Worms (helminths)

Worms are parasitic worms that live in humans and animals. They are difficult to detect because they are masked like other diseases and conditions. Symptoms of helminthic infestation range from mild weakness to fainting with severe intoxication. We will tell you where you can get worms and how to get rid of them.

What is this

Worms are the most common parasite in humans. Today, science knows about 300 worm diseases. The most common intestinal worm diseases are enterobiasis and ascariasis, which affect more than 2 billion people.

The size of worms living in the body varies from a few millimeters to several meters. For example, pinworms that cause enterobiasis do not exceed 1 cm in length. Some tapeworms (e. g. , broad tapeworm) reach 12-15 meters.

Causes of helminthiasis

Helminthiasis is a disease caused by an infection with worms. Worms enter the human body and stay there. These parasites live not only in the intestines, but also in other organs and tissues.

According to the World Health Organization, one in four people on Earth suffers from worms. At the same time, WHO experts say that the real number of infected people is at least 50%. This is especially true for countries with a low sanitary culture (some countries in Africa and Southeast Asia). In other countries, more than 1. 5 million cases of helminth infections are reported each year. Most of them are children.

How can worms be infected?

There are 4 ways of infection:

1. Through the land. Such diseases are called geohelminthiasis. Unwashed fruit can hold tens of thousands of parasites. Therefore, it is very important to wash vegetables, fruits and hands thoroughly before eating. Walking pets are another source of parasites on the ground.
2. When in contact with an infected person. Parasitic worms are incredibly productive. The female pinworm can lay up to 5, 000 eggs a day in just one day. Eggs and adults can pass on to other people with bedding and other household items. After that, it is enough for infected people not to wash their hands and the worms will penetrate inside.
3. When eating contaminated food. Such helminthic diseases are called biohelminthiasis. You can catch the parasite with insufficient heat treatment of meat, poultry or fish.
4. Through an insect bite. This type of transmission is rare. As a rule, very small parasites can be transmitted by insect bites.

Consider the risk factors that increase the likelihood of worm infection in adults and children:

• Ignoring the rules of hygiene - if you wash your hands after the street, before using the toilet or before eating.
• The habit of biting the nails - under them there is a lot of dirt with germs and parasites. This includes the habit of putting pens, pencils and other objects in your mouth.
• Bad pet care, especially for those who go out.
• Eat unwashed vegetables and fruits.
• Use of water from dubious sources.
• Poor cleaning of settlements.
• Passion for animal foods that have not been properly processed.

Who is at risk

No one is immune to worm infection. It is enough to give space for hygiene, and the larvae of the parasite can "enter" the body. The following categories of people are particularly susceptible to helminthiasis:

• Small children. Helminthic infestations are often reported in children. This is due to the child's indifference to the rules of hygiene. Young children put things in their mouths and often dig mud in the streets. In groups, children are in closer contact with each other than adults, which increases the likelihood of infection.
• Families with pets. Eggs and larvae of parasites that enter the living space with pets from the street can be anywhere. Often, owners of dogs, cats, and other animals are unaware of the problem and learn of the presence of worms when they contact a veterinarian for another reason.
• Meals. Those who love exotic cuisine, such as sushi, raw meat or fish, are also at risk.
• Travelers. This is especially true for people traveling to countries with poor sanitation.
• Spring residents, agricultural workers. People who work in vegetable gardens, orchards or just live in the countryside.
• People who come across raw fish or meat in their work. For example, vendors or cooks - when processing, cutting and preparing food.

Myth 1: Marine fish do not have parasites.

Many people mistakenly believe that worms are found only in river fish and are not in the sea due to salt water. Indeed, sea fish are mainly affected by parasites that are not dangerous to humans. In this regard, raw river fish is more dangerous than raw sea fish. However, this does not mean that sea fish is completely safe: it is always recommended to process any fish - thoroughly fry, boil or freeze for 3 days.

