Deterioration of health can be observed not only from infections that penetrate the body.
Parasites and worms can also cause malaise, weakness, and damaged condition. They can lead to many consequences that are usually taken by people for the manifestation of normal inflammatory processes.
What is helminthiasis? And what are the symptoms shown in the human body?
The answer is quite simple.
Helminths are parasites, round and tapeworms, as well as their bright representatives, such as ringworms, pinworms, bovine tapeworms, tapeworms and more. Surely many have come across them as children or as adults.
This disease, which receives a corresponding name, such as helminthiasis, is the result of the influence and activity of helminths in the body.
Infection with worms
Parasites can penetrate a person’s body, both unnecessarily clean and not obsessed with their health, in some way. There are enough of them.
Consider how helminths appear in a healthy body:
- regular handshake. The easiest way to reach a new host for parasites. Through the top layer of the epidermis, they first enter the skin, and then into the blood. This method of transmission also works when in contact with homeless street animals, and when in contact with other people’s objects. Thanks to good blood circulation for healthy people, it is not difficult for them to achieve goals and find themselves in the place of their future habitat choice;
- through water. Many helminths are perfectly preserved as larvae in freshwater as well as the sea. Don’t forget about village wells and water pipes. They are not very sensitive. Caution should also be taken when visiting the swimming pool, bath and sauna. Maybe they are poorly processed;
- wet soil and sand. Eggs of various types of worms come out along with the feces and fall on this surface. In suburban suburban areas and even in children’s sandboxes, it is easily infected;
- low quality products. These often include seafood, fruits and vegetables, eggs and milk, cottage cheese;
- crowded places. Supermarkets, shops, pharmacies and hospitals. This is where every day many people hold door handles, shelves, packaged products and handrails. And not the fact that they are all healthy. Don’t forget about the dirt that gets into this room during the rainy and humid season;
- In summer and autumn, insects are a danger. Mosquitoes and flies, even with their feet, can lay small microscopic eggs.
In the list of the emergence of helminthic invasions in these adults and children, one can also add non-compliance with the basic rules of personal hygiene.
What helminths can be infected
There are a large number of representatives of parasites. And they all enter the body in different ways, migrate in and affect specific organs. Some of them choose one host, while others spend their entire life cycle with different carriers.
People can see some major isolated parasites in their bodies:
- the most common ringworm is a nematode. Small individuals with whiteness. Reaches 40 mm. Everyone knows ringworms, pinworms, whipworms and tropical guinea worms. They live in the intestine, eggs are laid in the anus, often excreted with feces. Determining helminth infestation with nematodes is very simple and without analysis;
- Parasitic tapeworms are larger and more dangerous. Reaching 10 meters, they migrate and enter almost all vital organs and systems. There have been cases of shortness of breath after the movement of parasites through the respiratory system. Manifested by bovine tapeworm, tapeworm;
- trematode, flukes. They are unfamiliar with habitat, therefore they penetrate into the body both through soil and through water. They move throughout the human body and under sebum they are easily visible. This is especially the eye area and eyelids. They destroy not only the intestinal microflora, but also the tissues of other organs. Toxic effects lead to deficiency of the body.
Of course, it is impossible to independently identify which helminth a person has. Only test methods for worms and complete examination determine the type and subsequent treatment, and prophylaxis is prescribed in case of recovery.
Symptoms of parasites in the body
If helminths have entered the body, then you cannot immediately identify them with symptoms of infection. Some appear only after a certain time.
But all the signs of worms in adults are quite serious and at first glance proceed for no reason:
- a sharp increase in temperature to the extent of the inflammatory process. Usually 37. 6 ° C to 38 ° C;
- manifestations of nausea, vomiting;
- aching pain in the abdomen and navel;
- possible redness of the skin;
- weakness, drowsiness, fatigue;
- occasionally grinding teeth inadvertently at night;
- persistent dry cough and shortness of breath;
- ordinary fecal violation. diarrhea or constipation;
- itching in the anus;
- acquisition of yellowish or too pale skin color;
- discomfort in muscles and joints.
It is not impossible to make an accurate diagnosis based on these signs. But helminths in humans only show symptoms corresponding to damaged organs. And these are usually the intestines, bronchi and liver with the kidneys.
