Worms in humans: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, prescribed treatment and preventive measures

Various worms that live in the human body

Worms in humans are a rather unpleasant phenomenon that may not appear for a long time. Parasitic worms are scientifically called venomous. Human infection is called helminthiasis. This happens as a result of worm eggs entering our body. Contrary to popular belief that worms are merely a childhood disease, adults are also susceptible to severe parasite attacks. Scientists have calculated that every fourth person on earth is a carrier of this disease.

Ascaris is one of the most well-known worms

Where can they live?

Adult helminths move throughout the body until they settle in the organs that are best for them. The eggs of the parasite enter the intestines and settle there. This is the most common location. It is easy to detect worms in the intestines and remove them.

In second place in popularity among worms is the liver. Next come the lungs. There are very rare forms of the disease in which the worms enter the eyeballs and eye muscles.

Distribution

Human worms are classified according to their location. There are luminal and tissue types.

Cloth- these are the ones that live in organs. They can cause the following diseases:

  • paragonimiasis– this is a type of lung tissue infection by worms;
  • echinococcosis- liver damage;
  • cisticerosis- brain;
  • filariasis- lymph nodes.

The second type of human worms isilluminating. This is the most common type of disease that affects the intestines. Worms can be completely different: hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, whipworms, tapeworms, needleworms and others.

Luminal worms infect the intestines

Stages of development

Worms in an adult can appear from completely different sources. For the parasite to start developing in the body, it must enter through the mouth. Worm eggs can be found in raw meat, untreated water from tanks or dirty hands. In this form, they enter the oral cavity, then the stomach, and then are absorbed by the intestines.

Already in the stomach, the larva emerges from the egg, which begins its journey through the human body until it finds an ideal environment for further development. If these are intestinal parasites, then you should not move for a long time. If it is pulmonary or cerebral, then the larva will move through the bloodstream until it settles in the right place.

In the third stage of development, the larva turns into an adult helminth, which feeds on vitamins and minerals intended for the human body. The parasite lays eggs again and reproduces at a very high rate.

The time frame for the completion of all stages is from several hours to several days. During this period, it is important to choose a good medicine for worms for a person.

Symptoms

There are not always clear signs of worms in humans. Symptoms may appear only during certain periods of the disease, or they may not appear at all. When an adult lives in the body, it is extremely difficult to notice, because the disease can be confused with any other disease. Helminths can be detected incidentally by stool testing.

To imagine what happens in the body, consider the example of the life cycle of the roundworm. This type of worm likes to travel and in the process of moving through the body can donate itself.

The cause of infection with roundworms can be the consumption of unwashed vegetables and fruits. The parasite lays eggs in the soil and they can easily enter the plants.

After the worm egg has entered the mouth and stomach, it begins to grow and turn into a larva, which very quickly (within 2-3 hours) enters the circulatory system and begins to move through the small bloodstream. Its purpose is the lungs.

In the lung tissue, the larva grows into an adult, which will have little space and will have to eat the cells of the alveoli and small bronchi. At this stage, the first symptoms appear and if the diagnosis is made correctly, then a medicine for worms will quickly help a person get rid of them.

The patient begins to cough, has shortness of breath and the body temperature rises. In rare cases, an allergic rash appears. This is how worms manifest in humans. Symptoms and treatment will depend on the stage of development, because all these signs can be confused with a common cold.

After the adult has chewed its way through the airways and into the mouth, it will lay eggs for the person to swallow again and for them to end up in the gastrointestinal tract, where the cycle begins again.

Abdominal pain is a common symptom of worm infection.

Stages of the disease

Symptoms of worms in an adult will be different, depending on the stage of the disease. There can be two of them:

  1. Acute
  2. Winner.

The first stage appears in the first few days after infection, as the larvae travel through the body. A person may experience itching, reddening of the skin and rash. There may be a dry barking cough with choking attacks. If you donate blood for analysis, the result will show a significant increase in eosinophils.

The transition to the second stage indicates that the human worms have settled in the right place and exist quietly, without disturbing anyone. This is a hidden stage that may not appear for several years.

Medicine for worms in humans will help to remove them only if an infection is accidentally detected. Men and women should listen carefully to their bodies. Over the months that people feed the parasites, the general condition of the body will change. Metabolism suffers first. After all, the peculiarity of helminths is that, sticking to the walls of the organs, they absorb all the nutrients and minerals from the cells, as a result of which the functioning of the affected areas is disrupted.

