The modern rhythm of life often does not allow us to pay attention to minor ailments: increasing fatigue, dizziness, pain in the joints and intestines.We often associate minor illnesses with overwork, lack of sleep, stress and anxiety.But few people think that such diseases can be caused by worms (helminths) that live in our bodies for a long time, causing a number of symptoms that we often consider signs of other diseases.Symptoms of worms in adults or children depend on many factors, but in any case, the presence of parasites in our body causes discomfort and disgust, so it is important to identify the parasite as quickly as possible and carry out appropriate treatment to eliminate it.
What is helminth infection?
Worms in humans, or the medical term “helminth infections”, are a large group of diseases that develop after parasites enter the human body.According to medical indicators, it is found that about 80% of the population is infected with worms but not everyone knows about it.As a rule, human parasites can be found in the intestines or internal organs and tissues of humans.Worms are retained in the human body by special organs: suckers, hooks and spines.They feed on tissue juices or nutrients contained in the blood.
During their lives, worms produce toxic substances that are absorbed into the blood and lymph and then spread throughout the body, penetrating organs and internal systems, where they disrupt their functions.Modern medicine knows more than one hundred species of parasitic helminths in the human body.Some of them do not cause much harm, while others are quite dangerous to human health and life.It is important to remember that worms, after entering the body, will use our "resources" for their vital functions, causing many disruptions in the functioning of the entire organism.
In the early stages, symptoms of worms are faint or completely absent.In such cases, detecting parasites is quite difficult and is possible only when a person pays attention to his health, notices the slightest violations and takes measures to eliminate them.
Types of parasitic worms on the human body
Over many years of evolution, worms have learned to adapt well to the human environment.In parasitism, human worms are divided into two groups:
- Tissue helminths - parasitic in human tissues or internal organs: cysticercosis, paragonimiasis, echinococcosis, filariasis and others, can affect the human brain, liver, lungs, joints, etc.
- Cavity worms - live in the small or large intestine: tapeworms, hookworms, roundworms, pinworms, whipworms.
Worms are not able to reproduce in the human body.The lifespan of some parasites is a few weeks (pinworms), but some individuals can live for many years (roundworms, tapeworms) and reach large sizes.The lifespan of caveworms is often increased by reinfection.Symptoms of worms in an adult or child directly depend on the number of helminths in the body, their type, general health and other characteristics of the human body.
How does worm infection occur?
You can become infected with helminths in many ways:
- Through soil: eating unwashed fruits and vegetables, lack of personal hygiene when working with soil.
- Swim in the reservoir.
- Domestic or street animals - cats, dogs - are frequent carriers of parasites.Infection can occur both when playing with pets and through soil or sand.
- Through food - animal meat that has not undergone the necessary heat treatment - the main source of infection with tissue worms.In addition to meat products, worms can also be found in dairy products, meat, fish, and canned foods.
- Non-compliance with personal hygiene rules is the main cause of worms in children who, while playing and walking on the street, often put dirty hands in their mouths and rub their eyes.
Helminth infections can occur in other ways.Once a parasitic disease is diagnosed, determining the source of infection is difficult and nearly impossible.
The first signs of helminth infection
Once parasites enter the human body, they encounter the barriers of the immune system, which recognizes them as foreign agents.If the immune system is strong, it is likely that helminths will not enter the body or will be quickly destroyed.In cases where human immunity is weak, it cannot fight parasites that enter the intestines without barriers, develop and turn into adults.After a while, when the parasites mature, they begin to secrete large amounts of toxins that are toxic to the human body.Worm waste products enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body, causing the first signs such as:
- periodic headaches;
- increased fatigue;
- increased or decreased appetite;
- nausea;
- stomach-ache;
- constipation or diarrhea;
- anal itching;
- sleep disorders;
- increased sensitivity to allergens;
- increased discomfort.
Symptoms of worm infection in adults or children negatively affect the state of the immune system;Skin rashes due to worms have also been reported, often confused with dermatitis.Almost always, when the above symptoms appear, a person does not even suspect the presence of a parasitic disease, but begins to be examined by doctors in other fields of medicine, who after the test results do not note any significant abnormalities and give a referral or offer to test for worms.
