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 their owners a lot of unpleasant sensations.Parasitic diseases caused by various helminths (worms) and/or parasitic worms are highly prevalent in various population groups. Thus, 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.

Careful!Sometimes it is very difficult to identify the symptoms and signs of worms in people, and the treatment can go the wrong way, since helminthic infection 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 infection with helminths:

• through the surface layer, that is, the 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 is also a source of infection;
• in some cases, the bite of stinging or blood-sucking insects is the 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. Let's determine the degree of danger that some types of worms pose to humans and the treatment of which requires immediate therapeutic intervention. Let's look at the most common and dangerous types of parasitic worms in the human body:

1. The tapeworm is a parasitic, free-living nematode whose preferred habitat is the human gut. 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 in the perianal folds of the anus, the tapeworm dies. This whole body movement lasts about a month. The journey 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 helminthic infection.

2. Roundworms are round dioecious helminths, the total 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, in particular the small intestine. Roundworms provoke signs of worms in humans, the symptoms and treatment of which are defined as ascariasis - one of the types of helminthic infection. The free movement of the parasitic worm causes irritation of the small intestine, which affects 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 penetration of roundworms into the frontal sinus, nasolacrimal canal and the external passage of the hearing aid have been recorded.
3. Trichinella is one of the varieties of protostome parasitic roundworms, the larval stage of which begins in the elastic tissues of the muscular system, after which the mature individuals are sent to the small intestine. Infection with this type of roundworm leads to a fatal disease - trichinosis. Human muscle worms, symptoms, treatment, and diagnosis are determined by facial swelling, skin rash, myalgia, and blood eosinophilia. A more severe degree of clinical pathology is characterized by damage to internal organs and the central nervous system. It is very difficult to identify Trichinella in the human body. All symptoms appear without any complications. Only after penetrating 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. Giardia intestinalis is a genus of protozoan flagellate parasites that provoke protozoan invasion of the human body with primary damage to the small intestine and are the causative agent of giardiasis. Clinging to the walls of the digestive organ, parasites feed on decay products. The favorite dish of baked lamblia is flour and sweet foods. Passing out in the feces in the form of spores, the parasites enter the external environment. Often, during a biochemical laboratory examination during the treatment of worms in an adult, Giardia cysts are found entering the body through chlorinated tap water.

5. The provocateur of another type of helminthic infection is the whipworm, which affects the organs of the gastrointestinal system, causing trichocephalosis. A fertilized female parasitic worm lays up to 10, 000 eggs in one day. Development of whipworm larvae occurs without an intermediate host. Worms that enter the body damage the mucosa of the large intestine, thus causing an acute disorder. In some cases, the whipworm is a provocative cause of inflammation of the appendage of the cecum, that is, the appendix. Prolonged presence of a parasitic worm can lead to anemia.

Identifying 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 helminthic infection:

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

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

Careful!A characteristic 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 a simple test, which should be carried out by an infectologist or consultant parasitologist, you can check for signs of possible helminthic infection. 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:

• is there any rash on the body that was not there before;
• if you are bothered by frequent bloating, flatulence, diarrhea or constipation;
• is there constant itching in the anal passage;
• Do you often have headaches or dizziness during the day?
• if there are sudden impulses of nausea or gag reflex;
• Is there intermittent sleep for no apparent reason?
• if the lymph nodes are enlarged;
• if swelling has appeared in the leg;
• Are you worried about constant tiredness and fatigue;
• does the mucous membrane of the eyes have a yellow tint?
• Do you feel a constant bitterness in your mouth?
• Are there any allergic manifestations - cough, rhinitis, asthma;
• Do you feel constant pain or heaviness in your stomach?
• is there an unmotivated change in temperature;
• if there are preschool children in the family;
• are there pets or birds;
• if pain appears in muscles and joints without the influence of physical activity;
• Do people around you complain about snoring or grinding their teeth at night;
• is there complete indifference to food;
• Do you often forget to process raw vegetables and fruits?

