Helminths which worms-parasites dangerous to humans.

According to the WHO, one in two people on the planet is infected with helminths every year. Many people think that parasitic worms do not cause much harm to health. However, not everything is so simple: helminths can affect important internal organs - the heart, lungs and brain.

Helminths: who are they?

Helminths are parasitic worms that can choose a human, animal or plant organism as a host. In total there are three classes of helminths:

• you had. This class includes about 3, 5 thousand species of helminths. The length of parasitic worms varies from a few mm to 10-15 meters;
• flukesParasites are so named because they have suckers that they use to obtain food. The human body can infect about 4 dozen species of trematodes. As a rule, the length of the worms does not exceed 5 cm;
• round wormsThis class of helminths has more than 24 thousand species. Roundworms are spindle-shaped. Usually their length does not exceed 0. 5 meters.

You can get infected with helminths in various ways. However, most often parasitic invasion occurs for the following reasons:

1. Poor hand hygiene.
2. Unwashed vegetables, fruits; undercooked or undercooked meat, fish - the use of such products increases the risk of parasitic invasion many times.
3. Keep food out of the refrigerator open. Insects can transfer helminth eggs to products that are stored without packaging.
4. Contact with pets.

The main symptoms of the presence of parasites in the body:

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
• weightloss;
• allergic rashes;
• swelling;
• itching in the anus;
• grind your teeth in a dream.

Learn more about the signs of parasites in the body.read our article.

What helminths are most often found in our country? Consider the most common types of parasitic worms and the diseases they cause.

you had

The body of a tapeworm consists of segments, the total number of which varies from 3 to 5000. The main element of attachment of the helminth is the head, additional ones are suckers, hooks.

The most common causes of tapeworms are:

diphyllobothriasis

The causative agent of the disease is a wide tapeworm that affects the human intestines.The development of worm eggs occurs in fresh water. The scheme for introducing the tapeworm into the human body is as follows:

1. The worm eggs are swallowed by crustaceans that live in a reservoir.
2. Infected crustaceans are consumed by fish.
3. A person becomes infected with the parasite by eating fish that has not undergone sufficient heat treatment.

Symptoms of the disease develop 1. 5 months after infection. The main sign of pathology is the presence of whitish fragments of the helminth in the feces.

By adhering to the intestinal mucosa, the tapeworm absorbs large amounts of vitamin B12. For this reason, people with diphyllobothriasis often develop anemia. Also, the tapeworm can cause an increase in the liver, spleen, intestinal obstruction.

Teniarinhoz

The causative agent of the disease is the bovine tapeworm, which lives mainly in the human small intestine. During its development cycle, the helminth replaces two owners: the intermediate one is cattle, the main one is man. The bull tapeworm can live in the body for 20 years, multiplying and causing damage to health. The disease is common in many regions, but it is more common in areas where it is cold.

As a general rule, people get tapeworm after eating undercooked or undercooked beef.

The disease often proceeds without pronounced symptoms and is detected by chance when a person sees elements of helminths in his feces. In some people, in addition to the main signs of helminth infection, pain on the right side of the anterior abdominal wall may occur.

Adult helminths can penetrate the appendix, pancreatic duct, bile ducts and provoke acute inflammatory processes in them. With multiple parasitic invasion, intestinal obstruction may develop.

taeniasis

The causative agent of the disease is the pork tapeworm, which initially affects the human small intestine.Human infection occurs through the consumption of raw or undercooked pork.

The parasite can penetrate various organs and tissues, causing pain in the abdomen, back, and extremities. The most favorable pathology occurs when the worm is localized in the subcutaneous fat and skeletal muscle tissue. By penetrating the eye muscles, helminths cause decreased visual acuity, lacrimation and photophobia. The defeat of the pork tapeworm of the brain can be fatal.

flukes

Trematodes are leaf-shaped and are distinguished by a high ability to reproduce at various periods of the life cycle. Reproduction of worms is possible not only sexually with fertilization, but also without it. In addition to suckers, worms have many hooks and spikes, due to which they are firmly attached to the mucous membranes of organs.

Common pathologies caused by trematodes:

• fasciolosis;
• opisthorchiasis;
• paragonimiasis.

fascioliasis

Fascioliasis occurs when the liver or gallbladder is damaged by a liver fluke.Basically, the infection occurs when eating vegetables, which were watered with water from open reservoirs.

In addition to the standard signs of infection with parasites, a person may experience asthma attacks, which are accompanied by shortness of breath, flushing of the face, dilated pupils, and tachycardia. If an adult has caused the obstruction of the bile ducts, obstructive jaundice develops. Signs of pathology:

• cramp-like pain in the right hypochondrium;
• yellowing of the skin;
• fever;
• colorless stools

opisthorchiasis

The causative agent of the disease is feline flounder. The name of the parasite is due to the fact that, in addition to humans, it usually infects cats and other mammals that eat fish.

