Worms
(scientific name
helminths
) are worms that live inside humans. Worms are parasites, that is, organisms whose life activity is based on the exploitation of the host organism.
Helminths (worms) are the most common human parasites. According to research, every 4th person in the world is infected with worms. 70 species of worms have been registered in Russia. They all belong to three classes: roundworms, flatworms and flukes. The most common roundworms are roundworms, mainly pinworms, roundworms and whipworms.
There are also intestinal and extraintestinal helminths. Intestinal are those that live in the lumen of the human intestine, and extraintestinal (or tissue) are those living in muscle tissue or organs. Worms can affect the brain, lungs, liver, and lymphatic vessels.
Several types of helminths can parasitize one person at once, and this is a fairly common situation.
Infection of a person with worms is called helminthic infestation
.
helminthiasis
is also used .
Causes of helminthiasis
How does worm infection occur?
Adults inside humans lay a huge number of eggs (hundreds and thousands per day). Worm eggs are excreted from the human body along with feces. In order for a new host to become infected, it is necessary for the helminth eggs to enter his intestines. In most cases, this occurs along with food intake, for example, when eating with unwashed hands or when eating unwashed vegetables and fruits. Some types of helminthic infestations are geohelminthiases. In this case, the eggs of the parasite must first mature by being in the soil for some time (such as roundworms). Other types of worms are used for the maturation of intermediate “hosts” - animals. These are tapeworms - the most famous of the flat parasitic worms - bovine and pork. Their larvae mature in the muscles of animals and enter the human body along with meat that has not undergone proper heat treatment, and already inside a person they turn into an adult.
The opposite situation is also possible, when the human body is used by the helminth as an incubator for the larvae. The final host of such parasites is a predator. The predator is expected to catch the prey and eat the meat infected with the larvae. In this regard, a person is a dead end - a larva that gets into it will no longer turn into an adult, but the larvae
predator worms can cause us a lot of harm. In the human environment, two typical predatory animals are a dog and a cat. They can become a source of infection. The eggs of worms from these animals enter the human intestine, where they hatch into larvae, which can then migrate throughout the body. The liver is most often affected. To prevent infection from pets, you should not kiss them, and a dog that can become infected with helminths while running along the street must be subjected to regular treatment for worms.
Also, worm eggs can enter our body through inhalation of dust or with a sip of water when swimming in a pond. Flies carry worm eggs.
Worms in children
Children become infected with worms more often than adults. Small children tend to put everything in their mouth. While walking, children play on the ground and in the sandbox. They can hug and kiss strangers and stray animals. They don't care about dirty hands.
Therefore, it is so important to try to instill hygiene skills in children as early as possible. Young children should be supervised during walks, always having water and disinfectants ready to wash their hands and wipe their faces in time. And at the first signs of helminthic infestation, you should consult a doctor.
In Moscow, the most frequently detected helminth infections are enterobiasis and ascariasis.
Enterobiasis – helminthiasis caused by pinworms
Pinworms are detected more often than other helminths (in 90% of cases of detection of worm infection).
Pinworms are grayish-white roundworms ranging from 2 to 12 mm in length. They parasitize the intestines. Females descend along the rectum, emerge from the anus and lay eggs in its circumference, after which they die. In this case, the patient feels severe itching in the anus. When scratching, pinworm eggs get on the skin of the hands and under the nails. Thus, if hygiene rules are not followed, constant self-infection is possible.
Pinworms have a short lifespan - 3-4 weeks. Theoretically, in order to be cured, hygiene procedures are enough - daily washing, keeping your hands clean, regularly changing your underwear and bed linen. And in a month the pinworms should disappear. However, since they primarily infect children, it is often impossible to ensure the necessary level of hygiene. Therefore, if you suspect enterobiasis, you should consult a doctor.
The main symptom of enterobiasis is itching in the anal area.
More about enterobiasis>>>
Ascariasis - helminthiasis caused by roundworms
Ascariasis is diagnosed in 70% of cases of helminth infection.
Ascaris is a round worm, the length of which reaches 25 cm in males and 40 cm in females. Ascaris eggs must mature in the ground. Ripe eggs enter the human body when eaten with dirty hands or from unwashed vegetables and fruits. A larva hatches from an egg in the human intestine, but, unlike an adult, it requires air. Therefore, the larva, which at this moment has a microscopic size, penetrates the blood vessels and migrates throughout the body, reaching the lungs. In the lungs, the larvae grow and mature, moving through the alveoli into the bronchi, and from the bronchi into the trachea. The human body reacts to the helminth by coughing (this is a specific symptom of ascariasis). The larvae are expectorated along with sputum and are accidentally ingested by humans. This allows the already developed larva to enter the intestine again, where the adult continues to exist. The entire migration process takes about 2 weeks.
Roundworms can live in the human body for up to a year, in some cases longer. During this period, the waste products of the roundworm poison the body of the “host”, causing disturbances in the functioning of the digestive, nervous and reproductive systems.
The essence of the problem
When identifying worms or other parasites, which doctor should you contact?
