Helminths as parasitic worms dangerous to humans

According to the WHO, every second person on the planet is infected with helminths every year. Many people believe that parasitic worms do not cause much harm to health. However, not everything is so simple: helminths can affect important internal organs: the heart, lungs and brain.

Helminths - who are they?

Helminths are parasitic worms that can choose a human, animal or plant organism as their host. In total, there are three classes of helminths:

• tapeworms. This class includes about 3. 5 thousand species of helminths. The length of parasitic worms varies from a few mm to 10-15 meters;
• strokes of luck.Parasites are so named because they have suckers that they use to feed on. The human body can infect about 4 dozen fluke species. As a rule, the length of the worms does not exceed 5 cm;
• roundworms.This class of helminths has more than 24, 000 species. Roundworms are spindle-shaped. Usually their length does not exceed 0. 5 meters.

You can become infected with helminths in different ways. However, most often parasitic invasion occurs for the following reasons:

1. Poor hand hygiene.
2. Unwashed vegetables, fruits; undercooked or undercooked meat, fish - the use of such products significantly increases the risk of parasitic invasion.
3. Keep foods outside the refrigerator open. Insects are able to transfer helminth eggs to products stored without packaging.
4. Contact with pets.

The main symptoms of the presence of parasites in the body:

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
• weightloss;
• allergic rashes;
• bloating;
• itching in the anus;
• teeth grinding in a dream.

Learn about the signs of parasites in the bodyread our article.

What helminths are most often found in our country? Consider the most common types of parasitic worms and the diseases they cause.

Tapeworms

The body of a tapeworm consists of segments, the total number of which varies from 3 to 5 thousand. The main element of attachment of the helminth is the head, the rest are suckers, hooks.

The most common causes of tapeworms are:

Diphyllobothriasis

The causative agent of the disease is a large tapeworm that affects the human intestines.The development of worm eggs occurs in fresh water. The scheme for introducing tapeworm into the human body is as follows:

1. Worm eggs are swallowed by crustaceans that live in a tank.
2. Infected crustaceans are eaten by fish.
3. A person becomes infected with the parasite by eating fish that has undergone insufficient heat treatment.

Symptoms of the disease develop 1. 5 months after infection. The main sign of pathology is the presence of whitish fragments of helminths in the feces.

Attaching itself to the intestinal mucosa, the tapeworm absorbs large amounts of vitamin B12. For this reason, people with diphyllobothriasis often develop anemia. In addition, tapeworm can cause an increase in liver, spleen, and intestinal obstruction.

Teniarinhoz

The causative agent of the disease is the bovine tapeworm, which lives mainly in the human small intestine. During its development cycle, the helminth replaces two owners: the middleman is cattle, the main one is man. The bull tapeworm can live in the body for 20 years, multiply and harm health. The disease is common in many areas, but is more common in areas with cold weather.

Typically, people get taeniarhynchosis after eating undercooked or undercooked beef.

The disease often proceeds without pronounced symptoms and is detected by chance when a person sees helminthic elements in his stool. In some people, in addition to the main signs of helminth infection, pain may occur on the right side of the anterior abdominal wall.

Adult helminths are able to penetrate the appendix, the pancreatic duct, the bile ducts, causing acute inflammatory processes in them. With multiple parasitic invasions, bowel obstruction may develop.

tapeworm

The causative agent of the disease is pork tapeworm, which initially affects the human small intestine.Human infection occurs through consumption of raw or undercooked pork.

The parasite can enter various organs and tissues, causing pain in the abdomen, back and limbs. The most favorable pathology occurs when the worm is localized in subcutaneous fat and skeletal muscle tissue. Getting into the eye muscles, helminths cause a decrease in visual acuity, tearing and photophobia. The defeat of the pig tapeworm of the brain can be fatal.

strokes of luck

Flukes are leaf-shaped and are distinguished by a high ability to reproduce at different periods of the life cycle. Reproduction of worms is possible not only sexually with fertilization, but also without it. In addition to suckers, worms have many hooks and spikes, thanks to which they are securely attached to the mucous membranes of organs.

Common pathologies caused by flukes:

• fasciolosis;
• opisthorchiasis;
• paragonimiasis.

fascioliasis

Fascioliasis occurs when the liver or gallbladder is damaged by a liver fluke.Basically, infection occurs when eating vegetables, which were irrigated with water from open reservoirs.

In addition to the usual signs of infection with parasites, a person may have asthma attacks, which are accompanied by shortness of breath, flushing of the face, dilated pupils and tachycardia. If an adult has caused obstruction of the bile ducts, obstructive jaundice develops. Signs of pathology:

• painful cramps in the right hypochondrium;
• yellowing of the skin;
• fever;
• colorless feces.

