Roundworms are ordinary worms. They are considered the most common on earth. Such parasites live about 2 years and are of impressive size. They can cause noticeable harm to the human body and cause certain inconvenience. To avoid this, it is necessary to regularly conduct various preventive measures, which we will discuss in detail in our article.
Description of Worms
These worms can be up to 40 centimeters long. Where do these worms live? Roundworms are female and male. Their habitat is the intestines. If the body contains representatives of both sexes, then the female carries eggs. And she does it in large numbers. Namely, about two hundred thousand a day. Individuals of both sexes are not always present. There are cases when in the body only a female or only a male. If only a female is in the intestine, then she will also lay eggs. True, they will be false. And if there is only a male, then they will not be. Ascaris eggs can be seen in human waste. An interesting fact is that they can not die up to 10 years under certain conditions.
You should also be aware that chemical water treatment does no harm to them. But high temperatures destroy ascaris eggs. In order for the larva to appear, oxygen is needed. In this regard, their occurrence in the intestine is impossible. Larvae also need time to emerge from the egg. This period varies from several days to several weeks, depending on the conditions. This means that from a person who has parasites in the body, you can get infected, but the probability is small.
Sources of danger
Since the eggs come out with feces, and even if we assume that they somehow appear on the skin of another person, then normal hygiene will ensure that they are washed off the skin earlier than the time when the larvae appear. Usually, roundworm worms enter the body through fruits or vegetables that have not undergone sufficient processing. Greenery from the garden is also a dangerous source of infection. Even through ordinary parsley, eggs can enter the body. This is due to the fact that fertilizers may include contaminated human waste. This should always be remembered and thoroughly washed greens and vegetables before eating raw.
Flies are another distributor of roundworm eggs. Therefore, you should make sure that they do not sit down on food. It is better to get rid of them altogether and not leave food in the open air or in the room where these insects fly. It must be remembered that they could fly from the toilet.
Stages of the development of the disease
How do roundworms develop in humans? If eggs got into the body in which the larval development process began, then they enter the intestine. There, larvae appear. Then they are absorbed into the bloodstream and transferred to the lungs of a person. Of these, through the bronchi, the larvae pass into the oral cavity, and then again descend into the intestine. The whole process takes 2 weeks. In the intestines, the larvae grow and become adults, which begin to lay eggs. As a rule, the habitat of roundworm is the small intestine. But they can also go to its other departments.
There are cases that worms can migrate from the intestines to other systems of the human body. There may be several reasons for their movement. Namely, high body temperature, taking small doses of drugs against worms, treatment with folk remedies and so on. The passage of worms to other organs can be hazardous to health. In some cases, a life threat can occur, for example, when worms appear in the lungs of a person.
Infection
What are the ways of infection with roundworms? Let's look at them:
- Poor food handling.
- The use of untreated water, including from springs. There is no guarantee that the water did not come into contact with any places where human waste is located.
- During field trips, you can catch worm eggs from the soil. This usually happens in children who spend a lot of time on the ground, playing various outdoor games.
These are the ways of infection with roundworms. There is one way that you can catch worms. It is rare, but there have been cases. The transmission of worms can occur through the placenta.
How to determine what is in the body of worms? Roundworm in the lungs
Signs that the human body is infected with this disease depend on the stage of development of the parasites. For example, if they enter the lungs at the initial stage, Liffler's syndrome may develop or pneumonia may begin. Below are listed the signs through which you can find out about the location of the larvae in the lungs.
- Dry cough. It is also accompanied by pain in the chest.
- The pain is hard and sharp. Breathing becomes difficult, shortness of breath appears. A sputum is released in a patient with cough, which contains blood discharge.
- Hives appear.
- Body temperature rises, but not much.
- The liver is enlarged.
This condition lasts about a week, coughing can stay longer. Then all the symptoms go away, and self-healing occurs.
How do worms appear in the intestines?
Signs that roundworms are in the human intestines:
- Pain in the abdomen appears.
- Appetite is lost.
- A person is sick and vomits.
- Diarrhea begins.
- A man loses weight.
- If we are talking about a child, then he does not have enough body weight for growth and development.
- There is an allergy.
- In children, inhibition of thinking appears.
What complications of the body can cause ascariasis?
- First, a large number of worms can be present in the intestines that form a tangle. Then there will be obstruction of food. This position of the human body is called acute surgical pathology.
- Secondly, worms can get into other organs of a person, then surgical intervention may be necessary. For example, when they enter the gallbladder.
- Thirdly, roundworms can cause pancreatitis. This disease develops when worms block the bile ducts.
What diagnostic methods are there?
What tests are passed on roundworms? I would like to note that the presence of eggs in the feces suggests that the person is infected with worms. It would seem that the easiest way to diagnose a disease is to take an analysis for roundworms.
But there are nuances due to which it is impossible to establish that worms are present in the human body. Analysis of feces for roundworms does not always show the presence of parasites. Note that during the first month, when the larvae have not yet grown into mature worms, there will be no eggs in the feces. If the body is infected only by males, then by the study of feces it will also be impossible to determine their presence in the body.
What else can be tested for roundworms? There is a test system, but it is ineffective. Although it can also be done if there is a suspicion of the presence of parasites. In addition to examining feces, you can take a blood test for roundworms. Moreover, he can show the presence of parasites at an early stage of their development, as well as males. If immunoglobulin is detected in the blood, then this may be a sign that the body is infected with roundworms.
