Worms (helminthic)

Worms are parasitic worms that live in the bodies of humans and animals. They are difficult to detect as they disguise themselves in many other diseases and conditions. Symptoms of helminthiasis range from mild malaise to fainting with severe poisoning. We will tell you where you can get infected with worms and how to get rid of them.

What is this

Worms are considered to be the most common parasites in humans. Today science knows about 300 worm diseases. The most common are intestinal worm diseases - enterobiasis and ascariasis, which affect more than 2 billion people.

The size of the worms that live in the body varies from a few millimeters to several meters. For example, the length of the worms that cause enterobiasis does not exceed 1 cm. Some strips (for example, the wide worm) reach 12-15 meters.

Causes of helminthiasis

Helminthiasis is a disease in which worm infection occurs. Worms enter the human body and remain there. These parasites live not only in the intestines but also in other organs and tissues.

According to the World Health Organization, one in four people on Earth is infected with worms. At the same time, WHO experts note that the actual number of infected people is at least 50%. This mainly concerns countries with low health culture (these are some countries in Africa and Southeast Asia). In other countries, more than 1. 5 million cases of helminth infection are reported each year. Most of them are children.

How can you become infected with worms?

There are 4 ways of infection:

1. Through the soil. Such diseases are called geohelminthiasis. Unwashed fruits can host tens of thousands of parasites. That is why it is so important to wash vegetables, fruits and hands thoroughly before eating. Pets are another source of pests in the soil.
2. In contact with an infected person. Parasitic worms are incredibly fertile. In a single day, the female pinworm is able to lay up to 5 thousand eggs in the human body. Eggs and adults can be transmitted to other people through bedding and other household items. After that, it is enough for the infected not to wash their hands and the worms will penetrate inside.
3. When you eat contaminated food. Such helminthic diseases are called biohelminthiasis. You can catch the parasite with insufficient heat treatment of meat, poultry or fish.
4. Through an insect bite. This type of transmission is rare. As a rule, very small parasites can be transmitted through insect bites.

Examine the risk factors that increase the chance of worm infection in adults and children:

• Ignore the rules of hygiene - if you do not wash your hands after the street, using the toilet or before eating.
• The habit of biting nails - there is a lot of dirt under them with germs and parasites. This also includes the habit of taking pens, pencils and other objects in your mouth.
• Poor care for pets, especially for those who go out.
• Eating unwashed vegetables and fruits.
• Using water from questionable sources.
• Poor cleaning of living areas.
• Passion for feed that has not been properly cooked.

Who is at risk?

No one is free from worm infection. As long as you relax in terms of hygiene and the larva of the parasite can "penetrate" into the body. The following categories of individuals are particularly susceptible to helminthiasis:

• Young children. Most often, helminth infestations occur in children. This is due to the fact that the child neglects the rules of hygiene. Young children put objects in their mouths and often dig in the mud on the streets. In groups, children tend to communicate more closely with each other than adults, which also increases the chance of infection.
• Families with pets. Eggs and larvae of pests, which entered from the street into the house with pets, can be found everywhere. Often, dog, cat and other pet owners are unaware of the problem and learn about the presence of worms when contacting a veterinarian for another reason.
• Eaters. Exotic cuisine lovers such as sushi, raw meat or fish are also at risk.
• Travelers. This is especially true for people traveling to countries with a low level of hygiene.
• Summer residents, agricultural workers. People who work in vegetable gardens, orchards or just live in the countryside.
• People who encounter raw fish or meat at work. For example, vendors or chefs - when processing, cutting and preparing food.

Myth 1: There are no parasites in marine fish.

Many people mistakenly believe that worms are found only in river fish and not in the sea due to salt water. Indeed, marine fish are mainly affected by parasites that are not dangerous to humans. In this respect, raw river fish are more dangerous than raw sea fish. But this does not mean that sea fish is completely safe: it is always recommended to process any fish - fry it well, boil it or freeze it for 3 days.

