Classification of helminthiases: description, types and general characteristics

Clinical helminthiasis is a group of diseases that cause worms. The disease often becomes chronic and has many symptoms. During parasitization of helminths, the body is depleted, the immune system weakens, which leads to the appearance of other diseases.

The epidemiological classification of helminthiases includes the following types: round, tapeworms and flukes. Such parasites penetrate unwashed foods, fruits and vegetables. And also by water, which is more typical of lagging countries. In the absence of proper hygiene, the causative agents of helminthiases enter the body through the percutaneous route (through the skin).

Symptoms

The main symptoms of helminthiases are:

1. Skin and allergic reactions.
2. A rash, redness, itching, fever, lymphadenopathy appear.
3. Mechanical damage. They are localized on the skin, in organs and vessels. This is due to the fact that worms move between organs and systems, causing tissue damage.
4. Alimentary and vitamin deficiency occurs because the parasite eats at the expense of the host and the necessary substances do not reach their destination.
5. Decreased immunity. Worms affect the number of immune cells in the body, inhibiting function.

Diagnostics

In order to classify helminthiases into the infectious diseases that they cause, the following tests are needed:

1. Scraping on enterobiosis.
2. Feces on worm eggs.
3. Serology (RIF, ELISA).
4. Histology.

The presence of eggs or worms is seen in the feces. Therefore, laboratory assistants are limited to the first two methods.

Treatment

Specific treatment is aimed at the destruction of worms and eggs. Anthelmintic drugs are used. Use them with caution, as they strongly affect the liver. With intestinal helminthiases, antibacterial agents, sorbents and probiotics are used.

Symptomatic therapy includes glucocorticoids, antihistamines, vitamins and minerals intravenously, cardiac glycosides. Surgery is indicated for echinococcosis, when the helminths are so large that the drugs can not cope with them.

Prevention

Measures are aimed at improving the epidemiological status. Human hygiene is important. You need to wash your hands often, food. If domestic animals are present, vaccinate and deworm them. It is recommended to prevent possible infection with all family members once a year.

Types of tapeworms

The classification of helminthiases in animals and humans is the same. Only the infection paths differ. Kinds:

• bull tapeworm;
• pork tapeworm.
• wide ribbon;
• dwarf tapeworm.

Transmitted through underfood foods (meat, fish). More often found in the chronic phase, since in the early stages the symptoms are not significant. You can recognize the following clinic: high body temperature, allergic reactions, neuralgia, limb cramps, dyspepsia, weight loss, the addition of other diseases.

Diseases associated with the appearance of tapeworms in the body:

• teniarinhosis is transmitted by bovine tapeworm, activated in the digestive tract, manifested by dyspepsia and a decrease in immunity;
• hymenolepidosis is transmitted by dwarf tapeworm localized in the intestine, inflammation occurs, minerals and vitamins cease to be absorbed into the blood;
• diphyllobothriasis is characterized by weakness, hypofunction of the immune system, dyspepsia, cramping;
• teniosis and cysticercosis is caused by one individual of the tapeworm, which can live in the body for up to twenty years and reach enormous sizes.

In the treatment of tapeworms, anthelmintic drugs such as Biltricid, Fenasal, and Praziquantel are used. For children, drugs exist in the form of suspensions. Diet should be observed while avoiding solid foods.

Roundworms

Helminthiasis is a parasitic group of diseases caused by the development of parasites in the human or animal organism that feed and multiply due to the host. Infection with worms occurs as follows:

• Through products that contain parasites.
• Gadfly bites with laying under the skin of the parasite larvae.
• Poor handling of fruits and vegetables.
• Violation of personal hygiene in contact with pets.
• Symptoms of helminthiasis do not appear immediately, but somehow they still make themselves felt.

Symptoms of Roundworms

With helminthic invasions, a person has the following symptoms:

• Dramatic weight loss.
• The appearance of a rash on the skin.
• Itching of the anus.
• The skin becomes yellowish.
• Increased appetite.

Classification of roundworms

Nematodes are a common type of parasite. The species has about 24,000 different individuals. The appearance of the parasite has a rounded shape with pointed ends on both sides.