Such a specialist is considered to be a parasitologist, and in the absence of one in the clinic, a doctor of a broader profile, namely an infectious disease specialist. He has universal knowledge in the field of etiology and pathogenesis of infectious diseases, incl. must understand diseases caused by parasites. A separate branch of parasitology, helminthology, deals with identifying and getting rid of worms. It is this science that thoroughly studies this type of parasite, especially in terms of differentiation from other types of organisms. Taking this into account, in specialized clinics for treatment of worms, a doctor of a more narrow specialization, namely a helminthologist, may be present. He is able to treat both children and adults.
In general, the beginning of diagnosing a parasitic disease is quite difficult, and therefore, as a rule, a visit to the clinic begins with a specialist in general diseases. For children this is a pediatrician, and for adults - a therapist. In small medical centers, it is quite possible that they will have to deal with the problem of parasites. In principle, they have the relevant knowledge and can help with treatment.
The most common parasites in the human body are intestinal parasites. Their vital activity is associated with disorders of the gastrointestinal system. Taking into account such lesions and complications, the treatment of parasitic pathology in the digestive system should be dealt with by another specialist - a gastroenterologist. This doctor also deals with problems related to the pancreas, gallbladder, and biliary tract. If helminths are localized in the liver, it is worth involving a hepatologist who specializes in the treatment of the liver.
Symptoms of helminthiases
The body tries to resist the penetration of worms. The first consequences of helminth infestation are precisely related to the body’s immune response to the ingress of helminth eggs and larvae. This acute stage lasts (depending on the type of parasite) from several weeks to several months. An allergic reaction can be expressed in the form of a rash, swelling, swollen lymph nodes, cough, etc.
If all the body’s protective barriers are broken, then helminthiasis enters the chronic stage. The larva develops into an adult. In the case of single parasites, a person may not notice their presence, but if there are many helminths, then the consequences of their presence inside the body significantly affect health.
Worms damage tissues by attaching to them using their fixation organs (hooks, spines, etc.), as a result of which inflammation can develop in this place.
Worms create a comfortable environment for themselves. In particular, they cause suppression of the immune system so that the body's defense system no longer reacts to their presence. Reduced immunity causes a person to become susceptible to various infectious diseases.
The presence of worms in the human intestines disrupts metabolism, as the worms absorb nutrients (proteins, minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates). Some varieties of worms secrete substances that neutralize the digestive enzymes of the host. The waste products of worms cause changes in the intestinal microflora, promoting the development of pathogenic microorganisms.
Many types of worms are hemophages, that is, they feed on the host’s blood, contributing to the development of anemia and vitamin deficiency (worms absorb the much-needed vitamin B12).
If the parasite lives not in the intestines, but in the tissues of some organ, then its growth causes compression and deformation of the tissues, which can lead to disruption of the functions of this organ (brain, liver, eyeball).
Suspicion of helminthiasis, first of all, causes disruption of the digestive system and neurological disorders.
Gastrointestinal manifestations of helminthic infestation
The consequences of the presence of worms in the body are not specific and can be mistaken for symptoms of various diseases. A person may complain of occasional pain in the abdominal area of unclear localization, flatulence, or a feeling of fullness in the abdomen. Appetite may increase or be completely absent. Bowel disturbances (constipation or diarrhea) may occur.
Neurological manifestations of helminthic infestation
Helminthic infestation is often the cause of neuropsychiatric disorders - this is the result of the presence in the blood of toxins produced by helminths. The patient may feel general weakness, emotional instability, fatigue, and loss of concentration may be observed.
What symptoms to look out for
It is advisable to make preventive visits to doctors once a year.
Medical examinations are designed to identify the disease at an early stage of development and begin to fight it in a timely manner. It is important to monitor your health, negative manifestations of diseases and respond correctly to them.
Among the important symptoms that may indicate the development of worms are the following:
- Stomach ache;
- Stool disorders - constipation or diarrhea, irregular bowel movements, mucus and blood in the stool;
- Flatulence, bloating;
- Nausea, vomiting;
- Headache, fatigue, other signs of acute intoxication of the body;
- Sleep disorders.
If you experience one or more symptoms from this list, you should visit your doctor. If you don't know which specialist to see, visit your regular GP first. He will listen carefully to complaints, conduct an initial examination, prescribe tests and examinations, and after receiving the results, send you for a consultation with a parasitologist or infectious disease specialist.
Methods for diagnosing helminthiasis
Since the symptoms of helminthiasis coincide with the signs of many other diseases, before prescribing treatment, it is necessary to make sure that worms are actually present in the body. For this purpose, various laboratory diagnostic methods are used.
Analysis of stool for worm eggs
If a helminthic infestation is suspected, the first step is to perform a stool test for worm eggs. To be more confident in the absence of worms, it is recommended to do such an analysis several times (a negative result in the case of a single analysis does not guarantee that there are no worms). However, enterobiasis cannot be detected using stool analysis.
More information about the diagnostic method
Scraping for enterobiasis
Scraping for enterobiasis allows you to identify pinworm infection.
