Worms can begin to parasitize in anyone's body. Whether it is an adult or a child. Many parasites living in the human body are easily detected through routine physical examinations. Many worms release themselves and leave the body through the anus and enter the external environment. This happens during the breeding season and when females lay eggs. Through a comprehensive laboratory examination, the type, number, and life cycle duration of the parasite can be determined.
Infected with worms
If we talk about children, then they still don’t understand to always abide by the rules of personal hygiene, they are always learning the world. They often come into contact with objects contaminated by foreign sources. But even conscious adults who follow all hygiene rules and understand the serious consequences that may occur after parasites enter the human body are often infected with worms.
Ways of Infection with Helminthiasis:
- Contact with street animals;
- in public. A lot of bacteria can be found on handrails, vehicles, supermarkets, door handles and banknotes;
- In summer in swimming pools and open reservoirs;
- Through poorly processed food;
- Worms can enter the human body through the outer layer of the epidermis from contaminated soil;
- Insects are often carriers of infection;
- Too dusty room. Infection can occur through the respiratory tract;
- Shaking hands and using a towel can cause infection;
- Failure to follow personal hygiene rules can lead to infection with worms.
Contact with street animals and pets is one of the most common ways of infecting parasites.
Therefore, remember to wash your hands with soap and water after going to public places. Avoid dirty rooms and use antibacterial wipes to disinfect your hands.
Types of worms that can be found in the human body
The worms in the body can be identified based on many characteristics of specific diseases and parasite behavior patterns. Their life cycle and developmental characteristics are very important. The general symptoms of the life activities of worms in the human body, how long they can survive in the intestine, and the diseases caused by various organs and systems have also been determined.
The following types of worms may exist in the human body:
- Nematode. Refers to roundworms. It mainly lives in the intestine. The average life cycle of nematodes is about 40 years. In many cases, roundworms can damage the stomach and respiratory system. The most famous representatives: pinworms, roundworms and whipworms;
- Tape worm. Initially, they settle in the intestine. In addition, they can spread throughout the body. The life cycle is about 20 years. Some individuals can reach up to 10 meters in length. Representative: tapeworm, cattle, pork tapeworm;
- Fluke and fluke. They can affect internal organs and subcutaneous tissues. This group of parasites is the most harmful to human health and life.
Each type of worm shown includes the most famous parasite species that infect the human body. Each kind of worm will bring great harm and threat to the full functioning of all vital organs.
Parasites cannot be taken lightly. They enter the human body with tiny eggs and larvae, and then grow to an impressive size. Fighting adults is usually difficult. But before starting the treatment of helminthiasis, it is very important to determine what type of worm is colonizing the body. To this end, a laboratory diagnosis is performed.
The main symptoms of worm infection
Loss of appetite
Increased appetite is the first sign of internal parasites. There are often situations where it is recommended that people who chew continuously pass appropriate tests. Increased appetite can also be caused by other problems, such as metabolic disorders or digestive tract dysfunction. Therefore, to find out the cause, you should donate feces for the worm.
However, sometimes in the presence of parasites, a person loses his appetite. This may also be due to other reasons. But if there are any incomprehensible symptoms, it is best to consult an expert immediately.
lose weight
If a person is healthy and he starts to lose weight for no reason, this should be immediately noticed. Even with any diet, weight should disappear gradually, not suddenly. Fast weight loss may indicate the presence of parasites in the body.
Helminthiasis is insidious-its symptoms are very similar to many other diseases, including gastrointestinal diseases.
Itching and discomfort in the anal area
People usually think that discomfort in the anal area is a sign of hemorrhoids. Few people know that these unpleasant feelings may be caused by worms. This is because parasites leave the human body in this way.
Of course, if this feeling occurs, then it is best to check for the presence of worms and hemorrhoids. This will help determine the treatment strategy.
anemia
One of the symptoms of helminthiasis is anemia. People rarely associate these two phenomena because they don't know that anemia may also be a symptom of the presence of parasites.
The change in blood composition is due to worms sucking human blood, causing the red blood cell-red blood cell level to drop. If a person experiences weakness or other unpleasant symptoms, a laboratory blood test is necessary. If the hemoglobin level decreases, it is recommended to contact your doctor, who will refer you to a stool test to diagnose helminthiasis.
Disruption of the digestive tract
An important factor in determining worms is the interference with the work of the gastrointestinal tract. If constipation or diarrhea is common, this may indicate the presence of parasites in the body.
