Types of intestinal helminths, symptoms of the disease and methods of treatment.

There are about 250 types of worms that pose a threat to an adult's health. As a result of infection with parasitic worms, the disease helminthiasis develops. The vital activity of worms in the internal organs can cause severe allergies, hypovitaminosis, pancreatitis. All age groups of the population are susceptible to infection, but a higher rate of infection is in children.

Most types of worms are inside the body, only they lay eggs there and die after a certain period of time.

Forms of parasitic worms and features of their development

According to the method of distribution, the main groups of parasites are distinguished:

1. biological worms. In the process of going through the full development cycle, various owners are replaced. These include tapeworms, nematodes, echinococci.
2. Geohelminths. Able to spread without intermediate hosts, but through the soil. A person becomes infected by eating unwashed vegetables and fruits. The main representatives: roundworm, whipworm, necadores.
3. Helminths transmitted by contact with an infected person. This group includes pinworms and dwarf tapeworms.

More than 150 species of helminths are known to occur in humans.

Parasites also differ in their location in the body:

• tissue affect the internal organs and tissues that form its composition;
• cavitary lives in the intestinal lumen, absorbing the nutrients that a person needs.

In appearance, helminths are divided into 3 groups:

• roundworms;
• flatworms;
• flukes

Methods of infection with helminths.

In most cases, parasites enter the host organism in the following ways:

1. Worm larvae or eggs, along with feces, end up in soil or water, infecting a person when they eat unwashed food or raw liquids. During the summer holidays, the probability of invasion through bodies of water increases.
2. By contact with a sick person or shared objects. This mode of distribution is typical of pinworms. At night, the female leaves the anus and lays eggs. This process causes severe itching, as a result of which the eggs remain on the hands and underwear. Later, they are delivered to a healthy person.
3. Infection with tapeworms occurs when eating raw and insufficiently processed meat. Tapeworms of this species infect the muscle tissue of intermediate hosts, which include cattle and pigs.
4. Insects can carry worm eggs and larvae on their limbs, increasing the area of potential infestation.

The life cycle of the vast majority of parasites consists in the release of a large number (millions) of eggs, which, penetrating the human body, after a certain time turn into larvae.

The development of the parasite in the human body can cause acute and chronic forms of the disease. The acute form is characterized by pronounced symptoms and persists for up to two months. Chronic invasion can be seen throughout a person's life if left untreated.

The main types of helminths that parasitize humans

Each form of a microorganism is characterized by a lesion of a certain organ and the corresponding symptoms. However, all parasites are bound by the method of obtaining nutrients, at the expense of the host organism. At the same time, a person's metabolism is disturbed, anemia and other types of diseases develop.

There are different forms of helminths:

1. Roundworms are large white nematodes up to 20 cm long. The adults live in the small intestine, and the larvae can move through the circulatory system to the lungs. They belong to geohelminths, infection occurs when vegetables, fruits and unwashed water are consumed. Parasite eggs also accumulate in the sand.
2. Pinworms are small worms that can be seen with the naked eye after passing stool. Distribution area: the lower part of the small intestine. Under the influence of the parasite, enterobiasis is formed. The cause of the infection is contact with a sick person. It is very common in children under 14 years of age.
3. Helminth ribbon. These include bovine and porcine tapeworms, broad tapeworm. They are distinguished by the ability to increase the population at an accelerated rate, thanks to hermaphroditism. Your body is made up of many parts, containing a reproductive system and thousands of eggs. Depending on the type of parasite, different diseases are formed. Located in the small intestine, they damage the mucosal epithelium. They accumulate in the lumen of the intestine and can cause its obstruction. Infection occurs by eating undercooked beef, pork, or fish.
4. Vlasoglav - a roundworm that looks like a hair with a thickened back. Due to the peculiarities of the structure, it penetrates into the blood vessels and is fed with tissue fluid. Lack of treatment leads to a decrease in the body's resistance to infection and cancer. The source of invasion is unwashed products.

The insidiousness of helminthiasis lies in the fact that it manages to disguise itself as other diseases.

