The liver is the organ that first takes the “blow” during intoxication of various origins. The functioning of this organ is closely related to the work of the gallbladder - this is the so-called biliary system. Unfortunately, liver cells and the contents of the bile ducts are a breeding ground for parasites. Therefore, often during migration through the bloodstream, they are fixed in the liver. This pathology has many symptoms. Worms in the human liver pose a serious danger: in the absence of treatment, chronic diseases develop, which in the long term carry a threat to life. Therefore, it is important to carry out the necessary diagnostics as soon as possible and begin treatment.
Functions of the liver and gall bladder in the human body
The main functions of the liver and gall bladder in the human body:
- purification of the blood composition from toxins, decay products of alcohol and drugs, drugs, treatment of excess fat from food;
- participation in the digestive process - the production of bile;
- participation in all types of metabolism in the body - in particular, if the pancreas produces insulin, the liver "processes" the products of the breakdown of nutrients in the human body;
- synthesis of albumin and partially globulin is carried out in liver cells;
- the liver is responsible for the production of special proteins that play a role in hematopoiesis - thus, without the normal functioning of the liver, there can be no question of normal indicators of blood coagulation;
- the liver takes part in the absorption of vitamins, minerals, amino acids from food and medicines; also, the liver is a kind of “transshipment point” in which the body stores its glycogen and a number of vitamins.
The liver is the largest iron in the human body. By weight, among other organs, it also leads. There are no nerve roots in the liver, so this organ does not hurt. Often, patients complain of a feeling of heaviness and pain in the right hypochondrium, being confident that the liver hurts so much. In fact, this organ can only increase in size, but it cannot hurt. If the liver is enlarged, it presses on adjacent organs, as a result of which the patient experiences discomfort in the right hypochondrium. Pain in this area of the body can also indicate a violation of the outflow of bile or cholelithiasis.
The liver is divided into four lobes - right, left, tailed and square. The liver is often called the "biochemical laboratory of the body", since so many metabolic processes are carried out in the cells of this organ. Its functioning is closely interconnected with the work of the gallbladder. It regularly produces bile, and from here, through the bile ducts, it enters a kind of reliable "storage" - the gall bladder.
Often you need to make sure that there are no other chronic diseases when symptoms indicate the presence of worms in the human liver. Treatment (a photo of an infected helminthic invasion of the liver is an unpleasant sight, and therefore refrain from publishing such materials) will depend on what concomitant diseases are taking place. For example, the treatment in the presence of pancreatitis will be different - the patient will not be able to take those medications that a person without pancreatitis can afford.
What parasites can live in the human liver
Most adults are well aware of the simple steps to prevent infection by helminthic infestations. This is washing hands with soap before each meal, after going to the toilet, after a trip in public transport. It is also a thorough washing of foods that a person is going to eat. However, for some reason, very rarely even adults (not to mention children) scrupulously adhere to these simple rules. Is it worth subsequently surprised at the appearance of symptoms signaling the presence of worms in the human liver? Treatment is usually not cheap: in addition to taking special medications, the patient will be forced to take tests several times to make sure that the parasites have left the body.
There is an opinion that only worms can “settle” in the liver. This is a mistake, in fact, the following parasites can gain a foothold in the body:
- roundworms;
- schistosomes;
- opisthorchia;
- single chamber echinococcus;
- alveolar echinococcus.
Going deep into medical terminology, it should be clarified that roundworms are a kind of worms, since in size and structure they fit a number of criteria. But other parasites no longer belong to the class of worms, since the principle of their vital activity is different. Therefore, the symptoms of worms in the human liver are somewhat different depending on which particular parasite has hooked up. It is possible to determine the type of parasite with accuracy only after obtaining the results of the analyzes. So, now we know what worms are in the human liver. The following describes the symptoms characteristic of the life of a particular type of parasite.
What are the worms in the human liver: how to find out?
How to remove parasites is an important issue. But everything should be approached wisely, thoroughly. It is important to remove not the symptom, but the cause. In our case, to achieve a positive result, you need to have information about the etiology of the disease.
