Worms in humans - symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

When worms enter the human body, they begin their parasitic activity, thereby causing discomfort. Helminthic infestations often cause severe allergic reactions, gastrointestinal illnesses and other pathologies not related to the gastrointestinal tract. However, traditional treatment of these diseases does not provide a cure. Worms in humans can be suspected with high probability based on certain symptoms, but helminthiasis manifests itself clinically only when the worms multiply massively. In case of asymptomatic cases, laboratory tests will help to reliably diagnose helminthiasis. Symptoms of worms in humans can be different, but first of all appear abdominal pain, discomfort near the anus, nausea and general malaise. To restore good health, it is necessary to get rid of worms using anthelmintic drugs or folk remedies.

What are worms

Worms are parasites of humans and animals belonging to the class of flatworms or roundworms. Worms have a fairly common structure.
In their development, worms traditionally go through several stages: egg – larva – adult. Most infections of a person with worms occur when they ingest worm eggs.

Eggs ingested into the human intestinal tract quickly hatch into larvae, which begin to migrate to their permanent home, where they develop into adults. During their movement, almost all helminths make real "journeys" through the human body.

Only a few parasites (e. g. pinworms) hatch from eggs in the intestinal tract and remain there. Usually, the destruction of tissues and organs as well as the symptoms caused by larvae and other forms of helminths developing during movement are the most pronounced, compared to the symptoms caused by mature forms of the parasites

As we said above, adult worms traditionally have a stable localization in the body and their developing forms often migrate to different organs and tissues, and often the path of their movement is quite complex. For example, with ascariasis, a person becomes infected by eating food contaminated with worm eggs (roundworm eggs ripen in the soil).

In the cavity of the intestinal tract, roundworm eggs hatch into larvae, which within a few hours penetrate through the wall of the intestinal tract into the blood vessels and are carried to the lungs by the bloodstream. In the lungs, roundworm larvae grow and mature. The growing larva slowly eats away at the adjacent bronchi and crawls along them, first into the trachea, then into the oral cavity, where it is again swallowed and transported through the intestinal tract.

The roundworm larva that enters the intestinal tract transforms into an adult worm. Pulmonary migration of roundworm larvae is manifested by an abundance of symptoms (cough, asthma attacks, increased body temperature, allergic skin rash), and the presence of a small number of adult worms in the intestinal tract cannot manifest in any way.

What are worms? The worms are scientifically called helminths. Helminths refer to all worms that parasitize the bodies of people, animals and plants. As a result, worms are not a specific type of parasite, but a whole group of different worms, three of which are the most common.

Some scientists claim that almost the entire population of Earth is infected with one or another parasitic worm. However, in this case, helminthic infestations should be the most common types of diseases in the world, and, moreover, a number of serious studies prove that in reality everything is not so serious. But the idea that a person still has helminths immediately pushes him to look for an answer to the question of how to get rid of worms.

It should also be understood that helminthic infestation is not something rare and insignificant. There are more than three hundred species; larvae in humans penetrate far beyond the intestines and continue to develop there, gradually poisoning the body. Let's see what the symptoms of worms are in humans, because he who is forewarned, as we know, is forearmed. We'll then find out how to get rid of worms effectively and what to do to ensure they don't come back.

It is actually very simple to determine the presence of worms in a person's body - you just need to do a stool test. However, the problem is that most people don't even think about taking such a test. The problem is that helminths in adults and children manifest themselves, masquerading as a large number of diseases, and at first they do not reveal their presence at all.

A person can spend years caring for his intestines, liver, kidneys, stomach, gallbladder, and the root of the evil will be helminthiasis and parasites, which feel good when not fought.

Often, helminth infestations cause the development of diseases that have nothing to do with the helminths themselves. And in this case, you can be treated endlessly if you do not understand in time what is happening.

All this proves that worms are not just an unpleasant phenomenon. And given the presence of a large number of modes of infection, it is vitally important to know the signs of worms in humans.

How do worms (parasites) appear?

Symptoms of helminthic diseases depend on the phase of development of the parasite. The development of helminthiasis is usually divided into acute and acquired stages.

• The acute phase of parasite development begins from the moment the patient becomes infected with worms and lasts 2-3 weeks (in severe illness, up to 2 months).This stage is characterized by the predominance of allergic manifestations (skin rash, dry and suffocating cough, increased levels of eosinophils in the blood), which develop in response to the appearance of antigens (fragments) of migratory larvae in theblood. The immune response is very pronounced at the stage when the first forms of the parasite (larvae) are found in the body of an infected person;
• the acquired stage of worm development occurs after the acute stage and lasts several weeks, months or years (for some helminthic diseases - up to 10 years). The symptoms of this stage for us depend on the location of the worms, their number and their eating habits.
  In the places where they spread, parasites damage tissues with their attachment organs (hooks, thorns, cutting plates, cuticular spines). Damage causes tissue irritation and the development of an inflammatory reaction.

