Enterobiosis: treatment, symptoms, diagnosis and prevention

Enterobiosis is a disease related to nematodoses. That is, those that are caused by the ingestion of roundworms in the human body. In this case, pinworms, the most common parasites that live, develop and multiply in the intestines.

How does infection happen? What is the reason? What symptoms indicate enterobiosis? How is the diagnosis done? What drugs and methods contribute to treatment? Well, now it’s worth trying to give answers to all these questions.

Infection

Pinworm is a small white worm with a length of 5 to 10 mm. At the front end of the body of each individual, there is a formation with which parasites are attached to the intestinal wall. The microflora of the digestive tract is an excellent habitat for them. Parasites feed on intestinal contents, swallow blood. They can also live in the appendix and cecum.

Then, when they have puberty, the worms lay their eggs. This happens at the time of sleep of the infected or before it. In general, when a person is as relaxed as possible. Worms get out through the rectal passage and lay eggs on the skin. That is why a person experiences severe itching and begins to itch. In no case can this be done, because as a result of this, the eggs fall under the nails and on the hands, and then are transferred to things, other people, and even to the mouth.

They ripen in 4-6 hours. After 2-4 weeks, the larvae become adults. And the cycle repeats. In pinworm infection, dirty hands and poor hygiene play a major role. So at risk are small children who are most often infected with pinworms.

Symptoms

Before proceeding to the study of the characteristics of the treatment of enterobiasis, it is necessary to list the signs indicating its presence. The clinical manifestations are different - the symptoms always depend on the intensity of infection, the frequency of reinfestation (re-illness) and the individual characteristics of the person. But to summarize, the picture will look like this:

• After infection with enterobiosis, primary invasion occurs. It lasts 2 days.
• Then there is an acute phase, which usually reaches 5-7 days.
• Upon its completion, an incubation period begins, lasting from 35 to 70 days.

As for the symptoms, the fact that there was an infection with a “dirty hands disease” can be recognized by the presence of such manifestations:

• Intolerable itching, especially at night, felt in the rectal passage. Strengthens with movements.
• Constant desire to scratch the affected area.
• Decreased appetite.
• Exhaustion. It arises not only due to refusal of food and digestive disorders, but also due to poisoning, which occurs due to the products of the vital activity of helminths.
• Abdominal pain. Manifestations are not localized, but over time, pain may occur in the iliac region on the right side.
• Intestinal discomfort.
• Increased stool. Four times a day become the norm.
• The subsequent appearance of itching in other parts of the body. This is due to the fact that the eggs, due to combing, fall on the hands, and then on the places they touched.
• Scratches appear. This is dangerous, as they can be supplemented with symptoms in the form of secondary infections that provoke paraproctitis, dermatitis, vulvovaginitis and sphincteritis.
• An allergic reaction intensifies.

These signs indicate the presence of enterobiosis in children and adults. Symptoms are not much different depending on age.

Disease development

It should also be noted that over time, other manifestations of the disease also make themselves felt, such as:

• Bloating.
• Fluid rapid stool.
• Painful urge to defecate.
• Strengthening of itching and the above symptoms.
• Loss of sleep due to constant desire to itch.
• Headaches and dizziness.
• Memory impairment, trouble concentrating.

If we talk about the symptoms of enterobiasis in children, then the latter, for obvious reasons, become more tearful, restless and capricious.

Incidence among children

All the same, it is worth telling separately. It is not so easy to quickly detect this disease in a child, because he himself may not understand what he is feeling. But parents should beware and lead the baby to pass tests for enterobiosis, if any of the following occurs:

• The child often stretches to scratch the perineum and anus.
• On his skin there are combs.
• The child became very restless and nervous.
• The baby had trouble sleeping and falling asleep.
• Almost completely lost the appetite.
• There were complaints of abdominal pain.
• The chair lost its former consistency and became liquid.
• An allergic rash appeared.
• If the child is a girl, then her vaginal entrance may become inflamed.

