Stages of treatment of helminthic infestation. Helminthic infestation: causes, symptoms, treatment, prevention. Symptoms of helminthiasis in the form of metabolic disorders

Most patients believe that helminthic infestation is a “disease of dirty hands.” This statement is only half true. Some varieties of worms, for example, cestodes and other flatworms, can actually live in soil and sand, so in the absence of sufficient hand hygiene, a person can become infected with helminthiasis, but this route of transmission is typical mainly for children of the younger age group (from 1 to 6 years). In adults, the main source of infection is poor-quality food (expired dairy products, poorly processed meat, stale eggs) and tap water.

You can become infected with worms in open rivers and reservoirs. In rare cases, while swimming, a person can become infected with leeches - representatives of the class of annelids that cause hirudinosis. The pathology is quite severe, since the main food for leeches is blood and its components, which leads to damage to blood vessels, rapidly progressing anemia and blood poisoning against the background of systemic intoxication of the body. To avoid this, you should not swim in places that are not equipped with “Swimming is Allowed” signs. Soil/water samples are periodically taken at specially designated sites in the summer and the risk of infection in such places is several times lower.

Other sources of infection for people may include:

• street and domestic animals (it is necessary to clean the pet's tray only with gloves, and the animal itself should be bathed regularly and treated with anthelmintic drugs 2 times a year);
• contaminated air;
• blood-sucking insects (mosquitoes, ticks);
• dust (including house dust that accumulates on soft toys and upholstered furniture).

Note! Some types of worms can enter the human body through the skin, so bodily contact with a person who has been diagnosed with helminthiasis should be limited as much as possible.

Acute infection in adults: symptoms and signs

It is possible to diagnose or suspect helminthic infestation independently at home only during the period of acute and subacute course of the disease. Depending on the type of worms, their number and the state of the immune system, it can range from 1 week to 4 months. Symptoms of the pathology during this period are most pronounced, so the chances of timely treatment and reducing the risks of complications in the acute form are maximum.

The main symptoms of acute helminthiasis are disturbances in intestinal function. The patient develops functional intestinal disorders in the form of diarrhea or prolonged absence of stool (constipation is 4 times less common compared to diarrhea syndrome). The consistency of stool when infected with worms is thin, watery, sometimes with the addition of foam. The smell is fetid, pungent. The color may vary, but in most patients the stool becomes lighter in color and pale yellow in color. If there is a heavy infestation of worms, the excrement may be brown or green. Sometimes they contain streaks of mucus and blood, which is released as a result of damage by worms to the blood vessels and capillaries located in the intestinal mucous membranes.

Worms in feces - photo

Among other signs from the gastrointestinal tract, the patient may have abdominal pain, causeless, sudden vomiting, loss of appetite against the background of constant nausea. Many patients lose weight during this period: weight loss can be up to 10% within 2-4 months from the onset of the disease. The skin turns pale and a polymorphic rash appears on it in the form of vesicles or nodules filled with exudate. The same rash can occur on the mucous membranes of the genitals, oral cavity and internal organs. Approximately 10-20% develop acne, boils, and comedones during this period. A pinpoint red rash may appear on the skin of the abdomen and elbows.

Other signs of acute infection in an adult include:

Important! Anal itching, which is considered the main symptom of helminthiasis, is characteristic mainly of enterobiasis - infection with pinworms. It occurs as a result of irritation of the skin in the anorectal area with the secretion secreted by female pinworms at night. For other acute forms of helminthic infestation, such a clinical picture is not considered typical.

Chronic infestation: what symptoms to look out for?

The chronic form of helminthiasis is a very common pathology that develops in the absence of timely treatment in the acute period. Most clinical symptoms subside and lose their intensity during this period, but do not go away completely. A person may periodically experience mild pain in the abdominal area, nausea, and possible vomiting immediately after eating or 1-2 hours after eating. Skin rashes usually persist. If the reaction is severe, the patient may experience angioedema is a deadly condition accompanied by laryngeal spasm and bronchospasm.

One of the main signs of chronic helminthic infestation (as well as its complication) is anemia. It manifests itself as unnatural pallor, asthenia (chronic fatigue syndrome), and weakness. A person’s performance decreases, he becomes lethargic, and emotional lability may be observed.

If the hepatobiliary system is affected

Important! Hepatobiliary helminthiasis is one of the most severe types of pathology. In the absence of adequate and timely therapy, the patient may die from acute intoxication and necrosis of the liver tissue.

