Worms in humans: treatment

Worm infestation is a group of diseases that reveal the presence of parasitic worms in the body.

Worms in humans, the treatment of which requires an integrated approach, cause a lot of unpleasant sensations in their owners.Parasitic diseases caused by various helminths (worms) and/or parasitic worms are incredibly widespread among various population groups. Therefore, trichinosis is often detected in people whose activities are related to hunting or animal husbandry, and diphyllobothriasis is a common disease among amateur and professional fishermen.

Attention!Sometimes it is very difficult to identify the symptoms and signs of worms in humans, and the treatment can go the wrong way, since helminth infestation is very similar to the symptomatic pathology of some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, with diseases of the liver, gall bladder and other infectious diseases.

Methods of infection

How do parasitic arthropods enter the human body? There are several known methods of helminth infection:

• through the surface layer, i. e. the earthy soil in which the parasitic worms laid their mature eggs;
• through contact with infected domestic or wild animals, birds or aquatic fauna;
• through contaminated food that has not undergone sufficient heat treatment;
• a large number of helminth eggs end up in open water bodies, which are also a source of infection;
• in some cases, the bite of stinging or blood-sucking insects is a source of infection.

However, the most common method of infection is human-to-human infection.

Parasitic diversity

Today there are more than 250 different parasitic worms that are harmful to human health. The frequency of infection depends on social conditions and climatic zones. We determine the degree of danger that certain types of worms pose to humans and whose treatment requires immediate therapeutic intervention. Let's look at the most common and dangerous types of parasitic worms in the human body:

1. The pinworm is a type of free-living, parasitic roundworm whose preferred habitat is the human intestine. Parasitizing the small intestine or cecum, these worms reach the ileum, where they mate. After fertilization of the female, the male ceases his vital activity, and the pregnant female, filled with eggs, continues her journey through the rectum, crawling through the lower opening of the digestive tract. After laying eggs on the perianal folds of the anus, the pinworm dies. This movement throughout the body lasts about a month. Traveling through the gastrointestinal tract has its consequences. The appearance of worms in humans, the symptoms and treatment of which are determined by a disease called enterobiasis, is the most common type of helminth infection.

2. Roundworms are round dioecious helminths, the overall length of which can reach 40 cm. A sexually mature female produces more than 200 thousand eggs, the favorite place of which is the gastrointestinal tract, especially the small intestine. Roundworms cause signs of worms in humans, the symptoms and treatment of which are defined as ascariasis, one of the types of helminth infestation. The free movement of the parasitic worm causes irritation of the small intestine, which compromises its patency. By parasitizing internal organs, roundworms affect not only the gastrointestinal tract, but are also unexpected visitors to the respiratory and/or genitourinary system. Cases of nematode penetration into the frontal sinus, nasolacrimal canal and external passage of the hearing aid have been recorded.
3. Trichinella is one of the varieties of protostome round parasitic worms, the larval stage of which begins in the elastic tissue of the muscular system, after which mature individuals are sent to the small intestine. Infection with this type of roundworm leads to a fatal disease - trichinosis. Worms in human muscles, symptoms, treatment and diagnosis are determined by facial swelling, skin rashes, myalgia and eosinophilia in the blood. A more severe degree of clinical pathology is characterized by damage to the internal organs and central nervous system. It is very difficult to identify Trichinella in the human body. All symptoms occur without complications. Only after penetration into the central nervous system is it possible to determine the symptoms of worms in an adult: treatment in this case is aimed at restoring a neurological disorder, for example, ataxia or paralysis of the respiratory tract.

4. Intestinal Giardia is a genus of flagellated protozoan parasites that cause protozoan invasion of the human body with primary damage to the small intestine and are the causative agent of giardiasis. Attaching to the walls of the digestive organ, parasites feed on the products of decomposition. The favorite dish of mature lamblia is flour and sweet foods. Coming out in feces in the form of spores, parasites enter the external environment. Often, during a biochemical laboratory examination during the treatment of worms in an adult, Giardia cysts are found that enter the body through chlorinated tap water.

