Worms are representatives of the lower worms that live in the human body. A disease associated with human infection with various types of worms is called helminthiasis. This disease is not uncommon and occurs in certain segments of the population. Children are susceptible to moth infection, hunters - trichinella, fishermen and lovers of Japanese cuisine (raw fish in the form of sushi) suffer from diphyllobothriasis.
Many diseases, paradoxically, can occur in the human body due to helminthiasis. Today, the theory about the link between cancer and parasitic infections is one of the most relevant. In the presence of helminthiasis, symptoms do not always appear and, if, even so, patients with this disease experience any unpleasant and uncomfortable sensations, they are perceived as signs of other diseases. The patient has been treated for years for pancreatitis, gastritis or colitis, without suspecting that the cause of his ailments is helminthiasis.
How does the infection occur?
Helminth infection occurs as follows:
- Through dirty hands
- Upon contact with the ground
- After insect bites
- Because of dirty hands
- When eating raw meat and fish
- After eating unwashed fruits and vegetables
- After contact with an animal
- After contact with infected people
Mature parasite eggs can be found in soil, water and food (raw and lightly cooked meat or fish). Rare cases of the disease occur due to insect bites. The mechanism of infection by helminthiasis is oral-fecal. A person swallows parasite eggs with food and water. Contact and household methods of infection also occur. They happen when, after contact with earth or sand, hands were not washed well.
Vegetables and fruits that grow in the ground and are not washed enough are also a source of worm infection. Children who play in the yard and with pets are at risk of contracting worms. Pets that roam freely on the streets can bring helminth eggs into the home. Flies and other insects, after contact with animal feces, landing on food, can easily transfer helminth eggs. Surprisingly, person-to-person infection is also possible. It happens like this: a female moth can leave the intestine and lay eggs directly on underwear, causing intense itching. A person, after scratching an itchy area, may come into contact with other bathroom items and household items. These items fall into the hands of other family members, after which they become infected.
Infection through water is also possible. Many parasite eggs easily fall into open reservoirs and wells. Drinking unboiled well water is extremely dangerous.
Types of helminthiasis
Helminthiases differ in the method of penetration into the human body:
- Biohelminths
- Geohelminths
- Transmissible
Biohelminths are transmitted to people through contact with animals. Geohelminths can be infected through soil. Contagious infections arise due to contact with an infected person. The disease manifests itself differently depending on the method of infection, the number of worms and the degree of adaptation in any human organ.
Stages of helminthiasis
The most destructive effect on the body is caused not by adults, but by their larvae. The adults have already chosen a cozy place on the human body, and the larva travels through the organs and leaves their lesions. The most common habitat for parasites is the gastrointestinal tract. Different types of parasites prefer different habitats. Thus, roundworms are located in the small intestine, and pinworms settle in the large intestine and in the lower parts of the small intestine. According to the habitat of the parasites, helminthic infections are:
- Translucent
- Tissue
The luminals are located in the lumens of the genital organs, and the tissue ones are located within the tissues. Depending on their growth, parasites can change their habitat, going from the luminal form to the tissue form. Helminthiasis develops in two stages:
- Spicy
- Chronicle
The acute phase lasts from a week to a month, and the chronic phase continues until healing. The acute phase begins with the introduction of the egg and continues as the parasite matures and grows. The disease manifests itself as allergic reactions to a foreign organism. During the chronic phase of the disease, several reactions occur in the body. During this period, the parasite moves throughout the body in search of shelter. The disease is accompanied by disturbances in the functioning of organs and systems of the human body. Integrated into the human body's immune system, parasites consume substances necessary for their growth and development. This leads to metabolic disorders, digestive system disorders and difficulty absorbing vitamins and minerals.
In addition to this damage, parasites expel their waste into the human body, poisoning the body, causing intestinal disorders, decreased immunity and the development of bacterial infections. Parasites contribute to the risk of developing cancer. This happens due to the negative impact on the immune system and the stimulation of cell division. Often a patient is examined by many specialists who find a number of diseases in him. And in this case, all specialists can be replaced by a single doctor - a parasitologist.
