Helminthiases are common in the modern world. They are able to attack many organs and tissues and disrupt their work. In addition, the clinical picture of helminthiasis in humans can be very different. What are the symptoms of worms in humans?
According to statistics, about two million people are infected with helminths every year, but if unregistered cases are taken into account, this number can increase many times over. Infections in children and adolescents are more common.
All helminths can be divided into extraintestinal (tissue) and intestinal. The tissue hosts are animals, humans serve them as intermediate hosts. In this case, the disease manifests itself in different ways, depending on which organ the larva migrates to. For example, if the larva migrates through the lungs, the symptoms mimic pneumonia, if through the intestines - bleeding, an inflammatory reaction; Migration through the pancreas or bile ducts threatens to block them.
How can you get infected?
What are the routes of infection?
- From soil and water (geohelminthiasis) - soil contamination occurs when helminth eggs get into it with feces from humans or animals. When you eat poorly processed root vegetables or water from open reservoirs, helminth eggs get into the body. Therefore, all vegetables, fruits and berries must be thoroughly washed with tap water and treated with boiling water. Drinking water from open reservoirs is prohibited. This route of infection is also possible when people come into contact with animals, especially pets. Children are therefore more likely to become infected while playing.
- Contact with an infected person (for example pinworms). During sleep, the pinworm can crawl out of the anus and lay eggs. The patient is itchy. The eggs remain on the hands, under the nails and, if they are not removed from the skin in a timely manner, on all objects that the infected person has come into contact with.
- Biohelminthiasis - infection resulting from the consumption of meat, lard, fish that has not been adequately heat treated or has been consumed raw.
- From insect bites.
Helminths are basically a child's problem, because while learning about the world, children put dirty hands and various objects in their mouths and taste them. This problem is not resolved until the age of three to six, and before that, children are at higher risk of infection than adults.
Common signs of infection
What signs will say about the appearance of helminthiasis?
The symptoms of helminthiasis can be similar to the diseases of certain organs: gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, nervous system, immune system. Helminthiases can express themselves like allergic reactions.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
The localization of parasites in the intestine is expressed in symptoms of gastric and intestinal discomfort: the appearance of vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, nausea, flatulence, pain in the umbilical region, in the right hypochondrium. Constipation can be accompanied by mechanical obstruction of the intestinal lumen by helminths. The severity of symptoms depends on the number of helminths in the body.
Nervous system diseases and general manifestations
They have been linked to the release of toxic substances by parasites. The intensity of manifestation also depends on the number of helminths. Symptoms of nervous system dysfunction are: dizziness, headache, nausea - symptoms that are similar to a migraine. Fever, muscle and joint pain are possible. Drowsiness, irritation, insomnia, anemia appear.
Allergic manifestations
With allergic manifestations, the gastrointestinal tract, skin and respiratory tract are affected. Itching, shortness of breath, headache, dizziness occur, vomiting can sometimes be observed. A burning sensation in the throat, mouth and nose is possible. A stuffy nose and sneezing occur. How do you distinguish allergies from symptoms of helminth infection? The following medical history and laboratory signs should be considered:
- the patient's relatives have no history of allergies;
- the patient had no history of allergic reactions;
- visiting a child in kindergarten;
- have difficulty breathing every two weeks;
- Eosinophils in blood test over 8%;
- lack of effect of antiallergic therapy;
- in the study for immunoglobulins, IgE is increased, while the study for allergens is negative.
If the patient has the listed symptoms, then allergic manifestations are associated with a parasitic invasion.
Respiratory dysfunction
If parasites get into the lungs, symptoms similar to pneumonia may appear: cough, fever, hemoptysis. A sore throat can also indicate helminthiasis. When worms travel from the intestines to the lungs, they can cause a sore throat. A sore throat is a sign of the presence of a foreign object. There is a dry cough that cannot be stopped. Such a cough can appear not only due to the presence of parasites in the throat, but also when they travel through the nasopharynx. Mucus removed for analysis helps to identify worms in the throat.
Decreased immune defense
Due to the fact that helminths deprive the host of vitamins and minerals, and also have a toxic effect, a decrease in immune defense is observed. This is manifested in frequent colds or exacerbations of chronic diseases in remission, inflammation in the throat.