5. The provocateur of another type of helminth infestation is whipworm, which affects the organs of the gastrointestinal system, causing trichocephalosis. A fertilized female parasitic worm releases up to 10, 000 eggs in a day. Whipworm larval development occurs without an intermediate host. Worms that enter the body damage the mucosa of the colon, thereby causing an acute disorder. In some cases, whipworm is a provocative causative agent of inflammation of the appendix of the cecum, that is, appendicitis. Prolonged presence of a parasitic worm can lead to anemia.

Identify signs and symptoms of infection

When worms and parasites are identified in humans, treatment is determined by symptomatic signs and biochemical laboratory test data. Characteristic symptomatic signs of helminth infestation:

• pale skin;
• general weakness of the body;
• dizziness;
• itching in the anus;
• functional disorder of the intestine;
• allergic reaction;
• phase change in body temperature.

Toxic effects on the body lead to a decrease in immunity, as a result of which inflammatory processes in chronic diseases worsen.

Attention!A feature of the long stay of parasitic worms is a sharp decrease in the body weight of the helminth carrier.

Home test for the detection of helminths

With the help of simple tests, which should be performed by an infectious disease specialist or parasitologist, you can check for signs of possible helminth infestation. Count the number of questions answered yes.

The risk of infection exists with 10 "yes" answers, and more than 15 is already the probability of developing helminthiasis:

• there are rashes on the body that were not there before;
• if you suffer from frequent bloating, flatulence, diarrhea or constipation;
• there is constant itching in the anal passage;
• Do you often have headaches or dizziness during the day?
• if there are sudden urges to nausea or gag reflex;
• Is there intermittent sleep for no apparent reason?
• if the lymph nodes are enlarged;
• if swelling has appeared in the legs;
• You are worried about constant tiredness and fatigue;
• does the mucous membrane of the eyes have a yellowish tint?
• Do you feel a constant bitterness in your mouth?
• There are allergic manifestations – cough, rhinitis, asthma;
• Do you experience constant pain or heaviness in your stomach?
• there is an unexplained change in temperature;
• if there are preschool children in the family;
• there are pets or birds;
• if pain occurs in muscles and joints without the influence of physical activity;
• Do people around you complain about your snoring or teeth grinding at night?
• there is complete indifference towards food;
• Do you often forget to process raw fruit and vegetables?

If, according to the results of home tests, there is a possibility of infection, you should contact a specialist.

Lung damage

Attention!Worms in human lungs are considered a very dangerous and rare disease: in such cases, symptoms, treatment and signs need to be determined at an early stage of infection, which is quite difficult to do.

The clinical symptoms of the disease are very similar to bronchopulmonary pathology, which manifests itself with general symptoms:

• attacks of nausea and/or vomiting;
• shortness of breath;
• wheezing in the lungs;
• dyspnea;
• increased body temperature;
• productive cough and so on.

The causative agents of lung lesions are various types of tapeworms, pork tapeworms and roundworms.

Helminth infestation in the organs of vision

Itching, irritation, increased sensitivity and allergic-type burning of the sensory organs can be caused by worms in a person's eyes; treatment of such helminth infestation is a very laborious process. It requires certain skills from a specialist, since the parasitic worm constantly migrates through the organ of vision. Symptoms can be caused by constant irritation of the eyelids, which resembles the chronic inflammation of blepharitis. In the photo you can see how worms come out in a person after treatment for helminth infestation of the eye.

How to get rid of helminths: treatment methods

Today, infectious disease specialists and parasitologists have at their disposal more than 20 drugs and anthelmintic agents, the treatment of which can remove worms from humans. Treatment with broad- or narrow-spectrum anthelmintic drugs allows you to effectively fight parasites, provided that the diagnosis is correctly established and laboratory tests on the helminthic pathogen are performed. When choosing a treatment regimen, it is necessary to take into account the criteria of age, sex and weight of the patient, since anthelmintic drug treatments are highly toxic. Synthetic dosage forms replaced traditional folk remedies: garlic, chenopodia oil, fern and so on. After identifying the symptoms, treatment of worms in humans with tablets involves complete cleansing of the body from helminth infection.