Some fast-growing parasites, such as cysticerci or hydatid cysts, found in the brain, eyeballs and liver, compress the surrounding tissues, often causing dysfunction of vital organs, leading to serious consequences.

In the acquired stage of helminthiasis, metabolism is disrupted, as the parasite constantly absorbs valuable nutrients, such as proteins, minerals, carbohydrates and vitamins. In addition, the process of absorption of digested food in the intestinal tract is disrupted. The acquired phase in most digestive helminthic infestations is often asymptomatic, especially in cases where the parasites are represented by a single individual.

Symptoms of the disease only appear when the parasite is huge, such as a roundworm or tapeworm.
With other helminthiases, for example, with enterobiasis, night itching in the anal area may appear; intensive invasion by trichuriasis contributes to the development of hemorrhagic colitis; in children, symptoms of rectal prolapse may appear.

How can you get infected with worms?

You can acquire parasites in different ways. In this case, the worms are carried by larvae that are almost invisible to the naked eye.

Main methods of infection:

• lack of hygiene skills - dirty hands, floor work;
• eating food contaminated with helminths - unwashed fruits and foods that husbands ate, as well as insufficiently heat-treated meat and fish (kebabs, rare steak, smoked foods, sushi, etc. );
• drink unboiled water contaminated with worm eggs;
• contact with animals that are natural reservoirs of worms - cats and dogs, wild animals (hunting, fishing, work on fur farms);
• contact with a person suffering from helminthiasis - a handshake, through bed linen, door handles, etc.

What organs can worms live in?

Helminthic parasites are divided into two categories, which correspond to the location of their activity in the donor's body:

• cavitary– worms that live in various parts of the gastrointestinal tract. There are approximately 100 species of intestinal parasites, and for each part of the intestine there are a few dozen species. The small intestine is ready to accept roundworms, antelostomes, large tapeworms and other less common "brothers". The small intestine will "share living space" with pinworms, dwarf tapeworms and others. The medical literature describes cases where a person was infected with several types of parasites simultaneously;
• fabric- worms located in organs, tissues and even in the blood. Modern medicine successfully copes with paragonimiasis (lungs), cysticercosis (brain), echinococcosis (liver) and filariasis (lymphatic vessels). Some worm larvae move throughout the body through the circulatory system and attach randomly to any organ. If many eggs are introduced, the whole body can become infected.

How can you get infected with worms?

To protect yourself, you need to know 4 ways worm eggs can spread and become infected:

• through soil and water - soil-transmitted helminthiasis. They develop in sand, soil and water, then enter the human body and begin laying eggs. Then the worm eggs enter the external environment along with the feces and wait in the wings to infect a new person. Eating poorly washed vegetables and fruits, having dirty hands and dust on food can lead to infection with soil-transmitted helminths. Some parasite eggs enter the human body through the skin of the feet and ankles;
• by direct contact.Worms in pets and humans are transmitted through hand contact, play, and shared activities.
• by the consumption of contaminated food of animal origin - biohelminthiasis. Eating raw and minimally processed meat (skewers, lard, canned meat, homemade game) and fish (sushi, dried fish, canned fish) is potentially dangerous. There is a possibility of infection with intestinal infections and biohelminths;
• for insect bites. This type of infection is quite rare. These include intestinal myiasis, cantariasis and scoleciasis. Do not confuse parasite eggs with insect larvae, which are also deposited under the skin of animals and under the skin of humans (e. g. fly larvae).

Symptoms of worms

To understand how to remove worms from a person, you need to know the symptoms that each type of tapeworm manifests. Depending on the location of the dislocation, helminthic infestations can be:

• luminous.Cavity worms inhabit the area of the small and large intestines. For example, the area inhabited by roundworms and tapeworms is the small intestine. Pinworms live in the lower part of the small intestine, whipworms live in the large intestine;
• muscle (cellular).They live in muscle cells, lung tissue, brain cells, liver, lymph nodes and eyes. Some worms are luminal and cellular, because in the early stages they migrate with the bloodstream and populate the organs above.

Symptoms of worms in an adult may be different. As mentioned above, they are often easily confused with signs of other illnesses. In some cases, everything happens according to the classic scenario of a massive infection. In this case, the signs of worms in an adult and a child will be similar, most likely in children - more pronounced.

Obvious symptoms of worm infection: itching in the anus, especially at night; sudden loss or, on the contrary, weight gain; anemia, externally manifested by pallor of the skin; tired and haggard appearance.

