Worms in humans cause the development of diseases collectively called helminthiasis. Worms are parasitic worms found in almost every organ of our body: the intestines, muscles, lungs, liver, heart and even the eyes.
If a person has worms, symptoms do not always appear; if they appear, they are masked by other diseases of the liver, gastrointestinal tract, gallbladder, etc. Sometimes these symptoms are so vague that it can be very difficult to establish the cause. of a particular problem, especially when it comes to children.
Today, there are many known parasites that can infect the human body. In total, there are about 150 types of helminthiasis. All worms, depending on their shape and body structure, are divided into two large groups: roundworms or nematodes and flatworms.
Children are most often infected with worms, and the most common forms of helminthiasis (diseases caused by parasitic worms) are ascariasis and enterobiasis. The most dangerous worms that can live in the human body are echinococcus and alveococcus. For each group of parasites, special means have been developed, the treatment of which will remove worms from the body of an adult or child.
Types of worms in humans
There are over two hundred species of worms that infect humans. Most of them are not found in the middle zone, so about sixty species are common in our country. Parasites are divided into contact parasites (worms transmitted from one person to another), soil-transmitted helminthiases (the larva lives in the soil and invasion occurs when soil particles enter with food) and biohelminthiases (the parasitesenter the human body through the meat of infected animals or fish).
Here are some of the most common groups of worms in humans:
- Annelids – pinworms, roundworms, whipworms, trichinella;
- Tapeworms – various types of tapeworms, echinococcus, tapeworms;
- Flatworms - all kinds of flukes, flukes.
Let's take a closer look at each type of worm that can live in the body of an adult.
- Roundworms are large, round worms, red-yellow in color, reaching a length of up to 40 cm as adults.
- The whipworm is a round worm 30 to 50 mm long, which takes its name from the shape of its body: the front part is long and narrow, like a hair, and the rear part is short and wide.
- The broad tapeworm is a large tapeworm reaching a length of approximately 10 meters; we can find individuals of more than 20 meters in length.
- Hookworm is the combined name for two types of worms: duodenal hookworm and necator, round worms 10 to 15 mm long.
- Trichinella are small roundworms 2 to 5 mm long which cause a serious disease: trichinosis.
- The liver fluke (cat fluke) is a flatworm of the fluke class measuring 7 to 20 mm long. The disease caused by this parasite is called opisthorchiasis.
- Pork and cattle tapeworms are similar in structure to tapeworms that can reach 6 meters in length.
- Echinococcus parasitizes the human body not in adult form, but in intermediate form - the Finns. Echinococcus itself is a tapeworm 3-5 mm long
- Alveococcus is a worm similar to echinococcus, with a similar structure and mechanism of development.
Symptoms and signs of a worm infestation depend on the type of parasite, its location in the body, and its stage of development.
Helminths in the human body
The worms are scientifically called helminths. Helminths refer to all worms that parasitize the bodies of people, animals and plants. Accordingly, helminths are not a specific type of parasite, but a whole group of different worms, three of which are the most common.
In modern society, helminths are still widespread. Helminthic infestations especially often occur among children, hunters, fishermen and their families, as well as rural residents.
Helminths are a large order of parasitic worms that live on animals and plants, feeding and reproducing in the donor's body. Man is no exception. In our country alone there are more than 70 species of parasites. According to statistics, every third inhabitant of the Earth is infected with parasitic worms. It is assumed that there is not a single adult during his life who has not had a worm settle in his body.
Helminths. Even if parents carefully monitor the cleanliness of their children's hands, it is almost impossible to protect them from worms (pinworms). Children explore the outside world; nature arouses particular interest. They want to touch everything with their hands and taste it. People who consume fish, meat of wild animals and birds, and homemade milk are at risk of becoming infected with trichinosis and diphyllobothriasis.
Modern medical data shows that many diseases are caused by helminthic infestation. For example, the link between oncology and long-term parasitic infection has been clinically proven. Signs of the presence of worms in humans are often misinterpreted by doctors and patients. They begin to treat non-existent gastrointestinal diseases.
How can you get infected?
The causes of infection with human worms are very diverse, the route of infection directly depends on the type of worms and their life cycle, it can be:
- eating dirty vegetables;
- non-compliance with hygiene rules when preparing food;
- improper heat treatment of certain food products, particularly animal meat and fish;
- communication with pets – cats, dogs, certain types of rodents;
- non-compliance with hygiene rules before eating, after going to the toilet, when returning from a walk;
- swimming in contaminated bodies of water.
During their life, worms produce toxic substances that are absorbed into the blood and spread throughout the body, thereby damaging the most important organs and systems.
