Deterioration in health can be observed not only due to infections that enter the body.
Parasites and worms can also cause discomfort, weakness and loss of strength.They can lead to many consequences that people usually mistake for a normal inflammatory process.
What is Helminthiasis?And what symptoms does it show in the human body?
The answers are very simple.
Helminths are parasitic roundworms and tapeworms as well as their prominent representatives such as roundworms, pinworms, tapeworms, tapeworms and many others.Surely many have encountered them in childhood or adulthood.
The disease, which has received the apt name helminthiasis, is the result of the influence and activity of helminths in the body.
Infection with worms
Parasites can enter the body of a person who is either overly clean or does not care about their health in various ways.There are quite a few of them.
Let's look at how helminths appear in a healthy body:
- a normal handshake.The easiest way to reach a new host for the parasite.Through the upper layers of the epidermis they first enter the skin and then into the blood.This method of transmission works through both contact with homeless street animals and touching foreign objects.Thanks to the good blood circulation of a healthy person, it is not difficult for him to reach his goal and find himself in his chosen future habitat;
- through the water.Many helminths are perfectly preserved as larvae in fresh and even sea water.Don't forget the village wells and water supply.They are not too sensitive.Caution is also advised when visiting swimming pools, baths and saunas.Maybe they are poorly made;
- wet ground and sand.The eggs of many species of worms are released in feces and land on these surfaces.It's easy to get infected in suburbia and even in children's sandboxes;
- inferior products.These often include seafood, fruits and vegetables, eggs and milk, cottage cheese;
- public places where people gather.Supermarkets, shops, pharmacies and hospitals.Many people touch door handles, shelves, packaged food and handrails here every day.And it's not a fact that they are all healthy.Let's not forget the dirt that gets into these rooms when it rains and is damp;
- Insects pose a danger in summer and autumn. Mosquitoes and flies can even carry small, microscopic eggs in their paws.
To this list of the occurrence of helminthic infestation in adults and children we can also add non-compliance with basic, habitual rules of personal hygiene.
Which helminths can you become infected with?
There are a large number of parasitic representatives.And they all enter the body in different ways, migrating inside and affecting specific organs.Some of them choose a single host, while others spend their entire life cycle in different hosts.
People can observe several main isolated parasites in their body:
- The most common roundworms are nematodes.Small whitish individuals.Reach 40mm.Everyone knows about roundworms, pinworms, whipworms and tropical guinea worms.They live in the intestines, lay eggs in the anus and are often excreted in the feces.Determining infection with helminths by nematodes is very simple and requires no tests;
- Parasitic tapeworms are larger and more dangerous.With a range of 10 meters, they migrate and penetrate almost all vital organs and systems.Cases of suffocation have been observed after the parasite moved through the respiratory tract.Manifested by bovine tapeworm, tapeworm;
- Trematodes, leeches.They are unpretentious to their environment and therefore penetrate the body through both soil and water.They travel throughout the human body and are easily visible under skin fat.This mainly concerns the area of the eyes and eyelids.They not only destroy the intestinal flora, but also the tissue of other organs.Toxic effects lead to exhaustion of the body.
Of course, it is impossible to independently determine which helminth a person has.Only through an examination for worms and a comprehensive examination can the type and subsequent treatment be determined and prophylaxis prescribed upon recovery.
Symptoms of parasites in the body
If helminths have invaded the body, they may not be immediately recognized by the symptoms of infection.Some only appear after a certain amount of time.
But all signs of worms in an adult are very serious and, at first glance, appear for no reason:
- a sharp increase in temperature to the level of an inflammatory process.Typically 37.6°C to 38°C;
- manifestation of nausea, vomiting;
- aching pains in the abdomen and navel;
- possible redness of the skin;
- weakness, drowsiness, tiredness;
- periodic involuntary grinding of teeth at night;
- dry, persistent cough and shortness of breath;
- Disturbance of normal bowel movements.diarrhea or constipation;
- itching in the anal area;
- get a yellowish or too pale skin tone;
- Pain in muscles and joints.
It is immediately impossible to make an accurate diagnosis based on such signs.However, in humans, helminths only show symptoms that can be traced back to damaged organs.And these are usually the intestines, the bronchi and the liver with kidneys.