Frequent heartburn, bloating, and even vomiting indicate the presence of worms. In most cases, these symptoms indicate problems with the gastrointestinal tract, but the worms can only be ruled out by passing the necessary tests.
Nervous system disease
Today, everyone is often faced with stressful situations. And people don’t associate constant stress with the presence of internal parasites. Common symptoms of stress and chronic fatigue may indicate that worms have settled in the body. If you feel sleepy, lethargic, weak, or irritable, you should make an appointment with your doctor.
If they are the cause of nervous system disorders, then with the elimination of internal parasites, nervous system problems will also disappear.
Chronic runny nose and cough
Worms can enter the lungs, causing a disruption in the respiratory system. One of the most common symptoms of helminthiasis is a persistent cough.
If a person is worried about a persistent cough and he has no sore throat and no signs of other respiratory illnesses, it is worthwhile to check for parasites. The cough may be caused by their activities. The same applies to a continuous runny nose, because worms can even penetrate the nasopharynx.
Often catch a cold
When there are worms in the human body, the immunity will immediately decrease. This is because parasites use resources that are vital to normal human life. As a result, the body will automatically become weak due to lack of them. A persistent cold is a common and definite sign of helminthiasis.
It is necessary to clearly understand that persistent colds need to be checked by a doctor and passed corresponding tests.
Skin lesions
The presence of worms in the body usually manifests itself on the skin. Patches or rashes, redness, and boils may appear on the skin of the face and body. All these strata can begin to peel off. Again, questions about the nature of these rashes may arise because their appearance is not always related to helminthiasis.
If cosmetics and medications do not help remove the rash, it is worth checking for parasites.
Grinding teeth badly while sleeping
Obviously, a person cannot know whether he is grinding his teeth while sleeping. But everyone can notice this symptom in people close to them. In this case, it is best to consult a doctor immediately and pass all necessary tests to determine whether there are parasites in the body. The sooner a person starts treatment, the sooner he gets rid of the worm.
How to understand that children have parasites?
The process of helminthiasis in children is difficult to diagnose based on the words of children. Since the child is still unable to answer the question accurately, the only way to determine if the child has a worm is to take a stool test.
However, parents should be aware of undesirable symptoms that may indicate the presence of parasites in their children.
First, babies may experience changes in behavior. He became moody and restless. On the other hand, if the child becomes drowsy and lethargic, he will soon become tired and lose interest in games and learning. This is also a problem worthy of attention.
There are many signs that cannot be immediately recognized. Brittle nails and hair, increased saliva production, peeling skin-all these may be symptoms of worms in your child.
The most likely symptom of helminthiasis is the baby scratching the buttocks. Worms, especially pinworms, often occur from the anus. Basically, this process occurs during sleep. If parents find worms on baby pots or objects, they should seek medical attention immediately.
Common signs of advanced worm invasion
The typical signs of long-term presence of worms in the body are symptoms of systemic poisoning, accompanied by signs of digestive diseases, allergic reactions, and a decline in the immune system. These include:
- rash.
- Drowsiness, headache, migraine.
- I feel heavy in my stomach after eating.
- Painful abdominal cramps.
- Nausea, rarely vomiting.
- Bad breath.
- Weight fluctuations (sudden weight loss or weight gain).
- Anal discomfort.
- Diarrhea and constipation alternate.
- Frequent repeated colds and viral diseases (due to decreased immunity).
- anemia.
- Painful urination.
- Women have miscarriages and menstrual cycles are interrupted.
- Children have growth retardation and growth retardation.
- Memory and academic problems.
If there is at least one sign of worm infection, you should immediately consult a doctor/
Worms can not only live in the intestines. When the parasite settles in the lungs, the signs of the worm appear as follows: fever, shortness of breath, cough, bloody sputum. There will be a pronounced wheezing sound when listening to the lungs. Any infection spread by air droplets can easily attach to such patients.
Hydatid worms precipitate in the liver, leading to dysfunction of the organ and the appearance of "liver" symptoms.
Therefore, worms have a very strong negative effect on the whole body, causing various symptoms. Helminthiasis is difficult to respond to drug treatment, so treatment should be started immediately after diagnosis.