In the presence of 2-3 symptoms, it is urgent to lead the baby to the diagnosis of enterobiosis. The sooner treatment begins, the faster it will be possible to get rid of parasites.

Quarantine

It is important to make a reservation that everyone infected with pinworms must isolate themselves from contact with other people. To someone else "picked up" the parasites, just one touch.

The seriousness of this disease is not even worth talking about. It is dangerous, and that is why in some cases a person is required to provide a certificate for enterobiosis (for a pool, relaxation in a health resort complex, etc.). That's when you need to present this document:

• Upon admission to an educational institution or kindergarten.
• When applying for a job that requires a health book.
• If planned hospitalization is needed.
• When you go on vacation to the spa facilities.
• Before surgery.
• For contact with people already infected with parasites.
• When writing to the pool.

For reference to enterobiosis, it is necessary to undergo tests, which will be described below. It will be valid for 6 months.

Diagnostics

It is not particularly difficult and is carried out in several stages. First of all, the doctor conducts a survey, during which it turns out:

• What exactly bothers the patient, what are his main complaints.
• When the first signs appeared.
• Do any of the family members have similar symptoms?
• Does the person follow personal hygiene.

The next stage is the delivery and testing of feces for enterobiosis. In addition, a microscopic examination of scrapings (contents) around the anus. They are collected by applying polyethylene oilcloth to the skin (enterobiosis test according to the Rabinovich method). If helminth eggs are present, then they will certainly remain on it.

Also, tests for enterobiosis involve blood donation. If a person is infected, then the following changes will indicate this:

• Eosinophilia. It manifests itself in an increase in the number of certain blood cells (eosinophils). The normal rate is 0-5%. Eosinophils neutralize biologically active substances (including histamine), which are formed due to the ingestion of parasites and the influence exerted by them.
• Anemia. This is called a decrease in blood concentrations of red blood cells and hemoglobin. Anemia occurs only in the most severe cases of infection and with an infectious and inflammatory process that develops simultaneously.

After studying feces for enterobiosis and obtaining the results of other tests, the doctor prescribes treatment. It is aimed at the destruction of parasites and the elimination of human symptoms.

Enterobiosis treatment

Now you can talk about him. Drugs that a person will have to use to destroy parasites and eliminate the symptoms that disturb him, are prescribed only by a doctor and only after a diagnosis. It is not recommended to experiment with self-medication. But, as a rule, in the treatment of enterobiasis, these medications are taken:

• "Pirantel." Effective anthelmintic. It provokes neuromuscular blockade of parasites. The action applies to both larvae and mature individuals.

• Mebendazole A medicine that belongs to the category of the most important and vital drugs. It has a wide spectrum of action, but it is most effective in the treatment of enterobiasis. It disrupts the utilization of glucose and depletes the stores of glycogen in helminths, as a result of which they die.
• "Gelmodol-VM". This drug has an antiprotozoal and anthelmintic effect. Its main substance is albendazole, which slows down the process of glucose utilization, which leads to its deficiency and further to the death of pinworms.
• “Albendazole” (or “Pharmox”). These tablets most effectively affect pinworm larvae. They provoke changes that occur during biochemical processes, and block the movement of secretory granules in parasite cells, which leads to their death.
• Vermox. This anthelmintic drug has all the previously listed actions. But, in addition to this, it also inhibits the synthesis of ATP and cell tubulin.
• Sanoxal. It has an antiprotozoal and anthelmintic effect, destructively affects the cytoplasmic micro tubules.
• "Piperazine." Paralyzing effect on pinworms, disrupts the function of their nervous and muscular systems.
• Helminthox. Another inexpensive and highly effective tool that helps to cope with enterobiasis in adults and children. It blocks the neuromuscular receptors of helminths, affects both young and sexually mature individuals.
• Nemozol. Destroys pinworms from the inside, most effective against larvae.
• Levamisole. This tool not only destroys parasites, but also has an immunomodulating and immunosuppressive effect.

