Dwarf tapeworm is a tapeworm parasite . It lives inside the digestive tract of humans or small rodents. Its life cycle takes place in the body of one owner. Infection with this worm leads to a serious disease - hymenolepidosis. Pathologies are especially susceptible to children aged 4 to 14 years. The infestation is highly contagious and can be easily transmitted from person to person. Damage to the intestine with this type of parasite is accompanied by dyspeptic symptoms and intoxication of the body.
Parasite description
Dwarf tapeworm is one of the smallest representatives of tapeworms. Its length is only 1 - 5 cm. Helminth consists of a head, neck and body.
On the head of the worm there are suction cups and hooks with which it is attached to the intestine. The body has the shape of a tape and consists of segments. They contain the organs of reproduction of the parasite. In the tail sections, eggs are formed. Photos of dwarf tapeworm can be seen below.
Helminth eggs are covered with a double layer of shells with threads. They have a round or oval shape, inside them is the oncosphere with special hooks. Filling with eggs, the tail segments are separated from the body and can independently move through the intestines.
Life cycle
The life cycle of a dwarf tapeworm occurs in the body of one host. An infected person secretes eggs with feces. Thus they find themselves in an external environment. When swallowed, dwarf tapeworm eggs penetrate the stomach, and then into the small intestine. In this section of the gastrointestinal tract, the oncosphere leaves the membranes and penetrates the mucosa. After 6 to 8 days, an embryo (cysticercoid) is formed. It is attached by hooks to the walls of the intestine and after 2 weeks turns into an adult worm.
Eggs can enter the environment with feces of infected small rodents (mice, rats, hamsters). In this case, the oncospheres can also become a source of human invasion.
The parasite can also develop in the body of insects. In this case, they become intermediate hosts of the helminth. Flour bugs are especially susceptible to invasion. These insects can get into bakery products and become a source of human infection. Heat treatment does not always destroy the eggs of the parasite.
Infection pathways
The only route of infection is fecal-oral. Eggs enter the body through dirty hands, infected objects and water, unwashed fruits and vegetables. Flies can also spread them. Eggs can be stored in soil, water for a long time, and also spread with dust.
A sick person is a source of infection for others. If personal hygiene is not followed, hymenolepidosis is very easily and quickly transmitted.
Prevalence of infestation
Dwarf tapeworm infestation is more common in southern regions. Hymenolepidosis is often found in Latin America, North Africa and Asian countries. In Russia, cases of the disease are noted in the North Caucasus, as well as in the Amur and Tomsk regions. In the middle zone, only cases of imported invasion occur.
Symptoms of the disease
The first signs of the disease develop 2 weeks after ingestion of dwarf tapeworm. Symptoms and treatment of hymenolepidosis depend on the degree of invasion. There are subclinical forms of the disease that occur without pronounced manifestations. In this case, the parasite can be detected only in the analysis.
With a small degree of infection, the following symptoms are noted:
- lower abdominal pain;
- nausea and vomiting;
- diarrhea;
- lack of appetite;
- asthenic manifestations;
- headache.
These manifestations of the disease are non-specific, and often a person takes them for signs of food poisoning or gastrointestinal tract pathologies.
With severe invasion, more severe symptoms appear. Dwarf tapeworm removes all the beneficial substances from the body, which leads to vitamin deficiency and anemia. In this form, hymenolepidosis often occurs in children. The patient dramatically loses body weight. There are severe cramping pains in the abdominal cavity, convulsive attacks, as well as fainting. The patient has a fever. Often there are allergic reactions to the products of the vital activity of worms: facial swelling, skin rashes, rhinitis.
Diagnostics
A study of feces helps to identify hymenolepidosis. Analysis on dwarf tapeworm is given three times with an interval of 5 days. This coincides with the development cycle of the parasite in the intestine. The diagnosis is considered confirmed if eggs and segments of the worm are found in feces. Such an analysis is considered the only specific method for detecting the parasite.
Serological blood tests with this type of helminthiasis are usually not required. Analysis of feces reveals hymenolepidosis with a high degree of reliability.
Additionally, a general blood test is prescribed. This helps determine the degree of damage to the body. In patients, a decrease in hemoglobin, erythrocytes and leukocytes, as well as an increase in ESR, is detected.
Therapy stages
After detection in the analysis of eggs and segments of dwarf tapeworm, the treatment of hymenolepidosis is carried out in a hospital. Deworming drugs often have side effects, so monitoring the patient's well-being is necessary. In addition, with the death of parasites, toxins are formed, which can also negatively affect the patient's condition. Getting rid of dwarf tapeworm is sometimes difficult. Often, due to poor hygiene, a person is re-infected from himself. Hymenolepidosis therapy is carried out in several stages:
- First, prepare for treatment. The patient is prescribed a special diet and intake of enterosorbents.
