Worms or helminths is a disease that masks its course quite well. Therefore, often a person does not heal a phenomenon that worsens health. Knowing the main signs of worms, you can accurately determine their presence or absence in the body.
The main thing to remember is the correct assessment of the patient's condition and the specificity of the course of the disease. In order for the treatment to proceed efficiently and in a timely manner, a detailed study of the manifestations of worms is necessary.
How can you get infected with worms
Any adult can become a carrier of parasitic worms, and a child is also susceptible to infection.
Helminths can enter the body in several ways, namely:
- water;
- food;
- contact and household;
- autoinfection;
- transmissible.
The first waterway of infection is based on the ingestion of water, which contains either the eggs of the worms or the larvae. The larvae enter the water through an intermediate host, for example, a mollusk, and only then leave its body and develop independently, attaching to aquatic plants. As soon as the liquid enters the body of a living being, the worm makes its way into the digestive system and is already fixed here.
This process often takes place in rivers, ponds, lakes, springs. In order to avoid contamination, you need to stop drinking water in open sources, especially for children. If the case forces you to absorb such water, then boiling or filtering through a special filter is a prerequisite.
The food route of entry is the main and most common principle of infection. It has a direct connection with non-observance of basic hygiene or a violation of the technologies for preparing dishes from meat and fish. The helminth penetrates through dirty hands, vegetables, berries, fruits, etc. Everything that is grown on the ground can contain the eggs of worms. They appear there from the feces of patients with ascariasis and live in favorable conditions for them for a fairly long period of time. The greatest probability of infection is where the soil is fertilized with feces with the presence of ascaris eggs in them.
The larvae found in meat and fish enter the body along with improperly cooked food, not completely cooked. Once inside a person, the worms eventually develop into an individual capable of laying eggs on its own. It is worth knowing that in 24 hours one worm can produce several hundred thousand new eggs.
In order not to get infected and not to experience the signs of worms, it is necessary to purchase meat and fish only in checked places, pay attention to the presence of veterinary control, examine meat and especially the liver for the presence of worms. Also thoroughly boil (steam, fry) food, process kitchen utensils properly, protect the room from flies that can carry helminth eggs on their paws.
The household contact method involves the penetration of worms by contact with household items, animals that have the larvae of the worms. Statistics show that more than 70% of the entire earth's population were infected with worms, half of this number became infected through contact with pets. This is dangerous because the signs of the presence of worms in animals may not appear at all. But in humans, the symptom of penetration of the helminth is expressed by nausea, constipation, vomiting, pain in the intestines, and weight loss.
Regarding self-infection, children are often susceptible to them, especially those of kindergarten age and younger schoolchildren. Children do not always follow the rules of hygiene, for example, after using the toilet. Helminthic invasion in babies is the development of enterobiasis. Pinworms have very light eggs, so they are transferred to toys, bedding, furniture by a gust of wind, and they can also get into the body with dust. When the worms inside a child or adult reach puberty, they crawl out onto the walls of the anus and begin the process of laying eggs. Itching and itching begins, these are the main signs of the penetration of worms. At night, the child can comb the anus, and then again put the worms into the mouth with his hands, in which case the cycle repeats.
With regard to transmissible infection, it should be said that the infection occurs by an insect bite. These can be mosquitoes, mosquitoes, fleas that pets have. Most often, infection occurs with filaments (filarias).
Symptoms of worms in an adult
The presence of worms in the body can be recognized by special signs, but in people they can differ.
Such manifestations characteristic of severely infected patients:
- exhaustion;
- weight loss (a sharp change in weight downward);
- pallor of the skin;
- severe itching in the anus.
Depending on where the helminths are located and what their number is, a certain symptom develops.
In the brain
The first and main symptom, which implies the presence of worms in the brain, is a general deterioration in well-being, and it is not permanent, but is temporary and cyclical. A necessary measure is a photo taken on an ultrasound machine, then the worms in the brain look like a tumor.Also, the symptoms should include:
- lethargy;
- feeling stunned;
- nausea along with vomiting;
- the disease causes seizures like epilepsy;
- temperature rise for no apparent reason.
These symptoms are generalized; special studies will help to see the prevailing picture more clearly.
In body
Among all the parasites of the Earth, more than 250 varieties of helminths can harm the human body. They can live in almost the entire body: heart, muscles, liver, under the skin, etc.
The symptoms of each case will be different, but there are still a number of common signs.
- weakness of the immune system;
- pain in joints, muscles;
- nervousness;
- fatigue that has developed into chronic;
- underweight;
- deterioration of the skin.
In the intestines
Most often, worms settle in the intestines, it is much easier to penetrate here and multiply in such an environment. You can find out about the presence of "inhabitants" by:
- constantly recurring bloating;
- diarrhea;
- fluctuations in weight;
- flatulence;
- feeling of constant hunger.
Signs of the appearance of worms, as well as how to identify worms using tests and other diagnostic methods
When a person becomes infected with worms, symptoms may not appear at the initial stage. You can see signs of the appearance of worms at home only when they begin to multiply. The first sign begins when the body is poisoned with toxins, parasites absorb those nutrients that a person receives with food.
The manifestation of helminths can be due to symptoms such as:
- diarrhea;
- discomfort in the abdomen;
- flatulence;
- bloating;
- stagnation of bile;
- constipation;
- allergic manifestations;
- intestinal inflammation;
- joint and muscle pain;
- dermatitis, eczema;
- brittle nails, cracks in the skin, discoloration of the skin;
- anemia;
- weight loss;
- nervous system disorder, anxiety symptom, troubled sleep;
- grinding teeth while sleeping;
- excessive fatigue, loss of performance;
- respiratory problems: inflammation, pneumonia, asthma;
- weakening of the immune system;
- oncology (if helminthiasis is not treated for a long time).