Clinical indicators - signs of helminthic infestation

How to protect yourself from worm infection?

The basic rule that helps protect the body from the penetration of worms is strict adherence to hygiene - first of all, hand hygiene. For washing, it is better to use soap with antibacterial components or natural laundry soap with a fatty acid concentration of at least 72%. Laundry soap has a pronounced disinfectant and antimicrobial effect and provides excellent prevention of infectious diseases. If you are intolerant to the smell of laundry soap, you can use a product with added aromatic additives.

Food must be prepared in accordance with hygienic and thermal treatment standards. It is recommended to rinse vegetables and fruits with boiling water or wash them with soap, and fry or boil meat at high temperature for at least 30-40 minutes. The minimum time for boiling eggs is 20 minutes. It is important to monitor the quality and freshness of products and carefully check expiration dates. If the product does not have the necessary information and labeling, it is better to refuse the purchase.

If there are pets in the house, it is necessary to carry out a deworming course 2 times a year, even if the pet does not go outside, since worm eggs can be brought into the apartment on outdoor shoes and clothes. The safest means for deworming cats and dogs are Milbemax chicken-flavored tablets.

What to take for helminthiasis?

Treatment for helminthiasis should only be prescribed by a doctor, since all anthelmintic drugs are highly toxic and negatively affect the condition of the liver. The table lists frequently prescribed drugs with a wide spectrum of action, as well as their dosage, but they can only be used after laboratory diagnosis and consultation with a specialist.

Table. Popular drugs for helminthiasis.

Helminthiasis is a dangerous infectious pathology that can cause severe complications in the heart, visual organs, pulmonary system and other vital organs. Knowing the signs of helminthiasis in adults, you can avoid such consequences by consulting a doctor on time and passing the necessary tests.

Video - Helminth infections

When worms settle inside the body, they consume almost everything: vitamins, microelements, hormones, proteins, carbohydrates, sugar, etc. By taking vital elements from the body, worms release toxins, absorb red blood cells and suppress the immune system. Over time, helminths paralyze the immune system, resulting in damage to the epithelial, connective, glandular, and lymphoid tissues of organs. Without timely treatment of worms, such changes can lead to atherosclerosis, diseases of the veins and blood vessels, coronary heart disease, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, even cancer.

There are hundreds of species of helminths of varying sizes, from millimeters to several meters. The routes of infection are varied, although the most common is ingestion. The most common helminthic infestations include - ascariasis and enterobiasis (pinworms). Ascariasis, like enterobiasis, is common in all climatic zones. You can become infected with these helminths throughout the year.

Helminth damage can lead to a number of severe disorders, organ damage, intoxication, allergization, decreased immunity, etc.

Some worms, due to their shape and large size, can mechanically close the intestinal lumen and bile ducts, which leads to deterioration of peristalsis, constipation, and complete or partial intestinal obstruction. Worm infestation can cause blockage of the common bile duct, which leads to obstructed outflow of bile and obstructive jaundice.

Diarrhea

Stomach and intestinal discomfort syndrome

Pain in joints and muscles

Allergy

Problem skin

Change in body weight. Weight problems.

Anemia

Many types of intestinal helminths, when attached to the intestinal wall, damage it, causing a fairly large loss of blood, which leads to anemia.

Nervousness

"The most famous worm belonged to the legendary opera star Maria Calass. She suffered from serious weight and skin problems. When the worm infestation was discovered and expelled, her weight dropped, her skin cleared and her character improved," writes Anna Louis Gittelman.

Sleep disturbance, teeth grinding during sleep

Frequent awakenings in the middle of the night, especially between 2 and 3 o'clock, are also a result of the body's attempts to get rid of toxic substances through the liver. In traditional medical literature, the cause of bruxism (teeth grinding during sleep) remains unidentified, but it is believed that this is a possible reaction of the body to poisoning and irritation of the nervous system.

"Chronic fatigue syndrome"

Immune disorders

Chronic poisoning of the body, a malfunction in the immune system, a direct traumatic effect on tissues and organs, long-term maintained inflammation and nutritional deficiency are more than enough to provoke the development of tumors!

Airway inflammation

A number of helminths migrate (move throughout the human body, including the respiratory tract. Cough, fever, sputum, runny nose (cases of sinusitis caused by migrating parasites have been described) - these are very real symptoms of the presence of “uninvited guests" in the body. This is one of the manifestations of ascariasis and strongyloidiasis is preumoniasis.