Classification of helminthiasis

There are several classifications of parasitic worms. According to the localization, the worms are as follows:

• Intestine - lives in the small or large intestine. These include ascaris, snakehead, whipworm, cowfish, and more.
• Lung - lives in the tissues of the bronchopulmonary system. It is often a pulmonary crisis.
• Tissue - parasitizes various tissues of the body. Tissue worms include schistosomes, trichinella and toxocar.
• Parasites of the liver and gallbladder. These are the liver wave, the giant liver wave, and the clonorch (Chinese fluke).

There are 4 classes of helminthic diseases depending on the pathogen:

• Nematodes - caused by roundworms. These are ascariasis, enterobiasis, trichinosis, trichocephalosis, toxocariasis, hookworm and others.
• Cestodoses - the causative agents are tapeworms. Such pathologies include hymenolepiasis, teniasis, teniarinchiasis, difhyllobothriasis and sisterciasis.
• Dystomyoses are diseases caused by flatworms. These are fascioliasis, opisthorchiasis, dichroseliosis.
• Protozoa - the causative agents are protozoa such as lamblia, toxoplasma or amoeba.

More than 70 species of parasitic worms are widespread. The most common are the following helminthic diseases (see table).

Helminthic invasions

Illness	The causative agent of the disease and its features	Transfer method
Ascariasis	It's called Ascaris. They are roundworms that live in the intestine. They can grow up to 30-40 cm. Roundworms feed on almost all nutrients. In life, worms damage the intestinal wall to perforation	Ascaris eggs are often transmitted through the feces and mouth. They remain in the soil and on the surface of vegetables, fruits, grasses and berries for a long time
Enterobiasis	Pinworms develop when they enter the body. These are small round worms with a size of 0. 5-1 cm. The main danger in enterobiasis is the toxic waste products of worms.	Contact with an infected person. Pinworm eggs remain on different surfaces for some time.
Giardiasis	Microscopic parasites - cause lamblia. Pathogens produce toxins and damage tissues	Giardia is spread through the feces and mouth, as well as through contaminated food and water
Opisthorchiasis	The causative agents of the disease are small worms up to 2 cm. In most cases, they parasitize the liver and bile ducts. Opisthorchiasis is caused by toxic poisoning and mechanical damage to tissues	Pathogens of opisthorchiasis are transmitted by raw fish
Echinococcosis	Echinococci - causes tapeworms not exceeding 5 cm in size. Echinococci parasitize various tissues, including the heart and brain. Pathogens cause serious disorders of organs and body systems. In some cases, they can cause a malignant tumor process.	They are spread through dirty hands and contaminated food. Echinococcus carriers can be both dogs and rodents.
Difillobotriasis	Affected substances - large tapeworms, reaching 10–15 meters. Tapeworms live in the small intestine and cause serious damage to the host's body. Worms produce toxins and significantly disrupt the digestive system	Raw fish is transmitted by food
Trichocephalosis	Curly is called by a round worm that looks like hair. Vlasoglava can reach 5-6 meters. The worms live in the intestines and penetrate the submucosal layer. Causes poisoning, inflammation and acute anemia	The invasion is carried out by swallowing the eggs of the parasite

Worm infections are also classified by stage:

• Acute helminthiasis - appears 2-4 weeks after infection. In this case, the symptoms of worms are observed from 1 week to several months. If you do not take therapy, the disease becomes chronic.
• Chronic helminthiasis - its manifestations depend on the type of parasite. For example, if these are parasites with larval reproduction, long-lasting allergic reactions will occur. Other chronic worm diseases may be asymptomatic or may be accompanied by pain, weakness, fatigue, and other symptoms.

Complications of helminthiasis

If helminthiasis is not treated, it can sometimes lead to serious life-threatening complications:

• Anemia - anemia, a lack of red blood cells and hemoglobin in the blood. This is due to the fact that worms consume some of the nutrients needed for normal hematopoietic function.
• Destruction of tissues and organs. Worms live not only in the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract, but also in the thickness of tissues, such as the liver, lungs and muscles. Most tissues are affected during the migration of worms, when they move from one branch (or organ) to another - ulcers and permanent foci of inflammation. Against this background, the risk of infection and the development of malignant tumors increases.
• Diseases of the nervous system. This is due to the toxic waste products of worms that poison the body. Nerve tissues are the most sensitive to toxins. This can cause irritation, headaches, insomnia and other signs of damage to the nervous system.
• Allergic reactions. Toxins secreted by worms can also play the role of allergens. Human immunity may not respond adequately to these substances. This causes typical allergic symptoms - rashes, redness of the skin, itching and sometimes nausea and vomiting.

