you can do it without pills.
To prevent it, you need to understand where worms start, how they multiply. Personal hygiene is important, but food should not be forgotten. Eating dried fish or dried fish steak threatens to infect you with tapeworms.
Personal hygiene, maintaining the cleanliness of the home, pets, family, consuming only heat-treated food, washed vegetables, berries, fruits - will save you from worm infestation.