Worms - parasites that live in the body (most often in the intestines) of humans and animals.You can get infected everywhere: according to doctors, about 80% of people are infected with helminths.
In order to effectively treat worms in adults, drugs must be selected taking into account the type of parasites living in the body.Otherwise, the treatment will be ineffective, and may harm the patient's health.
Where and how can you become infected with worms?
You can pick up the infection everywhere: in nature, in a catering establishment and even at home.Helminants are transmitted through unwashed hands, poorly washed vegetables and fruits, especially those that grow in the ground.
Meat and fish that have undergone insufficient heat treatment can also cause infection.
Helminthosis is transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person - through a handshake or contact with saliva.More often worms are found in children: they become infected through common toys, unwashed hands.
If the family has a child with helminthiasis, all adults also need to undergo prevention so as not to become a source of re -infection for the child after recovery.
You can get infected from a pet.Therefore, the anthravity of cats and dogs is necessary regularly - every three months.And after contact with homeless animals, wash your hands thoroughly.
Symptoms that indicate the presence of parasites
Signs of the presence of worms in the intestine are a sharp change in body weight (weight loss or weight gain due to metabolic disorders), disturbances in the digestive system, which are easy to confuse with an acute or chronic gastrointestinal disease.The main signs that indicate that a person has a helminthic invasion:
- Stool disorder - diarrhea, constipation, liquid stool (when the intestines are emptied no more than 2 times a day, but the chair is not decorated).
- Bloating, colic.
- Nausea.
- Vomit.
- Lack of appetite.
- Pain and spasms in the intestine.
In the process of vital activity, worms distinguish toxins that can differently affect people.In some, they cause frequent headaches, in others - irritability or disorder of food behavior, for third - skin rashes, all kinds of allergies.
In any case, against the background of helminthic invasions, the protective functions of the body are reduced, immunity weakens.Such a person is more likely to suffer from colds.
Worms: What species parasitize in humans?
Not all types of helminths are dangerous for humans: some of the parasites live only in animal organisms.
About 70 types of helminths are parasitized in people, which are divided into 3 main groups:
Round worms
A few centimeters are reached in length, in the transverse section their body has a round shape.This is one of the most common types of helminths.The Nematod group includes pinworms and ascarides, which are most often diagnosed, especially in children.This also includes the Blazoles.They live mainly in the intestines.
Ribbon
The length can reach 18 m, the average length is 1-5 m. The body is flat, there is a suction cup on the head, which it is attached to the intestinal mucosa.These are ribbons and tapeworms that take root mainly in the small intestine, but can also settle in other organs.Their characteristic feature: helminth itself, not a larva itself, falls into the human body: it matures in the body of an intermediate host.They are infected with animals, as well as when using meat and fish that have undergone insufficient heat treatment.
Flat
They have a wide and flat body, reach a few centimeters in length, less often - one and a half meters.These are various types of bias, bicomer, trematod.They can settle in the ducts (biliary, lacrimal canals and in almost any organs).
How to determine the presence of helminthias?
The easiest way is to pass the analysis of feces.But for accurate diagnostics, you need to take an analysis 3-4 times, because during a period when parasites are not active, it is quite difficult to detect their presence.
Antibodies are produced to some types of helminths in the blood.By blood test, you can determine the presence of these markers and establish the type of worms.But for this you will have to take a few tests - for each expected look.
Who treats helminthias?
The main helminth specialists are a parasitologist-infectious disease specialist.But the full-time parasitologist is far from in every clinic: usually these specialists work as regional clinics and research institutes.
An infectious disease specialist or gastroenterologist based on test results can prescribe a treatment regimen.It will help you choose the best anti -miles and safe means for a person that will help to quickly drive worms without consequences for the body.
Self -medication in this case is quite dangerous: the tablets from the worms are quite toxic, have a lot of contraindications.If the choice of the type of worms, the medicine will at least be ineffective.If the dosage is exceeded, anthelmintics can cause serious poisoning.