People of any age can face the problem of worm infection. As you know, parasites can live asymptomatically in your body for a long time, so it is important to take preventive measures to cleanse the body from time to time. Signs of the presence of parasites in the human body are reflected in the general well-being of a person, often haunted by chronic fatigue, headaches, digestive disorders, sleep disorders and appetite disorders. Today we will talk about how to recognize worms in the body. In the following article you will learn about the characteristics of the symptoms and the treatment of parasitic infections.
What are Parasites
Parasites are creatures that can live in and feed on the human body. There are many types of parasites that can cause various symptoms and conditions. They can also pose as various diseases. Parasitic infections can very often develop in children, as well as in adults, especially if pets are kept at home - animals. Parasites are creatures that can live in and feed on the human body.
Science has proven that there are over two hundred and fifty different types of parasites. And medical statistics show that 95% of people are infected with parasites. In the human body, the parasites live in clover and reproduce in various organs and body systems.
They live in the intestines, as well as in the liver, they can live in the lungs, in the heart and even in the brain, blood and lymph. Very often, worms occur in people with a weakened immune system. Parasites are very long-lived and constantly multiply exponentially.
The main mechanisms of worm propagation
- Soil, sand, and other soil types provide the most fertile habitat for worm eggs. Fruit plants are in constant contact with the ground. Green vegetables, fruits and vegetables, during harvesting, come into contact with the hands of workers, the dusty shelves of vegetable shops and trucks. Under such conditions, contamination of products with parasite eggs is highly probable. Therefore, it is necessary to thoroughly wash plant products under running water, and then pour boiling water over them. You need to be especially vigilant in rural areas, where pets roam the yard and then enter the house. It is not difficult to imagine what kind of sewage a cat or dog can bring into the house after a night walk. Flies and cockroaches are also carriers of helminth eggs. By sitting on food, insects can infect your food. Contact with soil and sand can lead to the entry of parasites into the human body. Therefore, it is necessary to wash your hands well, especially under the fingernails. In particular, this applies to children.
- From person to person. This mechanism of infection is very effective. For example, pinworms lay their eggs at night in the area around the anus. The child, in a state of sleep, scratches the place where the eggs are laid, because the itching begins there. Thousands of eggs fall on clothes, on the bed, and in the morning on doorknobs and on everything the little fidget touches in the morning before even washing his hands and bathing. As a result, the whole family is at risk of infection.
- By contact with water. Open bodies of water contain a large number of types of worms. Bathing and accidentally swallowing water is a serious risk of infection
Children are much more likely than adults to be infested with worms. This is due to the fact that the child's body is poorly protected (protective mechanisms are only forming) and the child is actively in contact with the external environment. Parents have to make incredible efforts to accustom him to elementary rules of personal hygiene. A baby under 6 years old is at high risk of infection. According to statistics, about 95% of children under 4-5 years old are infected with worms. Therefore, special attention should be paid to prevention.
Most types of worms are found inside the body, only where they lay eggs and after a while they die. For example, pinworms live 6-8 weeks, roundworms - up to 1 year. The number of parasites in the body increases only with the penetration of new eggs from the outside.
Treatment allows you to get rid of worms much faster and stop laying eggs in the intestines. It is almost impossible for children with helminthic invasion to recover without medication. New eggs will constantly enter the oral cavity, replenishing the ranks of adults in the children's body.
By what signs to recognize helminthic invasion
The signs of the appearance of worms in humans are obvious and hidden. The most obvious include "unreasonable" weight loss, pale appearance (anemia of the skin), chronic fatigue, nighttime itching in the anal area. These manifestations are well known and indicate an infection. Often there are cases of helminthic invasion, in which diseases of internal organs are exacerbated, diseases that have not previously manifested occur. These are considered hidden signs.
A person is brought to the treatment of many diseases, and the cause is left without attention. In this case, the therapy does not bring results. Here are examples of such cases:
Infectious diseases resulting from reduced immunity
Parasites, while in the human body, consume a lot of nutrients, release toxic substances. Such circumstances significantly reduce the patient's immunity. Exacerbation of chronic diseases, various inflammatory processes in the nasopharynx can begin. Parasites, while in the human body, consume a lot of nutrients, release toxic substances. Such circumstances significantly reduce the patient's immunity.