Classification of helminthiasis

There are several classifications of parasitic worms. Once detected, the worms are:

• Intestine - live in the small or large intestine. These include askari, eels, whip, bovine tape and more.
• Pulmonary - live in the tissues of the bronchopulmonary system. Most often it is a pulmonary stroke.
• Tissue - parasitizes various tissues of the body. Tissue worms include schistosomes, trichinella and toxocar.
• Liver and gallbladder parasites. It is hepatic flow, hepatic giant flow and clone (Chinese fortune).

There are 4 categories of helminthic diseases, depending on the pathogen:

• Nematodes - caused by worms. These are ascariasis, enterobiasis, trichinosis, hair follicles, toxocariasis, hookworm and others.
• Cestodoses - the causative agents are the bands. Such pathologies include hymenoplasty, tenacity, tenorhinxia, bifurcation, and cirrhosis.
• Dystomies are diseases caused by squamous worms. These are neurosis, retardation, dicrocellulosis.
• Protozoa - The causative agents are protozoa, such as the lamprey, toxoplasmosis or amoeba.

More than 70 species of parasitic worms are distributed. The most common are the following helminthic diseases (see Table).

Helminth raids

Disease	The causal factor and its characteristics	Transfer method
Ascariasis	It is called ascaris. These are worms that live in the intestines. They can grow up to 30-40 cm. Roundworms feed on almost all nutrients from food. In the process of vital activity, worms injure the intestinal walls to the point of perforation.	Most often, ascaris eggs are transmitted through the feces-oral route. Insist for a long time on the ground and on the surface of vegetables, fruits, herbs and berries
Enterobiasis	It develops when worms enter the body. These are small round worms, the size of which is 0. 5-1 cm. The main risk in enterobiasis is toxic worm waste	Communication with an infected person. The fungus eggs remain on various surfaces for quite some time.
Giardiasis	It is caused by tiny parasites - bulbs. Pathogens produce toxic substances and damage tissues	Giardia is spread through the fecal-oral route as well as through contaminated food and water
Reversal	The causative agents are small worms up to 2 cm in size. Most often they parasitize the liver and bile ducts. With regression, toxic poisoning and mechanical tissue damage occur	Backward pathogens are transmitted by raw fish
Echinococcosis	It is caused by echinococci - strips, the size of which does not exceed 5 cm. Echinococci infect parasites in various tissues, including the heart and brain. Pathogens cause serious disorders in the functioning of the organs and systems of the body. In some cases, they can cause a malignant tumor process.	Spread with dirty hands and contaminated food. Carriers of Echinococcus can also be dogs and rodents.
Bisexuality	Causal factors - large strips, reaching 10-15 meters. The bands live in the small intestine and cause serious damage to the host's body. Worms produce toxic substances and significantly affect the function of the digestive tract	It is transmitted by eating raw fish
Hair loss	Named after whipworm, a round hair-like worm. Vlasoglava can reach 5-6 meters. The worms live in the intestines, penetrating the submucosal layer. Causes poisoning, inflammation and acute anemia	The invasion is carried out by swallowing the eggs of the parasite

Worm infestations are also classified according to the stages:

• Acute helminths - appear 2-4 weeks after infection. In this case, the symptoms of the worms are observed from 1 week to several months. If left untreated, the disease becomes chronic.
• Chronic helminthiasis - the manifestations depend on the type of parasite. For example, in the case of larvae with reproductive larvae, then prolonged allergic reactions will follow. Other chronic worm diseases can be asymptomatic or accompanied by pain, malaise, fatigue and other symptoms.

Complications of helminthiasis

If left untreated, helminthiasis can lead to serious, sometimes life-threatening, complications:

• Anemia - anemia, an insufficient number of red blood cells and hemoglobin in the blood. This condition is due to the fact that worms consume some of the nutrients that are necessary for normal hematopoietic function.
• Destruction of tissues and organs. Worms live not only in the gastrointestinal tract, but also in the thickness of tissues, for example, liver, lungs, muscles. Tissues are mainly affected during the migration of worms, when they move from one part (or organ) to another - ulcers and foci of persistent inflammation form. In this context, the risk of infections and malignancies increases.
• Diseases of the nervous system. This is due to the toxic worm wastes that poison the body. Nerve tissues are more sensitive to toxins. This can lead to irritability, headaches, insomnia and other signs of damage to the nervous system.
• Allergic reactions. Toxic substances secreted by worms can also act as allergens. Human immunity may not respond adequately to these substances. This leads to the appearance of typical allergic symptoms - rashes, redness of the skin, itching and sometimes nausea and vomiting.

