Helminth infection (helminthiasis) — diseases that cause human parasitic worms (worms, worms) that live in the body.
What is it?
Currently, there are about 300 diseases parasitic. 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 to the exterior: in the muscles, lungs, liver, etc. the Most common diseases due to intestinal parasites are considered: enterobiasis and ascariasis.
Enterobiasis caused tiny parasitic worms — pinworms. In length does not exceed 1 cm One end of the worm is usually pointed and the other rounded. Color pinworms can vary 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 the skin, by themselves and die.
The average life expectancy of pinworms and a half months.
Ascariasis causes more large worms — ascarids. Of length that can reach 20 cm Parasitic roundworm mainly in the small intestine, to detect them in the stool very difficult. The life expectancy of worms — several years.
Infection
Usually the infection with worms occurs through contaminated feces soil. For example, if you do not wash your clean hands and nails after working with the land, raw food, vegetables, fruits and berries. In addition, it will not last role in infected worms play flies. They are on her legs and trunk to carry helminth eggs to eat. Also the infection with worms possible and accidental ingestion of water while swimming in reservoirs. Children often catch worms from Pets.
What is happening?
In the body of an adult intruder is waiting on a triple protective barrier. The first enzyme of the mouth, the second in acid environment of the stomach, and the third immunity local of the intestine. Unfortunately, in a weakened body all these barriers they can't work. Then, the worms still get to the intestine and develop into individuals Mature.
With time, the human body is poisoned by the waste of the worms. The patient increased fatigue, worsening or, on the contrary, increased appetite, headaches. Disrupted the digestive tract: abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation and vomiting. Can appear itching anal. 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 — that undermine the immune system.
What it looks like?
Signs of diseases parasitic depend on the type and number of worms, as well as the individual reactions to the worms. The first symptoms of infection with worms: impairment of 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. Extended to the night and the rest. Sometimes it is so severe that the patient wakes up.
What is dangerous?
For constipation, abdominal pain acute, and swelling, you should consult immediately with a doctor. These symptoms may indicate intestinal obstruction was produced. In severe helminthiasis develop disorders of the nervous system: prolonged headaches, dizziness, tics nervous. Ascariasis due to the peculiarities of the migration of the parasite in the body can be a symptom of the presence of worms such as paroxysmal cough. Often signs of worms in humans are the skin changes in the form of different rashes.
Diagnosis of worm infestation
At any suspicion on infection with worms, be sure to consult a specialist, do not 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 deal with the worms
For the treatment of worms use a special medication against worms. Choice care of worms depends on the specific type of helminthes detected in the patient. The doctor will prescribe pills to get rid of parasites. Treatment for worms is at home.
The criterion of the recovery are repeated negative feces in humans helminth eggs.