Opisthorchiasis

The causative agent of the disease is the cat fluke. The name of the parasite is due to the fact that in addition to humans, it often infects cats and other mammals that eat fish.

Typically, cat fluke affects the liver and pancreas, causing inflammation of the organs. Symptoms vary and depend on the number of parasites. The patient may experience:

• symptoms of intoxication;
• fever,
• urticaria;
• itchy skin;
• pains in the muscles, joints, right hypochondrium.

In some cases, helminths cause an increase in lymph nodes, the development of jaundice. The chronic form of the pathology often leads to hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver.

Paragonimiasis

The culprit of the disease is a lung fluke that enters the human body with infected crustaceans.

First, the parasite enters the human intestine, and then into the abdominal cavity. The end point of its journey is lung tissue. Additionally, the worm is able to enter the brain and affect the central nervous system.

Particular signs of parasitic invasion of the lungs:

• pain syndrome in the chest;
• cough with sputum, which may contain pus and blood;
• fever.

In some cases, helminths cause a violation of the ventilation function of the lungs and gas exchange during breathing.

roundworms

Due to their structure, roundworms (nematodes) are able to survive even under extreme conditions.Their body is covered with a three-layer skin-muscular bag, which reliably protects parasites from external influences.

Common diseases caused by threadworms:

• ascariasis;
• enterobiosis;
• trichinosis.

Ascariasis

The development of the disease causes roundworms, which initially settle in the small intestine. The average length of adults is 40 cm.Parasite larvae can enter the human digestive system with unwashed vegetables and fruits, contaminated water.Also, the cause of ascariasis is often improper hand washing before eating.

When the larvae penetrate the body, a person may feel a subfebrile temperature, allergic rashes, cough with clear sputum. Signs of the intestinal stage of ascariasis (diarrhea, abdominal pain) are observed only in the presence of several parasites. As a rule, dwelling in the intestines of a worm is asymptomatic.

Complications with multiple parasitic invasion:

• bile duct blockage;
• purulent-inflammatory processes in the gallbladder, liver;
• inflammation of the appendix;
• intestinal obstruction.

Enterobiasis

The provocateurs of the disease are pinworms - small worms up to 1 cm in length. Helminths enter the human digestive system in the same way as roundworms.

Currently, enterobiasis is the most widespread parasitic pathology in the world. Basically, the disease is diagnosed in children under 10 years old.

Symptoms, as in previous cases, develop only with numerous parasitic invasions. Children often have diarrhea, mucus in the feces, difficult and painful digestion, itching in the anus and nausea. In severe cases of the disease, leg cramps may occur. In addition, pinworms are able to penetrate the genitals, causing acute inflammation.

Trichinosis

This disease provokes Trichinella - one of the smallest parasitic worms. The length of the parasite rarely exceeds 4 mm. In the larval stage, the worms can infect skeletal muscles. The exception is the myocardium - the muscle tissue of the heart. Adults parasitize in the small intestine.

Typically, human infection occurs when eating half-cooked pork.At the same time, for the development of the disease, it is enough to consume only 30 g of parasitized meat.

The pathology is manifested by standard symptoms of parasitic invasion. In the advanced stage, swelling of the eyelids, face, arms and legs, pain in the lower back, masticatory muscles may occur. Possible complications are total or partial loss of mobility, paralysis of the respiratory tract.

How to avoid helminth infection?

To reduce the risk of infection by parasitic worms, it is important to observe the following rules:

18 signs of parasites in the body

Being present in the human body, the parasite has a serious pathogenic effect. At the same time, the same parasite can simultaneously produce many mechanisms of action on humans.

WHO estimates that currently about four and a half billion people in the world are constantly affected by various parasitoses.

This problem is also very current because it is very difficult to diagnose a parasitosis. Worm infestation (a large number of parasitic diseases) is present in humans even when the parasite is already gone. And if the patient has noticed this, then, of course, he will come to the medical institution. Parasitosis can also be detected during preventive screening. But unfortunately, these cases are only a drop in the ocean.

Mechanisms of action:

mechanical impact.For example, if the roundworm is in the intestines, it will, of course, press on and injure the intestinal wall. In some cases, cause an inflammatory process. If, for example, the echinococcus is localized in the liver, in the lungs or in the kidneys, a compression of the tissues will occur accordingly. This is a classic mechanical effect: bursting, pressure, dysfunction of the organ or system in which the parasite is present. There are not only many luminal parasites present in the gastrointestinal tract, but also many tissue parasites capable of fully carrying out the so-called mechanical action.

