Pinworms are very common parasites that can inhabit the human intestines. In most cases, children of preschool and primary school age suffer from such helminthiases. Nevertheless, adult patients are also not immune from such a problem. What are the symptoms of pinworms in adults? Symptoms may be different, because parasites not only affect the digestive tract - their activity affects the functioning of the whole organism.
Of course, many people are interested in additional information about the disease. How does the pathogen enter the human digestive tract? What are the symptoms of the disease in adults? How to get rid of pinworms? The answers to these questions are worth a look.
Pathogen Information
What are the main signs of pinworms in adults? The answers to these questions are of interest to many. But first, it’s worth learning more about the nature and characteristics of the pathogen itself.
Pinworms are small nematodes. Their body has a very characteristic spindle-shaped and grayish color. Female pinworms reach a length of about 10-12 mm - their body is straight. But the males are smaller (3-5 mm) and the rear end of their body is twisted into a small spiral.
In the human body, only one representative of this group of worms, Enterobius vermicularis, parasitizes. Helminths live in the human cecum - here they are attached to the mucous membrane using the mouth opening. In order to lay eggs, the female leaves her usual place and migrates to the rectum. Egg laying occurs in the anus.
Pinworm eggs are small, oval, transparent practices. Only those eggs that do not enter the feces and remain on the skin around the anus remain viable - it takes 4-6 hours to fully mature.
How does infection happen? Risk factors
Unfortunately, in modern medical practice, pinworms are often found in adults. Symptoms and treatment of helminthiasis are important information, but first you need to understand the transmission routes.
As already mentioned, pinworm eggs mature on the skin around the anus. Then they fall on the underwear, the hands of a person, and already from the skin of the patient - on toys, towels, clothes, household items, food, etc.
Helminth eggs enter the digestive tract through the oral cavity. For example, if a person does not wash his hands after combing the anus or visiting the toilet, then re-infection occurs (the patient touches his lips, food, etc.).
You can catch the parasite during close contact or shaking hands with the carrier of helminths. In addition, pathogens are transmitted through clothing, toys, door handles (eggs remain viable for three weeks). Pinworm eggs can be carried by flies, cockroaches and other insects - so they get, for example, to food. Together with dust, eggs often fall on the hair of pets.
What symptoms should I look for?
So, how do you know what adult pinworms are? Symptoms, as mentioned, can be different - here a lot depends on the degree of invasion, the individual characteristics of the patient's body. As a rule, the first symptoms appear 10-15 days after infection.
- The main sign of helminthiasis is itching in the anus. Unpleasant sensations, as a rule, appear at night - at this time the female creeps out through the anus and lays eggs. As the disease develops, itching also worries a person in the daytime.
- If there is a pronounced invasion, then the itching spreads to the entire perineum. Women also complain of discomfort in the genital area.
- Periodically, a person suffers from abdominal pain. A change in stool is possible - mucus clots are sometimes present in the feces.
- In women, helminthiasis is often accompanied by the appearance of secretions from the genital tract. Some patients complain of pain during intercourse.
These are exactly the signs of pinworms in adults. Having noticed such violations, it is important to quickly consult a doctor and take tests.
Features of the clinical picture during re-infection. Helminthiasis systemic disorders
If we are talking about constant re-infection (for example, when combing the anus, helminth eggs get on the skin of the hands, and then together with food in the oral cavity), various systemic lesions are possible. The following symptoms are distinguished:
- fever, muscle aches, joint pain;
- headaches, weakness;
- increased irritability, trouble sleeping;
- periodically appearing dizziness (very rarely fainting is observed against the background of helminthiasis);
- problems with concentration, memory impairment;
- stool disorders (diarrhea gives way to constipation and vice versa);
- constant bloating;
- abdominal pains, which are usually localized on the right side (often the pain is so intense that the patient is taken to the hospital with suspicion of acute appendicitis);
- dermatitis may develop in the area around the anus;
- sometimes itching and pain in the anus becomes unbearable.
It is also worth noting that a strong combing of the anus leads to the appearance of wounds and scratches on the skin. Such tissue damage becomes the gateway to a secondary bacterial infection (sometimes abscesses, phlegmon appear in this area).
Are pinworms dangerous? Consequences in Adult Patients
We have already figured out the transmission routes and the main symptoms of the disease. Why are pinworms dangerous? In adults, if untreated, the activity of these parasites can lead to very serious consequences. That is why it is so important to consult a specialist on time.
Worms attach to the intestinal mucosa, but sometimes parasites penetrate the muscle layer, which affects the functioning of the walls of the digestive tract: peristalsis is disturbed, digestion processes are slowed down. Sometimes there is an increase in acidity in the cavity of the stomach and intestines. If we are talking about a protracted form of the disease, then there is the formation of pinpoint hemorrhages and erosive areas on the walls of the digestive tract.
Vital activity of parasites is accompanied by intoxication, because worms release products of their own metabolism into human blood. Helminthiasis can lead to the development of leukocytosis, an increase in the sensitivity of the immune system (there is an increase in cases of allergic reactions). The disease affects the nervous system and leads to a gradual depletion of the body.