If, based on the results of the home test, there is a possibility of infection, you should contact a specialist.

Lung damage

Careful!Worms in the lungs of people are considered a very dangerous and rare disease - in such cases, the symptoms, treatment and signs must be determined at an early stage of the infection, which is quite difficult to do.

The clinical symptoms of the disease are very similar to bronchopulmonary pathology, which is manifested in general symptoms:

• nausea and/or vomiting attacks;
• difficult breathing;
• wheezing in the lungs;
• dyspnea;
• increase in body temperature;
• productive cough and so on.

The causative agents of pulmonary lesions are various types of tapeworms, pig tapeworms and roundworms.

Helminthic infection in the organs of vision

Itching, irritation, increased sensitivity and burning of the allergic type of the sensory organ can be caused by worms in a person's eyes; treatment of such a helminthic infection is a very laborious process. It requires certain skills from a specialist, as the parasitic worm constantly migrates throughout the visual organ. Symptoms can be determined by the constant irritation of the eyelids, which resemble chronic inflammation in blepharitis. How worms appear in a person after treatment for helminthic eye infection can be seen in the photo.

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-spectrum or narrow-spectrum anthelmintics makes it possible to effectively fight parasites, provided that the diagnosis is made correctly and laboratory testing of the helminthic pathogen is carried out. When choosing a therapeutic regimen, it is necessary to take into account the criteria of age, gender and weight of the patient, since pharmacological anthelmintic treatments are very toxic. Synthetic dosage forms have replaced traditional folk remedies - garlic, chenopodium oil, fern, etc. After identifying the symptoms, the treatment of worms in people with tablets involves the complete cleansing of the body from helminthic infection.

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

1. A broad-spectrum synthetic anthelmintic drug from the group of benzimidazoles, widely used in the treatment of trichuriasis, enterobiasis and other manifestations of intestinal infections caused by nematodes. Active absorption of the drug into the systemic circulation allows depletion of glycogen reserves in the tissue structure of parasitic worms. 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 of anthelmintic properties that has an active immunostimulating effect. Pharmacological 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: trichostrongyloidiasis, ascariasis, toxocariasis, nekatoriasis, etc. The dose and duration of treatment is determined according to individual characteristics.
3. Pharmacological drug of the anthelmintic group of benzimidazoles. The action of the drug is aimed at blocking and paralyzing the nerve endings of helminthic parasites. Muscle paralysis does not allow the worms to attach to the intestinal walls and feed on decay products. The appearance of parasitic worms occurs in a natural physiological way. The dosage form is available free of charge in pharmacies. However, it is advisable to consult a doctor before use.

Help from traditional medicine

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

• onion;
• dandelion;
• burdock;
• nettle;
• carnation;
• tansy;
• garlic;
• wormwood etc.

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

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

1. A half-liter jar is filled to the middle with chopped onions and filled with vodka or an alcohol solution. After a day of exposure, the drug is filtered and used for its intended purpose. Take 2 tablespoons 4 times a day for a week.
2. Crushed pomegranate skin is thrown into a glass of vodka or diluted alcohol. The medicine is taken daily, one tablespoon every 3-4 hours.
3. A decoction of green walnut husks is very beneficial. The product, crushed in a mortar, is poured with alcohol and injected for 2-3 days until a pronounced brown color is formed. Take a spoon an hour before meals.
4. Boil two minced garlic cloves in 200 ml of milk until completely dissolved. The medicine is taken in one dose before meals.
5. A teaspoon of wormwood is boiled in 250 ml of boiling water and after cooling, the healing medicine is ready for use. Strained juice should be taken one hour before meals 3 times a day.

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

Prevention of helminthic infection

Anti-parasitic prevention of worms consists in observing sanitary and hygienic standards, which not only adults, but also children must strictly adhere to:

• You must wash your hands with soap before eating, after walking and contact with animals;
• food must undergo heat treatment before consumption;
• Street kebabs 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!