Symptoms of worms in humans can be very different, it all depends on the type of parasite present in the body. Treatment necessarily requires an integrated approach, only under this condition will it be possible to eliminate this problem. Medicines and traditional methods are used for this purpose.
Sometimes it can be very difficult to determine the signs and symptoms of worms in humans, because the symptoms of helminthic infestation are very similar to the pathologies of many diseases of the intestines and stomach, gall bladder, liver and infectious diseases.
What kinds of worms are there?
Worms are usually divided into several groups, namely:
- round;
- tapeworms;
- flukes.
Roundworms are thin and long worms with a yellowish or pinkish hue. The disease begins to develop when the eggs of these worms are ingested, which can happen if contaminated food is consumed. The larvae hatch from eggs in the intestines and spread throughout the body.
Together with the blood flow, they are carried through the internal organs, causing minor bleeding. Among the main symptoms of worms (in the photo one of the signs of helminthic infestation is abdominal pain) the presence of fever and pain in the body can be highlighted. Often no one pays special attention to these signs, because they associate them with a cold. Meanwhile, the larvae are carried along with the bloodstream to the lung tissue. From there, after maturation, they penetrate into the oral cavity and then into the intestines, where they grow and reproduce. During their lifetime, roundworms release toxic substances into the human intestines, which cause ill health and unpleasant symptoms.
Among the main symptoms of worms in adults are:
- abdominal pain;
- frequent urge to defecate;
- loose stools;
- signs of intoxication.
As a result, weight loss, body rashes and other signs of allergies can occur.
In childhood, pinworms are a major concern. These are small, grayish round worms. Their appearance is caused by non-observance of hygiene rules and consumption of low-quality products. In addition, infection through pets is possible. Pinworms live and reproduce in the intestines.
It is quite difficult to get rid of this type of parasite, because self-infection occurs constantly. At night, pinworms lay eggs in folds near the anus. At this moment, very strong itching and painful sensations are noticed. The general state of health worsens significantly, because the parasites have a toxic effect on the body, causing severe inflammation. This appears as:
- nausea;
- diarrhea;
- stomach pain.
Another round worm is the whip. Its rear part is thick, barrel-shaped, and the head part is very thin, in the shape of a hair. Using a thin part of the body, the parasites penetrate the intestinal walls and feed on blood. Infection occurs when whip eggs enter food.
The parasite damages the intestinal walls, causing intoxication of the organism, which often leads to appendicitis.
A broad tapeworm is a long worm that belongs to the tapeworm family. This flat parasite reaches very large sizes. Larvae go through several stages during development. Its intermediate hosts are river fish and crabs. A person consumes river fish infected with helminths, with which the latter enter the body, where they begin to grow.
This parasite is large, so it needs a lot of food. As a result, a person develops quite characteristic symptoms of worms, especially rapid weight loss, poor health, fainting and anemia.
Beef and pork tapeworms are classified as tapeworms. They reach several meters. You can become infected by eating undercooked or undercooked meat. The tapeworm's body consists of several flat parts in which the eggs develop.
They can live in the human body for several years. Thanks to the presence of special vacuum cups and hooks, these parasites are very firmly attached to the intestinal walls. They suck out all nutrients, poisoning the human body with toxins. Among the main symptoms of worms are severe weakness, weight loss, nausea and bowel dysfunction. A person is constantly tormented by headaches, even migraines, and dizziness. There are fainting spells.
When the liver fluke enters the body, it causes the disease opisthorchiasis. You can become infected by consuming river fish that has not undergone sufficient heat treatment. If a person has this type of worm, the symptoms are expressed in the form of pain and a feeling of fullness in the right side, stool disorders, and sometimes a slight yellowing of the skin can be observed. Most people go to the doctor with signs of hepatitis and cholecystitis. If parasites are not removed from the body for a long time, cirrhosis of the liver and malignant tumors can occur.
Methods of infection
Before you can identify the signs and symptoms of worms in humans, you need to understand exactly how the infection occurs. The main ways of infection with worms:
- through the ground;
- contact with animals;
- food;
- open tanks.
Sometimes the source of infection can be the bite of stinging insects. You can become infected by eating food that has not been sufficiently thermally processed.
Main signs in adults
The symptoms of worms in humans cannot always be recognized right away. Parasites cause a range of symptoms. If they appear, you should definitely consult a doctor for a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment. If you recognize the symptoms of worms in a person in the initial stages, it will allow you to avoid a number of diagnostic errors. Among the main features, it is necessary to highlight:
- allergic skin rash;
- frequent cough;
- occurrence of runny nose, pneumonia;
- prison;
- frequent colds;
- nervousness.
If the worms are long, they form whole balls that prevent the secretion of bile and pancreatic juice. As a result, symptoms of worms appear in humans, such as constipation, diarrhea and flatulence. Teeth grinding may occur.
Against the background of constant chronic poisoning by waste products of worms, depression is observed. When parasites move through the body and injure tissues, a person begins to feel pain in the joints. If there are worms, the symptoms can be very different, only a doctor can make the correct diagnosis.
Signs of helminthic infestation in childhood
Symptoms and signs of worms in a child are quite specific. The doctor will be able to accurately determine whether the baby has parasites in the intestines by such manifestations as:
- increased activity;
- salivation;
- itching near the anus;
- peeling of the eyelids;
- craving for sweet food;
- lethargy and drowsiness;
- signs of anemia;
- frequent colds.
If these signs and symptoms of worms are observed in a child, then there is a high probability of the presence of parasites in the body. In that case, you should definitely visit a doctor to diagnose and prescribe the correct and effective treatment.