If for one reason or another, helminths enter the abdominal cavity, then the likelihood of developing peritonitis is high. In addition, pinworms can penetrate the tissues of a woman’s genitals - patients sometimes experience problems such as inflammation of the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
Diagnostic measures
We have already considered the information about the danger of worms (pinworms). Treatment for adult patients is prescribed taking into account the degree of damage to the body, the presence of certain symptoms. That is why timely diagnosis is very important.
Determining the presence of these parasites in the patient’s body is not so difficult. First, an analysis of feces for the presence of eggs of worms is carried out. In addition, scraping from the anus is performed (a cotton swab or a special adhesive tape is used to collect materials).
It is worth noting that at the initial stages, analyzes can give a false negative result - this is observed if the helminths have not yet spread throughout the body. That is why studies are repeated several times.
Sometimes serodiagnosis is additionally performed. The procedure involves the collection of blood from a vein. Subsequently, the samples are checked for the presence of specific antibodies that are produced by the body exclusively during helminthic invasion.
After receiving the results of the tests, the doctor will be able to make a final diagnosis and draw up an effective treatment regimen.
Drug therapy
Many people are interested in asking if there are inexpensive and effective pinworm tablets in adult patients.
In fact, there are a huge number of antiparasitic drugs. For example, Pirantel is an effective remedy for pinworms in adults and children. Effective medicines also include Vermox, Nemozol, and Vormil tablets (also available in powder form for suspension).
The above drugs cause the death of both worms and eggs. First, patients take sorbents (most often doctors recommend Smecta, Enterosgel, White Coal). After about 1.5-2 hours, you can take an antiparasitic medicine. And at night, experts prescribe a laxative - this will help speed up the process of cleansing the intestines.
The medication is repeated after two weeks (for prophylaxis). By the way, during therapy it is very important to exclude foods that cause constipation from the diet.
In addition, you need to adhere to some rules in order to prevent re-infection. For example, it is very important to perform daily hygienic procedures, change bedding, towels (they, like underwear, need to be washed at high temperatures). It is advisable to iron underwear before donning.
If pustules appear on the skin around the anus, then the doctor may prescribe additional use of Levomekol or Oflokain ointments - they have antibacterial properties. Therapy is sometimes supplemented with antihistamines (Tavegil, Zodak, Fenistil) - they relieve itching and discomfort, and prevent the development of allergic reactions.
Effective suppositories for helminthiases
How to get rid of pinworms in adult patients? Sometimes taking tablets is supplemented or completely replaced by the use of rectal suppositories. Preparations in this form act directly in the intestine, and therefore are more sparing in relation to the patient's body.
In modern medical practice, different candles from pinworms in adults are used. In most cases, such preparations contain herbal ingredients. The most effective today are the following funds:
- "Helmavitol" - candles created on the basis of an extract of garlic, buckthorn and milk thistle.
- "Prostate" - suppositories, which contain sea buckthorn oil, propolis, echinacea extract.
- “Confetan” - it contains tea tree oil, as well as cocoa, sea buckthorn oil and tansy extract.
- "Nigella Sativa" - contains black cumin oil.
It is worth noting that these drugs do not have toxic properties - they can be used even by women during pregnancy.
Pinworms in adults: treatment with folk remedies
Is it possible to do something at home? Of course, traditional medicine offers a lot of recipes. But, of course, you should not refuse the help of doctors and drug therapy - any means can be used only with the permission of a specialist.
- Garlic from pinworms in adults is believed to be very effective. The prescription is simple: a glass of milk needs to be slightly warmed up and a clove of garlic added to it (chopped beforehand). The mixture is put on fire, heated and boiled for a minute. After the solution has cooled, it can be filtered and drunk.
- Pumpkin seeds are considered very effective. To combat helminths, it is enough to eat about 200-150 g of peeled, raw pumpkin seeds daily. Therapy should last at least 2-3 weeks.
- Chamomile decoction also has useful properties - it is used as an adjuvant. Two tablespoons of dried flowers of the plant (sold at the pharmacy) are poured with a glass of water, heated and boiled for fifteen minutes. Once the broth has cooled, it can be cooled and filtered. This medicine has anti-inflammatory and tonic properties, accelerates the healing process of microdamages on the intestinal mucous membranes.
Preventive measures: how to avoid infection?
Quite often in modern medical practice pinworms are detected in adults. Symptoms and treatment of such helminthiases we have already considered. But it’s much easier to prevent the development of the disease than then to worry about therapy.
Prevention is really simple. Of course, first of all, it is necessary to avoid contact with infected people. It is important to wash your hands after going to the toilet and before eating, it is advisable to cut your nails briefly. Effective prevention is the observance of the rules of intimate hygiene. Underwear needs to be changed every day. Sheets and towels are recommended to be washed at high temperatures.
Remember that vegetables and fruits must be washed before eating. It is important to sanitize the toilets. Periodically, it is recommended to take stool samples for analysis on helminth eggs. And, of course, when the first symptoms appear, it is important to consult a specialist. The sooner treatment is started, the lower the likelihood of various complications.