Stimulation of allergic reactions.Unfortunately, when a person has allergic reactions, they start going in circles: to a dermatologist, to a pediatrician, to a general practitioner, to an allergist, but doctors do not always exclude the presence of parasitic invasions inthe body during the first place.

Any parasite, even a banal pinworm, can lead to the formation of severe allergic reactions, and they can be varied, both on the skin and on the bronchopulmonary tree. For example, obstructive bronchitis common in children may be due to some kind of parasite living in the intestines.

Influence on the microflora.It's no secret that man is a globe for the vast world of microbiota. The microflora that inhabits all of our mucous membranes, skin, organs, tissues is that friendly microflora that produces vitamins, minerals, hormones, enzymes for us and helps our body to live normally. And now, unfortunately, in the presence of pests, it begins to actively die.

immunosuppressive action.Today, there is clear evidence that the waste products of parasites significantly inhibit the immune system. They just block it. Moreover, parasites over millions of years have learned to mimic and hide from the immune system, producing special anti-enzymes. Thus blocking the immune system, and sometimes a person can suffer from various parasitoses for decades. Which sooner or later leads to serious diseases in the body as a whole, or in a separate organ or system.

The effect of antienzymes. Unfortunately, parasites cannot only exhaust our bodies. If we try to consume foods with vitamins, minerals, drink vitamins and minerals in complex form, they will not always benefit us, because our profiteers will take the lion's share.

Nerve reflex mechanism of action.Parasite waste poisons the nervous system. And very often it can affect the psycho-emotional state of an adult and a child. Any psychosomatic illness can be associated with a parasitic invasion. A child may have hyperreactivity, or vice versa, lethargy, tearfulness, a tendency to depression - all this can be a consequence of the presence of a parasite in the body. For example, even the simplest Giardia produces toxins. Either in microdoses, but they are still toxins identical to psychotropic substances. Of course, a child or adult with such persistent poisoning will experience severe strain on the functioning of the central nervous system. And from there, all kinds of psychological and mental disorders can follow: sleep disorders, nervous disorders, various psychological problems. Moreover, not parents, not the patient himself, if he is an adult, the idea that this is due to parasitic invasion cannot even arise.

In my opinion, the most serious and terrible thing is the stimulation of neoplasms by parasites. The prolonged presence of parasitosis in the body can provoke such a problem as the formation of neoplasms: benign and malignant. In addition, the stimulation of neoplasms can be associated with two factors.

The first factor is the direct and damaging effect on the tissues of a particular organ.

The second factor is the action mediated by strong inhibition of the immune system. The fact is that the part of the immune system responsible for parasite protection is also responsible for tumor protection. As a result of improper division, a cancer cell can appear in the human body. In this case, the immune system deficiency will manifest in such a way that this cell will not be recognized by our immune cells in time, and will not be killed in time.

When can a person suspect the presence of parasites?

Now I will tell you a list of clinical manifestations of parasitic invasions, in the presence of which, you should promptly contact your doctor in order to clarify whether you really have this diagnosis.

• The most common clinical symptom is itching in the anus. This is heard by many people, therefore it is associated with the presence of parasites, especially in children's practice.
• Grinding of teeth in a dream. Again, very often this may be in pediatric practice. Moms suddenly notice that the child has started grinding his teeth in his sleep. Why does this happen? Quite often, crunches in children are associated with frightening dreams. This is exactly the mechanism of toxic effects on the central nervous system that we have discussed. The child has a terrible dream and he clenches his teeth in fear in his sleep. This is one of the reasons. There are also other reasons. The formation of trismus or increased tone of the masticatory muscles, this can also be a symptom in this case.
• Salivation during sleep, salivation in the morning, nausea in the morning when brushing teeth. These are all manifestations that can indirectly indicate the presence of a parasitic invasion in the body.
• Desquamation of fingers and toes, peeling skin in layers.
• Increased feeling of hunger, sometimes to fainting.
• Allergic rashes on the skin. When I lecture to doctors, I very often draw attention to the fact that doctors are in no hurry to give antiallergic drugs to one or another patient. First understand until the end - are there helminthic invasions. Because a high degree of allergization, suddenly appearing in a person in a short time, may indicate, first of all, that the patient has a parasitic invasion.
• Rashes in the eyelids, their peeling, swelling. , mental disorders without known causes.
• Any itchy skin. Especially in children's practice. First of all, it is necessary to exclude the presence of parasitic invasions.
• Disturbed by symptoms such as bloating, bubbling in the abdomen, unstable stools. Any problem with the gastrointestinal tract.
• There is a lack of body weight, or vice versa, excess weight. With parasitosis, it can be both.
• The presence of several chronic diseases at the same time. Diseases of the joints, bronchopulmonary tree, gastrointestinal tract. If suddenly a person begins to get sick in stages, then one, then the second, then the third, then the fifth, then the tenth, and initially there was no visible reason for this, then this is theopportunity to think about the presence of parasites in the body.
• Poor health, and the diagnosis is unclear. Such patients can also visit various specialists, try to examine one or another. And in the end, the diagnosis will always be vague, and the state of health will remain poor.
• Incomprehensible pains in the abdomen, volatile, sudden spasms, tightness. It is also necessary to exclude, especially in pediatric practice, the presence of parasites.
• Prolonged toxico-allergic manifestations. Periodically appearing suddenly, incomprehensible allergic reactions to food.
• Persistent anemia. When hemoglobin is significantly reduced and difficult to correct. It is worth thinking, first of all, about the presence of parasitic invasions in the human body.
• In children: lag in physical, psychosomatic, psychoemotional development, hyperreactivity or vice versa, lethargy, in schoolchildren, poor assimilation of material - all this may indicate the presence of hidden parasitosis in the body.
• Prolonged lymphadenopathy (a condition manifested by an increase in the lymph nodes of the lymphatic system), recurrent lymphadenitis can also indicate the presence of parasitic invasions.

