Helminthiasis is a group of diseases caused by parasitic worms.
Helminths can be found in the human intestines, lungs, gallbladder and bile ducts. Parasites cause mechanical damage to internal organs, and helminth waste causes intoxication. For humans, helminthiasis suppresses the immune system, aggravates the course of other diseases, causes fatigue, reduces the intestinal absorption capacity, reduces the effectiveness of vaccination, and so on. It is also dangerous because. with helminths by drinking dirty water or unwashed food. In rare cases, the disease is transmitted through the skin or airways.
Classification of helminthiasis
By localization:
- Intestine.These include ascariasis, strongyloidiasis, trichocephaly, teniarinchiaz, etc.
- Lungs.This group includes tominhosis and paragonimosis.
- Tissue.This class includes schistosomiasis, trichinosis, toxocariasis, and filariasis.
- Hepotobiliary system.This group includes opisthorchiasis, fascioliasis and clonoriosis.
By stage:
- Sharp.Helminthiasis usually appears 2-4 weeks after infection. Depending on the severity of the helminthic fever, symptoms of helminthiasis are observed for 1 week to several months, after which the disease becomes chronic.
- Chronic.The clinical manifestations of chronic helminthiasis depend on the species characteristics of the parasite. Allergic manifestations in the presence of helminths persist for a long time with the proliferation of larvae (filariasis or strongiloidosis). In other forms of the disease, symptoms depend on the number, size and location of parasites in the body.
Helminthiasis and micronutrient deficiency
Once in the human body, the parasites assimilate nutrients and feed on blood and tissue juices. For growth and reproduction, helminths primarily need micronutrients, which leads to a decrease in their content in the body. The result of helminthiasis can be a deficiency of the following trace elements:
Zinc deficiency.It causes prostatitis, infertility, dwarfism, parakeratosis (similar to scabies or itching), various tumors and many other pathologies.
Selenium deficiency.Leads to a decrease in immunity, can lead to the development of malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, mammary glands, prostate.
Iodine deficiency.This leads to stunted growth, impaired sexual maturity and underdevelopment of the reproductive organs. Iodine deficiency can lead to dementia and mental retardation.
Manganese deficiency.It can cause broken bones, weight loss, convulsions, dermatitis and genital degeneration.
Chromium deficiency.Fatigue, diabetes intolerance (borderline diabetes), causes growth retardation, increases cholesterol levels.
Symptoms of helminthiasis
- temperature;
- various skin rashes;
- swelling of the face, conjunctivitis;
- inflammation of the upper respiratory tract;
- empty stool;
- angina, lymphadenitis in children;
- bronchospasm, infiltrates in the lungs, pneumonia;
- myocarditis;
- hepatitis;
- meningoencephalitis.
Symptoms of helminthiasis (clinical picture)
Acute helminthiasis.For this form of helminthic invasion
Symptoms of common allergic reactions are characteristic: itchy skin rash, fever, swollen lymph nodes, pain in muscles and joints. Acute helminthiasis often leads to the development of pulmonary syndrome, abdominal pain and dyspeptic disorders. At the same time, the size of the liver and spleen increases, and symptoms from the central nervous system may appear.
Chronic helminthiasis. In many forms of helminthiasis, the parasitism of several single individuals persists without any unpleasant symptoms. Characteristic symptoms of helminthiasis appear in the presence of large worms (teniids, extensive lenteworm, etc. ). Symptoms depend on the type and location of the parasite. Pain, dyspeptic and asthenoneurotic syndromes are observed with intestinal helminthiasis. Ascariasis can cause pancreatitis, obstructive jaundice and intestinal obstruction. Enterobiasis is characterized by itching in the anus at night. With clonorrhea and opisthorchiasis can develop hepatitis, cholecystocholangitis and various lesions of the gastrointestinal tract.
Helminthiasis and infectious diseases
Worm infestation increases the risk of contracting infectious diseases. Helminths reduce immunity and weaken the body as a whole. Thus, parasites open free access to body tissues for germs and viruses. Helminthiasis can be accompanied by the following infectious diseases.
Toxoplasmosis.It is a contagious disease that affects humans and animals. You can become infected with toxoplasmosis by eating contaminated blood transfusions, thermally processed meat or fish foods, or by contacting the patient's stool. Toxoplasmosis is transmitted to the unborn child during intrauterine development. Infection can lead to fetal death or spontaneous abortion. Newborns infected with toxoplasmosis have a higher risk of death.
Chlamydia.Infectious disease of rodents, cats and humans. May be accompanied by fever, rhinitis, conjunctivitis and pneumonia. Affects vision, reproductive and respiratory systems. Chlamydia is transmitted through airborne droplets, contact and sexual contact.
Toxocara.The disease is observed in humans, domestic animals and rodents. Toxocar eggs remain in the dried feces for months. You can become infected by contact with animal hair or soil. The disease is accompanied by severe allergies and pathologies of the internal organs.
Diagnosis and treatment of helminthiasis
How to diagnose helminthiasis
Prevention of helminthiasis is primarily based on strict hygiene standards. It is unacceptable to drink raw water, eat poorly processed or unfamiliar foods (fish, meat). Early detection of people infected with parasites also plays an important role in prevention. The diagnosis of helminthiasis is made by identifying the larvae and eggs of the helminths. They are often localized in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract, so the most common method is fecal analysis.
In some cases, standard methods for diagnosing helminthiasis are ineffective. For example, some parasites do not lay eggs for a long time and therefore cannot be found in feces. An innovative method allows you to determine the presence of helminths and assess the general condition of the body with the iris of the eyes. The method is that each organ has a projection on a specific segment of the "iris" and transmits information about its condition through the visceral centers of the brain. Such a diagnosis of helminthiasis allows the detection of such parasites in cases where the usual test for helminth eggs is negative.
How to get rid of helminthiasis
An effective, safe and proven tool to get rid of helminthic infestations in the body and replenish the necessary micronutrients, it is a drug complex for helminths that improves health in several key areas at once:
- improve immunity;
- normalize metabolism;
- improve the enzymatic functions of the stomach, pancreas, intestines;
- eliminate the symptoms of allergies;
- to normalize the activity of the gastrointestinal tract, etc.
Antiparasitic health program
It is necessary to take broad-spectrum antiparasitic drugs for 3 months to eliminate helminthiasis. You must take a 7-day break between each month of admission.