Methods for determining worms
How to determine worms in a person, the doctor knows for sure, as a rule, for this, an examination is carried out, which will help determine or refute the presence of a worm. After the main stage (collection of anamnesis) is completed, diagnostic procedures are prescribed. Which studies will be prescribed will depend on the severity of the symptoms and the type of helminthiasis. But it is imperative to take tests so as not to infect people with worms.
Blood test for parasites
Such an analysis is prescribed to detect the presence of helminths. For its delivery, preparation is required, such a condition will make it possible to make a more accurate diagnosis. Moreover, the recommendations should be followed by both an adult and a child.
- carried out in the morning on an empty stomach;
- at least 9 hours should pass from the last meal;
- you can drink water, exclude its carbonated version;
- 3 days you need to adhere to a diet in which there should be no salty, spicy, smoked foods;
- minimize exercise and stress;
- stop using medicines for any purpose in 14 days.
It happens that the analysis does not show an accurate result, moreover, there are signs of the appearance of worms. In this case, it is necessary to donate blood and feces again, and perhaps the next result will be positive.
Worms in feces
The presence of worms can be determined by the most common method - the delivery of feces. Distinguish between coptogram and Kato method. The first involves visual inspection of feces and chemical research. The Kato method reveals whether there is a worm visually, while biological material, that is, feces, is placed on a special glass.
Other signs of worms in a child
To find out if a child has an infection, you need to pay attention to his appearance. Almost every parent knows how to determine the worms of a child at home. For signs of a clear appearance of worms, the following symptoms will indicate:
- dark circles under the eyes;
- pale complexion;
- the body does not take food, there is a poor appetite;
- excessive salivation;
- vomiting, nausea;
- destabilization of the intestines along with constipation, diarrhea, pain in the stomach;
- dizziness;
- weakness;
- increased tearfulness, moodiness;
- itching in the anal area, the worm can even crawl out, it can be seen with the naked eye;
- redness between the buttocks.
Helminthic invasion: symptoms by type of parasite and means to combat them
Human infection with worms can occur in various ways. Often due to poor hygiene or contact with a carrier of worms. Parasitic diseases are considered dangerous because they skillfully disguise themselves as other ailments. Therefore, the symptoms may indicate a disease, helminthic invasion, rather ambiguous.
To find out the reasons, multiple diagnostics are required. As for the treatment, it is strictly individual, has an integrated approach, because it is important not only to identify the presence of helminths, but also to get rid of the consequences that they caused by their stay inside the body.
When worms enter the human body, they consume all those important components that are required for normal functioning. With all this, they also release toxic substances, have a negative effect on the immune system, and damage tissues and organs. If the disease is not treated in a timely manner, this leads to dire consequences, up to oncology and even death.
Signs by types of worms
Depending on the case, helminthic invasion has symptoms characteristic of a certain type of worms, because there are hundreds of varieties of them in nature. Pinworms are considered the most common, because infection can occur all year round. Each type of worms, whether round or tape, is manifested by a decrease in the functioning of the immune system, damage to internal organs, intoxication, allergies, etc.
Round
Roundworms or nematodes are a dangerous helminthic invasion, the symptoms of which do not appear in some cases immediately. To stay comfortably in the human body, worms need oxygen, a suitable temperature regime, a certain humidity. All this is inside the human body.
Symptoms of worms of this classification are very similar to colds:
- wandering pain;
- slight nausea;
- violation of appetite;
- weakness in the whole body;
- stool disorders;
- inflammation of the walls of the stomach and from this pain;
- acute allergies;
- intoxication;
- if treatment is missed, a violation of the working rhythm of all human organs develops.
The class of roundworms is quite extensive, so the signs also differ. For example, with the development of enterobiasis, itching may appear in the anus, it is especially aggravated at night. With ascariasis, the larvae actively migrate with the blood, so they can appear anywhere. The disease of trichinosis develops along with severe fever, muscle pain, swelling of the face, rashes of a bright red hue, and so on.
Tape
Tapeworms are also subdivided into types, including broad tapeworm, bovine tapeworm, echinococcus and others. Home remedies for these types of parasites are ineffective. Helminthic invasion and its symptoms are pronounced in a particular case.
So, with the development of a wide tapeworm in the body, it can be:
- pressure in the pancreas;
- decreased acidity of the stomach;
- disturbed digestion process;
- intestinal blockage;
- losing weight;
- anemia;
- in severe cases of the course of the disease, internal organs, high fever, numbness of the limbs can be increased.
With the development of tapeworm, similar symptoms are observed, frequent headaches are added, appetite increases or decreases sharply.
In the case of echinococcosis, the lungs and liver are damaged, muscles, brain, and bones are less likely to suffer. With liver damage, pain is observed in the right hypochondrium, heartburn, jaundice, cirrhosis. If the disease develops on the lungs, a severe dry cough with blood impurities begins, shortness of breath. In the abdominal cavity, the development of worms of this type is especially dangerous, as it can lead to severe intoxication, allergies, peritonitis and anaphylactic shock.
Remedy for worms for humans
Means for removing worms can be divided into drugs with a narrow and a wide range of effects. The first type is based on the use of protivocestodozny drugs, the second - antihelminthic. The latter are most often prescribed, they effectively fight parasites, stopping their growth and reproduction, and quickly remove them from the body.
A narrow spectrum is used depending on the situation and the neglect of the case. Self-medication can be dangerous to health and life! A visit to a specialist is a must.