Many of us will think about the presence of worms (helminths) after the summer holidays.
Some people think that we must get rid of them at all costs, while others, on the contrary, think that these parasites are even very useful for the body.Who will tell us the truth?
Surely many of you know the famous Dr.House.In one series there was a case where a teacher fell ill right in class.The children were scared and the doctors didn't know what was wrong with her because her condition was very serious.Each doctor had his own theory.Some thought that the patient had a tumor, others that she was suffering from inflammation of the blood vessels in the brain.The main character of the television series, Dr.House himself, solves this problem by finding the culprit for the teacher's suffering.It was a tapeworm that tormented the woman.Then the teacher was prescribed treatment with tablets and recovered.
Although this series seems like a fantasy, the script of this series was written by real professionals.Real cases of worm infections are also similar to the myth, but unfortunately the consequences cannot always be corrected as in the case of the series.How do we know whether we are infected or not?Are we in danger or not?
About preventing worms
When people hear about various miracle cures to destroy these parasites, they forget everything just to get rid of them.
We have developed such a strong disgust for these animals that just thinking about them makes us feel bad.We are ready to test ourselves with the most “abnormal” medications, drink all sorts of dubious herbs and even do enemas with garlic.
It is very important not to overdo it with medication and to stop taking it in a timely manner.When it comes to parasitic diseases, everyone should be careful when choosing drugs against helminths, because without taking the right drugs the situation can become even more complicated.Don't grab anything for treatment!It is very important to know what you are struggling with, what medications help, what dose is optimal and what contraindications there are.So it can be a whole detective story in the fight against parasites.
There are more than 300,000 species of helminths that affect vertebrates known on our planet.There are 300 species of helminths observed in humans (according to other sources, more than 12,000 species).So being treated with anything just won't work.At least it's a good thing that most of them are in the tropics.But only if we do not take such “tourists” with us from tropical countries where we like to vacation (Türkiye, Cyprus, Egypt, Thailand).
Each region of the world is characterized by certain worms.And everyone has a different form of entry into the body.
How many species of helminths are there on Earth?
schistosomes
Africa and Asia are famous for their schistosomes.And you can get infected with them very easily if you swim in a local freshwater body or drink water from local sources.Schistosomes enter the body primarily through the urogenital organs.
How to avoid schistosome infection?
If you don't swim in fresh water and only wash with boiled water, you can basically avoid this.
Filaria and elephantiasis (filariasis)
You can also “get to know” filariae on vacation on the islands of Fiji, Mozambique, Goa, Tahiti and Egypt.The main vectors of these parasites are mosquitoes (native mosquitoes).
Filariasis are dangerous because they cause filariasis (elephantiasis), which affects the lymph nodes and is very difficult to treat.
Mosquitoes are also dangerous because they can transmit leishmaniasis (caused by Leishmania) and malaria.Leishmaniasis affects the mucous membranes and skin.
How do I avoid a filarial infection?
The most important rule is not to let mosquitoes near you, let alone bite you.Use curtains, repellents and special mosquito nets.
In the tropics, avoid running or walking barefoot on local trails or sandy beaches.The fact is that this way you can catch other types of parasites.Various parasite larvae are often hidden in the “harmless” sand and can very quickly penetrate the body through the skin of the feet!Sometimes after returning from travel you find a kind of larva under the skin.Just like in a horror movie!
How can infection with such parasites be avoided?Walk only in shoes and it is not recommended to lie on sand or grass without a mat.
fluke
The most dangerous food is both raw and undercooked fish.
Fluke is one of many parasites that can be found in raw fish in:
- China;
- Japan.
After tasting a piece of such fish (i.e. infected), after 1/2 - 1 month you may experience an unpleasant feeling in the liver area, as well as a rash.
Leeches aren't the only ones transmitted this way.Many worms are waiting for the next owner to bite a raw fish.Fans of caviar, sushi, salted and dried fish also run the risk of becoming infected with the coincidence.
