Helminth infection, or helminthiasis, is an infectious disease caused by a human being being affected by worms. Today, experts count over 350 types of helminths that can parasitize in the human body. The main place of their concentration is the intestines, but there are certain types of worms that inhabit other organs - the heart, liver, lungs, brain, etc.
general characteristics
Depending on what kind of worms parasitizes in the human body, the name is given to an infectious disease. For example, if clinical studies have shown that roundworms are present, then the lesion will be called "ascariasis", etc. The common name for all worm infestations is called helminthiasis. In this case, the patient needs to find out what kind of parasites must be overcome. The methods of treatment vary depending on the type of parasites, as a result of which various medications are used.
Helminths go through certain stages of life - the egg turns into a larva, it grows into a mature individual, which, in turn, lays eggs and, after completing the life cycle, dies, while dead worms, toxins, waste from their vital activity poison the internal environment of the body and are gradually excreted out.
There are still some features of parasites - some of them in the cycle of larvae or eggs develop in soil, water or in the body of an animal, fish. And the final stage is lived in the human body. There are other types of helminths that lay eggs in the human digestive tract, but the final period of life passes outside the human body. For this reason, several types of helminth lesions may be present in the diagnosis.
Infection, depending on the location, the type of parasite, has a different severity of the course - from hidden and sluggish to deadly. Infection occurs through many channels, for example, through poorly washed vegetables and fruits, dirty hands, scratches on the skin or through insect bites. According to the WHO, cases of helminth infections have the same frequency as the incidence of the population of any country with influenza, SARS. The standard of living does not affect the level of infection, the statistics for all countries are approximately the same.
Symptoms
It is not always by obvious signs that it is possible to determine that helminths have settled in the body. Symptoms are often absent or their manifestations are delayed for several months, some types of infection appear almost immediately after invasion. For example, ascariasis is detected on the second or third day, and filariasis is diagnosed only after 6 months or after 1.5 years.
Signs of helminthiasis:
- Constantly appearing rashes on the skin, accompanied by itching.
- General or local puffiness.
- Fever.
- An increase in a certain group of lymph nodes.
- Constant or periodic pain in the muscles, joints.
- Cough of a cold origin, pain in the chest area, periodic attacks of suffocation.
- Acute abdominal pain, nausea, upset stool, vomiting.
The disease, without proper treatment, goes into the acute phase, the lesion extends not only to the organs, but also to the body systems. In such cases, doctors prescribe a helminth test.
Symptoms of serious damage to the body:
- Violations of hemostasis.
- Meningoencephalitis.
- Pneumonia.
- Myocarditis of an allergic origin.
- Hepatitis.
With a thorough examination of a patient with helminthiasis, an increase in the affected organs is observed, they may be the liver, spleen (hepatosplenomegaly), a blood test will show increased eosinophils, and an imbalance of proteins (dysproteinemia) will be revealed.
Manifestations of common types of helminthiasis
Chronic lesion has its own symptoms, the clinical picture varies depending on the organ in which the helminths spread. Treatment is prescribed after determining what kind of worms the parasite belongs to. A single settlement of small worms will not show any symptoms, and large samples will demonstrate a full range of symptoms as they grow.
The most commonly diagnosed types of helminthiasis are as follows:
- Intestinal. Signs are nausea, abdominal pain. If the intestines are affected by roundworms, then as the population grows, obstruction, obstructive jaundice will be observed, and pancreatitis is also diagnosed. Enterobiosis of massive invasion is manifested by severe perianal itching in the morning and evening hours.
- Liver lesions (opisthorchiasis, fascioliasis, etc.) are manifested by chronic forms of hepatitis, pancreatitis, and neurological disorders.
- Blood damage (hookworm) primarily shows iron deficiency anemia. With advanced forms, there is vascular bleeding caused by the destruction of the walls of the blood lines.
- Cestodoses (hymenolipedosis, teniarinhoz, teniosis, etc.). A clear sign of damage is a deficiency of vitamin B 12 (a form of anemia). Patients can periodically observe parasites in the feces or the movement of worms on the surface of the skin.
- Toxocariasis is characterized by pulmonary and abdominal syndromes, CNS disorders, an increase in eosinophils in a clinical blood test, and eyes are affected.
- Some types of helminthiasis occur without symptoms for a long time. Propagating, parasites undermine the immune system, foci of suppuration are formed, worms lay cysts with eggs, rupture of an abscess or masonry can cause pleurisy, anaphylactic shock and other severe consequences for the body.