What could be the consequences?

There are parasites that cause dangerous conditions in the body. For example, the presence of trichinella or schistosome leads to anemia and vitamin deficiency.

Remember that worms also secrete their metabolic products into the human intestines, resulting in the development of dysbacteriosis and the excessive reproduction of opportunistic organisms.

The immune system suffers. It weakens and allergies appear. A person becomes susceptible to viral attacks and gets sick more often.

If human worms are not treated, the consequences can be unpredictable. Each type of parasite affects different organs and they are the ones that suffer first. If the liver is damaged, jaundice may develop. Hookworm leads to anemia, since this type of helminth feeds exclusively on blood. So, the most important thing at any stage is to choose a remedy for worms for a person.

Diagnosing

Just two tests can save a life. This is a general blood and stool test. With an annual medical examination, the risks of missing a disease are minimal.

There will be the following changes in the blood: leukocytosis - a shift in the formula of leukocytes to the right and an increase in the number of eosinophils.

Worms in human feces are the safest and fastest way to detect them. You must take the test fresh, then the result will be accurate.

Deworming tablets for humans

Medicines can be divided into two groups: those that have a broad spectrum of action and those that kill a specific type of helminth. Since there are more than 70 types of worms that infect humans, it is impossible to determine without testing which parasite has entered. Deworming tablets for humans must be prescribed by a doctor.

In medicine, all worms are divided into three groups:

  • nematodes;
  • cestodes;
  • trematodes.

Treatment will depend on the type of helminth inhabiting the body.

By contacting animals, you can become infected with helminths

Nematodes (roundworms)

This species includes: hookworms, roundworms, trichinella, whipworm and hookworm. In children and adults, the first two representatives are found more often.

Cestoda (tapeworms)

Cestodes are a large number of helminth representatives. The most common are teniarynchosis, coenurosis, alveococcosis, sparganosis, broad tape and others.

Trematodes (flatworms)

Representatives of this class can be listed for a very long time. Most often, the organism is affected by opisthorchiasis (cat flu), fascioliasis, clonorchiasis (Chinese flu), pulmonary and others.

How to take deworming tablets

Regardless of what kind of helminth has settled in the body of an adult or child, remember the basic and most important rule: if a worm is found in a family member, then everyone should be treated. It is necessary to disinfect all items in the house. If you have pets, then first of all you should check them, as the source of the problem may be our pets.

All deworming medications affect the adults without affecting the eggs and larvae. Therefore, the second rule is: two weeks after taking the medicine, the course must be repeated. This is especially true in cases of worm infection. These parasites are so cunning that they leave the larvae outside the body and a person can become infected again.

It is recommended to take the tablets in the morning and the cleansing enema in the evening.

Be careful! Any medication should be taken as prescribed by a doctor. This is especially true for cases of infection with flatworms and tapeworms. They are so dangerous that the treatment is carried out in the hospital. During their removal, the dose must be strictly observed, taking into account the weight and age of the patient, as the drugs are very toxic. Self-medication in such cases is unacceptable!

Prevention of worms

The debate of mothers whether to take pills to prevent worms or not, never ceases. Some believe that this is a good way to protect themselves from dangerous consequences, because children are more susceptible to infection. Others consider it unnecessary and do not want to burden the body with pills that are not necessary.

Very often, children of school and preschool age are affected by worms. The test for enterobiasis can be false negative, and then the sick child, bringing parasites to the house or school, can infect everyone. Transmission of worm eggs occurs through household items, shaking hands, pet hair, doorknobs and other surrounding objects.

The main methods of prevention include observing the rules of personal hygiene. It is necessary to wash hands with soap after defecation, before eating, after going outside or visiting public places.

What should you do if a child complains of itching in the anus? This is one of the most prominent symptoms of hookworm infection. In this case, you should do the test for enterobiasis as soon as possible. Let's say a child complains in the evening, then in the morning you have to run to the clinic.

If the result of the first scratching is negative, and the itching continues, then the test should be repeated after two days for a week, and then after another two weeks.

If one of the following statements applies to you, then you should take preventive measures:

  • the presence of furry pets;
  • continuous games in the sandbox or land;
  • travel to an exotic country;
  • the father is an avid fisherman or hunter.
To avoid worm infestation, practice good hygiene and wash your hands.

