Helminthiases are widespread in the modern world. They are capable of affecting many organs and tissues, interrupting their work. Furthermore, the clinical picture of helminthiasis in humans can be very diverse. What are the symptoms of worms in humans?
According to statistics, annually about two million people are infected with helminths, however, taking into account the unrecorded cases, this number can increase several times. Infection of children and adolescents occurs more frequently.
All helminths can be divided into extraintestinal (tissues) and intestinal. Tissue hosts are animals, people serve as intermediate hosts for them. In this case, the disease will manifest itself in different ways, depending on the organ to which the larva will migrate. For example, if the larvae migrate 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 it be infected?
What are the forms of contagion?
- Through soil and water (soil-transmitted helminths): Soil contamination occurs when helminth eggs enter with the feces of people or animals. If you eat poorly processed tubers or water from open reservoirs, helminth eggs will enter the body. Therefore, all vegetables, fruits and 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. Therefore, children get infected more often when they play with them.
- Contact with an infected person (for example, pinworms). During sleep, the roundworm can come out of the anus and lay eggs. The patient is itchy. The eggs remain on the hands, under the nails and, if they are not removed from the skin in time, they remain on all objects with which the infected person has come into contact.
- Biohelminthiasis - Infection from eating meat, lard, fish that has not undergone sufficient heat treatment, or has been eaten raw.
- Through insect bites.
Helminths are basically a problem for children, as children, in the process of learning about the world, put dirty hands and various objects in their mouths, testing them. This problem will resolve itself only at the age of three to six years, and before that time, children are at a higher risk of infection than adults.
Common signs of infection.
What signs will tell about the appearance of helminthiasis?
Symptoms of helminthiasis can be similar to diseases of certain organs: gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, nervous system, immune system. Helminthiases can manifest as allergic reactions.
Gastrointestinal tract disorders.
The localization of the parasites in the intestine is manifested by symptoms of stomach and intestinal discomfort: appearance of vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, nausea, abdominal distension, pain in the umbilical region, in the right hypochondrium. Constipation may be associated with mechanical occlusion of the intestinal lumen by helminths. The severity of symptoms depends on the amount of helminths in the body.
Nervous system disorders 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 that resemble a migraine. Fever, muscle and joint pain may occur. 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 symptoms of helminth infection? The following anamnestic and laboratory signs should be considered:
- the patient's relatives have no history of allergies;
- the patient had no history of allergic reactions;
- a child's attendance at kindergarten;
- have trouble breathing every two weeks;
- eosinophils in the blood test more than 8%;
- lack of effect of antiallergic therapy;
- in the immunoglobulin study, IgE increases, while the allergen study is negative.
If the patient has the listed symptoms, then allergic manifestations are associated with parasitic invasion.
Respiratory dysfunction
When parasites enter the lungs, symptoms similar to pneumonia 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. Such a cough can appear not only from the presence of parasites in the throat, but also if they migrate through the nasopharynx. The mucus that is taken for analysis will help to identify the worms in the throat.
Decreased immune defenses.
Due to the fact that helminths deprive the multitude 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. Helminths in the female body can also manifest as symptoms of reproductive system dysfunction. For what symptoms can the presence of helminths be suspected in the female genital organs? The defeat of the reproductive system by worms in women is manifested by discharge, an unpleasant smell from the genitals.
In women, yeast infection can become a sign of helminthiasis. Candidiasis in women can develop due to a decrease in immunity and a violation of the microflora, which is possible with helminthiasis. Possible inflammatory diseases of the reproductive system in women. Along with this, hair can fall out and nails can exfoliate, resulting in drowsiness and fatigue. All of the above are symptoms of helminthic invasion in women.
How to determine the type of helminths by 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 helminthic invasion can appear both after two days and six months, depending on the type of helminths.
Pinworms, Enterobiasis - You may suspect an invasion of these helminths if you are concerned about itching in the anal area, which becomes more frequent at night. Usually the itch lasts for several days, then goes away for a while and comes back again.
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.
Pinworms - in the initial stage of pinworm infection, weakness, cough, there may be blood in the sputum, fever, suffocation is possible (with a high number of the parasite). 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 strong weight loss.
Trichinosis: the worms are located in the muscles. In the initial stage, the disease is manifested by nausea, vomiting, and poor appetite. In the next stage, helminths localize to 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. The parasites cause dense lesions in the muscles.
Fascioliasis, opisthorchiasis: an invasion of these parasites may be suspected if there is yellowing of the skin, enlargement of the liver, spleen, inflammation of the pancreas, dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract.
Strongyloidosis: manifested by symptoms that indicate a dysfunction of the biliary tract, dyspepsia and allergies.
Helminthiasis test
When should you seek help from a specialist? Positive answers to the following questions will help to diagnose the presence of helminths in the body with a high degree of probability:
- itching in the anal area;
- nausea vomiting;
- constipation or diarrhea;
- allergic manifestations;
- Rash on the skin;
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- frequent headaches, dizziness;
- sleep without rest;
- there is bitterness in the mouth;
- tiredness, drowsiness;
- 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 thermally processed meat, lard, or fish;
- Lose weight;
- the use of unwashed vegetables and fruits that have not been previously 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 it is more than fifteen, then the probability of the presence of a helminth in the body is very high.
Diagnosis
What methods of diagnosis of parasites in the body are used?
- Feces in the worm's eggs.
- Scraping of the anus.
- Scraping for enterobiasis.
- Complete blood count (increased eosinophil level).
- Scraping from the vagina in women.
- Blood tests to check for giardiasis.
- Search for antibodies by serological methods; When can antibodies be found in the body? Twenty-one days or more after worm infestation.
- Study of the surgical 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 certain types of helminths must be done with certain medications. 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, strongyloidiasis.
In advanced cases, pills may not help, then surgical treatment is used.