Immunoglobulins protect a person from parasites. Therefore, their presence in the blood suggests that the body is fighting worms. But also this indicator may be present in the blood due to allergies. Then there will be a negative analysis for roundworms. Therefore, only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis on all the results of an examination of the body of a child or adult. Including for accurate diagnosis, you need a blood test for roundworms.
How to treat?
First of all, special drugs are prescribed, such as Albendazole and Mebendazole. The medicine "Pirantel" also helps. In addition to these drugs, "piperazine" is also prescribed. This product is prohibited in some countries. Its action is based on the immobilization of worms. Also, the medicine carries out a preventive effect on the intestines in case of extensive infection. The drug "piperazine" is usually prescribed to pregnant women and children.
Delivery of feces after therapy
When is it best to take a stool test to confirm recovery? After the course of treatment, a second study is necessary. Moreover, such analyzes will need to be done 2 times. First, a control sampling of the material is made after 3 weeks, and then another month later. After that, laboratory assistants decipher the analysis for roundworms. Repeat the procedure due to the fact that in the body, in addition to adult worms, there may be larvae at the developmental stage or eggs. In order to exclude re-infection, the doctor prescribes an additional study. Test results for roundworms will show whether a person is healthy or not.
Folk methods
Folk remedies in the fight against roundworms should be used with caution, since they can harm the body, and not cure this disease. First of all, this method is suitable for people with a high immune system who need a little support through folk methods. In any case, you need to consult a doctor. The fact is that with poor treatment, worms can pass from the intestines to other human organs, which can cause great complications. If, nevertheless, the doctor allowed to use folk remedies, then some of them can be considered. But first you need to go through the necessary studies for diagnosis. Where to take analysis for roundworms? The attending physician will tell you this. Typically, such studies are carried out in central clinics. Also, analysis for roundworms can be taken in private laboratories.
The most effective folk remedy in the fight against ascariasis is garlic. First, a special mixture is prepared. To do this, garlic is cut and crushed, a homogeneous mass is made, which is insisted on a water bath. After the garlic gruel is ready, proceed to treatment. There are two ways to take garlic: eat it several times a day in small portions or make enemas at night. A feature of this treatment is that roundworms will go from the garlic not down, but up. Namely, in the stomach. There they will die and go out together with the waste of human life. But if there are a lot of worms, then the stomach may not cope with their processing. Then roundworms can rise higher and begin to exit through the mouth or nose. Therefore, this method of treatment is quite dangerous. It is necessary to consult a doctor before starting such therapy.
What preventive measures can be taken to prevent ascariasis?
This disease is considered quite common in our country. Therefore, it is important to observe preventive measures in order not to become infected with worms. Children are at risk. This is due to the fact that they spend a lot of time on the ground or in the sandbox, on playgrounds, in parks and other places. The easiest way to protect children from this disease is to teach them good hygiene. Namely, wash your hands after a walk without fail, do not eat dirty food. It happens that inadvertently children can drop a product on the ground, and then pick it up and eat it. It is necessary to explain to the kids that doing so is strictly prohibited. Also, in places of children's games it is necessary to do regular cleaning: wipe children's items on the playground, loosen sand and more.
In addition to the above, it is recommended that other measures be taken to combat the development of this disease.
- Infected children or adults should be identified and referred for treatment.
- Protect land from waste.
- Conduct conversations with people about this disease and the causes of its appearance in the human body.
When planning classes for the prevention of ascariasis, the features of the environment where these events will be held should be taken into account. It is worth paying attention to how the way of life of people is arranged, what lifestyle they lead, what they do. You should also take into account the level of infection of the disease in a specific area and determine the format of future measures for the prevention of ascariasis. You need to know that in some regions of the country there are foci of this disease. There, for people, deworming is mandatory.
First of all, special attention must be paid to cleansing the soil from feces. It should be explained to people that contaminated soil with human waste leads to the spread of the disease.
The easiest way to get rid of feces is to put them in a cesspool. It should be closed for 24 months. After this period, the eggs of the parasites will completely die. Then it will be possible to use these wastes as fertilizers. This method is quite simple and does not require special expenses, therefore it is recommended to use it for all summer residents and gardeners in places where soil cleaning is not performed. The extent to which people are aware of sanitary standards and personal hygiene affects the level of ascariasis in a given region.
Which doctor should be consulted for suspected ascariasis?
First of all, you need to make an appointment with a therapist or pediatrician. These specialists will prescribe the required examination and treatment. There are also doctors of a narrower profile - an infectious disease specialist and a parasitologist. You can turn to them. Before visiting a doctor, you should observe your body. At the reception, you need to describe the symptoms in detail.
A feature of the disease is that at an early stage there are certain difficulties in diagnosing. Even test results may not show the presence of parasites in the body. Therefore, an accurate description of the symptoms will allow the doctor to make the correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment. Do not be shy to tell your health care provider that you have worm eggs in your feces, as the sooner treatment is prescribed, the better.
What to do if the baby has worms?
If there are suspicions of this disease in a child, then it is also worth observing him and immediately consult a specialist. If the child is small, then perhaps he should not say that there are worms in his stomach, as he may not be psychologically prepared for this.
The main thing is to carry out the necessary treatment and get rid of this ailment. It is also worth analyzing where the child might have become infected. If the parent is sure that this happened in the child care facility, then his leadership must be notified about this. It is also worth contacting the sanitary and epidemiological station and talking about your suspicion. This must be done in order for the institution to take appropriate measures to cleanse the environment.
Little conclusion
Now you know what roundworms are. We examined the main symptoms of the presence of such worms in humans. Methods for diagnosing the disease were studied, including analysis of feces for roundworms. We also described possible treatments and preventative measures. We hope that the information in the article was useful to you.