Helminthiasis is 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 each year, but this number could multiply if unregistered cases are taken into account. Infections in children and adolescents are more common.
All helminths can be divided into extraintestinal (tissue) and intestinal tract. The hosts of the tissues are animals, humans serve them as intermediate hosts. In this case, the disease manifests itself in different ways, depending on which organ the larva migrates to. For example, if the larvae migrate through the lungs, the symptoms 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 ways of infection?
- Through soil and water (geohelminthiasis) - soil contamination occurs when the eggs of helminths enter with the feces of humans or animals. If you eat poorly processed root vegetables or water from open reservoirs, helminth eggs get into your body. Therefore, all vegetables, fruits, berries should be thoroughly washed with tap water and treated with boiling water. Do not drink water from open reservoirs. This route of infection is also possible when humans come into contact with animals, especially pets. This is why children get infected more often when they play with them.
- Contact with an infected person (eg fungal worms). During sleep, the pinworm is able to climb out of the anus and lay eggs. The patient has itching. The eggs remain on the hands, under the nails, and if they are not removed from the skin in time, they remain on any object with which the infected person has come into contact.
- Biohelminthiasis - an infection in the consumption of meat, lard or fish that has not undergone adequate heat treatment or has been consumed raw.
- Through insect bites.
Helmet samples are basically a problem for children, as children pull dirty hands and various objects into their mouths in the process of getting to know the world. This problem is only solved until the age of three to six, and before that, children are at higher risk of infection than adults.
Common signs of infection
What are the signs of helminthiasis?
The symptoms of helminthiasis may be similar to those of certain organs: gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, nervous system, immune system. Helminthiasis can manifest as an allergic reaction.
Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract
Localization of parasites in the intestine is manifested by symptoms of gastrointestinal complaints: vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, nausea, bloating, pain in the umbilical region, right hypochondria. Constipation may be associated with mechanical occlusion of the intestinal lumen of the intestinal lumen. The severity of the symptoms depends on the number of helminths in the body.
Nervous system disorders and general manifestations
Parasites are involved in the release of toxic substances. The intensity of the manifestation also depends on the number of helminth samples. Symptoms of nervous system dysfunction include dizziness, headache, migraine-like symptoms. Fever, muscle and joint pain are possible. Drowsiness, irritation, sleep disturbances, anemia occur.
Allergic manifestations
In case of allergic manifestations, the gastrointestinal tract, skin and respiratory system are affected. Itching, shortness of breath, headache, dizziness, and sometimes vomiting may occur. A burning sensation is possible in the throat, mouth and nose. Nasal congestion and sneezing appear. How to distinguish allergy from symptoms of helminth infection? The following anamnestic and laboratory signs should be considered:
- there is no allergy in the history of the patient's relatives;
- the patient did not have an allergic reaction;
- a child's visit to kindergarten;
- have difficulty breathing every two weeks;
- eosinophils above 8% in the blood test;
- lack of effect of antiallergic therapy;
- in the immunoglobulin test, IgE was elevated, while in the allergen test, it was negative.
If the patient develops the listed symptoms, the allergic manifestations are accompanied by a parasitic invasion.
Respiratory dysfunction
When the parasites enter the lungs, symptoms similar to pneumonia may occur: cough, fever, bleeding. 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 occur not only due to the presence of parasites in the throat, but also when migrating through the nasopharynx. The mucus taken for analysis helps identify worms in the throat.
Decreased immune protection
Due to the fact that helminths deprive the host of vitamins and minerals and also have a toxic effect, a decrease in immune protection is observed. This is manifested by frequent colds or worsening of chronic diseases in remission, inflammation of the throat.
Damage to the female reproductive system
Violation of the female reproductive system does not always indicate gynecological diseases. Helminth in the female body can also be a symptom of dysfunction of the reproductive system. What are the symptoms of suspected helminths in the female genitals? The defeat of the reproductive system of women by worms is manifested in the secretions, the unpleasant smell of the genitals.