Diagnostics
Studies on helminth lesions are quite complex and are divided into groups:
- Morphological - studies of biopsy of organ tissues. Methods allow you to identify parasites that live in the tissues.
- General clinical, serological, immunological analysis for helminths (analysis of blood, feces, urine, ultrasound of internal organs with presumed invasion, ELISA, tomography, etc.). Studies are used to diagnose helminthiasis of organ tissues.
- Parasitological research methods give the most informative picture of the patient’s condition, they can identify worms, eggs and larvae in biological fluids (bile, urine, blood, vomit, gastric juice, etc.). This type of research is used most often and allows you to quickly determine the type of worm.
If, during the first analysis, the specialist was not able to establish the type of parasite, then additional studies are prescribed according to a certain scheme. The patient is prescribed the delivery of biological fluids (excluding bile, the contents of the duodenum 12) three times after three or four days. The break between repeated studies is due to the need to find helminth eggs, which the adult parasite lays with a certain frequency.
When prescribing one or another parasitological analysis, the doctor is guided by suspicions. If the signs of the disease indicate intestinal damage, then feces are given for research, if liver invasion is suspected, then for the study it is necessary to pass bile, the contents of the duodenum. Gradually, by elimination, the affected organ and the type of helminth are detected.
Blood analysis
Blood tests are prescribed in cases where no traces of parasites were found in the feces, but the remaining signs clearly indicate helminthic invasion. Blood tests, assigned as an analysis for helminths, are very accurate and show the presence of antibodies produced by the immune system against foreign objects, which are worms.
The immune system itself cannot destroy worms, they are large, but antibodies are absolute markers of helminthiasis. To date, the following types of parasites are detected in laboratories:
- Roundworm, Trichinella.
- Toxocara, opisthorchia.
- Echinococcus, Strongyloid.
To get a true analysis for helminths, you must adhere to certain rules for blood donation:
- Blood is given on an empty stomach, preferably in the morning.
- The patient is allowed to drink only non-carbonated water (a day before the analysis and on the day of delivery).
- 4-5 days before the procedure, it is necessary to exclude fatty, salty, fried, spicy dishes and products from the menu.
- Exclude the use of all medications (in the absence of a threat to health and life).
In the conclusion of the laboratory there may be three options:
- Negative (helminthiasis is absent).
- Positive (there is an invasion, the type of parasite is indicated).
- Adjacent (repeat required after 14 days).
Fecal analysis
This type of study is most often prescribed. It is carried out three times with an interval between delivery in 3 or 4 days. This approach provides accurate data and reveals helminths in different life cycles. Feces for helminths are handed over to a specialized laboratory.
The main condition for obtaining an accurate result is that the biomaterial must be fresh, the shelf life is no more than 24 hours. Before collecting the analysis, hygiene procedures are excluded.
Principles of Therapy
The main objective of treatment is the complete destruction of parasites and the prevention of reinfection. Helminth medications have a detrimental effect on worms at any stage of their life cycle. In addition to the main treatment, the doctor prescribes a number of drugs whose action is aimed at restoring healthy intestinal microflora, improving the internal environment of the body, restoring immunity, etc.
Often a side complication of helminthiasis is an allergic reaction. For their relief, antihistamines are prescribed (Suprastin, Parlazin, Erius, Tsetrin, etc.). When poisoning with worm products, the patient is prescribed intravenous glucose to neutralize and remove toxins, as well as taking ascorbic acid, vitamins, etc. The specialist conducts complex therapy, eliminating the complications resulting from invasion and helminths themselves.
Treatment aimed at eliminating parasites involves the use of strong-acting medications. It is recommended to take them simultaneously with sorbents and antihistamines, the intake of this group of medicines begins 3 or 5 days before the start of therapy and continues for another 5 days after the end of taking anthelmintic drugs.
The treatment plan also includes probiotics. They are prescribed along with sorbents and antihistamines. During the treatment period, the patient is transferred to a sparing diet, the menu includes products that are easily absorbed by the body - sour milk, soups on the water, cereals, herbal teas and infusions.
Before starting treatment, it is necessary to carry out a general cleaning - thoroughly wash the living quarters and household items with soap and water. Underwear and bed linen should be ironed with a hot iron and changed daily for fresh throughout the duration of therapy.
Treatment
Destruction of worms in the internal environment of a person is carried out with the help of antiparasitic medicines with high toxicity. The action of each of the drugs used is aimed at the destruction of only one type of worm. Helminth preparations are classified depending on the type of parasites on which they are designed:
- Against nematodes in the intestines - "piperazine", "albendazole", "Levamisole", etc.
