Unfortunately, even in modern developed times there is a risk of infection with helminths. In order to treat and prevent this phenomenon, it is necessary, at a minimum, to become familiar with the main types of worms.
types of worms
In medical sources, in which the answer to the question of what types of worms a person has, can be found, they provide data on a huge variety of varieties. Of course, certain types are the most common. According to the classification, they can be divided into 3 main types. These are: roundworms and tapeworms, as well as flukes.
round worms
The first in the list of types of worms in humans is to indicate roundworms. They are also known as nematodes. They got their name due to the structure of the body, because if you make a cross section of an individual, you can see the resulting roundness. Despite the fact that there are more than 20 thousand of their species in the world, only a few of them are usually found in humans.
The most common roundworms include:
- Round worm. These worms are quite large in size. They can reach half a meter in length. The width varies between 4-5 cm, the color is usually pink, but in different cases it can be whiter or redder. These helminths are mainly located in the small intestine, but in rare cases they can also be in the bile ducts. The larvae at the same time quite easily move around the body, through the bloodstream. His last stop is the lungs. It is here that the most comfortable conditions for its maturation exist, because this type of parasite belongs to anaerobes. When they become more viable, they move to the intestines. Roundworms have a long lifespan, which can be 12-14 months. Outside the human body, these worms live in soil conditions, where they lay several thousand eggs daily;
- Intestinal worms. It is most often found in children, since the cause of the infection can be poorly washed hands or products. A little less often they enter the body with dust particles. Its size is much smaller than that of roundworms. Males reach 3 mm in length, and females - up to 13-14 mm. The color is completely white. Its favorite habitat is the initial part of the large intestine. The eggs are laid in the anus, closer to the anus. Their lifespan is also much shorter than that of roundworms and is only a couple of months.
- Triquinella. These modestly sized worms, reaching only 4 mm in length, usually enter the human body alive as part of infected meat. The larvae live in muscle tissue, mainly in the oculomotor and masticatory tissues, but the adults prefer to be located in the intestines. Trichinella is a danger to humans as without proper treatment it can be fatal.
you had
Tapeworms are characterized by a flat body structure and a complete absence of the gastrointestinal tract. The length of people can reach several meters, due to which they look like a long ribbon. They prefer to live in the intestines or gastric ducts. Among them are the following types:
- I had a bullThis is one of the largest varieties of tapeworms. The length of an individual can reach 15-20 meters. The worm attaches to the surface of the small intestine and begins to absorb the substances necessary for a person. Without proper diagnosis and treatment, you can live up to 10 years. Infection usually occurs by eating undercooked, contaminated meat;
- I had a dwarfIt got its name due to its small size, which averages 4-5 mm. You can get infected with such a tapeworm through poorly washed vegetables and even dirty hands;
- wide ribbonAnother great view. Its length can reach 10 meters, the width is usually greater than that of other worms. The larvae enter the body with infected fish and grow into adults in just 3. 5 weeks. It lives mainly in the small intestine. Life expectancy can reach tens of years;
- Echinococcus. Small worms, the length of which, as a rule, does not exceed 5 mm. Infection occurs from infected animals: cats and dogs. This species differs in that individuals are not located in the intestines, but in the lungs or liver. They are dangerous because they can lead to the formation of cysts, which then require surgical removal.
These worms can be very harmful to the body, so the sooner they are detected, the better.
flukes
Trematodes, like tapeworms, are flat parasites due to the structure of their bodies. They are also called liver worms, because their main habitat is the liver and bile ducts. Its main types are:
- Chance. Also known as cat fluke. It lives mainly in rivers and lakes, which means that it enters the human body together with infected fish that have undergone poor processing. Pets can act as a carrier. Individuals are quite small, rarely reaching 12-13 mm. Inside a person they can live in absolutely any organ;
- Chinese or oriental fluke. It is characterized by a transparent red hue of the body and small size - no more than 2. 5 cm. It enters the human body, identical to the common fluke. It can lay more than 3, 500 eggs per day;
- Fasciola. This is a larger flatworm, its length can be 5-7 cm, it is viable only in freshwater conditions. Die in salty springs. A person can become infected with fluke by drinking contaminated raw water, for example while bathing, and also by eating plants. The risk is especially great if it comes to aquatic or wild species.
Liver flukes, although small in size, can be dangerous to humans. The patient, in addition to the standard symptoms, may develop a fever.
The simplest organisms
The simplest organisms have existed on earth for millions of years. To date, science reads more than 14, 5 thousand species. Like other parasites, its favorite habitat is soil, reservoir water and, of course, the human body. They can remain on the surface of vegetables and fruits for some time, the use of which often leads to infections.
In the vast majority of cases, when it comes to infecting a person with protozoa, it is Giardia. His vitality is enviable. They withstand even the most adverse environmental conditions.
In their structure, they are distinguished by the presence of four pairs of flagella and a special disk that performs a suction function. Due to them, Giardia reliably adheres to the inner surface of the intestine and begins to parasitize.