As a general rule, feline fluke affects the liver and pancreas, causing inflammation in the organs. Symptoms vary and depend on the number of parasites. The patient may experience:

• symptoms of intoxication;
• fever,
• urticaria;
• skin itch;
• pain in muscles, joints, right hypochondrium.

In some cases, helminths provoke an increase in the lymph nodes, the development of jaundice. The chronic form of pathology often leads to hepatitis, liver cirrhosis.

paragonimiasis

The culprit of the disease is a pulmonary fluke that enters the human body with infected crustaceans.

First, the parasite enters the human intestine, then the abdominal cavity. The end point of its journey is the lung tissue. In addition, the worm can penetrate the brain and affect the central nervous system.

Specific signs of parasitic invasion of the lungs:

• chest pain syndrome;
• coughing up sputum, which may contain pus and blood;
• fever.

In some cases, helminths cause a violation of the ventilation function of the lungs and gas exchange during breathing.

round worms

Due to their structure, roundworms (nematodes) can survive even in extreme conditions.His body is covered with a three-layer skin-muscular sac, which reliably protects parasites from external influences.

Common diseases caused by nematodes:

• ascariasis;
• enterobiasis;
• trichinosis

ascariasis

The development of the disease provokes roundworm, which is initially fixed in the small intestine. The average length of adults is 40 cm.Parasite larvae can enter the human digestive system with unwashed vegetables and fruits, contaminated water.Also, often the cause of ascariasis is poor hand washing before eating.

During the penetration of the larvae into the body, a person may experience subfebrile temperature, allergic rashes, cough with clear sputum. Signs of the intestinal stage of ascariasis (diarrhea, abdominal pain) are observed only in the presence of various parasites. As a general rule, living in the intestines of a worm is asymptomatic.

Complications of multiple parasitic invasion:

• bile duct obstruction;
• purulent inflammatory processes in the gallbladder, liver;
• inflammation of the appendix;
• intestinal obstruction.

enterobiasis

The provocateurs of the disease are pinworms - small worms up to 1 cm long. Helminths enter the human digestive system in the same way as roundworms.

Currently, enterobiasis is the most frequent parasitic pathology in the world. Basically, the disease is diagnosed in children under 10 years of age.

Symptoms, as in previous cases, develop only with numerous parasitic invasions. Children often have diarrhea, mucus in the stool, difficult and painful digestion, itchy anus, and nausea. In severe cases of the disease, leg cramps can occur. In addition, pinworms can penetrate the genitals and cause acute inflammation in them.

trichinosis

This disease causes Trichinella, one of the smallest parasitic worms. The length of the parasite rarely exceeds 4 mm. In the larval stage, the worms can infect skeletal muscles. The exception is the myocardium, the muscular tissue of the heart. Adults parasitize in the small intestine.

As a general rule, human infection occurs by eating half-baked pork.At the same time, for the development of the disease, it is enough to consume only 30 g of meat affected by parasites.

Pathology is manifested by standard symptoms of parasitic invasion. In the advanced stage, swelling of the eyelids, face, arms and legs, pain in the lower back, chewing muscles may occur. Possible complications are total or partial loss of mobility, paralysis of the respiratory tract.

How to avoid helminth infection?

To reduce the risk of infection with parasitic worms, it is important to observe the following rules:

18 signs of the presence of parasites in the body

Being present in the human body, the parasite has a serious pathogenic effect. At the same time, the same parasite can simultaneously produce many mechanisms of action on humans.

The WHO believes that at the moment about four and a half billion people in the world are constantly affected by various parasitic diseases.

This problem is very current also because it is very difficult to diagnose parasitosis. Worm infestation (a large collection of parasitic diseases) is present in humans even when the parasite is gone. And if the patient has realized this, in this case, of course, he will go to the medical center. Parasitosis can also be detected during preventive screening. But unfortunately, these cases are a drop in the ocean.

Action mechanisms:

mechanical impact.For example, if the roundworm is in the intestines, of course it will press on and damage the intestinal wall. In some cases, provoke an inflammatory process. If, for example, the echinococcus is found in the liver, lungs or kidneys, a corresponding tissue compression will occur. This is a classic mechanical effect: bursting, pressure, dysfunction of the organ or system in which the parasite is present. There are many not only luminal parasites that are present in the gastrointestinal tract, but there are also many tissue parasites that can fully perform the so-called mechanical action.