The presence of worms in the body also causes the lack of the following minerals:

• Zinc. With zinc deficiency, the immune system is weakened, people often catch colds and suffer from other infectious diseases. The likelihood of developing prostatitis and infertility increases because this trace element is extremely important for the health of the reproductive system.
• Selenium. Reduces immunity and increases the risk of malignant tumors.
• Iodine. Iodine deficiency in children leads to growth and developmental delays (physical and mental). In adults, the function of the thyroid gland deteriorates, metabolic processes slow down.
• Manganese. With manganese deficiency, bones become brittle. A person loses weight quickly, often suffers from cramps and dermatitis.
• Chrome. Deficiency of this element leads to developmental delays and disruption of carbohydrate metabolism.

Worms and immunity

Worms are often accompanied by other parasites - toxoplasmosis and chlamydia. This is due to a decrease in immunity. A healthy body can resist invaders, but protection against helminthiasis is weakened. Toxoplasmosis is especially dangerous during pregnancy because it can cause fetal death.

Symptoms of helminthiasis

The symptoms of worms are different in both adults and children. The most common symptoms are:

• itching in the anus is the most common symptom of intestinal worms;
• grinding teeth in a dream - occurs due to toxins released by worms;
• sleep and morning crying;
• nausea while brushing your teeth in the morning;
• peeling of the skin of the hands and feet;
• allergic skin rashes;
• a strong feeling of hunger until fainting;
• swelling (frequent allergic);
• itchy skin;
• chronic fatigue;
• headache and dizziness;
• mental disorders for no apparent reason (stress, neuroses, depression);
• swelling;
• symptoms of intestinal diseases;
• changes in body weight (both overweight and underweight);
• simultaneous course of several diseases (or transmission of one disease to another);
• abdominal cramps or cramping pains;
• anemia;
• physical and mental retardation in children;
• pediatric hyperactivity or lethargy;
• enlarged lymph nodes (often in the acute stage of helminthiasis).

When to see a doctor

A therapist or infectious disease specialist deals with the treatment of parasitic diseases. If one or more of the above symptoms are detected, a doctor should be consulted. Due to a very complex worm mask system, you should explain your symptoms to your doctor as accurately as possible and talk about your lifestyle: what food you like, whether you have recently traveled and if you have pets, and so on.

Diagnosis of the disease

If a doctor suspects a helminthic infestation, it is not difficult to diagnose. The following diagnostic procedures are used for this:

• Fecal examination. The stool sample is handed over to the laboratory. Eggs or parasites living in the intestines may be larvae.
• Itching for enterobiasis. A swab is taken from the anus with a cotton swab. Pinworms can be identified by this analysis. Wrinkles should be done early in the morning, without going to the toilet.
• Blood test for antibodies. This is a well-informed test where you can identify many parasites. However, even if the result is positive, there is no 100% guarantee that the parasites are still in the patient's body, because the antibodies remain even after removal.
• Instrumental diagnostics. Use of radiography, MRI and CT with the use of contrast agents. These diagnostic methods allow to identify both large worms and some pathological changes in the tissues caused by helminthic invasion.

As a rule, the doctor prescribes various studies to increase the reliability of the information obtained. Sometimes it is necessary to examine the patient several times to make an accurate diagnosis.

It is important!When confirming helminthiasis, it is necessary to inform other close family members. Examination is also recommended for them. If the test is positive, it is important that all infected family members receive treatment. Otherwise, the parasite's eggs will re-enter the recovering person's body and everything will have to be repeated from the beginning.

Treatment of helminths in children and adults

Although there are many antiparasitic drugs in pharmacies, you cannot take them yourself. The doctor, who prescribes a comprehensive treatment, tries to eliminate the parasites, as well as the consequences of their vital activities.

