Helminthiasis — an unusual word for many, although this group of diseases is well known and, unfortunately, these diseases are not rare. Cause their helminths, commonly referred to as worms or parasites.
In the initial stage of the disease, symptoms may be absent, and if there are any ailments, they are often mistaken for manifestations of other diseases. However, the presence of parasites in the body is not indifferent to humans. Therefore, it is important to know the signs of helminthiasis in time to identify and treat them, otherwise they can lead to undesirable health consequences.
What is the bot
The word “parasite” comes from the Greek word, which means “Freeloader”. The so-called creatures living at the expense of other organisms. Helminths (worms) – the General name of worms-parasites living in the human body; they also occur in animals. There are 2 types of worms: round (nematodes) and flat (trematodes and cestodes). It is estimated that about 5 billion people are affected by helminths in the world, while in tropical and subtropical countries the defeat reaches 100%.
How infection occurs
Infection with worms is quite common, especially in children. It happens very easily, most often in the following ways:
- Fecal-oral
Perhaps the most common way. Eggs of worms often fall on vegetables and fruits, on household items, dishes, toys, into the water, and from there – in violation of personal hygiene — in the digestive tract. So become infected with Ascaris, pinworm, dwarf tapeworm, echinococcosis.
- Through meat and fish
Finneskoe (Finns infected with larvae of tapeworms) meat — Tanami source of infection with Trichinella.
- Airborne and airborne dust
So it is possible to be infected with pinworms, alveococcosis.
There is also a transmissive (through blood-sucking insects) and percutaneous (through the skin) pathway of infection, but these options are more common in hot tropical countries.
Symptoms of helminthiasis
At the initial stage of invasion (penetration of parasites) there are symptoms that can be caused not only by helminthosis, but also other pathologies, including chronic. To accurately diagnose, if suspected of infection with parasites, doctors always appoint a survey on the eggs of worms.
What symptoms should alert you? It may be necessary to conduct an additional survey if you have:
- rashes on the skin;
- swelling of fingers and toes;
- night itching in the anus;
- low-grade fever, lymphadenitis;
- abdominal pain, bowel dysfunction, flatulence;
- joint and muscle pain;
- anxiety during sleep, snoring;
- yellow teeth and skin;
- increased appetite.
What threats are the worms
How do helminths affect health? Parasitizing in the human body, they secrete products of their life, which cause intoxication, provoke increased sensitivity of the body to external stimuli (sensitization), can cause various pathologies.
What complications can occur if the body “bred” worms?
- Various allergic reactions.
- Dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, diarrhea alternating with constipation.
- Intoxication-induced disorders of the nervous system: headaches, fatigue, irritability, bad mood. Children begin to study worse, become inattentive, absent-minded, poorly assimilate educational material.
- Inflammation of the joints and muscles, which are often mistaken for arthritis.
- Anemia — as a result of the fact that “freeloaders” take part of nutrients and vitamins.
- Intestinal obstruction (possible due to the overlap of the lumen of the intestine with a tangle of Ascaris; in this case, an urgent operation is necessary).
- The weakening of the immune system, reducing the body’s resistance to viral and respiratory diseases.
- Increased risk of tumors.
- Sharp weight loss regardless of appetite.
Prevention of infection
Measures to prevent infection with worms are very simple, you only need to constantly observe them. This is especially important for children, as their body reacts to parasites more than an adult.
To prevent helminthiasis, it is enough to follow simple and well-known rules.
- Personal hygiene – always in the first place, its observance should be a way of life. Do not forget yourself and teach children to wash their hands when returning home from a walk and with any pollution, take care of nails, etc.
- Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating them.
- Do not drink water from unverified sources.
- Change your underwear and bed linen regularly.
- Making the bed, do not shake the bed linen — so along with the dust fly around the house eggs pinworms.
- Do not allow children to bite their nails, lick toys, eat the ground in the sandbox (this happens in young children).
- Do not bathe in water bodies that are close to pastures.
- Flies – carriers of not only helminth eggs, but also pathogens of other intestinal infections. Spend the fight with them.
- To prevent infection with tape worms and flukes do not eat meat that has not been the veterinary examination. River fish podagrica thorough cooking, keep salt concentration in pickling.
- If ascarids or pinworms are found in one child, deworm other preschool children living in the same family.
It is much easier to prevent infection than to get rid of parasites. But if you prevent helminthosis failed, treat the problem with all seriousness — such an “internal enemy” can cause serious harm to the body.
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