Stimulation of allergic reactions.Unfortunately, when a person has allergic reactions, he begins to go around: to the dermatologist, to the pediatrician, to the general practitioner, to the allergist, but doctors do not always rule out the presence of parasitic invasions in the body in the first place.

Any parasite, even a banal pinworm, can lead to the formation of severe allergic reactions, and they can be varied, both on the skin and on the bronchopulmonary tree. For example, common obstructive bronchitis in children may be due to some type of parasite living in the intestines.

Influence on the microflora.It is no secret that man is a globe for the vast world of the microbiota. The microflora that lives in all our mucous membranes, skin, organs, tissues is that friendly microflora that produces vitamins, minerals, hormones, enzymes, and helps our body to live normally. And now, unfortunately, in the presence of parasites, he begins to actively die.

immunosuppressive action.Today it is clearly proven that parasite waste products dramatically suppress the immune system. They just block it. Furthermore, over millions of years, parasites have learned to mimic and hide from the immune system, producing special anti-enzymes. Thus blocking the immune system, and sometimes a person can suffer from various parasites for decades. Which sooner or later leads to serious diseases in the body as a whole, or in a separate organ or system.

The effect of antienzymes. Unfortunately, parasites can not only exhaust our body. If we try to consume vitamin-rich, mineralized foods, drink vitamins and minerals as a complex, they will not always benefit us, because our freeloaders will take most of them.

Mechanism of action of the nervous reflex.The waste products of the parasites poison the nervous system. And very often this can affect the psycho-emotional state of both an adult and a child. Any psychosomatic illness can be associated with parasitic invasion. A child may have hyperreactivity, or vice versa, lethargy, crying, a tendency to depression - all this may be a consequence of the presence of a parasite in the body. For example, even the simplest Giardia produces toxins. That they be in microdoses, but they are still toxins identical to psychotropic substances. Of course, a child or adult with such persistent intoxication will experience a severe strain on the functioning of the central nervous system. And from here all kinds of psychological and mental disorders can follow: sleep disorders, nervous disorders, various psychological problems. Moreover, neither the parents, nor the patient himself, if he is an adult, the idea that this is due to a parasitic invasion cannot even arise.

In my opinion, the most serious and terrible thing is the stimulation of neoplasms by parasites. The prolonged presence of parasites in the body can cause such a problem as the formation of neoplasms: benign and malignant. In addition, the stimulation of neoplasms may be associated with two factors.

The first factor is the direct damaging effect of the tissues of a particular organ.

The second factor is the action mediated by a strong inhibition of the immune system. It is that the part of the immune system that is responsible for antiparasitic protection is also responsible for antitumor protection. As a result of improper division, a cancer cell can appear in the human body. In this case, the deficiency of the immune system will manifest itself in such a way that this cell will not be recognized in time by our immune cells and will not be eliminated in time.

When can a person suspect the presence of parasites?

Now I will tell you a list of clinical manifestations of parasitic invasions, in the presence of which, you should promptly contact your doctor to clarify whether you really have this diagnosis.

• The most common clinical symptom is itching in the anus. This is heard by many people, which is why it is associated with the presence of parasites, especially in children's practice.
• Grinding your teeth in a dream. Again, this can very often occur in pediatric practice. Moms suddenly notice that the child began to grind his teeth in his sleep. Why is this happening? Very often, crackling sounds in children are associated with frightening dreams. This is exactly the mechanism of the toxic effects on the central nervous system that we are talking about. The boy has a terrible dream and clenches his teeth in fear in his sleep. This is one of the reasons. There are also other reasons. The formation of trismus or increased tone of the masticatory muscles, this can also be a symptom in this case.
• Salivation during sleep, salivation in the morning, nausea in the morning when brushing teeth. All these are manifestations that can indirectly indicate the presence of parasitic invasion in the body.
• Peeling of the fingers and toes, peeling of the skin in layers.
• Increased feelings of hunger, sometimes to the point of passing out.
• Allergic rashes on the skin. When I give lectures to doctors, I often draw attention to the fact that doctors are not in a hurry to administer anti-allergy drugs to one or another patient. Understand first to last: are there helminth invasions? Because a high degree of allergization, appearing suddenly in a person in a short period of time, may indicate, first of all, that the patient has a parasitic invasion.
• Rashes on the eyelids, their peeling, swelling. , mental disorders without known causes.
• Any itchy skin. Especially in the practice of children. First of all, it is necessary to exclude the presence of parasitic invasions.
• Disturbed by symptoms such as swelling, burning in the abdomen, unstable stool. Any problem with the gastrointestinal tract.
• There is lack of body weight, or vice versa, overweight. With parasitosis, it can be both.
• The presence of several chronic diseases at the same time. Diseases of the joints, bronchopulmonary tree, gastrointestinal tract. If suddenly a person begins to get sick in stages, then one, then the second, then the third, then the fifth, then the tenth, and initially there were no visible reasons for this, then this is an occasion to think about presence. of parasites in the body.
• Poor health, and the diagnosis is unclear. Such patients can also go to several specialists, try to examine one or another. And in the end, the diagnosis will remain unclear and the health status will remain poor.
• Incomprehensible pains in the abdomen, sudden, volatile spasms, drawing pains. It is also necessary to exclude, especially in pediatric practice, the presence of parasites.
• Prolonged toxic allergic manifestations. Periodically appear suddenly, incomprehensible allergic reactions to food.
• Persistent anemia. When hemoglobin is significantly reduced and difficult to correct. It is worth thinking, first of all, about the presence of parasitic invasions in the human body.
• In children - a delay in physical, psychosomatic, psychoemotional development, hyperreactivity or vice versa, lethargy, in schoolchildren - poor assimilation of material - all this may indicate the presence of hidden parasitosis in the body.
• Prolonged lymphadenopathy (a condition manifested by an increase in the nodes of the lymphatic system), recurrent lymphadenitis may also indicate the presence of parasitic invasions.