Worm test
Only laboratory tests can help accurately determine whether worms are present in the body. The doctor prescribes a series of studies based on the clinical situation and the complaints of the patients. Clinical analysis includes:
- Scrape is the simplest and most reliable method. Take out the smear from the anal fold to determine whether there are worm eggs;
- Stool analysis is considered to be non-informative, because not all worms can be found in a single material;
- Chemical blood tests help to determine the level of hemoglobin and determine whether there is an inflammatory process in the body;
- The PCR reaction is designed to detect DNA parasites in the blood. It is one of the most accurate research methods. This response accurately shows the type of worm and the number of individuals in the human body;
- The enzyme-linked immunosorbent test involves the study of patient blood. In this case, the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies is confirmed, which indicates that the immune system has activated protection against parasites.
In some cases, additional studies are also provided: ultrasound, tomography, and radiography. All organs should be checked carefully, because most worms can migrate throughout the human body. In some cases, the biopsy material is taken from the affected organ. The diagnosis of the disease will depend on the type of worm, which organs, and how affected it is.
The best medicine for worms
Only after accurately determining the type of worm, is it possible to choose the most effective anti-worm drug. Not all drugs are effective against certain types of worms.
It is quite difficult to get rid of parasitic diseases. First, it is recommended to use adsorbents (for example, activated carbon) so that they bind and remove toxic substances from the important activities of parasites that accumulate in large numbers in the body. Then they actually take anthelmintics).
The course of the pills is usually 3 weeks. Before using the medicine, it is best to consult a doctor. Self-medication may not bring the expected results, and sometimes even lead to undesirable consequences.
Any medications taken must always be coordinated with the doctor, because in some cases they are ineffective. If the invasion of worms intensifies, you should consult your doctor urgently.
This treatment includes the use of adsorbents and anti-worm drugs, but it also includes restorative treatment of all internal organs and systems. To do this, please take the following measures:
- Injection of ascorbic acid, sodium bicarbonate and vitamin B;
- Use glucose solution, physiological saline for infusion therapy.
All other drugs are prescribed separately based on acquired health problems. All treatment procedures must be carried out under the strict supervision of the attending physician. Oral medications can only be taken alone at home. But it must be taken in strict accordance with the plan prescribed by the specialist.
Folk Remedies for Adult Worms
The traditional method only supplements the main drug treatment. For this, you only need to use well-proven natural ingredients and recipes. It is best to buy all the ingredients in a pharmacy or a trusted therapist.
Garlic enema. The solution for this procedure is prepared as follows: Add 6 cloves of peeled and chopped garlic to a glass of water. Hold on for two hours.
Wormwood extract. Pour one teaspoon of dry crushed mixture into two cups of boiling water. The mixture cools well. For sweetness, you can add a spoonful of honey. Take 3 times a day.
There are many effective folk remedies for fighting worms, but they should all be a supplement to the main treatment.
Collection of tapeworms. Take it twice: in the morning and before going to bed. Main ingredients: wormwood, sea buckthorn, wild carrot, mint, valerian. The course of treatment for this collection is 3 days.
Pumpkin seeds-help get rid of tapeworms. The raw seeds are washed and crushed. Pour two cups of water and add a spoonful of honey. All of these are mixed well and taken for an hour in a teaspoon. After a few hours, you need to perform a cleansing enema.
Prevent parasitic diseases
Preventing worms from appearing in the body is much easier than curing them. In order to avoid the emergence of parasites, it is necessary to strictly abide by the personal hygiene rules and know how to properly disinfect the living area and toilet.
In order to avoid infection with worms, it is recommended that you follow some other rules:
- Fruits and vegetables should always be heat-treated;
- Be careful when buying seafood, milk and eggs;
- Use only boiled or purified water.
Clean hands, thoroughly wash vegetables and fruits, and eat only proven foods are the guarantee of health and prevention of helminthiasis
You need to keep your hands clean in summer, so it is important to carry wipes with you, and wear gloves in winter to ensure safety. If possible, avoid touching the surface of public places (transportation, shops, toilets). If you must travel by public transportation, you should wash your hands or wipe with a damp cloth afterwards.
In the pharmacy, you can buy medicines to prevent worms, and if the parasites have entered the body, you can also get rid of them.
Prescription drugs must be individually selected by the doctor based on the patient's health status, the chemical composition of the drug, and the allergic reaction of a specific person to certain components.
Clean hands, thoroughly wash vegetables and fruits, and eat only proven foods are the guarantee of health and prevention of helminthiasis.