I have listed the main clinical signs of parasitosis. Notice how wide they are. And with these symptoms, a patient can turn to almost any doctor. It is believed that if a person has found two or three of these signs in himself, then he is already under further examination for the presence of parasitosis or an antiparasitic program.

During the consultation, you will be able to express your problem, the doctor will clarify the situation, decipher the tests, answer your questions and give the necessary recommendations.

I want to attract the attention of people who want to be treated by themselves. If you come to a pharmacy and ask the pharmacist: "Give me something for the worms", then you are making a big mistake - these things cannot be done. First, the pharmacist is not responsible for how you take this medicine. Second, he is not responsible for the consequences. Third, you can hurt yourself badly. Don't do this. In order to determine whether or not you have a parasitic infection, it is very important to contact a specialist, go through a certain list of studies, and only after that undergo adequate treatment.

What tests will show the presence of parasites in the human body?

According to WHO statistics, about 4. 5 billion people in the world are constantly infected with parasites. This situation is complicated by the fact that the diagnosis of parasitic infestations is very difficult. How to find out if there are parasites in the body? What laboratory and instrumental research methods can detect parasitosis? Let's consider these questions in detail.

Complications

Helminthiasis caused by common types of parasites can be treated with medication prescribed by a doctor. But if you do not pay attention to alarming symptoms, deterioration of health, weakness, causeless fatigue, decreased immunity, the disease can lead to serious complications.

If the parasites get into the lungs, and the patient did not go to the doctor with complaints of cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, shortness of breath, pneumonia or even bronchial asthma, it can develop.

Digestive system parasites can cause cirrhosis, liver abscess, hepatitis, bowel cancer, gastrointestinal bleeding, fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity (ascites), and peritonitis. They also often provoke the development of chronic kidney disease, meningoencephalitis, loss of vision. Some cestodes (tapeworms) are over a meter long and small roundworms can form dense balls. This disrupts the normal functioning of the body, leads to severe intoxication, pronounced allergic reactions. Without urgent medical attention, death is possible.

Prevention

Helminthiasis often occurs when hygiene rules are not followed or food is not properly processed. To prevent helminthic invasion, you need:

• Don't wear someone else's underwear, don't share a towel with strangers.
• Wash your hands thoroughly before eating - it is important to do this not only before breakfast, lunch, dinner, but also before a snack.
• Wash your hands after going to the toilet.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after working on the beds and do all the gardening with heavy rubber gloves.
• Use only clean water for drinking and cooking.
• Rinse fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water.
• Eat meat, fish, seafood that has undergone heat treatment.
• Do not buy products in spontaneous markets, from people who cannot confirm the safety of the goods.
• Monitor the health of pets, deworm regularly, even if the animal lives in an apartment and does not go outside. To select medications and calculate dosage, contact your veterinarian.
• Maintain cleanliness in living and working areas. Sometimes people bring helminth eggs on the soles of their shoes. To reduce the risk of infection, you should regularly carry out wet cleaning, disinfect all surfaces.

Even following these rules, the risk of infection cannot be completely eliminated. To prevent the development of the disease, consult a therapist. The doctor will prescribe medication for the prevention of helminthiasis. Be sure to let us know how often you travel, if there are pets in the house, personal grounds. Drug prophylaxis of helminthiasis is recommended 2 times a year.