Treatment of sinusitis or stomatitis in the standard way is useless. It is important to exclude the cause. In girls and women, inflammatory processes of the uterine appendages, vulvovaginitis, vaginosis of various origins can often begin.
Folk signs say: if a person snores or grinds his teeth in a dream, it means that he needs to be treated for parasites. But this information is not confirmed by medical science.
General malaise as a result of intoxication of the body
The more severe the helminthic invasion of the patient, the more the parasites secrete harmful substances. It has a detrimental effect on the well-being and nervous system of adults and children.
An example of this is migraine, dizziness, joint pain. Overcoming nausea, a person takes painkillers, but after a short time the pain returns: the cause of the disease was left without attention.
In children, disorders of the nervous system are accompanied by irritability, apathy, aggressiveness. If your child began to sleep poorly, talk in his sleep, see nightmares, slip in his studies, it's time to start preventing helminthiasis.
Allergic reactions, skin pathologies
Worm waste is perceived as allergen triggers. Skin reactions (rash, itching, rashes, peeling skin) - this is the minimum of symptoms that can occur at the onset of an allergy. Skin reactions (rash, itching, rashes, peeling skin) - this is the minimum of symptoms that can occur at the onset of an allergy.
There is a possibility of general reactions of the body: exacerbation of asthma, rhinitis, cough. Sometimes helminthic invasion is accompanied by brittleness and hair loss, cracking of the skin of the heels and foliation of the nails.
Gastrointestinal problems
Depending on the severity of the infestation, symptoms can range from mild to severe. From mild nausea and diarrhea to chronic flatulence, constipation, vomiting, pain in the navel and hypochondrium. Tissue worms do not affect the gastrointestinal tract as much as intestinal parasites.
Signs and symptoms of parasites in the body
- allergic reactions (edema on the mucous membranes, formation of compacted foci);
- constipation or diarrhea;
- cough;
- nervousness and sleep disturbances;
- teeth grinding;
- cold sweats and loss of strength;
- heart pain and more.
The main sources of parasitic infections in summer are: raw fish, dirty hands, unwashed fruits and vegetables, water (protozoa survive in chlorinated water in cysts) and, of course, pets. On the fur of animals there are eggs of worms (Ascaris and Toxocara), Giardia, and through the wet breath of a dog, the eggs of parasites are scattered up to 5 meters.
The summer period is at high risk of infection with parasites. This problem is especially true for children. According to statistics, 8 out of 10 schoolchildren have parasitic infections: outdoor games, dirty hands and close contact with animals often provoke the appearance of "harmful inhabitants", which, in turn, create a deficiencynutrients in children, inhibiting their growth and development.
Symptoms of worms according to the type of parasites
For different types of worms in humans, the symptoms will be different. It is also worth taking into account the duration and strength of infection with parasites, the general condition of the patient before infection. The table below analyzes the main symptoms of the presence of worms in humans according to their variety.
| Type of parasite (disease) | Method of infection | Symptoms | Timing of symptoms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinworms (enterobiosis) | With foods of plant origin. | Nighttime itching around the anus, the presence of parasites in the feces, short-term sharp pain in the navel. | 2-3 days after infection |
| Vlasoglav (trichocephalosis) | With contaminated food cooked in unsanitary conditions. | Symptoms are expressed only in case of severe invasion: diarrhea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, inflammation of the appendix. In children, the growth of the body may be delayed and even a prolapse of the rectum may occur. | A few weeks |
| Large tapeworm (diphyllobothriasis) | By eating infected river fish. | This parasite can live up to 25 years inside the patient. Mechanical damage to the intestines, beriberi, intestinal obstruction, intoxication of the body, allergies. | A few weeks |
| Ascaris (hookworm) | When walking barefoot on heavy ground. | Itchy swelling of the feet and legs at the sites of parasite penetration. Cough, sputum, lesions of the bronchi and lungs. Weakness, dizziness. The menstrual cycle in women is disturbed. Men have impotence. | A few days |
| ascaris (ascariasis) | With foods of plant origin. | Pain in the intestines, peritonitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, diseases of the liver, pancreas. They can cause suffocation by crawling from the gastrointestinal tract into the esophagus or airways. | About 3 months |
| Trichinella (Trichinosis) | Unprocessed meat, fat. | Attacks of nausea and heartburn, diarrhea. | 2 days |
| Liver and giant fluke (fasciolosis) | Vegetable food and water. | Fever, dry cough, loss of appetite, abdominal pain. | 2-4 weeks |
In which organs can parasites live?