Popular recipe

Let's see how to remove worms from a person at home. Recipes against helminths have been known since ancient times. And despite the fact that they are successfully replaced with synthetic substances, the folk method remains proven for prevention.

Let's look at the most effective recipes:

  1. Onion, honey, aloe juice.Onion is considered the most universal medicine. It has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anthelmintic effects. Mix it in equal proportions with aloe juice and honey and get a real anti-worm remedy. Take 1 teaspoon before breakfast for several days. Due to the fact that the product is sweet, children will surely drink it.

  2. Carrot juice.Fresh carrots not only contain a whole storehouse of vitamins, but also have an anthelmintic effect. By drinking it on an empty stomach, you can enrich your body with energy for the whole day and, at the same time, prevent an unpleasant illness.

  3. Garlic– one of the most effective means against worms. Let's see the recipes on how to remove worms from a person at home:

    • Finely chop or squeeze the garlic. Roll the resulting porridge in small pieces on cheesecloth so that it looks like a candle. Insert into the anus at night for 10 days. This medicine is effective against worms and is used for adults and children.
    • Garlic enema. Another way to remove unpleasant neighbors from the intestines. The solution should consist of water and crushed garlic in the ratio. For a glass you need to take a few cloves. Repeat the procedure 2 times a week.
    • Garlic with honey. Another option for children's medicine. To prevent garlic from burning, it is mixed with natural honey. Take 1 teaspoon twice a day.
    • Garlic in milk. For lovers of unusual tastes, a milk-based medicine is offered. There are five crushed cloves of garlic per liter of cow product. The mixture is boiled and taken in small portions before bedtime.
A folk remedy based on wormwood will help remove worms

Herbal infusions

Since ancient times, all medicines were prepared using herbs. Mother Nature knows better than anyone how to get rid of worm parasites. It is time to systematize this knowledge.

To prepare a herbal medicine, you need to choose bitter plants, such as cloves, wormwood, thyme, reed and cumin. Prepared infusions should be taken daily. It will take a month to completely cleanse the body, but improvement occurs within 2-3 weeks of the course.

Let's look at the most famous recipes for herbal tinctures for the treatment of helminths:

  • Based on tansy.Pour boiling water over the grass in the following proportions: 100 grams of dry mixture for 150 ml of hot water. Cover it with a lid and let it stand for 8-10 hours. You should take 30 drops dissolved in a glass of water.
  • Based on wormwood.This herb should be steeped in alcohol for a week. Proportion 1: 1. For 100 grams of grass, 100 ml of alcohol. Take 25 drops dissolved in a glass of water.
  • EFFECTIVEsolution in walnut shells.It must be filled with alcohol for 100 grams of dry product and 150 ml of "fire" water.
  • Clove based.Dry, unopened buds of the clove tree are used for tincture. Pour 100 grams of aromatic spice into a glass of boiling water and leave for at least 3 days. The daily dose of the drug is 30 drops per glass of water.

Pumpkin seeds against worms

Pumpkin seeds are safe for both children and adults. This is a very popular folk remedy to fight helminths. Let's see how to remove worms from people using this product.

What is the secret? The fact is that the shell of pumpkin seeds contains a substance such as cucurbin, which is destructive to worms. Therefore, you should consume only green unpeeled seeds.

Eating pumpkin seeds to fight worms

Kucurbin does not kill worms, but only paralyzes them. Adults lose the ability to move, grasp body cells and absorb nutrients, meaning they will soon die naturally and be excreted through the human anus.

The most effective recipe is pumpkin seeds and castor oil. A serving of 100 unshelled seeds should be eaten in the morning. Then take a teaspoon of castor oil. The latter has a laxative effect to remove parasites from the body.

Mix pumpkin and honey. First, you need to grind the seeds into porridge in a blender, then add a little honey. Eat muesli in the morning on an empty stomach. The course of treatment is several days. It is recommended to repeat after 2 weeks.

Another healthy breakfast is pumpkin seeds and garlic. First, the grains are fried in a pan without fat and water until they turn golden brown. The mixture is then poured into a blender, garlic is thrown in and ground into a paste. Leave it overnight and take a tablespoon of the mixture in the morning.