Manifestation symptoms
The fact that worms appeared in the human body can be understood by a large number of signs. But most of them are of a general nature, indicating the presence of an inflammatory process. This can confuse the patient, forcing him to look for the cause in other diseases.
So, the patient can notice in himself during this period:
- Fatigue, malaise, fatigue;
- pale skin;
- Dizziness and sometimes headaches;
- Increased anxiety, irritability. In children marked aggressiveness is seen;
- sleep impairmentGenerally troubled by insomnia;
- Joint pain, feelings of tightness in the muscles;
- Increased salivation.
Fatigue is one of the signs of the presence of worms.
The following signs, reminiscent of an allergic reaction or diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, can mislead the patient:
- yellowing of the skin;
- Rash on the body;
- bronchial asthma attacks;
- Stool disorders: constipation or diarrhea;
- Flatulence;
- Feeling of nausea, as well as vomiting;
- Pain in the abdomen and hypochondrium;
- Slightly elevated body temperature.
But the most typical symptoms of this situation, by which people begin to suspect more often that they have parasites, are:
- Weight loss for no apparent reason. At the same time, it becomes very difficult to return the kilograms that are gone;
- Itching in the anus;
- Bruxism. This phenomenon is expressed in the grinding of teeth during sleep.
Despite the fact that there are many signs of the presence of parasites in the body, sometimes this phenomenon is completely asymptomatic, and therefore people may not be aware of it for months.
Diagnostics
Identify helminths in the body is not easy at all. The standard procedure in this case is the examination of the feces to detect the worm from the egg. I must say that sometimes in order to detect worms in feces, it may be necessary to take an analysis 3-5 times.
How to identify certain types of worms, only a doctor knows. It is impossible to do this on your own without the test results. Depending on the symptoms present, the doctor may prescribe the following examination procedures:
- Blood test. In this case, the number of indicators such as proteins and eosinophils is analyzed;
- Analysis of scrapings from the anus;
- Vaginal scraping analysis.
In addition, in some cases, additional measures may be necessary. What:
- sputum examination;
- The study of the composition of urine and bile;
- endoscopy;
- computed tomography;
- Ultrasound procedure.
Once the parasites are identified, the doctor develops a treatment plan.
Treatment
Self-treatment of parasites is not allowed. This is due to the following factors:
- The preparations contain a different active substance, which means that they have a detrimental effect on different types of helminths;
- Some drugs can only destroy worm larvae, but not adults;
- All medications have some side effects.
In this regard, it is necessary to select drugs based on the results of diagnostic procedures.
Preparations may have the following active ingredients:
- mebendazole. It affects only the worms of the genus of pinworms;
- Diethylcarbamazine. Drugs based on it are prescribed if there are heartworms in the patient's body;
- Levamisole. It has a wide spectrum of action. Destroys both pinworms and roundworms, as well as other worms;
- Bephenia hydroxysinaphthoate. Effectively fights roundworms;
- Albendazole. Necessary in the treatment of diseases caused by echinococci;
- Piperazine adipate. It is used to remove pinworms and pinworms from the body.
Traditional medicine was not left out in this matter either. It offers various ways that are not always able to completely cleanse the body of parasites, but, at a minimum, can slow down their reproduction and development.
Examples of such methods are:
- Pumpkin seeds. They are taken in their pure form or a decoction is made on their basis;
- Watermelon seeds. Apply similarly to pumpkin;
- wormwood tincture;
- Alcohol tincture and wormwood juice;
- Garlic;
- tansy;
- everlasting sand
It is important to pay attention to the fact that before using folk methods, you must obtain your doctor's approval and, of course, exclude an allergic reaction to the components used.
What are dangerous worms for humans?
Worms not only live in the human body, they literally parasitize, remove useful substances, and also suck blood. The body experiences a state of intoxication. The result of a long stay of helminths inside a person can have such negative consequences as:
- Weakening of the immune system;
- Violation of the gastrointestinal tract. poor digestibility of food, appearance of ulcers;
- The development of allergies;
- cyst formation;
- Damage to the organs in which they live.
And don't forget that some types of parasites are very, very dangerous. Ignoring their presence can lead to the worst outcome.
Prevention
The vast majority of people at least once in their lives are faced with worms. Children are especially affected by this. And this is quite justified, in addition to the fact that they have weaker immunity compared to adults, they also often ignore hygiene rules.
In general, the methods that help reduce the risk of infection are not complicated at all. They mean by themselves:
- Compliance with the rules of personal hygiene. Hands should not only be rinsed, but thoroughly washed with soap;
- Vegetables, fruits, berries should be washed with plenty of water;
- Any meat: cattle, poultry or fish, must be washed very well before cooking. Heat treatment must also be thorough. It is not worth risking and cooking meat with blood if you are not confident in its quality and safety;
- Periodic anthelmintic prophylaxis in children. It is best to do this in consultation with a doctor;
- In addition, livestock and pets are subject to pharmacological prophylaxis. At the same time, there is no difference whether they live in the courtyard of a private house or in the room itself. If a dog or cat eats raw meat, then prevention against worms must be carried out without fail.
Such procedures will help not to find parasites for as long as possible.