Deterioration of health can be observed not only by infections entering the body.
Parasites and worms can also cause discomfort, weakness and loss of strength.They can lead to many consequences that people usually confuse with a normal inflammatory process.
What is helminthiasis?And what symptoms does it present in the human body?
The answers are quite simple.
Helminths are parasites, roundworms and tapeworms, as well as their prominent representatives such as roundworms, pinworms, tapeworms, tapeworms and many others.Surely many have encountered them in childhood or adulthood.
The disease, which received the appropriate name helminthiasis, is the result of the influence and activity of helminths in the body.
Worm infection
Parasites can enter the body of a person, whether excessively clean or not obsessed with their health, in several ways.There are several.
Let's look at what helminths look like in a healthy body:
- a normal handshake.The easiest way to reach a new host for the parasite.Through the upper layers of the epidermis they first enter the skin and then into the blood.This method of transmission works both through contact with homeless stray animals and through contact with other people's objects.Thanks to the good blood circulation of a healthy person, it is not difficult for them to achieve their goal and find themselves in the chosen place of the future habitat;
- through the water.Many helminths are perfectly preserved as larvae in fresh and even marine water.Don't forget about the village wells and water supply.They are not too sensitive.You should also be careful when visiting swimming pools, baths and saunas.Perhaps they are poorly processed;
- moist soil and sand.The eggs of many types of worms are released in the feces and settle on these surfaces.In suburban areas and even in children's sandboxes it is easy to contract the infection;
- low quality products.These often include seafood, fruits and vegetables, eggs and milk, cottage cheese;
- public places where people gather.Supermarkets, shops, pharmacies and hospitals.This is where many people handle doorknobs, shelves, packaged foods and handrails every day.And it's not a fact that they are all healthy.Let's not forget about the dirt that enters these rooms during rainy and humid periods;
- In the summer and autumn seasons insects represent a danger.Mosquitoes and flies can also carry small microscopic eggs on their legs.
To this list of the appearance of helminth infestations in adults and children we can also add failure to comply with the basic and usual rules of personal hygiene.
Which helminths can you get infected with?
There are a huge number of parasitic representatives.And they all enter the body in different ways, migrate inside and affect special organs.Some of them choose a single host, while others spend their entire life cycle in different hosts.
People can observe several major isolated parasites in their bodies:
- The most common nematodes are roundworms.Small whitish individuals.Reach 40 mm.Everyone knows about roundworms, pinworms, whipworms and tropical guinea worms.They live in the intestine, lay their eggs in the anus and are often passed out in the feces.Determining helminth infection by roundworms is very simple and without testing;
- parasitic tapeworms are larger and more dangerous.Reaching 10 meters, they migrate and enter almost all vital organs and systems.Cases of suffocation have been observed after the parasite has moved through the respiratory system.Manifested by bovine tapeworm, tapeworm;
- trematodes, trematodes.They are unpretentious to their environment, so they penetrate the body both through soil and through water.They travel throughout the human body and are easy to see under the fat of the skin.This is mainly the eye and eyelid area.They destroy not only the intestinal microflora, but also the tissues of other organs.Toxic effects lead to exhaustion of the body.
Independently identifying which helminth a person has, of course, is impossible.Only with testing for worms and a comprehensive examination can the type and subsequent treatment be determined and prophylaxis prescribed in case of recovery.
Symptoms of parasites in the body
If helminths have entered the body, they may not be immediately identified by the symptoms of the infection.Some appear only after a certain time.
But all signs of worms in an adult are quite serious and, at first glance, occur for no reason:
- a sharp increase in temperature to the level of an inflammatory process.Typically 37.6°C to 38°C;
- manifestation of nausea, vomiting;
- aching pain in the abdomen and navel;
- possible redness of the skin;
- weakness, drowsiness, tiredness;
- periodic involuntary grinding of teeth at night;
- persistent dry cough and shortness of breath;
- interruption of normal stools.Diarrhea or constipation;
- itching in the anal area;
- acquisition of a sallow or too pale skin tone;
- discomfort in muscles and joints.
It is immediately impossible to make an accurate diagnosis based on such signs.But helminths in humans only show symptoms that correspond to damaged organs.And this is usually the intestines, bronchi and liver with kidneys.
