Worm infestation - infection of the human body with parasitic worms - worms (helminths). Symptoms of helminthic invasion are determined by the form of infection, the number of parasites received, the degree of their adaptability in the human body and other characteristics.
The first signs of the disease in adults can appear 2-3 days after infection and after a year and a half, but usually the incubation period is 2-3 weeks.
Helminths do not tend to multiply in the human body (with the exception of worms and some other worms)
Infection forms:
- domestic contact;
- feed;
- transmissible;
- percutaneous.
The source of infection is a sick person or carrier.
Classification of helminths
In adults, the parasitism of more than two hundred varieties of helminths has been recorded, which, according to their structural characteristics, belong mainly to two types of worms:
- Roundworms are nematodes that cause diseases such as ascariasis, enterobiasis, trichuriasis, trichinosis, dracunculiasis, filariasis, toxocariasis.
- Flatworms subdivided into:
- a class of tapeworms that cause teniarinhoz, taeniasis, cysticercosis, diphyllobothriasis, hymenolepiasis, echinococcosis;
- a class of worms that cause schistosomiasis, opisthorchiasis, clonorchiasis, fascioliasis, dicroceliasis.
Depending on life cycle characteristics and transmission factors, three main types of helminths are distinguished: geohelminths, biohelminths, contact helminths.
The influence of parasites on the human body
The vast majority of worms live in the intestines of adults, however, some types of parasitic worms in the larval stage mature in the tissues of other organs (liver, brain, heart, lungs, eyes, and so on). In the process of vital activity of helminths, toxic substances are formed that penetrate the bloodstream and are transported by it to different organs. In addition, helminths in the human intestine absorb substances necessary for life (amino acids, fatty acids, glucose, enzymes and others), leading to dysfunctions in the physiological systems of the body.
During pregnancy, helminthic invasions are doubly dangerous: the harmful effect is reflected not only in the condition of the mother, but also in the maturation of the embryo.
Worm infestation can complicate pregnancy development. As a result of infection in a woman's body, nutrient absorption is reduced, which is highly undesirable during pregnancy.
In addition, helminths during pregnancy can cause severe toxicosis. Pinworms can penetrate a woman's genitals. This leads to intense itching and, as a result, constant discomfort and sleep disturbances.
There are helminths that can damage the intestinal wall. As a result, small but long-term blood loss is possible. This is fraught with the formation of iron deficiency anemia in a pregnant woman.
Helminths are able to penetrate the placental barrier and parasitize the trunk and body of the fetus. In addition, they can enter the brain and lead to an increase in the size of the head, which complicates the course of childbirth.
Its presence in the lungs is also dangerous - later on, the child will develop its chronic inflammation.
clinic
Distinguish between the acute stage of helminthic invasion, which is characterized by a more pronounced clinical course, and the chronic stage, which may last for several years and manifest as unresolved symptoms.
The most common symptoms of helminthic invasion:
- The appearance of dysfunctions in the digestive system, namely:
- constipation (due to blockage of the intestinal lumen, bile ducts with worms);
- soft stools (due to the influence of substances produced by helminths);
- excessive gas formation (due to indigestion).
- Joint and muscle pain - appear when the parasites penetrate the fluid and muscles of the joints.
- Skin symptoms (rash, eczema, itching, acne) caused by the influence of toxic substances produced by helminths.
- Nervous system disorders, expressed:
- anxiety;
- irritability;
- Wish;
- sleep disorders, etc.
- Weight loss associated with metabolic disorders.
- Catarrhal symptoms of the respiratory tract (runny nose, cough), arising from the penetration of helminths into them.
Indirect signs of helminthic invasion:
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- increase in body temperature;
- fatigue, asthenia;
- nausea (may be during pregnancy, as a manifestation of toxicosis);
- headaches;
- anemia (due to blood loss);
- itching in the perineum.
Diagnosis
Typically, to detect helminthic invasion in adults, a fecal analysis or scraping of the folds around the anus is performed. Worm eggs are examined microscopically and their appearance is determined.
However, this analysis does not always help to identify helminths. The most specific for helminthic invasion is a blood test for the presence of antibodies to various types of worms in it. In a general blood test, when the body is infected with helminths, an increase in the content of eosinophils and leukocytes is detected.
To identify worms during pregnancy, it may not be enough to just analyze the stool. For a more reliable diagnosis, it is necessary to perform an ultrasound, a blood test and an analysis of the amniotic fluid.
Therapy
When signs of helminthic invasion are detected and the diagnosis is verified through blood and stool tests, treatment is carried out taking into account the type of parasite. For this, the doctor prescribes specific anthelmintic drugs. More often, these drugs do not enter the bloodstream, exerting an effect exclusively within the intestines. Because of this, the possibility of toxic effects on the body is minimal.
In some situations, a single use of the drug is enough to get rid of the worms, in others, a longer treatment is needed, built according to an individual scheme by a specialist.
This is a prerequisite for the disease not to take a chronic course. The main task of the repeated course of treatment is the destruction of parasites that have entered the human body in the form of eggs and have not yet completed their developmental life cycle. After some time, they will turn into adults and will be destroyed under the influence of drugs.
Usually, for a good result, the whole family must be treated under the control of blood and stool tests.
Pathogen therapy includes anti-allergy drugs, drugs to normalize the intestinal flora.
At the same time, concomitant diseases, often developed as a complication of helminthiasis (anemia, hypovitaminosis, malnutrition), are treated.
During pregnancy, in addition to the anthelmintic effect of the drug, its possible effect on the fetus is taken into account.
As a rule, in the first trimester of pregnancy, when the posture of the main organs and systems of the embryo is in the formation stage, it is better to avoid this treatment. During this period, any medication can cause much more harm to the fetus than the likely risk of exposure to worms.
At this stage, you can try to get rid of parasites with the help of non-drug means.
Many recipes are known that can complement the basic treatment and sometimes completely replace drug therapy. The most proven means of helminths are:
- pumpkin seeds;
- onion;
- garlic;
- pomegranate juice;
- tansy and absinthe infusions.
In the second and third trimesters, the likelihood of a negative effect of drugs on the fetus and its size decreases.
After the end of the course of therapy, it is necessary to reanalyze the presence of worms - scraping. This is done to ensure that the prescribed treatment is correct and that all worms are destroyed.
It should be remembered that therapy should be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. Repeat analysis is done not earlier than 2 weeks after the end of treatment. It is possible to consider the course of therapy completed with 3 negative tests 2 weeks apart.
Prevention
Measures to prevent helminthiasis:
- adherence to personal hygiene measures (wash hands before eating, use
- personal hygiene products, underwear and individual bedding);
- mandatory washing with water of vegetables, fruits, vegetables before eating;
- complete heat treatment of meat, fish;
- fight against blood-sucking insects;
- regular wet cleaning indoors;
- complete pet care;
- regular replacement of underwear and bed linen, with the obligation to iron them;
- exclusion from swimming in water bodies with a high probability of helminth infection.
When planning a pregnancy, you should be screened for helminths. If they are present, treatment is necessary before pregnancy, so as not to harm the child's body.
Timely and thorough treatment of the acute form of helminthiasis is prevention of the chronic course of the disease.