General symptoms and signs of helminthic infestation in children
General symptoms of helminthiasis include:
- worsening or increased appetite;
- nausea, possibly vomiting;
- excessive salivation;
- stool disorders;
- the appearance of pain in the lower abdomen;
- dizziness, headache;
- allergic reactions;
- increased frequency of colds;
- irritability, mood swings;
- sleep disorder;
- deterioration of mental and physical activity;
- dry cough.
Symptoms of worms in humans
Sometimes worms are able to parasitize the body of an adult for a long time without visible symptoms; in some cases, they provoke the development of various chronic diseases, leading to dangerous complications and even death.
With the onset of an acute period of helminthiasis, worms begin to feed intensively in the intestines of a sick person, causing various signs of digestive system disorders: dysbacteriosis, abdominal pain, diarrhea.
Let's see what signs of helminths can be noted? Let's list the most common general symptoms of worms in humans.
- Gastrointestinal dysfunction – diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain;
- Pain in joints and muscles - parasites can move throughout the human body in order to settle in the most convenient places for their life, for example, in joint fluid and muscles. When this happens, the person experiences painful sensations;
- Nervous system disorders and general malaise - manifest in the form of fatigue, irritability, sleep disturbances and memory problems;
- Allergic reactions and skin manifestations – appearance of pimples, blackheads and other skin rashes – are also signs of the presence of worms in humans;
- Decrease in immunity and, as a result, development of infectious diseases;
- A sharp decrease in body weight;
- Anemia – some worms suck blood from the intestinal walls like leeches;
- Grinding teeth during sleep and sleep disturbances;
- Itching in the anus, especially at night. At this time, the female actively lays eggs, thereby causing itching in the anus;
- Enlarged lymph nodes, low body temperature;
- Inflammation of the respiratory tract - cough, fever, sputum production, runny nose - this is how the presence of worms can manifest.
The specific first signs will directly depend on the pathogen and the location of the worm in the human body. For example, large worms, flukes, and tapeworms like to parasitize the liver, which can lead to degeneration of liver cells, blocked bile ducts, blood clots, and cirrhosis. Roundworms and pinworms live in the intestines and will therefore be excreted with the stool. To find out how to remove these worms from a person, you should consult a doctor, he will prescribe a suitable remedy.
Symptoms of a worm infection can appear at different times from the time of the worm infection. So, the first symptoms of ascariasis appear after 2-3 days. In most other helminthic infestations, symptoms of the disease appear after 2 to 3 weeks.
Most often, the main signs of worm infection in an adult are represented by allergic manifestations in the form of itching and rashes, swelling, weakness, muscle pain, headache, fever, muscle and joint pain, an increase in the number of eosinophils in the blood, etc.
Being parasites, worms feed on the body of their host. At the same time, they absorb a significant amount of proteins and carbohydrates, mineral elements, vitamins and other nutrients. Helminthiasis can be acute and chronic. The first last 2 to 3 weeks and often manifest as allergies, while the chronic phase can last months, years, or even decades.
What organs can worms affect?
There are two types of invasions: cavitary and tissue. Depending on the species, the habitats are also distributed:
- Cavity worms live in the small and large intestines. In particular, the first sections of the small intestine are affected by tapeworm, hookworm and roundworms. The lower part of the small intestine is the habitat of the dwarf tapeworm and the pinworm. The large intestine most often becomes the habitat of the whipworm.
- Tissue helminths affect organs of all types: liver, brain, lymph nodes, bile ducts.
Important! It is impossible to determine the signs of the presence of worms in a patient at the initial stage of development of the infestation. As long as the number of worms is low, toxic poisoning by waste remains within normal limits, the body itself copes with the invasion. The appearance of characteristic or acute symptoms indicates a significant increase in the number of helminthic infestations: the maturation of individuals and their dynamic development.
Complications of worms
A number of helminths can cause serious disturbances in the patient's condition. Here are the most common complications:
- B12 deficiency anemia, iron deficiency anemia - leads to disruption of oxygen supply to tissues, requiring long-term recovery. Manifested by pale skin, dry mouth, weakness, disorders of various bodily functions;
- Intestinal obstruction occurs when the parasite blocks the lumen with its body. Surgical treatment is necessary. Symptoms – abdominal pain, absence of stools, vomiting;
- Intestinal bleeding – if the worm attaches to the intestinal wall, it can damage its blood vessels. Symptoms: abdominal pain, weakness, blood in stools, vomiting. Requires surgical treatment;
- Fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver develop with a long course of opisthorchiasis. The changes are irreversible. Symptoms: disturbance of sleep and wakefulness, accumulation of fluids in body cavities, loss of liver function;
- Abscesses of affected organs are purulent inflammations. Symptoms are pain, high fever and weakness. The situation is deteriorating rapidly. An examination is necessary to detect the source of inflammation and surgical treatment.