I have listed the main clinical signs of parasitosis. See how wide they are. And with these symptoms, a patient can turn to almost any of the doctors. It is believed that if a person has found two or three of these signs in himself, he is already subject to a more thorough examination for the presence of parasites or an antiparasitic program.

During the consultation, you will be able to express your problem, the doctor will clarify the situation, decipher the tests, answer your questions and give the necessary recommendations.

I want to draw the attention of people who want to be treated on their own. If you come to a pharmacy and ask the pharmacist: "Give me something for worms", then you are making a serious mistake - these things cannot be done. First, the pharmacist is not responsible for how you take this medication. Second, he is not responsible for the consequences. Third, you can hurt yourself a lot. Do not do that. To determine whether you have a parasitic infection or not, it is very important to contact a specialist, go through a certain list of studies, and only after that undergo appropriate treatment.

What tests will show the presence of parasites in the human body?

According to WHO statistics, about 4. 5 billion people in the world are constantly infected with parasites. This situation is complicated by the fact that diagnosing parasitic infestations is very difficult. How to know if there are parasites in the body? What methods of instrumental and laboratory research can detect parasitosis? Let us consider these questions in detail.

complications

Helminthiasis caused by common types of parasites can be treated with medications prescribed by a doctor. But if you do not pay attention to the alarming symptoms, deterioration of health, weakness, causeless fatigue, decreased immunity, the disease can lead to serious complications.

If the parasites got into the lungs, and the patient did not go to the doctor with complaints of cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, shortness of breath, pneumonia, or even bronchial asthma, it can develop.

Parasites in the digestive system can cause cirrhosis, liver abscess, hepatitis, intestinal cancer, gastrointestinal bleeding, accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity (ascites), and peritonitis. They also often cause the development of chronic kidney disease, meningoencephalitis, vision loss. Some cestodes (tapeworms) grow more than 1 meter long and the small roundworms can form dense balls. This disrupts the normal functioning of the body, leads to severe intoxication, pronounced allergic reactions. Without urgent medical attention, death is possible.

Prevention

Helminthiasis often occurs when hygiene rules are not followed or food is not processed properly. To prevent the invasion of helminths, you need:

• Don't wear someone else's underwear, don't share a towel with strangers.
• Wash your hands well before eating; it is important to do this not only before breakfast, lunch, dinner, but also a snack.
• Wash your hands after using the bathroom.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after working on the beds, and do all garden work with heavy rubber gloves.
• Use only clean water for drinking and cooking.
• Rinse fruits and vegetables well under running water.
• Eat meat, fish, shellfish that have undergone heat treatment.
• Do not buy products in spontaneous markets, from people who cannot confirm the safety of the products.
• Monitor the health of pets, regularly deworm, even if the pet lives in an apartment and does not go out. To select medications and calculate dosage, contact your veterinarian.
• Maintain cleanliness in living and working areas. Sometimes people carry helminth eggs on the soles of their shoes. To reduce the risk of infection, you should regularly wet clean, disinfect all surfaces.

Even by following these rules, the risk of infection cannot be completely eliminated. To prevent the development of the disease, consult a therapist. The doctor will prescribe drugs for the prevention of helminthiasis. Be sure to tell us how often you travel, whether there are pets in the house, a personal plot. Pharmacological prophylaxis of helminthiasis is recommended 2 times a year.