As a rule, in addition to anthelmintic drugs, the patient is prescribed vitamins and other drugs that relieve the symptoms of the disease. The doctor chooses the medication for each patient individually, because the symptoms are different for everyone.

Drugs for the treatment of helminthiasis

The following complex of drugs is prescribed to patients with helminthic invasions:

• Anthelmintic drugs. These are anthelmintic drugs that kill or kill worms. These goals are achieved by disrupting the metabolism of parasites or paralyzing the muscles. In the second case, they lose their ability to remain in the intestine and are excreted.
• Antihistamines. If the patient is allergic to parasites, doctors prescribe antiallergic drugs during treatment. This is extremely important because with the mass death of worms, a large number of allergens are released, which can cause a severe allergic reaction. Antihistamines inhibit the production of histamine, the main mediator of an allergic reaction.
• Enterosorbents. These are drugs that can bind substances in the gastrointestinal tract. In the treatment of worms, enterosorbents are used to bind and remove toxins secreted by worms.
• Vitamins and minerals. B vitamins (folic acid and B12) and iron supplements are often prescribed. It is necessary to treat anemia.
• Hepatoprotectors. These are drugs that protect the liver from toxins. These include preparations based on essential phospholipids or plant materials (milk thistle, artichoke, licorice, St. John's wort and other herbs).
• Probiotics and prebiotics. It is prescribed to restore the intestinal microflora. Probiotics are living cultures of beneficial bacteria. Prebiotics are only indigestible food components (such as fiber) that are fermented by the intestinal flora.

Surgery

In most cases, it is enough to take one drug complex. But sometimes doctors still have to resort to surgery. For example, a large accumulation of roundworms can cause intestinal obstruction. This is an emergency that requires surgery.

Worms can accumulate in the bile duct, against the background of which develop obstructive jaundice and even liver abscess. The same situation can occur in the pancreas, which leads to acute pancreatitis. If the worms enter the appendix, appendicitis develops. All these conditions require emergency surgery.

In most cases, surgery is performed when the organs are damaged by echinococcus. These parasites accumulate and form echinococcal plugs in the liver, lungs, bones, kidneys and even the brain. The danger of such a blockage is that it can rot and explode.

Folk remedies for worms

Folk remedies for worms are not as effective as anthelmintic drugs. This is only an auxiliary method - the main treatment is prescribed by a doctor.

Folk remedies include pumpkin seeds, which contain cucurbitin, a substance with antihelminthic effect.

Myth 2: Garlic enemas get rid of worms

Worms really do not like garlic, because it contains phytoncides - antibacterial and antiparasitic substances. However, it is not necessary to make garlic enemas for helminthiasis. There are very few worms in the large intestine where the enema is injected. This procedure is useless because most parasites live in the small intestine. In addition, such an enema can cause severe irritation of the mucous membranes.

Prevention and precautionary measures

In most cases, the prognosis is favorable for the treatment of helminthiasis. A timely visit to the doctor will avoid many complications caused by worms.

Prevention of worms is reduced by following the following recommendations:

• Wash your hands with soap and water before eating, returning from the street, using the toilet, or contact with animals.
• Wash vegetables, fruits and herbs thoroughly. It is better to pour hot water on them.
• Do not use other people's hygiene products and other people's food.
• Avoid bad habits (smoking, alcohol).
• Avoid stress, it will have a beneficial effect on immunity.
• Show your pet to a veterinarian regularly and get vaccinated on time.
• Undergo a comprehensive preventive examination each year, including tests for worm eggs.
• Cook meat, poultry, fish and eggs accordingly.

Myth 3: Parasites die in frozen meat.

This is only true for some worms. For example, a bovine worm actually dies when the meat is frozen (minus 12 and below). And, for example, Trichinella larvae can be removed only after cooking for 2–3 hours.

The result

The main cause of helminthic infestations is poor hygiene. Improving sanitation and proper cooking of animal feed significantly reduces the likelihood of helminthiasis. In most cases, worms do not pose a threat to human health if detected in time. However, the lack of treatment leads to serious consequences - anemia, damage to the nervous system and other infections.