Worms (helminths)

Worms are parasitic worms that live in the bodies of humans and animals. They are difficult to detect as they disguise themselves as many other diseases and conditions. Symptoms of helminth infestation range from mild malaise to fainting with severe intoxication. We'll tell you where you can get infected with worms and how to get rid of them.

Which is

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

The size of the worms that live in the body varies from a few millimeters to several meters. For example, the length of the worms that cause enterobiasis does not exceed 1 cm. Some worms (eg the wide tapeworm) reach 12-15 meters.

Causes of helminthiasis

Helminthiasis is a disease in which worm infection occurs. 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 is infected with worms. At the same time, WHO experts note that the actual number of people infected is at least 50%. This mainly concerns countries with a low sanitary culture (these are some countries in Africa and Southeast Asia). In other countries, more than 1. 5 million cases of helminth infection are reported annually. Most of them are children.

How can you get infected with worms?

There are 4 forms of infection:

1. Through the ground. These diseases are called geohelminthiasis. Unwashed fruit can harbor 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 terrestrial parasites.
2. When coming into contact with an infected person. Parasitic worms are incredibly prolific. In just one day, the female moth is able to lay up to 5, 000 eggs in the human body. Eggs and adults can be passed on to others through bedding and other household items. After that, the infected person just doesn't wash their hands, and the worms will penetrate from the inside.
3. When eating contaminated food. These 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 through insect bites.

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

• Disregard the hygiene rules - if you don't wash your hands after going outside, going to the bathroom or before eating.
• The habit of biting your nails - there is a lot of dirt under them with microbes and parasites. This also includes the habit of putting pens, pencils and other objects in your mouth.
• Poor pet care, especially for those going outside.
• Eat unwashed fruits and vegetables.
• Using water from questionable sources.
• Poor cleaning of rooms.
• Passion for foods of animal origin that have not gone through the proper culinary processing.

who is at risk

No one is immune to worm infection. Just take a break from hygiene issues, and the parasite larva can "invade" the body. The following categories of people are especially susceptible to helminthiasis:

• Small children. Most often, helminth invasions are seen in children. This is due to the fact that the child does not comply with hygiene rules. Young children put objects in their mouths and, in the streets, they often dig in the mud. In groups, children tend to come into closer contact than adults, which also increases the likelihood of infection.
• Families with pets. Eggs and larvae of parasites, which go from the street to the rooms with pets, can be everywhere. Often, owners of dogs, cats and other animals are not even aware of the problem and become aware of the presence of worms when contacting the veterinarian for another reason.
• Foodies. Lovers of 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.
• Summer residents, farm workers. People who work in vegetable gardens, orchards or simply live in the countryside.
• People who find raw fish or meat in their work. For example, caterers or chefs - when processing, cutting and preparing food.

Myth 1: There are no parasites on marine fish.

Many people mistakenly believe that worms are only found in river fish, and they are not in the sea because of salt water. In fact, marine fish are predominantly affected by parasites that are not dangerous to humans. In this sense, raw river fish is more dangerous than raw marine fish. But that does not mean that fish from the sea are completely safe: it is always recommended to process any fish - fry well, boil or freeze for 3 days.

Helminthiasis classification

There are several classifications of parasitic worms. By location, worms are:

• Intestinal - live in the small or large intestine. This includes roundworms, eels, whipworms, bovine tapeworm and others.
• Pulmonary - lives in the tissues of the bronchopulmonary system. Most of the time it's a pulmonary accident.
• Tissue - parasite in various tissues of the body. Tissue worms include schistosomes, trichinella and toxocar.
• Liver and gallbladder parasites. They are liver worm, giant liver worm and clonorch (Chinese worm).

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

• Nematodes - caused by roundworms. They are ascariasis, enterobiasis, trichinosis, trichocephalosis, toxocariasis, ankylostomiasis and others.
• Cestodoses - the causative agents are tapeworms. These pathologies include hymenolepiasis, taeniasis, teniarinchiasis, diphylobotriasis and cystcerciasis.
• Dystomiasis are diseases caused by flat worms. These are fascioliasis, opistorrchiasis, dicroceliosis.
• Protozoa - the causative agents are protozoa, such as lamblia, toxoplasma or amoeba.