If you or your children begin to experience such phenomena, you should definitely consult a doctor and insist that the stool be tested for the presence of parasite eggs. Of course, maybe it's not their fault. Symptoms of helminthic infestation are not always the cause of poor health, but communication with a doctor will be useful in any case, since the disorders in the body are obvious.

Symptoms of worms in humans, first signs

The first signs of worms in humans are always absent; Symptoms of parasitic infestation only appear when there are a large number of worms (pinworms, roundworms) or the tapeworm reaches a large size, for example. The clinical picture of helminthiasis often mimics gastrointestinal pathology.

However, in addition to those characteristic of gastrointestinal lesions, there are signs indicating dysfunction of other organs.

Symptoms indicating the presence of helminths in the body:

• lack of appetite or, conversely, gluttony, bitterness in the mouth and excessive salivation;
• a strong desire to eat sweets (worms feed on carbohydrates);
• nausea, vomiting - sometimes worms crawl into the stomach or their parts (segments) are found in vomit;
• itching of the anus and grinding of teeth during sleep often indicate enterobiosis;
• unstable stools - always causing intestinal dysbiosis, helminthiasis occurs with frequent changes of diarrhea and constipation; in cases of heavy infestation, worms may be excreted in the stool;
• flatulence – bloating and rumbling in the stomach is caused by toxins produced by worms;
• periodic abdominal pain - diffuse, often localized in the navel region, the pain is sometimes spastic in nature;
• skin manifestations - sudden allergic skin rashes and purulent formations (acne, boils), caused by a decrease in local immunity and the elimination of toxins through the skin, often occur in a severe form, at the same time there arehas weak nails and excessive hair loss;
• irritable bowel syndrome - poor absorption of nutrients leads to the development of anemia and weight loss, especially with numerous helminthic colonies;
• cough is a dry symptom that occurs in the pulmonary stage of helminthiasis (roundworm larvae enter the lungs with blood); a severe infestation can cause pneumonia;
• obesity - oddly enough, can also be triggered by intestinal parasites, which, when feeding on carbohydrates, cause a sharp drop in blood sugar levels and force you to consume more food, and the body stores fats in reserve;
• symptoms from the nervous system - increased irritability, lack of sleep or drowsiness, constant depression, decreased attention and memory problems are especially pronounced in children with helminthiasis;
• chronic fatigue syndrome - parasites often cause constant weakness, prolonged rises in temperature up to 37-37. 5 C, flu-like illness and muscle pain;
• pathology of the upper respiratory tract - a sluggish runny nose, incurable cough, even pneumonia and asthmatic conditions are often caused by the presence of helminths;
• decreased immunity - helminthiasis, intestinal dysbiosis and accompanying chronic poisoning lead to frequent colds and pathologies indicative of immunodeficiency (herpes, warts, etc. ), including oncopathology.

The effect of helminthiasis on the nervous system deserves special attention. Any type of parasite produces products during its life that are perceived by the body as foreign substances. Their toxic effect affects, first of all, the nervous system, causing irritability, depressive states and other disorders of emotional stability.

Flat parasites in humans. Symptoms

Paw

The fluke is found in the hepatic tubules. Causes cancer of the digestive organs. You can become infected by eating lightly salted raw fish products. Symptoms of worms in an adult: increased body temperature; bouts of vomiting; dyspepsia; pain in the spleen, liver; allergy. The person periodically feels dizzy and their sleep is disturbed; migraines are observed; he becomes irritable; the mood changes often. Treatment of helminthiasis is carried out in a hospital.

Schistosome

Routes of Schistosoma infection include swimming in recharge ponds and drinking dirty water. Parasite the small veins of the large intestine, abdominal cavity, small pelvis, uterus, bladder. Can be located in the brain.

Symptoms of a worm infection include loss of appetite; disruption of the digestive system; pale skin; abdominal pain; dyspepsia; intestinal and uterine bleeding, weight loss, intestinal obstruction. In women, it causes menstrual irregularities; miscarriages have been recorded during pregnancy due to the presence of worms.

Men develop impotence; sperm quality decreases (infertility). Children suffer from stunted growth and mental development. When brain cells are damaged, consciousness is impaired and paralysis and seizures can develop. Such conditions can lead to death

Paragon

Paragonom - pulmonary fluke: what are the causes of worms in humans: from the consumption of freshwater crabs, fish, pork. The worm affects the bronchial organs and lungs. Signs of worms in adults: temperature increases; the person begins to cough, and for a long time.

When you cough, sputum is produced. A migraine is observed; shortness of breath appears in the absence of movement; impaired visual acuity; bouts of vomiting.

