Helminthiases are widespread in the modern world. They are able to affect many organs and tissues, disrupting their work. In addition, the clinical picture of helminthiasis in humans can be very diverse. What are the symptoms of worms in humans?
According to statistics, about two million people are infected with helminths every year, however, taking into account unrecorded cases, this number can increase several times. Infection of children and adolescents occurs more often.
All helminths can be divided into extraintestinal (tissue) and intestinal. The hosts of the fabrics are animals, people act as an intermediate host for them. In this case, the disease will manifest itself in different ways, depending on which organ the larva will migrate to. For example, if the larva migrates through the lungs, the symptoms will mimic pneumonia, if through the intestines - bleeding, an inflammatory reaction; migration through the pancreas or bile ducts threatens to block them.
How can you get infected?
What are the routes of infection?
- Through soil and water (geohelminthiasis) - soil contamination occurs when helminth eggs enter it with the feces of people or animals. If you eat poorly processed root vegetables or water from open reservoirs, helminth eggs will enter the body. Therefore, all vegetables, fruits, berries must be thoroughly washed with tap water and treated with boiling water. It is forbidden to drink water from open tanks. This route of infection is also possible when people come into contact with animals, especially pets. More often than not, therefore, children become infected by playing with them.
- Contact with an infected person (for example, pinworms). During sleep, pinworms are able to crawl out of the anus and lay eggs. The patient is itchy. The eggs remain on the hands, under the nails and, if not removed from the skin in time, remain on all objects that the infected person has come into contact with.
- Biohelminthiasis - infection when eating meat, lard, fish that has not undergone sufficient heat treatment or has been eaten raw.
- Through insect bites.
Helminths are basically a children's problem, as children, in the process of learning the world, put their dirty hands and various objects in their mouths, savoring them. This problem will only be solved at the age of three to six, and before that time children have a higher risk of infection than adults.
Common signs of infection
What signs will they tell about the appearance of helminthiasis?
Symptoms of helminthiasis can be similar to diseases of some organs: gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, nervous system, immune system. Helminthiases can manifest as allergic reactions.
Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract
The localization of parasites in the intestine is manifested by symptoms of stomach and intestinal pain: the appearance of vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, nausea, swelling, pain in the umbilical region, in the right hypochondrium. Constipation may be associated with mechanical obstruction of the intestinal lumen by helminths. The severity of the symptoms depends on the number of helminths in the body.
Pathologies of the nervous system and general manifestations
They are associated with the release of toxic substances by parasites. The intensity of the manifestation also depends on the number of helminths. Symptoms of nervous system dysfunction are as follows: dizziness, headache, nausea - symptoms reminiscent of a migraine. Fever, muscle and joint pain are possible. Drowsiness, irritation, sleep disturbances, anemia appear.
Allergic manifestations
With allergic manifestations, the gastrointestinal tract, skin and respiratory system are affected. Itching, shortness of breath, headache, dizziness appear, vomiting can sometimes be observed. A burning sensation in the throat, mouth and nose is possible. Nasal congestion and sneezing appear. How to distinguish allergies from helminth infection symptoms? The following anamnestic and laboratory signs should be considered:
- relatives of the patient have no history of allergies;
- the patient had no history of allergic reactions;
- the attendance of a child in kindergarten;
- having difficulty breathing every two weeks;
- eosinophils in the blood test more than 8%;
- lack of effect from antiallergic therapy;
- in the immunoglobulin study IgE increased, while the allergen study was negative.
If the patient has the listed symptoms, then allergic manifestations are associated with parasitic invasion.
Respiratory dysfunction
When parasites enter the lungs, pneumonia-like symptoms may appear: cough, fever, hemoptysis. A sore throat can also indicate helminthiasis. When worms migrate from the intestines to the lungs, a sore throat can occur. A sore throat is a sign of the presence of a foreign body. There is a dry cough that cannot be stopped. A cough of this type can appear not only due to the presence of parasites in the throat, but also if they migrate through the nasopharynx. Mucus taken for analysis will help identify worms in the throat.
Immune defenses decreased
Due to the fact that helminths deprive the host of vitamins and minerals, and also have a toxic effect, a decrease in immune defense is observed. This is manifested by frequent colds or exacerbations of chronic diseases in remission, inflammation in the throat.