Diagnostics

Folk recipes for worms are varied and numerous. Their action is based on the aggressive influence of herbal components and some food products on helminths. The most popular home remedies are:

• Pumpkin seeds. They can be consumed simply in purified form, eating two tablespoons of kernels daily, or as part of a medicinal mass. To prepare it at home, the seeds need to be peeled and toasted. Grind the resulting glass of raw materials and mix with the same amount of honey and a teaspoon of baking soda. This mixture, after infusion for 10 days, is consumed in a small spoon every morning until the infestation problem disappears.
• Infusion of bitter wormwood. The herb is brewed in the proportion of a tablespoon per half liter of liquid. After infusing in a thermos for several hours, the infusion is filtered and is completely ready for use. It is recommended to enrich it with two large spoons of honey. Take a spoon before meals three times a day.
• Garlic. To get rid of worms, traditional medicine offers a simple remedy. Eat 10 onion cloves, peeled and cut into large pieces, with a glass of warm milk and without chewing.
• Herbal collection. Ingredients with anthelmintic activity are wormwood, buckthorn, centaury and calamus root. Having mixed all the components in equal proportions, pour 2 tablespoons of the mixture with half a liter of boiling water and leave overnight. The finished product is recommended to be taken two spoons in the morning and evening for a week.
• Cleansing the body with cognac and castor oil. Before going to bed, you need to drink 100 ml of green tea with a lot of sugar added, and after 5 minutes - the same amount of good alcoholic drink. After 15 minutes, the intake is supplemented with castor oil (50 ml) heated in a water bath and you can go to bed. The procedure is carried out daily for 3–6 days. Before and after cleansing, it is recommended to eat light foods so as not to overload the body.
• Onion infusion. The recipe is simple: cut the onion into small pieces and pour a glass of clean water at room temperature. After infusion for one night, the composition is filtered and drunk on an empty stomach.

Folk remedies for worms do not have absolutely proven effectiveness, but with their additional use, a positive treatment result can be achieved faster.

But in most cases, the course of helminthiasis has a mild or hidden form, so the disease often goes unnoticed, which allows the worms to quietly grow and develop, affecting healthy people.

Worm infestation: what is it?

• Protozoa - caused by protozoa;
• entomoses - insects;
• acaroses - by ticks;
• helminthiases - worms.

Ascariasis

Almost all people are susceptible to infection with roundworms, especially residents of villages and villages, as well as children. The incubation period lasts about eight weeks. Ascariasis is diagnosed immunologically or using laboratory testing of feces using the Kato method.

Enterobiasis

Echinococcosis

Giardiasis

Trichocephalosis

Opisthorchiasis

They belong to the group of zooanthroponotic diseases. They appear in a chronic form with damage to the pancreas, liver and gall bladder. Initially, opisthorchids appear in freshwater mollusks, then the larvae end up in fish from the carp family (ide, roach, crucian carp, carp, tench, etc.). Infection of humans and animals occurs when eating lightly salted, raw and insufficiently fried (cooked) fish. Diagnosis consists of laboratory tests of stool and duodenal contents, as well as by RID and ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay).

Helminthic infestation does not have specific symptoms that allow an accurate diagnosis to be made. In addition, the diagnostic process is complicated by a significant number of different types of helminths. However, the general clinical picture, coupled with laboratory tests, will help differentiate the disease and, accordingly, prescribe the correct treatment.

Roundworm infection

Ascariasis

Two weeks after infection, the roundworm larvae begin migration, as a result of which the first signs of the presence of worms in the body appear. Often the symptoms of ascariasis are confused with the manifestations of the following pathologies:

• ARVI;
• pneumonia;
• bronchial asthma;
• bronchitis;
• allergy.

The patient experiences an increase in temperature to subfebrile levels, a cough occurs with the release of a small amount of sputum, the contents of which are mucous in nature, in some cases there are streaks of blood. The cough can be paroxysmal, as during an asthmatic attack, and be accompanied by pain in the chest area. Helminthic infestation of the lungs.

The main indicators of changes occurring in the body are eosonophilia and anemia, which can be identified using laboratory tests of peripheral blood.

The second phase of ascariasis is characterized by the appearance of helminths in the human intestine, which is accompanied by the following symptoms:

On palpation, the patient feels pain in the abdomen. In children, the pain is diffuse; in adults, symptoms manifest themselves in the form of pain localized in the midline of the abdomen above the navel.

