Worms in the human body

Probably everyone knows what worms are and where they come from.But not everyone can answer what worms are and most importantly - what damage they can cause to the human body.

Characteristics and types of helminthiasis

Helminth infections are a group of human diseases caused by the ingestion of worms of parasitic origin, namely helminths that parasitize in the internal organs of a person, affecting tissues and disrupting their normal functioning.

Parasites can settle in almost any organ: intestines, lungs, gall bladder, liver and even the brain.The name of helminthiasis, its course, consequences and symptoms depend on the type of parasite that caused the disease.

But there are some generalized types of helminthiasis:

1. Contact.Transmission occurs directly from an already infected person through contact.The most common are hymenolepidosis caused by dwarf tapeworm and enterobiosis caused by pinworms.The parasites crawl out of the rectum and lay eggs on the human skin.Further spread occurs through food and household items.The main cause of infection through contact helminthiasis is non-observance of personal hygiene rules, as well as improper processing of products and non-observance of storage rules.
2. Geohelminthiasis.Characteristically, there is no need for an intermediate host;parasitic worms complete their entire life cycle in one organism.The eggs and larvae of the parasites can only live in the external environment, most often in the soil.Very rare species can grow indoors, most only in soil or water.Children who often play with the soil and those who work in farms and pastures are most susceptible to geohelminthiasis.Human infection occurs through consumption of unwashed vegetables and fruits and untreated drinking water.The penetration of helminths by ingestion of dust or through the skin is possible.

3. Biohelminthosis.The development of helminths requires the participation of an intermediate host, most often invertebrates.In principle, the transmission of biohelminthiasis occurs through blood-sucking insects.These types of parasites live in the blood of the final host, enter the body of the insect through a bite, then develop in it and through the same bite reach another person.But it is also possible to release eggs and larvae into the external environment, as in geohelminthiasis.Each type of helminth requires its own specific type of intermediate host.

Symptoms and causes of helminthiasis

Clinical symptoms of helminthiasis directly depend on the type of parasites in the human body and their habitat.Depending on the affected organ, different manifestations of the disease occur, which often prevents an accurate diagnosis.

Helminthiasis goes through acute and chronic stages of development.The acute stage lasts no more than 8 weeks, but the chronic stage can last for years.The acute stage is characterized by similar symptoms for all types of helminthiasis, because after the appearance of a foreign object in the human body, an immediate reaction of the immune system follows.

For the chronic stage, the symptoms become more specific to each particular disease and cannot be generalized.Everything depends on the affected organ, for example, when the parasites are localized in the intestine, abdominal pain and stool problems are typical.

Symptoms of helminthiasis:

1. Increased body temperature.
2. Excessive sweating and swelling.
3. Muscle and joint pain.
4. Diarrhea or, on the contrary, frequent constipation.
5. Dehydration, frequent vomiting.
6. Enlarged liver, spleen, lymph nodes, abdominal swelling.

7. Rash on human skin.
8. Increased level of leukocytes.
9. Iron deficiency anemia.
10. Itching of the skin and anus.
11. Disorders of the nervous system, apathy, irritability, depression.
12. Presence of bloody discharge in the stool or when urinating.
13. Pancreatitis, jaundice, hepatitis, intestinal obstruction.

Some types of helminthiasis are characterized by an asymptomatic, latent course of the disease.This is dangerous, because due to severe damage, a person's internal organ can simply burst, after which the whole body will inevitably become infected with parasites and, as a result, severe consequences such as anaphylactic shock or peritonitis.

Particular attention should be paid to the manifestations of helminthiasis in children, since they are at the greatest risk.

They are often confused with other diseases and lead to critical stages of damage to the body.Children's immunity is not yet fully formed and does not show obvious signs of damage.

The most common childhood disease is enterobiosis.In second place are various types of roundworms, which are most characteristic of children's diseases.It is imperative to pay attention to the consistency and regularity of stools, the appearance of various skin rashes, and do not ignore complaints of itching in the anal area.

The main causes of helminthiasis:

1. Eating unwashed vegetables, fruits and berries.It is very important to observe hygiene and sanitary standards.Handle purchased products carefully;for children, it is recommended to use special products for washing fruits and vegetables.Hand washing is mandatory before every meal.
2. Meat and fish products.In order to avoid infection and serious consequences, high-quality heat treatment is required, as well as certification of the purchased product.Monitor compliance with the storage conditions of the prepared semi-finished products.It is inadmissible to consume fish products bought on the side of the road.
3. Earth and sand.This applies primarily to children, as they tend to put everything in their mouths.During games, do not let your child eat sand in the sandbox or dirt in the summer cottage.Anything that has fallen on the floor or open terrain is excluded.

