Helminth infection (helminthiasis) — diseases that cause human parasitic worms (worms, worms) living within the body.
What is it?
Currently, there are about 300 parasitic diseases. They can be divided into intestinal and extraintestinal. As the name implies, in the first case, the worms and their larvae live in the gut, and the second outside it: in the muscles, lungs, liver, etc. the Most common diseases due to intestinal parasites are considered: enterobiasis and ascariasis.
Enterobiasis cause small parasitic worms — pinworms. In length they do not exceed 1 cm One end of the worm is usually pointed and the other rounded. Color 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 cause larger worms — ascarids. In length they can reach 20 cm roundworm are Parasites mainly of the intestine, so to detect them in the feces quite difficult. The life expectancy of roundworms — several years.
Infection
Usually the infection with worms occurs through contaminated feces soil. For example, if you don't wash hands and clean nails after working with the land, eating dirty vegetables, fruits and berries. Besides, not last role in infected worms play flies. They are on their legs and trunk carry helminth eggs for food. Also infection with worms possible and accidental ingestion of water while swimming in 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 second — acidic environment of the stomach, and the third local immunity of the intestine. Unfortunately, in a weakened body all these barriers may not work. Then the worms still 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 increases the appetite, headaches. Disrupted the digestive tract: abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation and vomiting. Can appear 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. Another negative effect of worms — they undermine the immune system.
Why manifest?
Signs of parasitic diseases depend on the type and number of worms, as well as the individual reactions to the worms. The first symptoms of infection with worms: deteriorating appetite, vomiting, nausea, or drooling, paroxysmal pain in the abdomen. Constipation alternating with diarrhea, developed fatigue and weakness, disturbed sleep. When infected with worms (pinworms), patients worried about itching in the anus and perineum. It amplifies at night and at rest. Sometimes it is so severe that the patient wakes up.
Why is it dangerous?
For constipation, sharp abdominal pain 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 headaches, dizziness, nervous tics. Ascariasis because of the peculiarities of migration of the parasite in the body can be a symptom of the presence of worms as severe paroxysmal cough. Often signs of worms in humans are skin changes in the form of various rashes.
Diagnosis of worm infestation
At any suspicion on infection with worms, be sure to consult a specialist, not to self-medicate. The diagnosis is confirmed by usual analysis of a feces on eggs of worms. If the first stool sample helminth eggs have not been identified, but the probability of infection is high, the tests are repeated several times in a row.
How to treat worms
For treating worms use a special medication against worms. Choice cure for worms depends on the specific type of helminthes detected in the patient. The doctor will prescribe tablets, aimed at getting rid of parasites. Treatment for worms is at home.
The criterion of recovery are repeated negative feces in humans on helminth eggs.