What indicates the presence of worms in the human liver? Signs of an invasion are excellent: it all depends on which particular “hookweed” has fixed itself in the tissues of the organ and left the eggs there. It is not possible to determine the type of parasite on its own, but thanks to the information presented below, some conclusions can be drawn.
So, how to determine if there are worms in the liver? Symptoms in a person older than 15 years may be as follows:
- If the body was attacked by roundworms, then a person suffers from weakness, apathy. After eating, he can often experience nausea, while the internal organs on ultrasound are normal. In older people, pressure may drop for no apparent reason. Itching develops in the anus.
- If schistosomes are hooked, the patient suffers from a cough, hemoptysis may develop. A person is tormented by headaches of incomprehensible origin, he often experiences drowsiness and weakness, which conventional methods (taking energy drinks, vitamins, etc.) do not help to fight.
- When the liver is affected by opisthorchia, the patient suffers from a lack of appetite, a pulling sensation in the right hypochondrium. In some cases, the patient may suffer from constant subfebrile temperature.
- Single chamber echinococcus makes itself felt dull and pulling pain in the right hypochondrium, pain in the stomach, digestive problems. The patient switches to sparing nutrition, but in this case too, he suffers from diarrhea, bloating, and pain in the epigastric region.
Symptoms of infection in children:
- When infected with roundworms, the child's liver increases, it can be palpated during palpation. Lymph nodes increase. Atopic dermatitis appears on the surface of the skin of the arms, legs, back.
- When infected with schistosomes, iron deficiency anemia develops. The skin turns pale, detects blood in the urine and feces. You should consult a doctor as soon as possible with such symptoms.
- When infected with opisthorchia, the child suffers from itchy skin. The skin becomes yellowish, pale.
- Single-chamber echinococcus makes itself felt painful in the chest, coughing. The child's appetite is lost. Digestion is disturbed, after eating, nausea, vomiting may be observed.
These are symptoms indicating the presence of worms in the human liver. We will tell about treatment further.
On the inadmissibility of self-medication
The first rule of successful therapy is in no case to self-medicate. Indeed, symptomatology may clearly indicate the fact that the liver is infected with parasitic invasion. But only an experienced doctor can correctly classify the symptoms of worms in the human liver. Treatment (in the photo below you can see a schematic representation of cysts formed as a result of infection with echinococcus) may not be the same for everyone. A number of preparations for helminthic infestations have many side effects, and if the patient makes an attempt to treat himself, the situation may end in disaster.
Moreover, many patients try to pick up hepatoprotectors for themselves with a feeling of heaviness in the right hypochondrium. The cause of discomfort in this case is not directly in the pathology of the liver, but in the fact of parasitic invasion.
Causes of the development of parasitic liver invasions
Why do symptoms indicating the presence of worms appear in the human liver? Obviously, the parasite or its egg through the bloodstream reached this organ and fixed in its tissue. Worms living in the human liver often make the patient’s life literally unbearable. The easiest way to prevent invasion is to comply with safety rules, and for this you need to know the ways of infection with parasites.
So, the most common causes of the development of parasitic invasions of the liver:
- parasites enter the body with food, so you should carefully wash the products before processing and cutlery immediately before a meal;
- when water enters the body from dirty reservoirs (and it is not necessary to drink it - it can enter, for example, through the nose into the larynx);
- infection is also possible through contact with stray animals - you need to wash your hands as thoroughly as possible after such contact has occurred;
- working in the soil with unprotected hands contributes to the ingestion of helminth eggs on the skin, and then in the body; optimally carry out work in the soil with special gloves.
Necessary diagnostic measures
In order to find out which worms in the human liver “settled”, the following tests should be done:
- General blood analysis. It is necessary to check specifically the eosinophil count. An increase in this type of white blood cell indicates a possible infection with parasites.
- Feces on helminth eggs.
- Scraping from the anus - this study will help determine whether parasites have penetrated into the intestinal cavity, or whether the place of their dislocation is exclusively the liver.
- Duodenal sounding - used to obtain bile samples from the duodenum. Further microscopic examination of the biological material taken on the sample allows the larvae of a particular parasite to be detected.