The presence of worms in the body also leads to a lack of the following metals:

• Zinc. With zinc deficiency, immunity is reduced, a person often catches a cold and suffers from other infectious diseases. The possibility of developing prostatitis and infertility increases, because this trace element is extremely important for the health of the reproductive system.
• Selenium. It reduces immunity and also increases the risk of malignancies.
• Iodine. Iodine deficiency in children leads to delayed growth and development (physical and mental). In adults, the work of the thyroid gland deteriorates, metabolic processes are slowed down.
• Manganese. With a lack of manganese, the bones become brittle. A person loses weight quickly, often suffering from cramps and dermatitis.
• Chromium. Deficiency of this element leads to growth retardation and disturbance of carbohydrate metabolism.

Worms and immunity

Worms are often accompanied by other parasites - toxoplasma and chlamydia. This is due to the suppression of immunity. A healthy body is able to resist invaders, but with helminthiasis, the defense is weakened. Toxoplasmosis is especially dangerous during pregnancy, as it can lead to fetal death.

Symptoms of helminthiasis

The signs of worms are varied in both adults and children. The most common symptoms are:

• Itching in the anus is the most common symptom of intestinal worms.
• gnashing of teeth in a dream - occurs due to toxins released by worms.
• running to sleep and in the morning.
• nausea when brushing your teeth in the morning.
• peeling of the skin of the hands and feet.
• allergic skin rashes.
• intense feeling of hunger, up to fainting.
• swelling (often allergic).
• itchy skin?
• chronic fatigue;
• headache and dizziness
• mental disorders for no known reason (stress, nervousness, depression).
• inflation?
• symptoms of intestinal disorders.
• change in body weight (both overweight and weakness).
• the simultaneous course of many diseases (or the succession of one disease to another);
• cramps or pulling pains in the abdomen
• anemia;
• retardation of physical and mental development in children;
• childhood hyperactivity or lethargy.
• enlarged lymph nodes (often in the acute stage of helminthiasis).

When to see a doctor

A therapist or specialist in infectious diseases deals with the treatment of parasitic diseases. You should consult a doctor if you notice one or more of the above symptoms. Due to a rather sophisticated worm cover system, you should explain the symptoms to your doctor as accurately as possible and also talk about your lifestyle: what food do you prefer, if you have recently traveled and where, are there pets etc.

Diagnosis of the disease

If the doctor suspects a helminthic invasion, then it is not difficult to detect. The following diagnostic procedures are used for this purpose:

• Stool examination. A sample of feces is delivered to the laboratory. They may contain eggs or larvae of parasites that live in the intestines.
• Scratching for enterobiasis. A swab is taken from the anus with a swab. With this analysis, worms can be detected. Scratching should be done early in the morning, before going to the toilet.
• A blood test for antibodies. This is a fairly informative test with which you can identify many parasites. However, even with a positive result, there is no 100% guarantee that the parasites are still in the patient's body, because the antibodies remain even after their elimination.
• Organic diagnosis. The use of radiography, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography with the use of contrast agents. These diagnostic methods make it possible to identify both large worms and certain pathological changes in the tissues caused by helminth infestation.

As a rule, the doctor prescribes different studies to increase the reliability of the data obtained. Sometimes a patient needs to be checked several times to make an accurate diagnosis.

Great!When confirming helminthiasis, it is necessary to notify other close family members about it. An examination for them is also recommended. If the test is positive, it is important that all infected family members receive treatment. Otherwise, the parasite eggs will re-enter the body of the recovered person and everything will have to be repeated from the beginning.

Treatment of helminths in children and adults

Despite the abundance of antiparasitic drugs in pharmacies, you can not take them alone. By recommending a comprehensive treatment, the doctor seeks not only to remove the parasites, but also to eliminate the consequences of their vital activity.