Serological blood test
In difficult situations, additional tests are possible, in particular, a serological blood test for the presence of antigens and antibodies to a particular type of parasite.
More information about the diagnostic method
Sign up for diagnostics To accurately diagnose the disease, make an appointment with specialists from the Family Doctor network.
What are the specialized specialists?
When helminthic foci are located in the internal organs or there are several types of parasites in the body at the same time, the therapist or pediatrician refers the patient to a doctor with a narrower specialization. Such a doctor can be called differently: parasitologist, helminthologist, infectious disease specialist.
Testing for parasites
In some cases, a gastroenterologist is involved in the treatment of protozoan infestations. This happens when, during a gastroscopy or ultrasound, in addition to other diseases, the patient is also infected with worms. Having carried out the necessary tests and identified the lesion, the gastroenterologist prescribes appropriate treatment and gives certain recommendations, following which the patient can quickly and without much difficulty get rid of the parasites.
If any complications arise during treatment, or if the source of infection is atypical, the person will have to turn to other specialized specialists.
Parasitologist
A parasitologist is engaged in an in-depth study of the causes of the appearance of certain types of worms in the body, as well as treatment of diseases caused by the following parasites:
- helminths;
- protozoa;
- arthropods.
Parasitologist
Diagnosis of such diseases is greatly hampered by the migration of parasites and larvae in the affected body. Having established exactly which organs the protozoa parasitize, the parasitologist will be able to effectively cope with the disease.
It is parasitologists who turn to patients with rare and atypical cases of infection, with diseases acquired during travel to exotic countries.
Infectious disease specialist
An infectious disease specialist is a specialist who treats diseases caused by harmful microorganisms that are infectious in nature. When a patient is suspected of having a helminthic or other parasitic infection, an infectious disease doctor conducts a number of studies:
- bacteriological culture of flora;
- blood chemistry;
- markers of viral hepatitis;
- linked immunosorbent assay.
Infectious disease doctor
These tests determine the exact cause of the patient’s illness and allow the most effective treatment strategy to be developed.
In addition to treating parasites, an infectious disease specialist specializes in other dangerous and contagious diseases. So, it is the infectious disease specialist who treats and monitors patients with various types of hepatitis, salmonellosis, enteritis and others.
Helminthologist
The task of a helminthologist is to identify a specific type of parasite, as well as to develop adequate treatment. To make a diagnosis in both adults and children, a specialist takes scrapings for analysis for roundworms and worm eggs. A series of tests for immunoglobulin E and eosinophils are also carried out in order to establish a connection between symptoms and the presence of parasites in the patient’s body.
Since modern science knows more than a hundred species of parasitic worms, after some time the patient is recommended to be tested for Ig G antibodies again.
After diagnosing the body, the doctor draws up an individual treatment plan for the patient and subsequently carries out the prevention of infectious and parasitic pathologies. Most often, helminthiasis can be cured with the right medications and lifestyle. Only in some cases is it necessary to resort to surgical intervention.
Helminthologist
The final stage of treatment is disease prevention
People who have recently gotten rid of parasites should take special care of their hygiene: be sure to wash their hands after going outside and before each meal, rinse fruits and vegetables well, and also pay attention to the health of their pets
Precautionary measures, although not able to completely prevent the possibility of infection with parasites, but significantly reduce the risk
Methods for treating helminthiases
Despite the fact that helminthiasis is a common occurrence, it cannot be treated as something normal. Worm infestation is a serious problem for the body, in some cases it can even lead to death. Worms cannot be tolerated. Infection with worms must be prevented, and if it occurs, the worms must be removed.
To treat helminthiases, courses of special medications are prescribed.
If you suspect a worm infection, you should consult a therapist, and if you are talking about a child, a pediatrician or family doctor. In some cases, the doctor may recommend that the whole family take anthelmintic medications.
Pediatricians, family doctors and therapists at Family Doctor have extensive experience in identifying and treating various helminthiases. It is worth remembering that getting rid of parasites is a serious increase in our health!
Deworming
The procedure for removing worms from the body is called deworming
.
Along with anthelmintic drugs, the course of treatment usually includes drugs that help remove and bind toxic substances produced by worms, as well as antiallergic drugs.
Make an appointment Do not self-medicate. Contact our specialists who will correctly diagnose and prescribe treatment.
Rate how useful the material was
thank you for rating
What medications are there for worms?
Pharmacists and specialists recommend a number of medications for the treatment of helminthic infestations
. The most effective drugs are most often recommended:
- Vermox
is a drug that prevents the proliferation of worms. It is almost not absorbed into the blood and after a day is naturally excreted from the body. Cannot be used as a preventative measure. - Decaris
is the most effective medicine for worms. The appointment is one-time only. In just one day it neutralizes and removes parasites. It has a bad interaction with alcohol, which should be avoided at least a day before taking it. - Helmintox
is an equally effective remedy aimed at combating the disease at all stages of development. Requires consultation with a doctor, as it has several contraindications.
Only a specialist can prescribe treatment with these drugs and set their dosage.