- Then the patient takes anthelmintic drugs. They have a detrimental effect on parasites and contribute to their elimination.
- After 1 to 2 weeks, deworming is repeated. It is not always possible to remove parasites the first time. Antiparasitic agents affect only mature individuals of the worms, but do not destroy eggs, oncospheres and embryos.
- Repeated tests for the presence of worms are carried out. In the absence of eggs and segments in the feces, we can talk about a complete recovery.
- At the final stage, it is necessary to eliminate the effects of helminthiasis. It is necessary to restore the normal state of the digestive tract and microflora.
Drug treatment
How to completely remove dwarf tapeworm from the body? Drug treatment takes a long time. During the treatment period, it is very important to observe personal hygiene rules to exclude self-infection. The following anthelmintic drugs are prescribed:
- "Biltricid." This medicine leads to paralysis and death of dwarf tapeworm. The drug acts quickly and effectively.
- "Fenasal." This remedy affects the muscles of the parasite, as a result, the worm can not stick to the intestines and loses nutrition. After taking the medicine, you need to cleanse the intestines with laxatives.
- Mepacrine. This antimalarial agent is also effective for intestinal parasites. It suppresses the vital activity of worms. However, taking this drug is complicated and requires preparation. During the day before deworming, you must follow a diet with a restriction of salty, fried and fatty foods. Saline laxatives and cleansing enemas are also required.
In addition to anthelmintic drugs, the patient is recommended to take antihistamines to reduce the allergic reaction. Prescribe a course of vitamin therapy and probiotics. This helps eliminate the effects of helminthiasis.
2 weeks after antiparasitic therapy, the patient passes a stool test. Such examinations should be repeated every month for six months. If eggs or segments of the worm are found in the biomaterial, the treatment is repeated.
How to prevent self-infection
During the treatment period, it is necessary to observe the rules of personal hygiene so that the patient does not infect himself and others. This will significantly increase the effectiveness of therapy. It is necessary to wash the area of the anus daily in the morning and after each bowel movement. Such a procedure will help remove eggs and joints. The toilet, baby potty and patient care products are treated with disinfectants.
Patient's underwear should be washed and ironed daily. Patient's nails should be short-cut so that parasite eggs do not accumulate under them. After each visit to the toilet and hygiene procedures, you must thoroughly wash your hands with soap.
Folk remedies
Folk remedies for the parasite are not as effective as medicines. Therefore, their use cannot replace the administration of pharmaceuticals. However, they can serve as a good complement to the main treatment. Before using home remedies, you should consult your doctor.
The following recipes are recommended:
- Garlic products. This vegetable can be eaten in pure form. It promotes the removal of tapeworms. You can also prepare a therapeutic composition. To do this, take 3 to 4 chopped garlic cloves and 1 teaspoon of honey in a glass of milk. All ingredients are mixed. This composition must be divided into equal parts and taken one of them 2 to 3 times a day.
- Pomegranate peel. Peel one fruit and pour 300 ml of cold water. The composition is put on fire, brought to a boil, and then insisted 1 - 2 hours. The resulting product is taken in 50 ml every 3 hours.
- Pumpkin seeds. They are taken in pure form, as well as in the form of infusion. To prepare a home remedy, you need to take 200 mg of seeds and place them in 1 liter of boiled water. The composition is insisted for half an hour and taken in 100 ml every 3 hours.
- Triplets (composition of tansy, wormwood and cloves). In pharmacy chains, you can purchase powders of these plants. On the day you need to take 3 g of tansy, 0.75 g of wormwood and 1.5 g of cloves in the form of a mixture half an hour before meals.
Prevention
To prevent infection, you must carefully follow the rules of personal hygiene. You need to wash your hands regularly after going to the toilet and before cooking. It is important to clean the premises in a timely manner, since helminth eggs can spread with dust. Fruits and vegetables should be washed thoroughly.
It is important to clean the room of flies, these insects can be carriers of worm eggs. If rodents (rats, mice) live in the house, it is necessary to carry out deratization. These animals often become a source of invasion; their feces may contain parasite eggs. If rodent droppings are found in the room, do not touch it with your hands. A contaminated area must be carefully treated with disinfectants.
Caution is also required when caring for rodents that are kept as pets. Before cleaning their cages, gloves should be worn and hands thoroughly washed after contact with animals.
We should not forget that in rare cases, invasion can be transmitted through flour beetles. Only high-quality bakery products and pastries should be purchased.
Periodically, you should take an analysis of feces for parasite eggs. This will help in time to identify the disease and, if necessary, conduct treatment.