To get rid of parasites, you first need to understand which parasites have settled inside the patient and whether or not they exist. To do this, there is a simple fingerprint test. If the eosinophils in it do not exceed 5, you can be calm - there are no parasites in the body. If this index is higher than 5, faecal analysis will be conducted to find worm eggs, according to the analysis results, treatment will be indicated. Antiparasitic drugs have many unpleasant side effects: hair loss, convulsions, kidney failure, drug-induced hepatitis to cirrhosis, so only doctors prescribe them.
Common symptoms often attributed to the presence of parasites include nausea, fatigue, lethargy, pallor, irregular bowel movements, and constipation. These symptoms are more likely to indicate anemia or a malfunctioning thyroid. If they have appeared or have persisted for a while, the most sensible thing to do is to see a doctor. And as a precaution - wash your hands more often.
Fear of parasites
Many people are completely sincere and very afraid of parasites, which are supposed to try to enter their bodies. And therefore, they are willing to spend a lot of money on scammers who not only find but "find" parasites, and then "prescribe" all kinds of dietary supplements and remedies for worms. Another symbol for innocent victims. Some try to get rid of the parasites on their own with the help of garlic, onions and horseradish - medicines from them are at least safe. But what will be in the vial received from the doctors will be a mystery.
The problem of parasites really exists, it only exists in countries in Asia, Africa and South America. Thus, in some Asian countries, the prevalence of opisthorchiasis among the population is as high as 80%. There, special measures are taken to disinfect food and drinking water. But all this did not happen to us, tropical parasites do not exist in the domestic climate, although fascioliasis is common in the holon regions. It is transmitted by fish, as well as by cats and dogs that eat this fish. But today we will talk about other parasites, they are most likely to infect the mid lane. These parasites are roundworms and pinworms.
Roundworms and roundworms
Roundworms only parasitize humans. The parasite is a rather elongated roundworm of a yellowish-red color. The length of adult males is 15-25 cm, females are longer - up to 20-40 cm, if ascariasis enters the human body, the disease develops into ascariasis. At the same time, the gastrointestinal tract is affected to a greater extent, but damage to other organs is also possible, as well as allergic reactions. Ascariasis is quite common, 60-85 people out of every 100 thousand people.
The life cycle of roundworms: through the blood to the intestines
The patient is not dangerous in terms of infection, because infection occurs when the egg enters the body. And the eggs come out in the manure and ripen first in the soil. Eggs have thick shells that can stay in the soil for up to seven years. You can become infected by eating vegetables, fruits, or berries that have come in contact with roundworm eggs. In the body, the parasite undergoes a long migration cycle. First, the larvae hatch from the swallowed eggs and enter the bloodstream through the intestinal wall. In the bloodstream, they travel to the liver, to the heart, then to the lungs, and from them to the pharynx. When infected people swallow them, larvae in the intestines will mature into adult worms, capable of laying eggs.
Symptoms: abdominal pain, nausea, weight loss
While the larvae migrate throughout the body, allergic manifestations appear at the forefront. It can also suffer mechanical damage to those organs through which the larvae pass - liver, blood vessels, lungs, intestines. Patients may have high fever, red rash and pain in the liver, at the end of the spermatic phase - cough and shortness of breath. When roundworms settle in the intestines, their waste products become poisoned. In addition, the sharp tip of the worm can injure or even puncture the intestines. Manifestations are abdominal pain, morning sickness, loss of appetite, stool changes. In addition, there is also poor health, poor sleep, headaches, fatigue and weight loss. The presence of roundworms in the intestines causes a deficiency of vitamins B6, A and C.
Diagnosing roundworm disease
For diagnosis, blood is drawn for general analysis (eosinophilia, elevated ESR, sometimes anemia) and antibody testing. Under the microscope, larvae can be found in the sputum of the patient. During the intestinal phase, ascaris eggs, and sometimes the worms themselves, are detected in the feces.
Drugs for roundworms
Treatment of roundworm disease does not require hospitalization, except in complicated cases. The patient was prescribed a diet rich in vitamins, low in fat and carbohydrates. Food intake - four to five times a day. Shown are antiparasitic drugs, antihistamines, probiotics and enzyme preparations.
Complications of roundworm disease
A complication of ascariasis can be intestinal obstruction due to obstruction by the worm ball. When roundworms enter the biliary tract, it causes vomiting, jaundice, and severe right-sided abdominal pain. By the same principle, pancreatitis due to ascariasis can occur, as well as respiratory failure when the airways are obstructed by parasites.
Pinworms and roundworms
Pinworms are translucent white worms, only 0. 5-1 cm long, with a pointed tip on the body, which explains the name. They are parasitic mainly in the large intestine and can disappear over time without medication, if self-infection does not occur. The fact is that in order to lay eggs, the female enters the anus and does this in the perianal folds, after which they die. In patients, this process causes intense itching. If after scratching the itch, the patient does not wash his hands, the eggs will fall on the cloth, surrounding objects, food and may be deposited under the fingernails. Patients can swallow pinworm eggs on their own. This is how self-infection occurs.
Symptoms: anal itching
The main symptom is intense anal itching at night, as this is the time when the parasites lay eggs. With intestinal worms, symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract may occur: abdominal pain, nausea, increased gas and nervous system production: fatigue, sleep disturbances or insomnia (severe anal itching interferes withreturn to normal sleep). Pinworms can enter the female genital tract causing itching, burning pain, discharge. And even cause coughing - if it enters the lower respiratory tract.
Diagnosis and treatment of intestinal worms
Primarily, scraping from the perianal folds (or adhesive tape) is used, after which the resulting material is examined under a microscope. So you can find helminth eggs. In a blood test, as in ascariasis, there will be an increase in eosinophils, with the development of complications - signs of inflammation (leukocytosis, increased ESR). For treatment, antiparasitic drugs are used. Some drugs are contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women. To relieve itching, the anus is lubricated with an ointment with an anesthetic agent. The most popular folk remedy is garlic.
Complications: dysbacteriosis, appendicitis
Complications will depend on the body's response and the number of parasitic worms. There may be genitourinary disorders, appendicitis, vaginitis, salpingitis, endometritis (inflammation of the appendages).
Prevention of roundworms and intestinal worms
Roundworm disease:
- identify and treat patients on time;
- loosen the sandbox (eggs do not tolerate direct sunlight);
- wash hands after going to the toilet and before eating;
- wash vegetables, fruits, berries.
Intestinal worm disease:
- iron the laundry thoroughly, especially the folds;
- clean the apartment with an antiseptic;
- provide patients with individual beds and sleeping spaces;
- It is important for children to keep their fingernails short.