The development of the parasite from an egg to a sexually mature individual occurs within three weeks. During this period, symptoms may be absent or mild. If left untreated, the intensive reproduction of worms will lead to the fact that the disease becomes chronic.

Signs of disease with helminth infestation.

The main symptoms of worm infection are manifested in the form of:

• weakness and fatigue;
• pain in the intestines;
• constipation alternating with diarrhea;
• swelling in the face or throughout the body;
• swollen lymph nodes, cough and choking;
• itchy skin rashes;
• joint pain.

The subject of parasites is unpleasant and frightening, which is why many myths have arisen about these harmful organisms.

The consequences of worm infestation are often disguised as other diseases. The difference between pathologies lies in the specific signs of alterations in the functioning of the body. Depending on the type of helminth, there may be:

• increased salivation, a slight increase in temperature, urticaria with ascariasis;
• frequent urination, sleep disturbances, persistent pain in the navel when infected with pinworms;
• nausea, vomiting, pale skin, hypotension with tapeworms;
• yellowing of the sclera, dizziness, heaviness in the liver, pain throughout the body in case of trematode invasion.

It is important to detect worms in a timely manner with the help of tests and apply effective treatment.

The symptoms of helminthiasis directly depend on the type of parasite, its location in the body and the intensity of the infection.

Material sampling methods for the detection of intestinal parasites

The main analysis that allows you to accurately diagnose the presence of worms is the study of feces. The material is delivered to the laboratory in a sterile container on the day of stool collection. The use of laxatives and the entry of urine into the material is unacceptable. The stool container should be stored in the refrigerator at 4-5 degrees until shipped to the laboratory.

In addition, the following tests may be prescribed:

• immunological test;
• blood and urine tests;
• scraping of the vagina in women and girls;
• sputum examination in the presence of cough;
• Ultrasound and endoscopy;
• bile analysis.

ELISA blood test is an effective way to detect helminths in the body.

A person can be infected with one type of helminth or with several. As a rule, the presence of individual individuals in the body is characterized by the absence of symptoms. An increase in the population of worms leads to severe damage to internal organs, which is the cause of poor health. The symptoms of the disease are aggravated at night, which additionally affects the resistance to the parasite.

Treatment methods for helminthic invasions.

Specialized drugs affect different groups of helminths. The use of drugs is possible both in case of infection and for prevention. Prescribe medication only after identifying the type of worm that hit the body.

Adult roundworms and pinworms are destroyed with drugs containing mebendazole, which blocks the worm's ability to feed and multiply.

Modern tablets from worms are divided into three groups, depending on the sensitivity of parasites to drugs.

Vlasoglav is affected by preparations containing mebendazole and albendazole. Iron-containing preparations are necessary to eliminate the consequences of rectal prolapse.

The course of treatment is strictly prescribed by the attending physician. Self-administration of drugs is unacceptable due to various contraindications.

The use of traditional medicine.

The most common remedy for worms is pumpkin seeds. They are consumed in the morning on an empty stomach, after grinding and adding honey. The recommended dose is about 300 grams per hour. After taking it, it is necessary to cleanse the stomach with laxatives.

Various decoctions and infusions have proven their effectiveness:

• tansy;
• gentian yellow;
• evergreen sandy;
• Garlic.

Folk remedies for worms in adults are recommended for preventive and therapeutic purposes.

It is recommended to use a decoction of wormwood as an enema. It is possible to use fresh herb juice mixed with alcohol. Carrots and their juice also destroy parasites.

Preventive measures against worms and their effectiveness.

Clean hands are the most effective way to protect children and adults from any type of parasite infestation. The concept and rules of personal hygiene should be formed in children from an early age. A healthy lifestyle also helps reduce the chance of the disease.

Purified or boiled water must be available 24 hours a day to eliminate the possibility of drinking contaminated liquids. Vegetables and fruits are best washed with boiling water.

Care must be taken when dealing with animals. Pets must be treated for various parasites, both externally and internally. Don't forget routine vaccinations for dogs and cats.

Vaccinations will minimize the risk of losing a family member to one of the common diseases.

It is possible to use prophylactic drugs prescribed by a doctor. Infection with worms can develop into dangerous diseases, so it is important to minimize the risk of worms entering the human body.