There are still a lot of drugs that help to cope with the signs of enterobiasis and eliminate the disease. However, it is very important that the doctor appoints them. Each medication has contraindications and possible side effects, including hallucinations, speech disorders, loss of consciousness and many other dangerous phenomena.

Enemas

Many people decide to resort to them. Here are some recipes for cleansing enemas that are effective according to those who have already tried them:

• The peeled garlic head must be boiled in milk (200 ml) so that it softens. Then strain. Enter milk into microclysters and carry out the procedure. Manipulations are done at night. The course is 7 days.
• In warm boiled water (300 ml), dilute soda (0.5 tsp), mix thoroughly. Use according to the previous recipe.
• Chop three garlic cloves, grate the same amount of onion, mix. Pour boiled water (4 tbsp. L.), After 30 minutes, squeeze the mixture. Pour 1 tsp. lemon juice. Dilute the resulting composition in water (1 l) and use.
• Brew tansy in water (200 ml) (1 tbsp. L.). Let it brew, strain and use.
• Boil wormwood (2 tsp) for 20 minutes over low heat. Give 1 hour to infuse, strain.

It is recommended to regularly change the composition and avoid the use of those whose components the person is allergic to.

Phytotherapy

It cannot be said that folk remedies are close in effectiveness to medications, but they can be used to prevent enterobiasis. Reception of decoctions and infusions made from herbs, whose natural bitterness and unique composition will cause the parasites to leave the body, will also be a good supportive therapy.

Here are some recipes:

• Mix mint, elecampane, calamus and thyme (50 g each) with wormwood (10 g) and walnut leaves (25 g). Brew with boiling water (2.8 l). Let it brew. Then, in the first week, drink 0.5 cup three times a day. Then for another 7 days, 0.5 cup once.
• Grind clove inflorescences in a coffee grinder. Add the resulting powder to food or dilute with a small amount of water and drink. The course lasts 12 days.
• Dry tansy (20 g) pour boiled water (250 ml) and simmer over low heat for half an hour. Then strain. Drink 4 times a day for 1 tbsp. l
• Mix oak bark and valerian seeds in equal amounts. Then 4 tbsp. l put the resulting collection in a small thermos bottle (0.5 l) and pour boiling water. Then strain. Take the resulting infusion in the morning on an empty stomach for 1 tbsp. l Within an hour, it is also recommended to use 2 tbsp. l sunflower oil. Therapy lasts 10 days.
• Wormwood (2 tsp) pour boiling water (250 ml). Give 20 minutes to infuse. Then strain and drink the resulting infusion in three doses, each time 20 minutes after eating.
• In equal proportions, mix valerian root, tansy, peppermint and buckthorn bark. Every morning and evening, drink a glass of broth instead of tea. To brew for this you need 1 tsp.

This is quite a gentle way to prevent enterobiasis, however, even despite this, some herbs are contraindicated for use by pregnant women and children. So medical consultation before use is necessary.

Prevention

This is worth mentioning in the end. The most important thing in the prevention of this disease is careful observance of the rules of personal hygiene. Those who are infected must be treated, and those who were close to them should be examined.

During treatment and the next 3-4 days, the following measures must be taken:

• Wet daily cleaning in the room. It is necessary to grind everything: switches, door handles, cabinets, floors, furniture, dust accumulation places.
• Every day vacuum mattresses, blankets, pillows. It is advisable to pre-shake them.
• Change bed linen and towels daily, followed by washing and ironing with a hot iron.
• Wash baby's rubber and hard toys with disinfectants.
• Vacuum soft toys, paths, carpets and furniture with disinfection with ultraviolet bactericidal radiation.
• Before lowering feces into the sewers, they must be decontaminated with disinfectants.

All of these measures must be observed. Ignoring them can lead to self-infection and the further spread of the disease.