How do I avoid accidental infection?
First, exclude all exotic dishes made from raw fish from the menu.If you still can't do without such dishes, at least eat them only in good, certified restaurants.
If you buy raw fish at the market or from strangers, be sure to already cook it, otherwise you risk it.
Trichina and trichinosis
What do you think there are no other worms yet?Make no mistake, we found them in other well-known products.
Europeans love rare steaks.And here lies another danger - trichinosis.
Other helminths can't even keep up with this, because trichinae are among the most dangerous!They can lodge in muscle tissue and cause death.
In addition to trichinella, such a European meal can also “cause” other parasites: pork and beef tapeworms.
How to avoid trichinosis and tapeworm infection?
Eat well-prepared meat dishes and only in good restaurants.
Roundworms and pinworms
Even if we eat vegetables and fruit, we must remember that there is another risk of infection: roundworms and pinworms.That's why our mothers taught us to wash fruits and vegetables before eating them.Most often, the threat comes from herbs (green plants) brought to us from the southern regions.
How do I avoid infection with roundworms and pinworms?
If you bought vegetables at the market, be sure to wash them well.First, leave the grass in the water for an hour so that the worm eggs on the leaves sink to the bottom of the container, and only then rinse each leaf individually.Like this!
Positive aspects of worms
I don't think the thought of such roaming "pets" is very warming.But let's be optimistic because life is wonderful.
The microcosm around us is full of surprises:
- Bacteria,
- viruses,
- Parasites.
But we contain whole kilograms of such biomass and there is nothing pathological about it.We are not designed to live in a completely sterile environment, we will simply die there.
Some of these organisms have a positive effect, as they are involved in improving immunity and the synthesis of certain vitamins, and thanks to them digestion works differently.
I don't want to call helminths useful animals for humans, but there are some that are safe (intestinal parasites) and especially dangerous (parasites that live in other organs: lungs, liver, eyes and even the brain!).In the latter case, everyone thinks about how to recover quickly, because the problem is very serious.
It happens that helminths leave the body of the owner, even if he does not know about their existence in his body.
For example, you can get rid of worms with a clove of garlic, or anything is possible thanks to hormonal changes (in a pregnant woman).If you decide to rebel against these parasites, you may end up angering them if you don't know what you're fighting against.Therefore, they can complicate the situation by entering the bile ducts and causing a liver abscess.So remember that regular prevention is not always helpful!It is better to get tested for helminths in the hospital.
Symptoms of a worm infection
What to do?Worms are all around us and therefore we can easily become infected;It is not recommended to treat them without diagnosis, and diagnosis to identify helminths is not the easiest task.Worms are very good at disguising themselves as other diseases.
And the most interesting thing: the larger the helminth (there are giants that reach up to 10 meters), the calmer it behaves.Therefore, analyzing only a few symptoms does not always lead to the correct diagnosis.This is not possible without an examination by a parasitologist.
Of course, no one can help you better than a doctor.Here are some cases when you need to get tested:
- During a recent vacation in different parts of the world, you ate various local dubious delicacies, swam in hotel pools where the water was not chlorinated, walked barefoot on the beach, lied naked on the sand and grass, touched local dogs and cats;
- You have high fever, hives, redness, itching, rash on the body, chills, bloating and stomach pain.
When you find out your situation, you need to see a parasitologist.
Rules of personal hygiene to avoid infection with worms
Eat
- Let's start with the fact that in exotic countries you can only drink bottled water.
- Fruits, even if they look very appetizing, must be peeled or cooked.It is not recommended to use them in their plain form under any circumstances.
- Other questionable products include
- uncooked meat;
- raw fish (any form, including sea fish).
- Freshly squeezed juices are also prohibited.Fruits used to extract juice do not always go through a thorough washing process.
Avoid consuming such products.