Stool analysis and worm egg scraping
Worms are primarily intestinal parasites. It is through the intestines that their eggs are released. Therefore, to diagnose them, feces are taken for analysis. You can buy a special container for collecting stools at the pharmacy, but you can also use a matchbox or a jar.
So, to do the analysis you will need a container to collect the material and a spatula. If a person sees fragments of worms or a whole helminth, it should also be sent to the laboratory.
It is not necessary to bring the stools to the laboratory immediately after collection. It must be submitted for review within 24 hours. Until then, the collected biomaterial must be stored in the refrigerator. An exception is the collection of stools to test for giardiasis. It must be left warm, because the parasitic cysts are destroyed by cooling. While the stool is delivered to the laboratory, the container should be wrapped in a warm cloth.
To diagnose enterobiasis, a scraping is performed in the perianal folds, because female pinworms lay eggs in this area. Before the test, you should not wash your face for about 12 hours or go to the toilet. Therefore, the optimal time to perform an analysis is in the morning.
Scraping is carried out using a cotton swab placed in a clean container and delivered to the laboratory. You can also use tape that is peeled off the glass, attached for a while to the anal area, then torn off and put back with the sticky side on the glass.
The biological material delivered to the laboratory is studied under a microscope. If a person is infected, the lab technician will see worm eggs, their larvae, or segments. Each parasite lays eggs unique to its species. Therefore, by studying the structure of the egg, you can determine which worm is parasitic in the human body.
If there is a worm in the stool, it most often looks like a white stripe of varying lengths. Worms can remain mobile. The type of worm can be determined in the laboratory.
However, it is not always possible to detect worms using stool analysis. For example, the analysis will not be informative if the human body is parasitized only by male roundworms which cannot secrete eggs.
Blood test for worms
To identify worms in the blood, an immunological test is used to determine antibodies to the main types of helminths. The reliability and precision of the ELISA is 95%. It can be used to detect extraintestinal forms of helminthiasis.
Decoding ELISA results in a simplified form:
- Helminths parasitize the body if immunoglobulin class M (lgM) is elevated in the blood.
- Either the worms were present in the human body previously, or the helminthic infestation has become chronic and caused a weakening of the human immune system. This conclusion can be made if the level of IgG immunoglobulins is high, but IgM is not detected in the blood.
In both cases, further diagnosis and specific treatment will be necessary.
How does the parasite become infected and grow?
Each parasite has specific life cycle characteristics. Depending on the mechanism of infection, all helminthiases are divided into three main groups:
- contact helminthiasis;
- geohelminthiasis;
- biohelminthiases.
Contact helminthiasis
The development of parasites belonging to the group of contact helminths occurs entirely in the child's body. Worm eggs enter the digestive system, migrate to the intestines and, after a while, develop into adults. Sexually mature helminths form eggs that are released along with feces into the external environment. The development cycle repeats itself again.
Contact helminthiases include pinworm infection. The spread of these worms is by the fecal-oral mechanism. If a child does not wash their hands after using the toilet, microscopic pinworm eggs remain on their fingers. Other children can become infected through contaminated household items and foods that the sick person has touched. In the spread of pinworms, non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene is of great importance. Therefore, these helminthiases are more common during childhood.
In addition to infecting others, a sick child can become reinfected. Pinworms that emerge from the anus lay their eggs on the skin of the anal area. This process causes severe itching of the skin, so children often start scratching the sore spot. If they do not wash their hands after that, a new portion of eggs enters the intestines. The parasite population increases, which leads to a deterioration in the child's condition.
Geohelminthiasis
The group of geohelminthiasis is represented by roundworms. For these parasites to thrive, the feces of a sick child must enter the soil. The released eggs begin to actively develop and quickly reach the invasive stage, at which they can enter the human body.
Infection of children usually occurs through the consumption of unwashed vegetables and fruits that come into contact with soil. Ascaris larvae remain there, which enter the child's intestines and cause unpleasant symptoms of helminthiasis.
Biohelminths
For the development of worms belonging to the group of biohelminths, the presence of an intermediate host is necessary - a living organism in which the worm larvae will develop. These can be cattle (cows, pigs) or fish. Therefore, a child can become infected with worms by consuming food from unverified sources. Insufficient heat treatment of meat or fish contributes to infection. Through food you can become infected with echinococcus, cattle and pork tapeworm, and cat fluke.