In women, thrush may be a sign of helminthiasis. In women, thrush can develop due to a decrease in immunity and a violation of the microflora, which is only possible in helminthiasis. Possible inflammatory diseases of the reproductive system in women. However, hair may fall out, nails may peel off, and drowsiness and fatigue may occur. All of the above are symptoms of helminthic invasion in women.
How to determine the type of intestinal worm based on the symptoms
How to determine which helminths attacked the body? Symptoms are determined by the location and type of parasite in the body. When do the first symptoms appear? The first signs of helminthic invasion may appear after two days and six months, depending on the type of worm.
Male worms, enterobiasis - you may suspect an invasion of these helminths if you are worried about itching in your anal area, which is becoming more common at night. The itching usually lasts for several days, then goes away for a while and reappears.
Trichocephalosis, schistosomiasis, diphyllobothriasis - the main symptoms of anemia and vitamin deficiency. Such manifestations are associated with intestinal toxicity of worms and the development of dysbiosis.
Tapeworms - in the initial stages of infection with tapeworms, there may be weakness, coughing, blood in the sputum, fever, suffocation (in case of a large number of parasites). Blood tests increase the levels of eosinophils and cause allergic reactions. At a later stage, the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is disrupted: the proteins are not digested and severe weight loss occurs.
Trichinosis - worms are localized in the muscles. In the initial stages, the disease manifests itself in nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. In the next stage, the helminths localize to the muscles and cause muscle pain, eyelid swelling, fever and skin rashes. Healing is also seen, but the worms are in the muscles. Parasites cause dense changes in the muscles.
Fascioliasis, opisthorchiasis - invasion of these parasites is suspected if yellowing of the skin, enlargement of the liver, spleen, inflammation of the pancreas, gastrointestinal disorders.
Strongiloidosis - manifests as symptoms suggestive of biliary dysfunction, dyspepsia and allergies.
Helminthiasis test
When should you consult a specialist? Positive answers to the following questions will most likely help diagnose the presence of helminths in the body:
- itching in the anal area;
- nausea, vomiting;
- constipation or diarrhea;
- allergic manifestations;
- rash on the skin;
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- frequent headache, dizziness;
- restless sleep;
- there is bitterness in the mouth;
- fatigue, drowsiness;
- abdominal pain;
- jaundice of the skin;
- the family has children in kindergarten;
- muscle and joint pain caused by nothing;
- intermittent rise in body temperature;
- there are animals in the house;
- consumption of improperly cooked meat, lard or fish;
- weight loss;
- use of unwashed vegetables and fruits that have not been previously treated with boiling water.
The more positive the response, the greater the risk of worms appearing in the body. If there are seven positive responses, there is a probability of the helminth being present; if there are more than fifteen, there is a very high probability that a worm is present in the body.
Diagnostics
What methods are used to diagnose parasites in the body?
- Stool on the worm's eggs.
- Scraping from the anus.
- Scraping due to enterobiasis.
- Complete blood count (increase in eosinophil levels).
- Scraping the vagina in women.
- Blood test for giardiasis.
- Search for antibodies by serological methods; when are antibodies in the body? Twenty-one or more days after the worm infection.
- Examination of the surgical material (for echinococcosis).
- Lymph node biopsy (cysticercosis).
- Muscle biopsy - trichinosis.
Treatment
There are narrow and broad-spectrum tablets for the treatment of helminthiasis. A certain type of intestinal worm needs to be treated with certain medications. The tablets should only be prescribed by a doctor after each test, as anthelmintic tablets are toxic to the body. Therefore, the physician will select the required treatment regimen and duration, taking into account age and weight.
The following tablets are often used to treat helminthiasis:
- drugs containing mebendazole are useful in the treatment of trichocephalosis;
- Tablets containing levamisole - used to treat ascariasis, enterobiasis, trichostrongylosis, strongyloidiasis.
In advanced cases, the tablets may not help, then surgical treatment is used.