Signs of advanced helminthiasis
Failure to timely detect parasites can lead to much more complex consequences:
- a sharp decrease in immunity.As a result, the ability of any infections and viruses to penetrate the body;
- urticaria, bronchial asthma, as a consequence of the constant toxic effect of parasites.Worm secretions cause severe allergies in the body;
- intense loss of hair and eyelashes;
- unexplained brittleness of nails;
- tooth decay, the enamel gradually disappears;
- excessive bleeding gums;
- nervousness, mental disorders.
Worms in humans not only show symptoms of infection, but also cause many diseases, aggravate the course of existing diseases, and therefore treatment of parasites is mandatory.
It is better to conduct an examination in time and begin a thorough and complete removal of helminths from the body.
Diseases caused by parasites
The characteristic merciless signs of helminth infestation indicate that the body is susceptible to serious toxic effects or damage to many organs and systems:
- disruption of the gastrointestinal tract.This is due to the fact that most helminths choose this place for further growth and development.Expressed in intestinal obstruction, dysbacteriosis, diarrhea, pancreatitis;
- problems with the respiratory system.Every migration of the parasite certainly brings it to the bronchi and lungs.This often leads to cramps, pneumonia;
- the central nervous system is affected.Migraine, dizziness, loss of orientation in space, irritability and depression;
- enlargement of the spleen, liver, decreased level of bile outflow;
- defective functioning of the urinary system.Urethritis, cystitis;
- problems with the reproductive organs.Vaginitis, inflammatory processes in the uterus, vagina, ovaries.It is possible to get a sexually transmitted infection.
These are serious symptoms that occur with helminths.If you care about your health, you should definitely consult a doctor.Any of the presented signs forces the specialist to prescribe a special examination.
The most common blood test will show that parasites have appeared in the body.With hemoglobin levels less than 100 g/l, an increase in the number of eosinophils of more than 6%, an increase in leukocytes of 9% and a decrease in erythrocytes of 3 g/l or less.
The specialist should also note a sharp decrease in proteins and an increase in immunoglobulins characteristic of allergies.
Parasitic diseases and their symptoms
Depending on the type and class of worms, the signs of helminth infection have received their own individual names, which distinguish them from each other.For specialists, this classification facilitates further treatment, recovery and prevention.
Ascariasis.It indicates in a natural way the symptoms manifested by the nematode parasite and the possible diseases associated with it.Most often, it is not observed immediately, but only after 2 weeks after the entry of helminths into the body.
Symptoms resemble a common cough, acute bronchitis and mild allergies.It is confused with a common infection, as it is accompanied by all the above features and an increase in temperature.Possible changes in the lymph nodes.
With advanced chronic ascariasis, all symptoms become more complicated.Blood pressure begins to rise, anorexia may appear along with lack of appetite and constant, aching pain in the abdominal area.Regular vomiting, stool disorders.The face becomes pale, healthy skin color disappears, dark circles and puffiness appear.At night, poor sleep or its complete absence becomes common.Small whitish worms appear in the stool.
Penetration of pinworms or enterobiasis.A common occurrence in young children due to failure to comply with personal hygiene rules.The infection is caused by frequent itching in the anal area.Pinworms appear periodically.For 1-2 days with breaks.When parasites enter, the body's reaction will be involuntary teeth grinding at night and poor, intermittent sleep.Not particularly dangerous, it does not cause pain.
Worms, like flukes, bring with them opisthorchiasis.The acute course of the disease lasts up to 8 weeks.During this period, an increase in body temperature, heaviness and swelling, diarrhea and a feeling of inflammation are observed.With chronic exposure to flukes, symptoms spread to the respiratory system, causing severe central nervous system allergies.
Tapeworm parasites lead to many consequences of their presence in the human body.Large tapeworms can damage the pancreas, causing intestinal obstruction, vitamin B12 deficiency, decreased hemoglobin, and anemia.Likewise, all representatives of tapeworms cause painful syndromes in the abdominal cavity, bloating and nausea.
Giardiasis.There are small numbers of these parasites in the human body.But they are safe within normal limits.With exacerbation, their level increases.Which leads to vomiting, bitterness due to liver and stomach disorders, characteristic pain in the abdomen, bloating and abnormal bowel movements.
Of course, such symptoms of helminthiasis must be treated and must be prevented by carrying out comprehensive prophylaxis.