- Against nematodes of non-intestinal location - "Ivermectin", "Albendazole", etc.
- Anthelmintic drugs of the cestode class (for the gastrointestinal tract) - "Nicklozamide".
- Anthelmintic drugs of the cestode class (non-intestinal) - "Albendazole".
- Against trematodes parasitizing in the intestine - "Perchlorethylene".
- Against trematodes of any other location - Bithionol and Chloxid.
For invasion, several types of worms prescribe drugs for helminths with a wide spectrum of action, the active substances of which are:
- "Mebendazole" - capillariosis, ascariasis, teniosis, trichocephalosis, multiple nematoses, teniosis, echinococcosis, etc.
- "Albendazole" - enterobiosis, cysticercosis, necatorosis, ascariasis, capillariosis, toxocariasis, echinococcosis, strongyloidosis, etc.
- "Praziquantel" - opisthorchiasis, schistosomiasis, metahonymosis, cestodosis, hymenolepiasis, clonorchosis, etc.
- "Levamisole" - nekatorosis, enterobiosis, trichostrongiasis, ascariasis, trichocephalosis, etc.
Pharmaceutical companies produce a wide range of helminths under various names. The doctor prescribes the appointment depending on the diagnosis in complex therapy. Experts strongly do not recommend self-medication. All medications for helminths are highly toxic, their administration should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor who monitors the body's reactions.
Pharmacological companies produce such tablets for helminths:
- "Gelmordol-VM", "Sanoxan" (active substance albendazole).
- "Dekaris" (active substance levamisole).
- "Vermox", "Vormin" (active substance mebendazole).
- "Biltricid", "Azinox" (active ingredient praziquantel).
Helminth tablets are produced by many companies, both domestic and foreign. The doctor’s task is to collect complete information about the disease, concomitant pathologies, the degree of invasion, and determine an effective drug for controlling parasites. An individual treatment program is selected for each individual person, based on the results of the analyzes.
ethnoscience
For centuries, traditional medicine has dealt with the question of how to remove helminths, a large number of recipes have been developed. It is no less dangerous to use them recklessly than pharmaceuticals, before starting therapy it is necessary to consult a doctor.
Helminths in adults can be treated with such folk methods:
- Pumpkin seeds - eat a handful of fresh, unroasted seeds on an empty stomach. After 2-3 hours, an enema is necessary.
- Pasta from pumpkin seeds - 100 grams of peeled seeds are ground with 100 milliliters of boiled water, then 2 tbsp. l of natural honey. The resulting paste is placed in a jar, stored in the refrigerator. Application - eat on an empty stomach 3 tablespoons with an interval of 1 hour for 3 hours. The next step is to take a laxative, after 2 hours they put an enema.
- Raw juice of red beet, drunk on an empty stomach (1 tbsp. L.) Removes helminths in humans. Treatment with this method lasts 7 days.
- Grated carrots or carrot juice taken on an empty stomach also destroy helminths. Treatment is carried out within 7-14 days.
Do not use all recipes at the same time. To begin with, it is necessary to undergo a diagnosis and only after finding out the type of parasite can one select treatment, including from traditional medicine recipes.
Prevention
Helminthiasis is a parasitic disease, an infectious disease specialist is involved in its treatment. A referral to this specialist is obtained from a physician at the place of residence. If parasites are localized in various internal organs, then consultation of doctors of specialized specialties is necessary - a cardiologist, ophthalmologist, neurologist, etc.
Prevention of helminths is based on hygiene. One of the main requirements is the use of clean water in everyday life, frequent hand washing, thorough processing of fruits and vegetables, etc. If there are pets in the house, periodic prevention should be carried out for them by vaccination, deworming.
When cooking, it is necessary to adhere to a certain temperature regime for the preparation of meat and fish products. A variety of sushi made from raw fish, which may contain helminths, are considered the most dangerous dish. Treatment and prevention of helminthiasis for lovers of raw animal products should be carried out regularly.
Constant attention to health should be shown in such cases:
- Frequent or constant contact with animals.
- Visiting exotic countries.
- Work with the earth.
- Staying a child in a children's team.
- Occupation of fishing, hunting.
Family members are advised to take medication prophylaxis twice a year to expel helminths. Treatment is carried out with broad-spectrum drugs, which include albendazole. The prophylactic regimen is prescribed by a specialist depending on age, body weight, sensitivity to the drug, the presence of contraindications, concomitant diseases, etc.