Echinococcus

Echinococcus is a very dangerous tapeworm. May cause death. He lives next to a person for a long time and is able not to express himself. The route of infection is through domestic animals, often dogs. A person becomes infected without following hygiene rules.

Echinococcus causes the development of cysts in human organs. Treatment of worms in adults is carried out only surgically. Often affects the digestive system, respiratory system, brain and bone tissue. Symptoms in adults depend on the organ affected.

Liver: pain in this area, of variable nature, heaviness, fatigue, skin allergies, jaundice. Lungs: pain in the sternum, coughing fits, shortness of breath. Brain: migraine, dizziness, paralysis, mental disorders, epilepsy. Bones: muscles, painful joints; frequent fractures are observed.

Large tapeworm

The broad tapeworm is one of the largest parasites. Lives in the small intestine. The route of infection is the consumption of lightly salted caviar, fish that has not undergone proper heat treatment.

Worms present in the human body are characterized by frequent vomiting; pain in the abdominal area; dyspepsia; lack of appetite; fatigue; anemia; decrease in blood pressure; migraines. Additionally, the pain is sometimes so powerful that it leads to fainting.

bull tapeworm

Bovine tapeworm: Route of entry is contaminated beef. Helminthic infestation colonizes the small intestine. How to understand that an infection has occurred? Signs of worms in humans: stomach pain; severe nausea; excessive increase in appetite; weightloss; rumbling in the stomach; flatulence; increased frequency of bowel movements.

pork tapeworm

The pork tapeworm lives in different organs. The means of infection are lack of hygiene and unwashed fruits. You can determine that a person has worms by dizziness, prolonged and regular migraines. The person sleeps poorly, often wakes up in a "cold sweat" due to nightmares, and therefore becomes irritable over time. Appetite is disturbed and belching appears.

Dwarf tapeworm

The dwarf tapeworm reaches humans through the oral cavity with dirty fruits and vegetables. Lives in the small intestine region. Symptoms: fever, nausea, salivation, belching, heartburn, rhinitis, dry mucous membranes.

Roundworms in humans. Symptoms

Roundworm

Roundworm: You can become infected after eating unwashed vegetables and fruits. Tapeworms live in the small intestine. Signs of the appearance of worms in a person: the anus itches, the person feels the movement of worms, which causes incredible discomfort. The temperature may rise, lymph nodes may become enlarged, and headaches may occur in the evening. The liver enlarges, manifestations of allergies are visible (urticaria on the feet and hands, dermatosis). Due to damage to the central nervous system, mental disorders occur - depression, convulsions, attacks of aggression, night nightmares. The functioning of digestion is disrupted.

Pinworm

pinworm: this parasite starts from dirty hands. Lives in the large and small intestines of humans. The source of infection lies in sick people and non-compliance with hygiene standards.

The first signs of worms: the anal area itches (worse at night); I have a stomach ache; Be sick; sleep is disturbed. The person is agitated and irritable; gets tired quickly.

Some people develop urinary incontinence in this context; allergic manifestations. Girls with worms have heavy vaginal discharge.

Trichinella

Trichinella is a dangerous helminthic infestation. Symptoms do not always appear immediately. Routes of infection: consumption of pork, vegetation near pastures. Helminthic infestation affects all systems and organs without exception.

The following symptoms cause worms in humans: loss of appetite; people are constantly nauseous and a gag reflex occurs periodically. Stools are disturbed and there is pain in the abdomen. A distinctive feature is facial swelling. Muscle aches ; rashes appear on the skin; temperature increase.

Hookworms

Hookworms are dangerous worms in adults. Symptoms may be severe or absent. The gastrointestinal tract (small intestine, duodenum) is affected. Routes of infection: contact with the soil where the larvae are present; by mouth with vegetables and herbs contaminated by soil.

Signs of worms: itchy skin allergies; coughing fits (streaks of blood are visible in the sputum); increased body temperature, migraine. People get dizzy and feel weak; pain and pain in the bones (as with ARVI). I suffer from hunger pains.

After eating, a person feels nauseous and may vomit. Almost always after eating, the stomach swells and the stomach hurts. After eating, diarrhea appears two hours later. Many, on the contrary, suffer from constipation due to impaired intestinal motility caused by worms. A person becomes drowsy and fatigue appears even in the absence of physical activity.

Is it worth taking anti-worm tablets for prevention?

If one of the family members suffers from pinworms, preventive treatment is always carried out for the whole family.

Indications for prophylactic use of drugs against helminths:

• presence of domestic animals;
• constant contact with the ground (playing in the sand, villagers);
• if children live permanently in closed children's groups;
• regular trips to exotic countries;
• Hobbies: fishing, hunting, beach volleyball, football.