Treatment of worms in humans
The basis of treatment of worms in humans is specific anthelmintic drugs; adults are prescribed the best proven tablets.
The choice of which drug to treat depends on the presence of specific worms in the human body. In the acute period of the disease, the doctor may prescribe the patient antiallergic drugs, such as Suprastin or Claritin.
Only on the basis of tests and diagnostics, the doctor prescribes treatment for worms to a person, since antihelminthic drugs are quite toxic. If, during the analysis, worms are detected again, then the specialist determines how to eliminate the worms, offering a new treatment regimen based on the use of other anti-worm tablets that will better cope withtask.
Treatment
Anthelmintic therapy
Anthelmintic drugs form the basis of treatment of parasitic diseases. They must be usedstrictly as prescribed by the doctor, because when selecting a drug, it is necessary to take into account a number of important factors:
- form of helminthiasis;
- phase of disease development;
- pathogen;
- concomitant diseases of the child;
- characteristics of his condition.
Only a doctor can correctly assess these indicators and select the optimal drug. Self-medication for helminthiasis in children is unacceptable. Incorrectly chosen treatment is often not only ineffective, but also accompanied by serious side effects.
How to do a stool test for helminths and their eggs?
When choosing treatment, the doctor must take into account the causative agent of the disease. You should not count on a universal remedy, since most drugs act only on a certain circle of helminths. If the wrong medication is used, the clinical picture of the disease in the child does not disappear, the disease continues to progress, which can lead to serious complications.
If there are several children in a family, doctors often recommend anthelmintic treatment for all family members at once. This will avoid repeated cases of helminth infection after treatment.
Symptomatic therapy
In addition to anthelmintic treatment, the child is also prescribed symptomatic treatment aimed at eliminating the clinical manifestations of the disease. In case of a severe allergic reaction, antihistamines are used - Suprastin, Tavegil, Claritin.
If the baby has serious manifestations of intoxication, he is prescribed antipyretics and painkillers. To relieve acute symptoms, plenty of fluids are prescribed or infusion therapy is carried out. If there is a risk of developing vasculitis and myocarditis, glucocorticoids (for example, prednisolone) are prescribed.
How to treat worms with folk remedies
Traditional treatment methods include medicinal plants that have anthelmintic and laxative effects. Although the effectiveness of these remedies has not been scientifically tested, many of them have been used since ancient times to treat intestinal worms in humans at home.
- The best folk remedy is pumpkin seeds for worms. Take and peel pumpkin seeds (80-100g), try not to damage the green skin. Grind them, add 2 tablespoons of honey and 100 grams of water, mix. This remedy should be taken strictly in the morning, on an empty stomach. A restaurant boat every hour for 3 hours. Then you need to take a laxative, and after 1-2 hours do an enema.
- Grenade. Pomegranate peel contains punicin, which is highly toxic to worms. A decoction of the bark in fresh water should be taken three times a day by adults and children suffering from parasites.
- Onion broth (pour 200 ml of boiling water over 1 onion, leave for 2 days, consume before meals for 4 days)
As for prevention, to prevent helminthic infestations, it is necessary to wash your hands with soap when returning from the street, heat treat meat and fish, do not drink raw water and do not swimin polluted bodies of water.
Prevention
The main prevention of helminthiasis in children is compliance with the rules of personal hygiene.
Therefore, we can cite precautionary measures to prevent helminthic infestations:
- teach children personal hygiene skills (washing hands after using the toilet, being in contact with animals, walking outside, before eating);
- fight against bad habits (the child should be prohibited from sucking his fingers, biting his nails or putting foreign objects in his mouth);
- fight against mosquitoes, flies and insects;
- high-quality processing of meat and fish;
- high-quality water disinfection;
- deworming of domestic dogs and cats;
- avoid contact with stray animals;
- thorough washing of greens and vegetables, berries and fruits;
- frequent change of underwear and bed linen (once a day);
- iron underwear and bed linen with a hot iron;
- carry out hygiene procedures in the anal area twice a day to prevent enterobiosis;
- wear panties with elastics at night;
- thorough wet cleaning of the premises.
Once in the body, helminths in children disrupt the normal functioning of various organs and systems. And if adults have a strong immune system that constantly fights against "unwanted guests", then this does not happen in a child: his body is always weak and vulnerable. Therefore, it is important to teach the child to observe personal hygiene standards as early as possible to prevent helminthic infection and, if symptoms appear, immediately contact a specialist for further anthelmintic treatment.