The most effective dosage forms are broad-spectrum drugs that can resist most intestinal and extraintestinal helminths. Treatment of worms in humans with tablets is conventionally divided into pharmacological combinations of antitrematodosis, anticestodosis and antinematodosis action. Here is a list of the most popular drugs that help get rid of various types of helminth infections:

1. A synthetic broad-spectrum anthelmintic drug from the benzimidazole group, widely used in the treatment of trichuriasis, enterobiasis and other manifestations of intestinal infections caused by roundworms. Active absorption of the drug into the systemic circulation allows depletion of glycogen stores in the tissue structure of parasitic worms. The duration of treatment and dosage are determined by an infectious disease specialist or parasitologist.
2. A drug from the group of imidazothiazoles is a dosage form with anthelmintic properties that has an active immunostimulating effect. Drug treatment paralyzes the muscular structure of the parasite, inhibits its fumarate reductase and weakens the bioenergetic activity of helminths. The drug is prescribed as an anthelmintic when the following diagnoses are established: trichostrongyloidosis, ascariasis, toxocariasis, necatoriasis, etc. The dosage and duration of treatment are determined based on individual characteristics.
3. Pharmacological drug from the anthelmintic group of benzimidazoles. The action of the drug is aimed at blocking and paralyzing the nerve endings of helminth parasites. Muscle paralysis does not allow worms to attach to the intestinal walls and feed on decomposition products. The emergence of parasitic worms occurs in a natural physiological way. The dosage form is freely available in pharmacies. However, it is advisable to consult a doctor before use.

Help from traditional medicine

A helminth infestation is also a psychological blow that an adult tries to hide from others for various reasons. Alternative medicine will help remove worms from humans using folk remedies. To combat helminthic parasites, various herbs are used that are no less effective than drugs:

• onion;
• dandelion;
• burdock;
• nettle;
• carnation;
• tansy;
• garlic;
• absinthe, etc.

An equally common way to treat helminth infestations is to consume raw pumpkin seeds. However, for a complete treatment, it is necessary to consume 150-200 g of pumpkin seeds per day at a time, provided that the duration of home therapy is 3-4 weeks.

The most effective traditional medicine recipes for removing worms from the body:

1. A half-liter jar is filled halfway with chopped onions and filled with vodka or an alcohol solution. After daily exposure, the medicine is filtered and used for its intended purpose. Take 2 tablespoons 4 times a day for a week.
2. Crushed pomegranate peel is poured into a glass of diluted vodka or alcohol. The medicine is taken daily, one tablespoon every 3-4 hours.
3. A decoction of green walnut shells is very useful. The product, crushed in a mortar, is poured with alcohol and infused for 2-3 days until the formation of a pronounced brown color. Take one tablespoon one hour before meals.
4. Boil two chopped garlic cloves in 200 ml of milk until completely dissolved. The medicine is taken in one dose before meals.
5. One teaspoon of wormwood is brewed in 250 ml of boiling water, and after cooling, the healing remedy is ready for use. The filtered liquid should be taken one hour before meals 3 times a day.

A very effective preventive remedy is freshly squeezed carrot juice, which is recommended to drink 200 ml on an empty stomach for two weeks.

Prevention of helminth infestation

Antiparasitic prevention of worms consists in observing health and hygiene rules, which not only adults, but also children must strictly adhere to:

• It is necessary to wash your hands with soap before eating, after walking and having contact with animals;
• foods must be subjected to heat treatment before consumption;
• Street skewers and seafood vendors should be avoided.

In addition, be sure to carry out daily ventilation of the living space and do not forget about wet cleaning.

Take care of yourself and always be healthy!