Beach
Don't take the risk of walking barefoot on sand, grass or paths in exotic countries.Please use a sun lounger and slippers.
To swim
Swimming in freshwater waters of India, Central Africa and South America is prohibited.There are so many parasites there that even the movie “Alien” seems like a children’s fairy tale in comparison.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes (or midges) are very dangerous parasites, as they are heavy carriers of many infections and helminths.
Avoid direct contact with them.
You must use repellent, wear long sleeves and sleep under a canopy.
Lingerie
In exotic countries, it is strictly forbidden to air dry laundry.
The problem is that flies from tropical countries like to lay eggs on them and wearing swimming trunks hatches larvae that can cause dermatitis.
Where can tests to detect worms be carried out?
Conduct tests only in specialized state clinics.It is not recommended to conduct such tests in questionable institutions.
One of the reasons not to contact such clinics is the fact that they will find everything you want even if you have nothing.
Yes, yes, in order to tie you up, they may prescribe unnecessary treatments.They will tell you that modern universal diagnostics sees everything, even where standard tests see nothing.Do not trust charlatans and feel free to contact the usual state clinics.
Now let's talk about the so-called universal diagnostics.This is not possible, for example, when detecting helminths.
If they are in the bladder, you need to give urine, if they are in the intestines, then feces, if they are in the muscle mass, you need to do an X-ray of the muscles, if they are in the liver, then an ultrasound.
What did you think?Positive results from such tests can only alarm people, so they can be quickly expelled.Only take medications recommended by a parasitologist, because accuracy and precision are very important in this matter.
What should you pay attention to about helminths?
Theoretically, you can become infected with helminths almost anywhere - in the city, on vacation, in tropical countries, in the forest.But as statistics show, even in such cases, not everyone is infected with it.Anyone who follows basic hygiene rules usually reduces their risk of infection.
- The main thing is not to panic and not to take medications for prevention, because there are no universal remedies for worms.Even tablets against worms have their own classification according to different forms of helminths.It turns out that some tablets help with some parasites, but not others.The doctor is the best person to make your diagnosis and prescribe the right pills.If you take care of your pets (cats and dogs) by regularly prescribing them anthelmintics and none of the above symptoms bother you, there is no need to worry.
- If you have any doubts about this, see a doctor.Don't forget to tell us what you ate and where you were.
- As I already told you, tests should only be done in good specialized clinics.In bad clinics you can spend a lot of money but get no treatment.
- Any medication taken for prevention can only cause harm.Do not use them “just for prevention”, otherwise you can destroy the intestinal flora and even “earn” toxic hepatitis.Echinococcosis is very dangerous and that is why if you do something like this on your own, the cyst in which the larva is located can explode.This can be fatal.
- If “some clinic” recommended “some worm supplements” to you, that doesn’t mean you’re feeling better.Many of these products contain toxins that can cause allergies and you may not get any effect.
The most common myths about helminths
Sea fish does not contain any parasites
Who told you that?Most worms are fish that have not undergone the necessary treatment or that have not been cleaned immediately before freezing after being caught.This increases the likelihood of infection.
Dogs can become infected with worms more easily than cats.
In fact, dogs have a habit of tasting their relatives' poop.The most dangerous helminths that can be “taken” from dogs are echinococci - very dangerous parasites of the liver and lungs.For prevention, prescribe treatment to animals four times a year.Therefore, dogs can be more dangerous than cats in this regard.
Only children can become infected with worms
Did you believe it?This only seems to be due to children being less careful, washing their hands less often and sometimes not following hygiene rules.So hygiene rules are important for everyone!
A person infected with worms can infect others
Of course it's true.When you are near such a “patient,” you are taking a risk, but you may not even know it.As a precaution, wash your hands after shaking hands.It is particularly easy to become infected with pinworms (enterobiasis), as these are the most common helminths.In addition, dirty children can often infect their parents.Therefore, teach your children to follow the rules of hygiene.