There are such types of pathogens:

1. Roundworms. This is the most common type in the classification of helminthiases in children. The developmental cycle of an individual begins with the ingestion of a worm egg in the human body. This species of parasites propagates in the small intestines. Roundworms are prominent representatives of sexual dimorphism, since females are much larger than males in size. Individuals do not have fixation organs; therefore, they are in constant motion and in search of food masses. The development of larvae occurs in the intestine, the parasite continues to live in the human or animal body for a year. The danger of worms is as follows:

• trauma to the mucous membranes of the internal organs;
• intoxication;
• sharp abdominal pain appears;
• there is an increase in salivation;
• a rash of allergic etiology appears on the skin;
• organs of the gastrointestinal system and liver are affected;
• blood feces appear in the feces.

As a result, a person exacerbates chronic diseases of the internal organs.

2. Pinworm. This type of worm is the main causative agent of enterobiosis. The color of the parasite has a grayish-white hue, the shape of the body is rounded. The female significantly exceeds the size of an individual of the opposite sex. The life span of the parasite is three to four weeks. Often parasites are diagnosed in young children. The method of infection is mainly oral. The parasite lays eggs on the surface of the anus. Symptoms of worm infection:

• severe itching of the anal organs;
• restlessness during sleep;
• pain in the navel;
• fatigue increase;
• pallor of the skin of the face;
• the appearance of signs of intoxication.

3. Trichinella. This type of worm is the most dangerous for human life, as it contributes to the development of a deadly disease - trichinosis. Delayed larvae can rapidly spread through the circulatory system throughout the human or animal body. When a person is infected with a parasite of this type, the following symptoms appear:

• temperature rise;
• muscle pain
• the appearance of puffiness;
• itchy skin;
• gastrointestinal upset.

4. Vlasoglav. The individual is small in size, body shape is rounded with slight thickenings at the ends. It feeds on tissue fluids and carrier blood. The female and male reach sizes from three to five centimeters long. An individual can lay about twenty thousand eggs per day. Symptoms of infection:

• decreased immune forces;
• exacerbation of chronic diseases;
• the appearance of symptoms of poisoning, dizziness.

After the diagnosis, it is necessary to consult a doctor to treat the effects of helminthic infestations, and the specialist prescribes the necessary drugs to prevent re-infection with the parasite. To prevent the development of this type of parasitic infection , the following recommendations should be followed:

1. hand washing thoroughly with soap;
2. observe personal hygiene rules;
3. daily iron underwear;
4. conduct heat treatment of fruits and vegetables.

Flukes

Helminthiasis is a parasitic disease caused by various groups of organisms. Common is a group of flukes, or trematodes. They are small parasites with a leaf-shaped, flattened body without segments. Despite their small size, these parasites are capable of causing tremendous harm to the body, even death.

Classification

The biological classification of helminthiasis trematodes is divided:

1. The habitat of parasites:

• Blood flukes. They live in human blood, eat red blood cells and white blood cells. The tropical form is transmitted from snails that are intermediate hosts. Typical of poor countries in Africa, South America, India. They cause diseases of the blood, genitourinary system.
• Trematodes of the liver. Parasites affect mainly the bile ducts, liver, eating liver cells. Transmitted through freshwater fish, as well as through some species of mushrooms. Hepatic flukes affect cattle, but there are cases of human disease. Parasites grow to enormous size, produce a huge number of eggs per day. Characteristic for Scandinavia, Mexico, South America.
• Pancreatic trematodes are found in Asia and Brazil. Flukes settle in the pancreas of sheep, cattle, people. In mild cases, the pancreas increases, swelling occurs, and in more severe cases, the tissue dies, which leads to death.
• Pulmonary flukes are similar to pancreatic trematodes. They only settle in the bronchi and lungs, expanding over time, forming a dense lump, which significantly complicates breathing.
• Intestinal flukes are the most dangerous types of parasites in the group. Spread both in cattle in the duodenum and small intestine, and in humans. Infection occurs through the use of chestnuts, fish, bamboo, meat from infected cattle.

2. According to the degree of danger of infectious diseases:

• Dangerous: schistosomes (blood flukes), Paragonimus westermani (pulmonary flukes), Clonorchis sinensis (hepatic flukes).
• Less dangerous: Fasciola Hepatica and Opisthorchis viverrin (hepatic flukes), Fasciolopsis buski, Heterophyes heterophyes and Metagonimus yokogawai (intestinal helminths).

Compliance with preventive measures will protect against the disease. At the first suspicion of helminthiasis, it is necessary to carry out all the necessary tests. A competent specialist will prescribe the necessary treatment.