Signs of helminthiasis run
Late detection of parasites can lead to more complex consequences:
- a sharp decrease in immunity. As a result, the ability of any infection and virus to enter the body;
- urticaria, bronchial asthma, as a result of the persistent poisoning action of parasites. Worm release causes serious allergies in the body;
- intense hair loss, eyelashes;
- unexplained brittle nails;
- tooth decay, enamel gradually disappears;
- heavy bleeding gums;
- nervousness, mental disorders.
Worms in humans not only show symptoms of infection, but also trigger many diseases, exacerbating the course of existing diseases, and therefore treatment of parasites is mandatory.
It is better to carry out timely inspections and begin the complete removal of helminths from the body.
Diseases caused by parasites
The cruel signs characteristic of helminthic invasion indicate that the body is subject to severe toxic effects or has already damaged many organs and systems:
- gastrointestinal tract disorders. Because most helminths choose this place for further growth and development. It is expressed in intestinal obstruction, dysbacteriosis, diarrhea, pancreatitis;
- breathing problems. Each migration of the parasite always carries it to the bronchi and lungs. This often leads to cramps, pneumonia;
- the central nervous system suffers. Migraines, dizziness, loss of orientation in space, irritability and depression;
- increase in spleen, liver, decreased level of bile outflow;
- inadequate urinary system function. Urethritis, cystitis;
- problems with the reproductive organs. Vaginitis, an inflammatory process in the uterus, vagina, ovaries. Possible sexually transmitted infections.
These are severe symptoms that appear with helminths. If you care about your health, you should definitely see a doctor. Any signs presented oblige the specialist to prescribe a special examination.
The most common blood test will show that parasites have appeared in the body. With a hemoglobin value of less than 100 g / l, an increase in the number of eosinophils of more than 6%, an increase of leukocytes of 9% and a decrease of erythrocytes of 3 g / l or less.
Also, a sharp decrease in protein and an increase in allergic immunoglobulin characteristics should be noted by a specialist.
Parasitic diseases and their symptoms
Depending on the type and class of worms, signs of infection with helminths receive their individual names, which distinguish them from each other. For specialists, this classification facilitates further treatment, rehabilitation and prevention.
Ascariasis. Naturally shows the symptoms shown by the parasite ascaris, and possibly the corresponding disease. Often, it is not observed immediately, but only after 2 weeks after the ingestion of helminths into the body.
Symptoms resemble a common cough, acute bronchitis, mild allergies. Confused with a common infection, as it is accompanied by all the above features and fever. There may be changes in the lymph nodes.
With advanced chronic ascariasis, all symptoms are complicated. A jump in blood pressure begins, anorexia may appear along with a lack of appetite, persistent pain in the abdomen. Frequent vomiting, stool disturbances. The face becomes pale, healthy skin color disappears, dark circles and swelling appear. At night, poor sleep or complete absence becomes a habit. In fecal secretions, small whitish worms are visualized.
Penetration of pinworms or enterobiasis. Frequent occurrence in young children due to non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene. The infection is caused by frequent itching of the anus. Pinworms appear periodically. For 1-2 days with rest. When parasites enter, the body’s response will be to grind teeth inadvertently at night, irregular sleep. Harmless, pain does not cause.
Worms, like worms, carry opisthorchiasis with them. The acute course of the disease lasts up to 8 weeks. During this period, there is an increase in body temperature, heaviness and bloating, diarrhea and a feeling of inflammation. With chronic exposure to flukes, the symptoms also spread to the respiratory organs, causing severe allergies, to the central nervous system.
The tapeworm parasite leads to many consequences of its presence in the human body. Broad tapeworms can interfere with the pancreas, leading to intestinal obstruction, vitamin B12 deficiency, decreased hemoglobin and anemia. Similarly, all representatives of tapeworms cause pain syndrome in the abdominal cavity, bloating and nausea.
Giardiasis. There are a small number of these parasites in the human body. But they are safe in the normal range. With deterioration, their levels increase. Which leads to vomiting, bitterness due to liver and stomach disorders, characteristic abdominal pain, bloating and impaired stools.
Naturally, symptoms of helminthiasis like this must be treated and must be prevented by doing complete prevention.