As a rule, in addition to anthelmintic drugs, the patient is also prescribed vitamins and other drugs that eliminate the symptoms of the disease. The doctor selects drugs individually for each patient, because the symptoms are different for each.

Drugs for the treatment of helminthiasis

With helminth infestations, patients are prescribed a complex of the following drugs:

• Anthelmintic drugs. These are anthelmintic drugs that either remove or kill worms. These goals are achieved by disrupting the metabolism of parasites or paralyzing their muscles. In the latter case, they lose their ability to remain in the intestine and are eliminated.
• Antihistamines. If the patient is allergic to parasites, then during treatment, doctors prescribe anti-allergic drugs. This is extremely important, as with the mass death of worms, a large number of allergens are released, which can cause a strong allergic reaction. Antihistamines block the production of histamine, the main mediator of an allergic reaction.
• Enterosorbents. These are drugs that can bind substances in the gastrointestinal tract. In the treatment of worms, enterosorbents are used to bind and remove the toxic substances secreted by the worms.
• Vitamins and minerals. Most often, B vitamins (folic acid and B12) and iron supplements are prescribed. This is necessary for the treatment of anemia.
• Hepatoprotectants. These are drugs that protect the liver from toxic substances. These include preparations based on essential phospholipids or plant materials (thistle, artichoke, licorice, balsam and other plants).
• Probiotics and prebiotics. Recommended for the restoration of intestinal microflora. Probiotics are live cultures of beneficial bacteria. Prebiotics are indigestible food ingredients (such as fiber) that are fermented only by the intestinal flora.

Surgery

In most cases, it is enough to take a set of drugs. However, sometimes doctors are still forced to resort to surgery. For example, a large accumulation of worms can cause intestinal obstruction. This is an emergency that requires surgery.

Worms can accumulate in the bile duct, against the background of which obstructive jaundice and even liver abscess develop. The same condition can occur in the pancreas, leading to acute pancreatitis. If the worms enter the appendix, appendicitis develops. All of these conditions require immediate surgery.

Surgery is often performed when the organs have been damaged by echinococcus. These parasites accumulate, forming echinococcal plugs in the liver, lungs, bones, kidneys, and even the brain. The danger of such a plug is that it can swell and burst.

Folk remedies for worms

Folk remedies for worms are not as effective as anthelmintic drugs. This is only an auxiliary method - the main treatment is prescribed by a doctor.

Folk remedies include pumpkin seeds, which contain cucurbitin, a substance that has anthelmintic action.

Myth 2: Garlic enemas are free of worms

Worms really do not like garlic, because it contains herbicides - antibacterial and antiparasitic substances. However, it is not necessary to make garlic enemas for helminthiasis. In the large intestine, where the contents of the enema are injected, there are very few worms. Most of the parasites live in the small intestine, so this process is useless. In addition, from such an enema, you can get severe irritation of the mucous membrane.

Prevention and precautions

In most cases, the prognosis for the treatment of helminthiasis is favorable. A timely visit to a doctor will avoid a number of complications to which the worms lead.

Worm prevention is limited to compliance with the following recommendations:

• Wash your hands with soap and water before eating, after returning from the street, the toilet or after contact with animals.
• Wash vegetables, fruits and herbs thoroughly. Better to pour boiling water over them.
• Do not use other people's toiletries and other people's dishes.
• Quit bad habits (smoking, alcohol).
• Avoid stress, it will have a beneficial effect on immunity.
• Regularly show your pet to the vet, vaccinate in a timely manner.
• Each year, it undergoes a comprehensive screening test, including tests for worm eggs.
• Cook meat, poultry, fish and eggs properly.

Myth 3: parasites die in frozen meat.

This only applies to certain worms. For example, the bovine tapeworm actually dies when the meat is very frozen (minus 12 and below). And, for example, Trichinella larvae can be eliminated only after 2-3 hours of cooking.

conclusion

The main cause of helminth infestations is poor hygiene. Improving hygiene and proper cooking of animal foods significantly reduces the likelihood of helminths. In most cases, worms do not pose a risk to human health if detected early. However, lack of treatment leads to serious consequences - anemia, damage to the nervous system and other infections.