Helminth infections (helminthiasis) — diseases that cause human parasitic worms (worms, worms) that live in the body.
What is this?
Currently there are approximately 300 parasitic diseases. They can be divided into the intestinal and extraintestinal. As the name implies, in the first case, the worms and their larvae live in the gut, and the other outside it: in the muscles, lungs, liver, etc., the most common diseases due to intestinal parasites, which is considered to be: enterobiasis and ascariasis.
Enterobiasis caused tiny parasitic worms — pinworms. In length that does not exceed 1 cm One end of the worm is usually pointed and the other rounded. Colour pinworms can range from white and yellowish to almost black. These worms are nocturnal: at night, the females crawl into the rectum, and thence to the skin around the anus, lay eggs in the folds of skin, by themselves and die.
The average life expectancy of pinworms and a half months.
Ascariasis lead to the larger worms — ascarids. In length can reach 20 cm Parasitic roundworm mainly in the small intestine, so to detect in the feces is very difficult. The life expectancy of roundworms — over the years.
Infection
Usually the infection with worms occurs through contaminated soil, mud. For example, if you do not wash their hands and clean nails after working with the earth, eat dirty vegetables, fruits and berries. In addition to this, not the last role in the infected worms game flies. They are on their feet and a trunk to carry helminth eggs, for human consumption. Also, infection with worms can be and incidental ingestion of water while swimming in the reservoirs. Children often catch worms from Pets.
What's going on?
In the body of an adult intruder is waiting for a triple protective barrier. The first enzyme the mouth, the other — in the acidic environment of the stomach, and the third the local resistance of the bowel. Unfortunately, in a weakened body all these obstacles, you may not be able to work. Then the worms even enter the intestine and develop into Mature individuals.
Over time, the human body is poisoned by the waste products of the worms. The patient increased fatigue, worsening or, on the contrary, increased appetite, headaches. Disrupted the digestive tract: abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation and vomiting. Can occur anal itching. Increased sensitivity to allergens — also the result of the turbulent life of worms. The consequences can be very sad — from skin rashes to asthma. The second negative effect of worms — these weaken the immune system.
What is displayed?
Signs of parasitic disease depends on the type and number of worms, as well as individual reactions to the worms. The first symptoms of infection with worms: the deterioration of appetite, vomiting, nausea, drooling, or paroxysmal pain in the abdomen. Constipation alternating with diarrhea, developed fatigue and weakness, sleep disturbances. When infected with worms (pinworms), patients worry about itching in the anus and perineum. This amplifies at night and at rest. Sometimes it is so severe that the patient wakes up.
What is dangerous?
For constipation, sharp pain in the abdomen and swelling, you should immediately consult a doctor. These symptoms may indicate intestinal obstruction occurred. In severe helminthiasis develop abnormalities of the nervous system: prolonged headache, dizziness, nervous tics. Ascariasis due to the peculiarities of the migration of the parasite in the body can be the cause of the presence of worms, such as paroxysmal cough. Often, the signs of worms in humans are skin changes in the form of various rashes.
Diagnosis of infection the worm
At any suspicion on infection with worms, be sure to consult with a specialist, do not self-heal. The diagnosis is confirmed by usual analysis of feces on eggs of worms. If the first stool sample helminth eggs were not determined, but the probability of infection is high, the tests are repeated several times in a row.
How to treat worms
For the treatment of worms use a special medication against worms. The choice of cure for worms depends on the specific type of helminthes identified in the patient. The doctor will prescribe pills to get rid of parasites. Treatment for worms is at home.
The criterion of recovery are repeated negative feces in humans on helminth eggs.