Damage to the female reproductive system
A violation of the functioning of the reproductive system in a woman does not always indicate the presence of gynecological diseases. Helminths in the female body can also manifest themselves as symptoms of a dysfunction of the reproductive system. On what symptoms can one suspect the presence of helminths in the female genital organs? The defeat of the reproductive system by worms in women is manifested in secretions, an unpleasant smell from the genitals.
In women, thrush can become a sign of helminthiasis. Thrush in women can develop due to a decrease in immunity and a violation of microflora, which is possible only with helminthiasis. Possible inflammatory diseases of the reproductive system in women. In addition, hair can fall out, nails can peel, and drowsiness and fatigue can occur. These are all symptoms of helminthic invasion in women.
How to determine the type of helminth based on the symptoms
How to tell which helminths have entered the bodySymptoms are determined by the parasite's location in the body and its type. When do the first symptoms appear? The first signs of a helminth invasion can appear either after two days or after six months, depending on the type of helminth.
Pinworms, enterobiasis - you can suspect an invasion of these helminths if you are concerned about itching in the anal area, which becomes more common at night. Usually the itching lasts for several days, then goes away for a while, and then comes back.
Trichocephalosis, schistosomiasis, diphyllobothriasis - the main symptom is anemia and vitamin deficiency. Such manifestations are associated with the toxic effect of worms on the intestines and the development of dysbiosis.
Roundworms - at the initial stage of infection with roundworms, weakness, cough, blood in the sputum, fever, danger of suffocation (with a high number of parasites). A blood test shows the level of eosinophils increased and allergic reactions occur. At a later stage, the functions of the gastrointestinal tract are disturbed: proteins are not digested, there is a sharp loss of weight.
Trichinosis - worms are localized in the muscles. In the initial stages, the disease manifests itself as nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite. In the next stage, helminths become localized in the muscles, causing muscle pain, swelling of the eyelids, fever, and rashes. There is also some apparent recovery, but the worms are in the muscles. Parasites cause dense lesions in the muscles.
Fascioliasis, opisthorchiasis - with yellowing of the skin, enlargement of the liver, spleen, inflammation of the pancreas, dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, an invasion of these parasites can be suspected.
Strongyloidosis - is manifested by symptoms suggestive of biliary tract dysfunction, dyspepsia, and allergies.
Helminthiasis test
When should you seek help from a specialist? Positive answers to the following questions are likely to help diagnose the presence of helminths in the body:
- Itching in the anal area;
- Nausea, vomiting;
- Constipation or diarrhea;
- allergic manifestations;
- Skin rash;
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- frequent headache, dizziness;
- restless sleep;
- there is bitterness in the mouth;
- Tiredness, drowsiness;
- Stomach pain;
- Yellowing of the skin;
- the family has children who attend kindergarten;
- pain in muscles and joints caused by nothing;
- periodic increase in body temperature;
- there are animals in the house;
- Eating insufficiently thermally processed meat, lard, or fish;
- Lose weight;
- the use of unwashed vegetables and fruits that have not previously been treated with boiling water.
The more positive answers, the greater the risk of having helminths in the body. If there are seven positive answers, there is a probability of the presence of a helminth, if more than fifteen there is a very high probability of the presence of a helminth in the body.
diagnosis
What methods are used to diagnose parasites in the body?
- Feces on the worm's eggs.
- Scratching from the anus.
- Scraping for enterobiasis.
- Complete blood count (an increase in eosinophil levels).
- Scraping from the vagina in women.
- Blood test for giardiasis.
- Search for antibodies using serological methods; When can antibodies be found in the body? Twenty-one or more days after the worm infestation.
- Examination of the surgical material (for echinococcosis).
- Lymph node biopsy (cysticercosis).
- Muscle biopsy - trichinosis.
treatment
For the treatment of helminthiasis, there are tablets with a narrow and wide spectrum of action. Treatment of a certain type of helminth must be done with certain drugs. Tablets are prescribed only by a doctor after all the examinations, since anti-worm pills are toxic to the body. Therefore, the doctor will choose the required treatment regimen and duration, taking into account age and weight.
The following tablets are commonly used to treat helminthiasis:
- Medicines containing mebendazole are useful for treating trichocephalosis;
- Tablets with levamisole - used for ascariasis, enterobiasis, trichostrongylosis, strongyloidiasis.
In more advanced cases, the pills may not help, then surgical treatment is used.