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

helminth invasions

Illness	The causative agent and its characteristics	transfer method
ascariasis	Called ascaris. These are roundworms that live in the intestines. They can grow up to 30-40 cm. Roundworms feed on almost all the nutrients in food. In the process of vital activity, the worms wound the intestinal walls to perforations.	Most of the time, ascaris eggs are transmitted via the fecal-oral route. They persist for a long time in the soil and on the surface of vegetables, fruits, herbs and wild berries.
Enterobiasis	It develops when worms enter the body. These are small round worms, with the size of 0, 5-1 cm. The main danger in enterobiasis is the toxic residues of the worms.	Contact with an infected person. Pinworm eggs remain on multiple surfaces for some time.
Giardiasis	Caused by microscopic parasites - lamblia. Pathogens produce toxic substances and damage tissues	Giardia is spread via the fecal-oral route as well as contaminated food and water
Opistorchiasis	The causative agents are small worms up to 2 cm in size. Most of the time, they parasitize the liver and bile ducts. In opistorchiasis, poisoning by toxic substances and mechanical damage to tissues occurs	Opistorchiasis pathogens are transmitted with raw fish
Echinococcosis	It is caused by echinococci - tapeworms, whose size does not exceed 5 cm. Echinococci parasitize many tissues, including the heart and brain. Pathogens cause serious disturbances in the functioning of organs and systems in the body. In some cases, they can trigger a malignant tumor process.	They spread through dirty hands and contaminated food. Echinococcus carriers can also be dogs and rodents.
Diphylobotriasis	Causative agents - large tapeworms, reaching 10-15 meters. Tapeworms live in the small intestine and cause serious damage to the host's body. Worms produce toxic substances and significantly impair the functioning of the digestive tract	Transmitted when eating raw fish
Trichocephalosis	Called whipworm, a round worm that looks like a hair. Vlasoglava can reach 5-6 meters. The worms live in the intestines, penetrating the submucosal layer. Causes intoxication, inflammation and acute anemia	The invasion is carried out by swallowing the parasite's eggs

Worm infestations are also classified according to stages:

• Acute helminthiasis - appear 2 to 4 weeks after infection. In this case, the symptoms of the worms are observed from 1 week to several months. If you don't have therapy, the disease becomes chronic.
• Chronic helminthiasis - manifestations depend on the type of parasite. For example, if they are parasites with larval reproduction, prolonged allergic reactions will occur. Other chronic worm illnesses may be asymptomatic or accompanied by pain, malaise, fatigue, and other symptoms.

Complications of helminthiasis

If helminthiasis is not treated, this leads to serious, sometimes life-threatening complications:

• Anemia - anemia, insufficient number of red blood cells and hemoglobin in the blood. This condition is due to the fact that the worms consume part of the nutrients necessary 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, eg liver, lungs, muscles. Above all, tissues are affected during the migration of worms, when they move from one department (or organ) to another - ulcers and foci of constant inflammation are formed. In this context, the risk of developing infections and malignant tumors increases.
• Diseases of the nervous system. This is due to the toxic residues of the worms that poison the body. Nerve tissues are more sensitive to toxins. This can cause irritability, headaches, insomnia, and other signs of nervous system damage.
• Allergic reactions. Toxic substances secreted by worms can also act as allergens. Human immunity can respond inappropriately to these substances. This leads to typical allergic symptoms - rash, skin redness, itching and sometimes nausea and vomiting.

The presence of worms in the body also leads to a lack of the following minerals:

• Zinc. With a lack of zinc, immunity declines, a person often catches a cold and suffers from other infectious diseases. The probability of developing prostatitis and infertility increases, because this trace element is extremely important for the health of the reproductive system.
• Selenium. It lowers immunity and also increases the risk of malignant tumors.
• Iodine. Iodine deficiency in children leads to delayed growth and development (physical and mental). In adults, the work of the thyroid gland worsens, metabolic processes slow down.
• Manganese. With a lack of manganese, bones become brittle. A person loses weight quickly, often suffers from cramps and dermatitis.
• Chrome. Deficiency of this element leads to developmental delay and impaired carbohydrate metabolism.