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay allows you to detect specific IgG antibodies to a specific type of helminth.
- Ultrasound, MRI of the gastrointestinal tract will allow you to assess the degree of damage to the internal organs and make the most accurate clinical picture of the patient's condition.
Treatment of parasites in the liver: drugs and the order of their intake
How to get rid of worms in the human liver? The process may not be fast. If the first "blow" of therapy destroys adults, then the eggs may still remain in the tissues of the organ. How to remove worms from the human liver forever? Have to undergo several courses of therapy. Sometimes the process is limited to one course, but after it it is necessary to verify with the help of analyzes that the organ has been completely cleaned.
Treatment for worms in the human liver is carried out with the following drugs (it is important to remember that the duration of therapy and the optimal dosage are prescribed only by the attending hepatologist or gastroenterologist):
- roundworms are excreted by "Albendazole", "Levamisole";
- schistosomes - "Metrifonatom", "Niridazole";
- opisthorchias are treated with Metronidazole, Praziquantel, and Chloxil;
- echinococcus are sensitive to the action of "Albendazole".
If there are cysts or hemangiomas in the liver, then often it is necessary to resort to surgical intervention.
Alternative methods of getting rid of parasites in the liver
Often patients are interested in: "Can worms independently settled in the human liver be removed? How can I find out if therapy was successful?" At home, it is impossible to either make an accurate diagnosis (even if the combination of symptoms most eloquently indicates the presence of parasites in the liver), or get rid of the invasion.
There is an opinion that the popular folk method - two raw cloves of garlic on an empty stomach - will help to remove all parasites and even their eggs from the body. Alas, the effectiveness of this method is not confirmed. Especially dangerous are attempts to treat parasitic infestations with folk methods in a child. In the future, such initiative can lead to very serious consequences, up to the development of chronic pathologies of internal organs for the rest of life. You can’t drink oil on an empty stomach, eat garlic and experience other similar tips - this is not only not useful, but also harmful. Gastritis can easily develop, because in the morning, on an empty stomach, the gastric mucosa is especially vulnerable. Suspected something was wrong? Run to the doctor!
The importance of proper nutrition during and after treatment
The drugs that are used to treat helminths in the liver are quite toxic. On the one hand, their administration helps to get rid of parasites, but on the other, it is a kind of small toxic blow to the body. Yes, it is necessary, since in the long term parasites have a much more destructive effect on all systems, disrupting the normal functioning of the liver.
It is very important during the treatment period to support the liver with proper nutrition. Otherwise, the weakened organ, and even during the period of getting rid of parasitic invasion, can increase, the bile ducts can become inflamed. To avoid this, you should adhere to the following nutritional rules:
- Refusal to eat fatty foods. Fast food, pork, lamb, confectionery with margarine, fried foods - such food creates a strain on the liver. And since the body is already exhausted by parasitic invasion, you should temporarily abandon the use of such food.
- Alcoholic beverages should be completely ruled out at least while taking the medicine. If you combine alcohol abuse and medication, the risk of developing toxic hepatitis is high.
- Enrich your diet with vegetables and fruits, eat bread in a minimal amount and only dried.
- Refuse the time of treatment from drinking tea, coffee, sugary carbonated drinks.
To summarize
The only reliable way to find out that the body has “settlers” is to go through all the necessary research. Suppose, medical studies have confirmed the presence of parasites in the liver. What to do next? The first rule is not to panic. This pathology is quite easily treated and does not bring any negative consequences in the future. The main thing is to follow the doctor's recommendations and not try to self-medicate.
It is necessary to start therapeutic measures as soon as possible. As a rule, the course of treatment is short-lived - only a few days. Then you need to re-take the tests and, if necessary, take the course again. If the patient has pets at home, then they should be treated with anthelmintic drugs, and in several stages. In parallel with the treatment, the patient must adhere to a healthy lifestyle: give up alcohol, smoke less, try to sleep more and rest. If the patient does not follow these rules, there is a high risk of inflammation of the bile ducts, and in some cases, such a load on the liver can contribute to the development of toxic hepatitis.