When palpating, you can detect an enlargement of the spleen, liver, and peripheral lymph nodes.

It is not enough to know only the manifestations of ascariasis. To make an accurate diagnosis it is necessary Conduct a laboratory test of stool for the presence of worms.

Pinworm infection

Children most often suffer from enterobiasis. Signs of the presence of helminths in humans appear only after the larva becomes an adult and begins laying eggs. The most striking manifestation of the disease is itching in the anus. Unpleasant sensations intensify in the evening and at night. In addition, the patient experiences abdominal pain, diarrhea, and flatulence.

On the part of the nervous system, sleep disturbances, irritability, and anxiety are noted. The skin reacts to the development of helminthic infestation by the appearance of rashes such as dermatitis, eczema or urticaria, which appear as a result of an allergic reaction to helminthic toxins.

Worms can be detected in a child by examining the skin in the anus or feces after bowel movements.

Symptoms of helminthic infection with Trichinella determined by the phase of development of the pathology. The incubation period, which lasts up to 1.5 months, has no obvious manifestations. After its completion, patients complain of the following manifestations:

• Weakness, malaise;
• chills, accompanied by an increase in temperature to subfebrile levels;
• swelling of the face;
• mild pain in the muscles.

For moderate helminthic infestation severity is characterized by the appearance of myalgia of the lumbar, calf and cervical muscles, skin rash, high fever, swelling of the face, and an increase in the concentration of eosinophils in the blood.

A severe form of the disease manifests itself more clearly with the addition of concomitant pathologies of the respiratory system (pneumonia, bronchitis, pleurisy). Cardiovascular diseases are represented by arterial hypertension, heart rhythm disturbances, and tachycardia.

Ignoring signs of roundworm infestation can lead to the development of appendicitis, cancer, brain damage, bleeding, peritonitis, anaphylactic shock.

Flatworm infestation

• Dizziness and headaches;
• weight loss;
• dyspeptic disorders (bloating, nausea and vomiting);
• allergic reactions;
• pain in the abdominal area.

When defecating, you can notice white segments in the stool that look like small worms. In fact, these are body parts of the bovine tapeworm. This symptom is characteristic only of tapeworm, since in pork saltpeter the segments are immobile and cannot come off.

Damage to organs by flat helminths

Worms in the visual organs cause the following symptoms:

• lacrimation;
• inflammation of the conjunctiva;
• development of inflammatory processes in the retina and eyelids.

Turning the head or body causes severe dizziness, and sensory and motor functions may be impaired.

Wide tapeworm

The causative agent of diphyllobothriasis is the tapeworm. The pathology may not manifest itself for a long time; the first signs appear only after 1-2 months from the moment of infection.

Manifestations of the disease can be pronounced with the development of complications or mild, with a slight deterioration in the patient’s condition. There is slight malaise and periodic dizziness. Pain appears in the upper abdomen, diarrhea and nausea are noted. Urticarial exanthema (rash covered with crusts) appears on the skin.

When examining the oral cavity, painful bright red spots are noticeable on the mucous membrane, body of the tongue, gums and palate. Papillary atrophy is also noted.

Severe form of helminthic infestation (ascariasis)

It is best to start treatment in the early stages, before serious health problems occur.

General symptoms and signs of helminthic infestation

All this leads to a gradual decrease in the protective functions of the body and leads to the development of other pathologies. Even cancerous tumors can appear due to cavitary worms.

The main symptoms of worm infection:

• Decreased performance, chronic fatigue.
• Headache.
• in the form of skin rashes.
• Fragility, loss of hair and nails.
• Anemia.
• Decreased appetite.

The clinical picture largely depends on their number. In the acute phase, which usually manifests itself in the 2nd week after infection, it is characterized by an increase in body temperature, dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, and the development of conjunctivitis.

Similar symptoms last for several months. If left untreated, the acute phase becomes chronic.

The heaviest helminthic infestation occurs in the larval stage. Migrating larvae spread throughout all organs and cause destruction in them.

In large numbers, worms can clog the bile ducts and intestinal tract.

Helminthic infestations in children: symptoms and treatment

Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor German Shaevich Gandelman

Work experience: more than 30 years.

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Children are prone to infection with worms. This is due to the fact that they have poor personal hygiene. In addition, educational institutions share toys and other items. Often, kindergarten groups have 100% of preschool children infected with helminths.

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