Symptoms of worms in humans
Symptoms of helminths in adults or children depend directly on the type of parasite, its location and the intensity of infection.For example, after roundworm infection, symptoms appear on days 2–4.The clinic is always wiped out and is accompanied by a general malaise of the body.In other cases, when infected with parasites, the first signs may appear after 2 - 3 weeks, and if a person is infected with filariasis, the incubation period lasts up to 18 months.Let's consider the main symptoms of parasitic diseases, noted along with signs of helminth infection (listed above), caused by a certain type of helminth:
- Pinworm or intestinal worm disease - causes itching in the anal canal, itching more at night, teeth grinding while sleeping.
- Trichocephalus, diphyllobothrosis, schistosomiasis lead to the development of vitamin deficiency and anemia, and also contribute to the development of dysbiosis.
- Roundworms - body temperature increases to 37.5 degrees, dry cough with phlegm.Laboratory tests show an increased number of eosinophils and an allergic rash.In severe infections, bronchitis with attacks of suffocation and pneumonia may develop.There are also digestive disorders and rapid and significant weight loss.
- Trichinosis - causes muscle pain, fever, swelling of the eyelids and limbs.
- Fascioliasis, Giardia, opisthorchiasis - affects the liver, causing jaundice symptoms.There is an enlarged spleen, neurological disorders and digestive disorders.
- Urogenital schistosomiasis - causes diuretic disorders, characterized by the release of blood during urination.
In addition to the above symptoms that can appear when infected with helminths, there are also life-threatening symptoms that affect the brain, central nervous system, eyes, joints and other organs.It is very important not to look for other diseases, but to undergo a complete examination of the body with all tests for helminth infection.Only then can the parasite be identified and all treatments are aimed at eliminating it and restoring the function of internal organs.
Worms are very dangerous
Worms in children - symptoms often lead to a decrease in appetite, as well as the development of allergic reactions or bronchitis.In more severe forms, bronchial asthma, pneumonia and other serious diseases can develop.Severe forms of parasitic disease often lead to intestinal blockages and nervous system disorders.Worms significantly reduce immunity, leaving the human body unable to defend itself against other diseases of infectious or non-infectious origin.In more serious cases, worms can lead to brain damage and even death in humans.
Test for helminth infection
Surely each of us is interested in the question: am I infected with helminths?We offer you a simple test, then count the number of positive answers to the following symptoms, most characteristic of parasitic diseases:
- Do you feel itchy in your anus?
- Do you have skin rashes?
- Do you often have headaches?
- Do you often feel nauseous?
- Do you often worry about bowel movements: bloating, flatulence, constipation, diarrhea?
- Do you have a good and restful sleep?
- Do you notice puffiness or swelling on your legs, body or under your eyes in the morning?
- Do you have bronchial asthma?
- Have you noticed enlarged lymph nodes?
- Do you often feel bitter in your mouth?
- Do you feel tired easily?
- Do you experience a slight increase in body temperature and lack of motivation?
- Is your skin yellow?
- Do you snore or grind your teeth when you sleep?
- Have you lost weight due to cravings?
You need to answer: yes or no.If you have 8 positive answers, there is a risk of helminth infection.In case there are more than 12 positive answers, there is a high possibility of parasitic disease.In such cases, you need to consult an infectious disease specialist or parasitologist as soon as possible, have a stool test for worm eggs and a general blood test.Test results will help confirm or refute a helminth infection.
Methods of treating helminth infections
Currently there are many ways to treat worms in children or adults.The choice of treatment method still depends on the treating doctor, the type of worm, the patient's age and other factors.The current deworming process is called deworming, which involves the use of special drugs that must be prescribed by a doctor in each specific case.Worms - symptoms and treatment depend on many factors that the attending physician must take into account.It is important to remember that you cannot treat worms independently, this will at best not bring results and at worst will lead to complications, because all antihelminthic drugs have many contraindications and side effects.