Parasitic worms are divided into two categories, which correspond to the site of activity in the donor's body.
- Cavitary - worms that live in various parts of the digestive tract. There are about 100 varieties of intestinal parasites, and for each section of the intestine there are a few dozen species. The small intestine is ready to receive roundworms, antilost, large tapeworms and other less common "brothers". The small intestine will "share its living space" with pinworms, tapeworms and the rest. In the medical literature, cases are described when a person was simultaneously infected with several types of parasites.
- Tissue - localized worms in organs, tissues and even in the blood. Modern medicine successfully copes with paragonimiasis (lungs), cysticercosis (brain), echinococcosis (liver) and filariasis (lymphatic vessels). Some worm larvae move through the body through the circulatory system and randomly attach themselves to any organ. If many eggs are introduced, the whole organism can become infected.
The consequences of parasitosis for the human body
By fighting foreign antibodies, the body's immune system is depleted. In humans, the reserves of potassium, copper, manganese, selenium, zinc, magnesium and silicon are reduced. In addition to impaired hematopoiesis and hormonal disruptions, parasites:
- Injure organs and tissues.
- Exhaust the immune system.
- Disrupt metabolism.
- They poison the body with toxins.
- Violating the blood supply to organs and lymphatic circulation.
- Inhibit the microflora of the skin, intestines.
- Inhibit the growth and development of children, etc.
It should be noted that the human body has defense mechanisms capable of neutralizing parasites. A properly functioning intestine also produces special substances to destroy parasites.
For example, worm eggs can die in saliva, they can be stopped by the acidic environment of the stomach. A properly functioning intestine also produces special substances to destroy parasites. However, few people can boast of being in perfect health.
Ways to fight pests
First, drug treatment, which is very effective and based on the use of synthetic drugs. However, taking these drugs not only destroys parasites, but also damages bone marrow, blood cells, the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, liver and nerve cells. After such treatment, restorative measures are usually necessary.
Second, an alternative treatment - taking herbal infusions to cleanse the body. This method does not cause complications and has practically no contraindications. The most common recipes for parasitosis include garlic, tincture of wormwood, ground ginger, herbal decoctions and other natural ingredients. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of this method is not always proven and the exact dosages are not completely established.
Biologically active additives and complexes on a natural basis have a multilateral complex effect on the body. At the first stage, the body is cleansed, then - an active antiparasitic strike, and finally - the restoration of the intestinal microflora.
Treatment of helminthiasis
The treatment of parasitic diseases is a major problem. It is important to not only know how to get rid of the parasite, but also to present the goals of the treatment of parasitosis:
- elimination of parasites and all their forms of existence (cysts, eggs, larvae, etc. ),
- normalization of the disturbed work of all organs and systems,
- body recovery.
The selection of a treatment is carried out individually, depending on:
- severity of parasitic invasion,
- the presence of complications from a particular organ,
- the severity of concomitant diseases in humans, etc.
The benefits of drugs in the treatment of parasitic diseases are as follows:
- Efficiency,
- Security,
- the ability to sum up the positive effects of several means.
How to get rid of parasites
It is not recommended to start self-medication. About 60 types of worms are widespread in our country, and for each it is necessary to select the appropriate preparations. Usually doctors use 10 types of drugs and their analogues depending on the type of helminths. These drugs have a mild detoxifying effect on the patient's body.
Parasite prevention
Parasites "live" in the organs of almost all people. Unfortunately, even babies who are still in the womb cannot be protected against single-celled protozoan parasites. To destroy them, of course, you cannot resort to pills, radiation and other actions. To prevent the "worms" from starting to multiply again, you have to change your diet, ideally switch to a raw diet or sit down for a while on a vegetable diet.
The number of parasites in the human body is constantly increasing. There are many of them, as a result of which diseases and organ disorders arise. If you really want to perform pest cleaning, then one cleaning procedure will not be enough.
This issue should be approached comprehensively, preferably under the supervision of a specialist. And so that the "worms" do not begin to multiply again, you need to change your diet, ideally switch to a raw diet or sit for a while on a plant-based diet.