Helminth classification
Types of worms in humans:
- Flatworms
- Roundworms
Flatworms include:
- Trematodes (opisthorchiasis, schistosomes, paragonimus)
- Cestodes (broad tapeworm, swine tapeworm, echinococcus, alveococcus)
- Roundworms or nematodes:
- Pinworm
- Ascaris
- Hookworm
- Trichinella
This classification of helminths is presented in the medical literature. To successfully solve a problem such as helminthiasis, it is necessary to thoroughly understand the features of the structure and life cycle of parasites.
Trematodes
Another name for trematodes is flukes. These parasites have a flat or lanceolate leaf shape with two suckers. One suction cup is located in the mouth, and the second, which serves for fixation, is in the peritoneum. All representatives of worms enter the body through an intermediate host. Most of these parasites are hermaphrodites.
Opisthorchiasis
This is a fluke - a worm up to 1. 3 cm long with two suckers. Opisthorchiasis is a hermaphrodite disease that parasitizes the liver, gallbladder and pancreas in humans and some carnivorous animals (foxes, dogs, cats). Opisthorchiasis eggs exit the human or animal body in feces. When these eggs enter a body of water, they are swallowed by freshwater molluscs, within which the larvae hatch and develop. The process of development and maturation of the larvae lasts two months. Then the larvae crawl out of the mollusk and penetrate the skin of the koi fish. After six weeks, the larvae become mature, mature parasites. Opisthorchiasis enters the body of an animal or person after eating contaminated fish. This worm can live in a living organism for up to 20 years. Symptoms of opisthorchiasis:
- Allergy
- Weakness
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Depression
- Loss of consciousness
Damage caused to the body by opisthorchiasis:
- Parasite residue poisoning
- Damage to liver tissue
- Gallbladder damage
- Impaired bile outflow
- Inflammation of the pancreas
- Secretory dysfunction
- Decreased gastric motility
- Thickening of the walls of some organs, resulting in the occurrence of tumors.
The chronic course of the disease is characterized by:
- Weight after eating
- Pain
- Vomiting
- Nausea
Infection prevention: To avoid opisthorchiasis infection, you should not eat raw fish. Larvae die during heat treatment of products. Dried fish can only be consumed if it has been previously salted. Furthermore, the larvae die when the fish is frozen for a long time.
Schistosomes
These parasites are of different sexes, similar to needles with a length of 0. 4 to 2. 6 cm. Females are longer than males and larger, producing 3, 000 eggs per day. The reproduction method is the same as the previous type of parasite, through freshwater molluscs. The larva enters the human body through the skin and mucous membranes while swimming in a body of fresh water. It can also enter the body of a person who accidentally swallows water while swimming. After a day of penetration, the larva transforms into an adult and enters the peripheral veins, where it is sent to the lungs and venous vessels. There the schistosome reaches sexual maturity.
Schistosoma lays eggs in the intestines, mucous membranes and bladder. The eggs are then excreted from the human body in urine or feces and begin their development path again. Schistosoma has lived in the human body for several decades, causing damage and infecting new individuals. The problems that arise when infected with schistosomes are caused to the human body not by adults, but by their eggs. Only half of the eggs are excreted from the body, the rest accumulate in the organs. The eggs of this parasite have spines that damage a person's internal organs, often causing ulcers in the infected person. Patients with schistosomiasis present the following symptoms:
- Appetite disorder
- Anemia
- Enlarged liver
- Altered spleen
- Decreased intestinal motility
- Stomachache
- Cold
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Intestinal bleeding
- Pain during urination
- Allergies
- Weakness
When the genitourinary system is infected, patients experience:
- Menstrual irregularities and miscarriages in women
- Impotence and incomplete ejaculation in men
If eggs enter the central nervous system:
- Acute cerebral schistosomiasis
- Chronic brain damage
- Death
Infected children experience delayed growth and development and decreased school performance. Disease prevention includes avoiding swimming and walking barefoot in tropical waters.