Damage to the female reproductive system
Violation of the functioning of the reproductive system in a woman does not always indicate gynecological diseases. Helminth in the female body can also manifest itself as symptoms of reproductive system dysfunction. With what symptoms can the presence of helminths in the female genital organs be suspected? The defeat of the reproductive system by worms in women is manifested by secretions, an unpleasant smell from the genitals.
In women, thrush can become a sign of helminthiasis. Thrush in women can develop due to a decrease in immunity and a violation of microflora, which is possible only with helminthiasis. Possible inflammatory diseases of the reproductive system in women. Along with this, hair can fall out and nails can exfoliate and drowsiness and fatigue can occur. All of the above are the symptoms of helminthic invasion in women.
How to determine the type of helminth based on symptoms
How to determine which helminths have invaded the body? Symptoms are determined by the location of the parasite in the body and its type. When do the first symptoms appear? The first signs of helminth invasion can appear either after two days or after six months, depending on the type of helminth.
Pinworms, enterobiasis: You can suspect an invasion of these helminths if you are worried about itching in the anal area, which becomes more frequent at night. The itch usually lasts several days, then disappears for a while and reappears.
Trichocephalosis, schistosomiasis, diphyllobothriasis: the main symptom is anemia and vitamin deficiency. Such manifestations are associated with the toxic effects of worms on the intestines and the development of dysbiosis.
Roundworms - at the initial stage of roundworm infection, weakness, cough, there may be blood in the sputum, fever, suffocation is possible (with a large number of parasites). In a blood test, the level of eosinophils rises and allergic reactions appear. At a later stage, the functions of the gastrointestinal tract are disrupted: proteins are not digested, there is a sharp weight loss.
Trichinosis: worms are localized in the muscles. In the initial stage, the disease manifests itself with nausea, vomiting and impaired appetite. In the next stage, the helminths are localized in the muscles and cause muscle pain, swelling of the eyelids, fever and skin rashes. Also, there is an apparent recovery, but the worms are in the muscles. Parasites cause dense lesions in the muscles.
Fascioliasis, opisthorchiasis - it is possible to suspect an invasion of these parasites if there is yellowing of the skin, enlarged liver, spleen, inflammation of the pancreas, dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract.
Strongyloidosis - manifested by symptoms indicating biliary dysfunction, dyspepsia and allergies.
Helminthiasis test
When should you seek help from a specialist? Positive answers to the following questions will help diagnose the presence of helminths in the body with a high degree of probability:
- itching in the anal area;
- nausea;
- constipation or diarrhea;
- allergic manifestations;
- rash on the skin;
- swollen lymph nodes;
- frequent headaches, dizziness;
- restless sleep;
- there is bitterness in the mouth;
- tiredness, sleepiness;
- stomach ache;
- yellowing of the skin;
- the family has children who attend kindergarten;
- pain in the muscles and joints, not caused by anything;
- periodic increase in body temperature;
- there are animals in the house;
- eating insufficiently heat-treated meat, lard or fish;
- lose weight;
- the use of unwashed vegetables and fruits that have not previously been treated with boiling water.
The more positive responses, the greater the risk of having helminths in the body. If there are seven positive answers, then there is a probability of the presence of a helminth, if more than fifteen, then the probability of the presence of a helminth in the body is very high.
Diagnostics
What methods are used to diagnose parasites in the body?
- I made on the eggs of the worm.
- Scraping from the anus.
- Scrape for enterobiasis.
- Complete blood count (increased level of eosinophils).
- Scraping from the vagina in women.
- Blood test for giardiasis.
- Search for antibodies by serological methods; when can antibodies be found in the body? Twenty-one or more days after worm infestation.
- Study of the operative material (for echinococcosis).
- Lymph node biopsy (cysticercosis).
- Muscle biopsy - trichinosis.
Treatment
For the treatment of helminthiasis there are tablets with a narrow and wide spectrum of action. Treatment of a certain type of helminth must be carried out with certain drugs. Tablets are prescribed only by a doctor after all examinations, since anti-worm pills have a toxic effect on the body. Therefore, the doctor will select the necessary treatment regimen and duration, taking into account age and weight.
The following tablets are often used to treat helminthiasis:
- medicines containing mebendazole are suitable for the treatment of whipworm;
- tablets containing levamisole - used for ascariasis, enterobiasis, trichostrongylosis, strongyloidosis.
In advanced cases, pills may not help, so surgical treatment is used.