Worm infestation - infection of the human body by parasitic worms - worms (helminths). The symptoms of helminthic invasion are determined by the mode of infection, the number of parasites received, the degree of their adaptability in the human body and other characteristics.
The first signs of the disease in adults can appear 2-3 days after the infection, and after a year and a half, but the incubation period is usually 2-3 weeks.
Helminths do not tend to reproduce in the human body (except pinworms and some other worms)
Ways of infection:
- contact household;
- alimentary;
- portable;
- percutaneously.
The source of infection is a sick person or a carrier.
Classification of helminths
Parasitism of more than two hundred species of helminths has been registered in adults, which according to their structural characteristics mainly belong to two types of worms:
- Roundworms are nematodes that cause diseases such as ascariasis, enterobiasis, trichuria, trichinosis, dracunculiasis, filariasis, toxocariasis.
- Flatworms are divided into:
- a class of tapeworms that cause teniarinhosis, teniasis, cysticercosis, difilobotriosis, hymenolepiasis, echinococcosis;
- a class of flukes that cause schistosomiasis, opisthorchiasis, clonorchiasis, fascioliasis, dicroceliasis.
Depending on the characteristics of the life cycle and transmission factors, there are three main types of helminths: geohelminths, biohelminths, contact helminths.
Influence of parasites on the human body
The vast majority of worms live in the intestines of adults, however, some types of parasitic worms in the larval stage mature in the tissues of other organs (liver, brain, heart, lungs, eyes and so on). In the process of vital activity of helminths, toxic substances are formed that penetrate the bloodstream and are transferred to various organs. In addition, helminths in the human intestine absorb substances necessary for life (amino acids, fatty acids, glucose, enzymes and others), which leads to malfunctions in the physiological systems of the body.
During pregnancy, helminthic invasions are doubly dangerous: the detrimental effect is reflected not only on the condition of the mother, but also on the maturation of the embryo.
Worm infestation can make pregnancy difficult. As a result of the infection in a woman's body, the absorption of nutrients is reduced, which is very undesirable during pregnancy.
In addition, helminths during pregnancy can cause severe toxicosis. Pinworms can penetrate a woman’s genitals. This leads to severe itching and, as a result, constant discomfort and sleep disturbances.
There are helminths that can damage the intestinal wall. As a result, small but long-lasting blood loss is possible. This is met with the creation of iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women.
Helminths can penetrate the placental barrier and parasitize on the body and body of the fetus. Moreover, they can enter the brain and lead to an increase in the size of the head, which complicates the course of labor.
Their presence in the lungs is also dangerous - the child will later develop chronic inflammation.
Clinic
Distinguish between the acute phase of helminthic invasion, which is characterized by a more pronounced clinic, and chronic, which can last for several years and manifest as erased symptoms.
The most common symptoms of helminthic invasion:
- Occurrence of defects in the digestive system, as follows:
- constipation (due to obstruction of the intestinal lumen, bile ducts with worms);
- sparse stools (due to the influence of substances produced by helminths);
- excessive gas production (due to indigestion).
- Joint and muscle pain - occurs when parasites penetrate the joint fluid and muscles.
- Skin symptoms (rash, eczema, itching, acne) caused by the influence of toxic substances produced by helminths.
- Nervous system disorders, expressed:
- anxiety;
- irritability;
- longing;
- sleep disorder etc.
- Weight loss is associated with metabolic disorders.
- Catarrhal symptoms of the respiratory tract (runny nose, cough), which occur when helminths penetrate them.
Indirect signs of helminthic invasion:
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- increased body temperature;
- fatigue, asthenia;
- nausea (may be during pregnancy, as a manifestation of toxicosis);
- headaches;
- anemia (due to blood loss);
- itching in the perineum.
Diagnosis
Faecal analysis or scraping from the folds around the anus is usually performed to detect helminthic invasion in adults. Worm eggs are examined microscopically and their appearance is determined.
However, this analysis does not always help identify helminths. The most specific for helminthic invasion is a blood test for the presence of antibodies to different types of worms in it. A general blood test, when the body is infected with helminths, reveals an increase in the content of eosinophils and leukocytes.
Analyzing feces may not be enough to identify worms during pregnancy. For a more reliable diagnosis, it is necessary to perform an ultrasound examination, blood analysis and amniotic fluid analysis.
Therapy
When signs of helminthic invasion are detected and the diagnosis is confirmed by blood and fecal tests, treatment is carried out taking into account the type of parasite. For this, the doctor prescribes special anthelmintic drugs. More often, these drugs do not enter the bloodstream, acting exclusively within the gut. Therefore, the possibility of toxic effects on the body is minimal.
In some situations, a single use of the drug is enough to get rid of worms, in others it takes longer treatment, built according to an individual scheme by experts.
This is a prerequisite for the disease not to take a chronic course. The main task of repeated treatment is to destroy parasites that have entered the human body in the form of eggs and have not yet completed their life cycle of development. After a while, they will turn into adults and will be destroyed under the influence of drugs.
Usually, in order to achieve a good result, the whole family should be treated under the control of blood and stool.
Pathogenetic therapy includes antiallergic drugs, drugs to normalize the intestinal flora.
At the same time, concomitant diseases are treated, which often develop as a complication of helminthiasis (anemia, hypovitaminosis, malnutrition).
During pregnancy, in addition to the anthelmintic effect of the drug, its possible effect on the fetus is also taken into account.
As a rule, in the first trimester of pregnancy, when the laying of the main organs and systems of the embryo is in the formation phase, it is better to avoid such treatment. During this period, any medication can do much more harm to the fetus than the likely risk of exposure to worms.
At this stage, you can try to get rid of parasites with the help of drugs without drugs.
Many recipes are known that can supplement the basic treatment, and sometimes completely replace the therapy with drugs. The most proven remedies against helminths are:
- pumpkin seeds;
- onion;
- garlic;
- pomegranate juice;
- tansy and wormwood infusions.
In the second and third trimesters, the likelihood of adverse effects of the drug on the fetus and its carrying decreases.
After the end of the therapy, it is necessary to perform the analysis for worms again - scraping. This is done to ensure that the prescribed treatment is correct and that all worms are destroyed.
It should be borne in mind that the therapy should be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. The repeated analysis is taken at the earliest 2 weeks after the end of the treatment. It is possible to consider that the course of therapy was completed with 3 negative tests in an interval of 2 weeks.
Prevention
Measures to prevent helminthiasis:
- adherence to personal hygiene measures (washing hands before meals, use of individual
- personal hygiene products, individual underwear and bedding);
- obligatory washing of vegetables, fruits, greens with water before meals;
- complete heat treatment of meat, fish;
- fight against blood-sucking insects;
- regular wet cleaning indoors;
- full pet care;
- regular change of underwear and bed linen, with mandatory ironing;
- exclusion of bathing in water bodies with a high probability of helminth infection.
When planning a pregnancy, you should be examined for helminths. If they are present, it is necessary to undergo treatment before pregnancy, so as not to damage the child's body.
Timely and complete treatment of the acute form of helminthiasis is the prevention of the chronic course of the disease.