Paragonim
Paragonim is a 1 cm long lungworm with an ovoid body and red spines. This parasite multiplies in the lungs of animals and enters the human body through ingestion of crayfish and freshwater crabs. The parasite affects the respiratory system. Patients with paragonimiasis are characterized by allergic reactions and decreased immunity. Symptoms:
- Temperature increase
- Cough
- Production of sputum from the lungs when coughing
- Dyspnea
- In severe cases, blood and parasite eggs are present in the sputum
- Wheezing can be clearly heard in the patient's lungs
Prevention: Avoid eating raw crayfish and crabs.
Cestodes
Representatives of cestodes are tapeworms of various lengths. Some parasites reach gigantic sizes. On the head of these parasites there are suction cups, hooks or suction slits. Parasites need these devices to adhere to the intestinal walls. Cestodes affect the entire human body and are most dangerous for children, who quickly develop anemia.
Echinococcus
These parasites reach 5 cm in length and are the causative agents of Echinococcus disease. The multi-chambered representative of this type of worm is the causative agent of such a disease as alveococcosis. The disease is transmitted by cattle and domestic animals. When caring for these animals, parasite eggs fall from the fur onto people's hands. When parasites enter the human intestine, they bite the mucous membrane. As the parasite matures, it develops 4 sections, the last of which is filled with eggs. These sections rupture and spread throughout the body, infecting it. The fourth section spreads the eggs throughout the body.
The patient's infected organ increases in size, for example the liver. Suppuration may form. An enlarged organ can even rupture the abdominal cavity. And this can lead to severe sepsis of the body and even death. Symptoms:
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Allergic reactions to parasite residues.
Echinococcus affects:
- Brain
- Spinal cord
- Eyes
- Thyroid gland
- Liver
- Lungs
- Uterus
This parasite can cause the formation of tumors, including malignant ones. The most unpleasant thing is that the treatment of this disease is possible only with surgery. Prevention: personal hygiene in contact with animals.
Nematodes
These worms with an elongated, round or cylindrical body, most often parasitize children's bodies. These roundworms include pinworms, roundworms, and hookworms.
Earthworms
These are small white worms. The length of the female is 1 cm, that of the male is 0. 5 cm. These parasites have a pointed tail, which is why they were called pinworms. The worms' habitat is the human intestine. The front end of the parasite has a suction cup, with the help of which the moth pierces the intestines, and the sharp end hangs in the lumen and damages the walls. This disease is called enterobiasis. You can get infected from a person with dirty hands. The disease is observed in preschool children attending kindergarten. One symptom of pinworm infection is itching near the anus. More often, itching is felt at night, when the female lays eggs, secreting a special substance. Symptoms:
- Itch
- Diarrhea
- Stomachache
- Headache
- Lack of appetite
Prevention: wash your hands.
Roundworms
These worms are the biggest. The length of the female is up to 0. 5 m. The female lays 200 thousand eggs per year, independently of the male. The mechanism of infection is fecal-oral. Ascaris eggs enter the human body along with unwashed vegetables and fruits, through dirty hands. The larva, entering the intestine, is selected from the shell and penetrates the intestinal walls, while migrating through the intestinal veins to the liver, through the hepatic veins to the heart, through the pulmonary arteries to the bronchi, then to the trachea and mouth. A partial number of larvae die in the open air, the rest are swallowed. Symptoms:
- Nausea
- To vomit
- Jaundice
- Pancreatitis
- Frequent acute respiratory infections
- Bronchitis
- Pneumonia
Prevention:
- Handwashing
- Washing vegetables and fruits
- Maintain personal hygiene
- Protect food from flies, cockroaches and other carriers.
In conclusion, we can say that the cause of the disease is not always bacteria and viruses that have entered the body. Parasites can cause enormous damage to human health. If unclear symptoms occur, the possibility of a parasite entering the body should not be excluded; the patient must visit a parasitologist.