Manifestations of the acute phase
The first symptoms of worms in an adult do not appear immediately after infection, but after several days. The average incubation period is 2-3 weeks. The presence of parasites in the body can manifest itself in the form of allergic reactions. During the process of growth and vital activity, helminths release toxic substances that lead to intoxication of the body.
Among the allergic symptoms of worms in an adult, the following are noted:
- swelling;
- rash;
- itchy skin;
- cough.
In particularly severe cases, the development of bronchitis and asthma cannot be ruled out. Some types of parasites can cause severe reactions such as swelling of the face. Especially complex manifestations can appear against the background of echinococcosis. This happens as a result of cyst rupture. In this case, the risk of anaphylactic shock and death of the patient increases significantly.
Symptoms of worms in an adult in the acute phase include not only allergic manifestations, but also an increase in temperature. With a severe infection, your health deteriorates significantly. Cough and chest pain are common.
Manifestations of the chronic stage
In the chronic form of infection, the symptoms of worms in an adult depend greatly on the location of the parasite. In particular, the following symptoms can be observed:
- bowel dysfunction;
- painful sensations;
- flatulence;
- decreased or increased appetite.
Helminths secrete substances that negatively affect the digestion process. There may be a lack of nutrients in the body.
Symptoms of worms in adults often include various psychological disorders. The more parasites there are in the body, the more pronounced are the signs of damage to the nervous system. Among the manifestations of the presence of helminths, it is necessary to highlight headaches, insomnia and absence.
Specific symptoms
There is a high risk of infection with worms such as trematodes, or, as they are also called, flukes. These parasites live in different organs of the human body. Signs and symptoms of worms appear as:
- local swelling;
- cough;
- rise in temperature;
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- myalgia;
- chills;
- enlarged spleen and liver.
These helminths can lead to the development of pyelonephritis, cystitis and urolithiasis. Possible complications include chronic kidney failure. The intestinal form manifests itself in the form of pain, poor appetite and diarrhea mixed with blood.
Performing diagnostics
If a person develops symptoms of worms, treatment must be carried out immediately after diagnosis. In order to detect the presence of parasites in the body, several precise and informative diagnostic methods are used. This includes:
- bound immunosorbent assay;
- ELISA tests;
- serological techniques;
- X-ray;
- ultrasound diagnostics;
- tomography;
- bioresonance diagnostics.
Enzyme immunoassay helps to determine the presence of adult parasites or their eggs in the body, as well as to identify their type. ELISA tests indicate the reaction of the body when it is infected with parasites. This technique is not independent. It should be used in conjunction with other types of research.
Serological methods are used to diagnose helminthiasis in the acute phase. Bioresonance diagnostics is a study that allows you to identify parasites at a very early stage.
Modern diagnostic techniques with high precision will help not only to recognize the fact of infection with worms, but also to determine which species they belong to, determine age, stage of development, which significantly speeds up the recovery process.
Drug therapy for adults
If symptoms of worms appear in adults, treatment must be carried out immediately, because only this will prevent the development of complications and dangerous pathologies. Treatment of helminthosis involves the use of a whole series of procedures and drugs, as well as strict recommendations of the doctor.
In order to eliminate the symptoms of worms in humans, treatment necessarily involves taking certain medications. The use of anthelmintic compounds is aimed at destroying many types of worms. There are also narrowly targeted drugs.
It is worth noting that all drugs cause certain side effects, especially nausea, dizziness, weakness, abdominal pain, drowsiness and many other signs of poisoning. If such manifestations appear, you must take an enterosorbent.
In order to eliminate the symptoms of worms in adults, treatment can be carried out with anthelmintic drugs in the form of drops. This medicine is very convenient to use, because it allows you to accurately calculate the dose, which often cannot be done with tablets, because they are coated with a protective coating.
All drugs for the treatment of worms help to eliminate the symptoms of helminthic infestation quickly and effectively, but they are very toxic substances and can lead to intoxication of the body.
Drug therapy for children
Parasites cause severe discomfort and deterioration of well-being. Therefore, after the appearance of worm symptoms in children, treatment should be started immediately. Medicines are available in the form of tablets and in the form of a suspension.
These drugs contain different active ingredients that are effective only against a certain type of parasite, so the drug can only be used after diagnosis. Depending on the symptoms of worms in children, the treatment is selected individually in order to effectively get rid of the parasite and not harm the child's body. It is necessary to strictly follow the prescription, because the dose is always chosen separately for each child and depends on his weight, age and type of parasite.
Many medicines are prohibited for children under 12 kg.
Folk remedies
If you have symptoms of worms at home, treatment can be carried out using traditional methods. Various herbs are used to fight helminths, which are no less effective than drugs. This includes the following:
- dandelion;
- onions;
- nettles;
- tansy
- sagebrush;
- thistle;
- garlic.
An equally common way to treat helminthic infestations is to consume raw pumpkin seeds. As a preventive measure, you can use carrot juice, which is recommended to be consumed for 2 weeks, 200 ml each.
In addition to decoctions and tinctures, it is additionally recommended to make an enema that will help remove helminths. For an enema, you can use garlic tincture, tansy infusion or dry wormwood. Any of this medicine is used only in filtered form, so that small particles of plants do not enter the intestines and damage the mucous membrane.
Implementation of prevention
It is recommended to carry out preventive measures regularly, because in this way, helminth infection and subsequent treatment for a long time will be prevented. For prevention, you must try to avoid foci of worm infection, and also use folk remedies. It is also appropriate to include preventive measures:
- maintenance of hygiene;
- eat only well-washed vegetables and fruits;
- extermination of insects in the house that carry helminth eggs;
- drink only boiled water;
- implementation of drug prophylaxis.
Medicines should be used only after consulting a doctor, because they contain toxic substances that can harm your health.