Signs of advanced helminthiasis
If parasites are not detected in a timely manner, this can lead to much more complex consequences:
- a sharp decline in immunity.This reduces the ability of any infection or virus to enter the body;
- Urticaria, bronchial asthma, as a result of the constant toxic action of parasites.Worm secretions cause severe allergies in the body;
- severe hair and eyelash loss;
- unexplained brittleness of nails;
- Caries, tooth enamel gradually disappears;
- excessive bleeding gums;
- Nervousness, mental disorders.
Worms in humans not only show symptoms of infection, but also cause many diseases, aggravate the course of existing diseases and therefore treatment of parasites is mandatory.
It is better to conduct an examination in a timely manner and begin the comprehensive removal of helminths from the body.
Diseases caused by parasites
The characteristic merciless signs of helminthic infestation indicate that the body is susceptible to severe toxic effects or damage to many organs and systems:
- Disturbance of the gastrointestinal tract.This is because most helminths choose this place for further growth and development.Externally in intestinal obstruction, dysbiosis, diarrhea, pancreatitis;
- Respiratory problems.Every migration of the parasite is sure to lead it into the bronchi and lungs.This often leads to cramps and pneumonia.
- the central nervous system is affected.Migraines, dizziness, loss of spatial orientation, irritability and depression;
- enlarged spleen, liver, decreased bile outflow;
- Dysfunction of the urinary system.urethritis, cystitis;
- Problems with the reproductive organs.Vaginitis, inflammatory processes in the uterus, vagina, ovaries.It is possible to get a sexually transmitted infection.
These are serious symptoms that occur with helminths.If you are concerned about your health, you should definitely consult a doctor.Each of the presented signs obliges the specialist to order a special examination.
The most common blood test shows that parasites have appeared in the body.When hemoglobin levels are less than 100 g/L, there is an increase in eosinophil count by more than 6%, an increase in leukocytes by 9%, and a decrease in erythrocytes by 3 g/L or less.
The specialist should also note a sharp decrease in protein and an increase in immunoglobulins characteristic of allergies.
Parasitic diseases and their symptoms
Depending on the type and class of worms, the signs of helminth infection received their own, individual names that distinguish them from each other.For specialists, this classification makes further treatment, recovery and prevention easier.
Ascariasis.Naturally displays the symptoms of the roundworm parasite and possible associated diseases.Most often it is not observed immediately, but only 2 weeks after the helminths enter the body.
Symptoms are similar to a common cough, acute bronchitis and mild allergies.It is confused with a common infection because it is accompanied by all of the above symptoms and a rise in temperature.Possible changes in the lymph nodes.
With advanced chronic ascariasis, all symptoms become more complicated.Blood pressure begins to rise, anorexia may occur along with loss of appetite and constant pain in the abdominal area.Regular vomiting, stool disorders.The face becomes pale, healthy skin color disappears, dark circles and puffiness appear.At night there is often poor sleep or no sleep at all.Small whitish worms are visible in the feces.
Penetration of pinworms or enterobiasis.Often occurs in small children because personal hygiene regulations are not adhered to.Infection is caused by frequent itching in the anal area.Pinworms occur regularly.For 1-2 days with breaks.When parasites invade, the body reacts with involuntary teeth grinding at night and poor, intermittent sleep.Not particularly dangerous, does not cause pain.
Worms, like leeches, cause opisthorchiasis.The acute course of the disease lasts up to 8 weeks.During this time there is an increased body temperature, a feeling of heaviness and bloating, diarrhea and a feeling of inflammation.With chronic exposure to leeches, symptoms spread to the respiratory tract and cause severe allergies to the central nervous system.
Tapeworm parasites lead to many consequences of their presence in the human body.The broad tapeworm can damage the pancreas and lead to intestinal obstruction, vitamin B12 deficiency, reduced hemoglobin and anemia.All tapeworms also cause abdominal pain, flatulence and nausea.
Giardiasis.There are small numbers of these parasites in the human body.But they are safe within normal limits.With the exacerbation their level increases.This causes vomiting, bitterness due to liver and stomach discomfort, characteristic abdominal pain, bloating and abnormal bowel movements.
Of course, such symptoms of helminthiasis must be treated and prevented through complete prophylaxis.