Helminth eggs surround us everywhere, so we must pay special attention to personal hygiene to prevent as many helminth diseases as possible.

Classification of parasites

Helminths are divided into three classes depending on their shape and appearance:

• Roundworms.To date, more than 80 thousand species of helminths of this class have been described.They can cause serious damage to the human body and cause various helminthic diseases.The development of roundworms goes through 5 stages, of which four are larvae and one is an adult.With each transition, the environment or intermediate host changes.The most common representatives:
  • roundworms - cause a disease called ascariasis.This type of parasite can live and feed exclusively in the human body.Roundworms are characterized by a cough in which the larvae are pushed into the human throat and returned to the intestine as adults;
  • Pinworms cause enterobiosis in the human body and parasitize the intestines.Once inside the host's body, they are characterized by indigestion, itching near the anus, and in some cases inflammation of the genitals, especially in women.
• Tapeworm.There are more than 10 orders of tapeworms that live in the human body.This is the most common class of parasites that cause extremely dangerous diseases.They go through two larval stages of development and reach the final host as an adult.They enter the human body from an intermediate host, most often through the meat of a sick animal.Therefore, in order to prevent the disease, it is important to monitor the correct preparation and selection of meat products.The most common types of helminths of this class:
  • tapeworm - causes the disease taeniasis, characterized by frequent vomiting, nausea or lack of appetite;
  • bovine tapeworm is a less dangerous disease, but requires very difficult and long-term treatment;
  • Echinococcus is a type of worm that causes migraines, vertigo and can even cause epileptic seizures.
• Flatworms (flukes).What are roundworms?The development of this class requires the presence of an intermediate host.These parasitic worms are the cause of trematodes.The most dangerous varieties of this class:
  • methyl opisthorchosis - enters the human body with fish meat, most often carp species, affecting the bile ducts of the liver;
  • schistosomes - transmitted through water, cause schistosomiasis, a very serious disease with extremely severe consequences;
  • paragonim is a lung fluke, the causative agent of paragonimosis, infection is possible only by eating crayfish, crayfish or pork.

All the listed types of worms in humans are only a small part of the variety of parasites that currently exist.According to some data, there are more than 1 million varieties.

Diagnosis and treatment of helminth infections

Science does not stand still, and a large number of methods for identifying helminthic diseases have already been developed and are actively used.Modern methods make it possible to accurately determine the types of parasites in humans and the degree of tissue damage in their place.

Basic methods for diagnosing helminth infections:

1. Microhelmintoscopic.It is used to detect worm eggs and larvae.These include the Kato, Kalantaryan, and Fulleborn methods.Separately, each of these methods does not allow accurate identification of all types of parasites.But in general, they give good results, especially in terms of the intensity of spread of parasites living in the body.
2. Macrohelmintoscopic.Most effective in identifying pinworms and roundworms.They help detect parasites in stool by using a petri dish and a magnifying glass.
3. Biopsy.If there is a possibility of parasitizing helminths in human muscle tissue, then a sample is taken and sent for examination.This method allows you to make the most accurate diagnosis.
4. Immunological.They are carried out by examining the patient's blood to detect antibodies to certain types of helminths living in the human body.
5. Analysis of bile or duodenal contents.It is used for damage to the liver, gall bladder and duodenum.
6. Instrumental.These include ultrasounds, X-rays and computer scans.They are used to determine the extent of damage caused by worms in the human body.And also to check other internal bodies.

Medical methods are used to treat identified diseases.However, complex therapy with several drugs has been found to be more effective than monotherapy based on a single anthelminth.

Helminth infections are most often treated by prescribing a single dose of a tablet with an active ingredient such as levamisole.The dosage is selected depending on the age of the patient.This helps to weaken the parasites.

Then, after 3 days, a medicine containing mebendazole or albendazole is taken.This integrated approach significantly accelerates and increases the effectiveness of treatment.

Quite often, a person may not even know about the worms in their body.In this regard, preventive courses of anthelmintic drugs are recommended.This is especially true for preschoolers and pet owners.

Parasites in humans can cause serious damage to internal organs.Timely diagnosis and treatment will help to stop the development of these diseases in time and prevent serious consequences.