Worms and immunity

Worms are often accompanied by other parasites - toxoplasma and chlamydia. This is due to suppression of immunity. A healthy body is able to resist invaders, but with helminthiasis, protection is weakened. Toxoplasmosis is especially dangerous during pregnancy as it can lead to fetal death.

helminthiasis symptoms

The signs of worms are diverse in adults and children. The most common symptoms are:

• itchy anus is the most common symptom of intestinal worms;
• teeth grinding in dream - occurs due to toxins released by worms;
• drooling in sleep and in the morning;
• nausea when brushing teeth in the morning;
• peeling skin on hands and feet;
• allergic rashes;
• a strong feeling of hunger, even fainting;
• swelling (usually allergic);
• itchy skin;
• chronic fatigue;
• headache and dizziness;
• mental disorders for no known reason (stress, neurosis, depression);
• swelling;
• symptoms of intestinal disorders;
• change in body weight (excessive weight and thinness);
• the simultaneous course of several diseases (or the succession of one disease to another);
• cramping or pulling pains in the abdomen;
• anemia;
• delayed physical and mental development in children;
• childhood hyperactivity or lethargy;
• enlarged lymph nodes (often in the acute phase of helminthiasis).

when to see a doctor

An infectious disease therapist or specialist deals with the treatment of parasitic diseases. A physician should be consulted if one or more of the above symptoms are found. Due to a very sophisticated system of masking worms, you should explain the symptoms to the doctor as accurately as possible, and also talk about your lifestyle: what food do you prefer, if you have recently traveled and where, there are pets, etc.

disease diagnosis

If the doctor suspects a helminth invasion, it won't be difficult to identify it. For this, the following diagnostic procedures are used:

• Examination of feces. A stool sample is delivered to the laboratory. They can contain eggs or larvae of parasites that live in the intestines.
• Scraping for enterobiasis. A cotton swab is removed from the anus with a cotton swab. With this analysis, pinworms can be identified. Scraping should be done early in the morning, before going to the bathroom.
• A blood test for antibodies. This is a very informative test with which you can identify many parasites. However, even with a positive result, there is no 100% guarantee that the parasites are still in the patient's body, as the antibodies remain even after they are eliminated.
• Instrumental diagnosis. The use of radiography, MRI and computed tomography with the use of contrast agents. These diagnostic methods allow the identification of both large worms and some pathological tissue changes caused by helminth invasion.

As a rule, the physician prescribes several studies to increase the reliability of the obtained data. Sometimes a patient needs to be tested multiple times to make an accurate diagnosis.

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

Helminth treatment in children and adults

Despite the abundance of antiparasitic drugs in pharmacies, you cannot take them alone. By prescribing a comprehensive treatment, the doctor seeks not only to remove the parasites, but also to eliminate the consequences of their vital activity.

As a rule, in addition to anthelmintic medications, the patient is also prescribed vitamins and other medications that eliminate the symptoms of the disease. The doctor selects the medications separately for each patient, as the symptoms are different for each person.

Medicines for the treatment of helminthiasis

With helminthic invasions, patients are prescribed a complex of the following drugs:

• Anthelmintic drugs. They are anthelmintic medications that remove or kill the worms. These goals are achieved by stopping the parasites' metabolism or paralyzing their muscles. In the latter case, they lose their ability to remain in the intestine and are excreted.
• Antihistamines. If the patient is allergic to parasites, then, at the time of treatment, doctors prescribe anti-allergic medications. This is extremely important as with the mass death of the worms, a large number of allergens are released, which can trigger a strong allergic reaction. Antihistamines block the production of histamine, the main mediator of an allergic reaction.
• Enterosorbents. They are drugs capable of binding to substances in the gastrointestinal tract. During the treatment of worms, enterosorbents are used to bind and remove toxic substances secreted by the worms.
• Vitamins and minerals. Most of the time, B vitamins (folic acid and B12) and iron preparations are prescribed. This is needed to treat anemia.
• Hepatoprotectors. They are drugs that protect the liver from toxic substances. This includes preparations based on essential phospholipids or plant materials (milk thistle, artichoke, licorice, St. John's wort and other plants).
• Probiotics and prebiotics. Prescribed to restore intestinal microflora. Probiotics are live cultures of beneficial bacteria. Prebiotics are indigestible food components (such as fiber) that are fermented only by the intestinal flora.

Surgery

In most cases, just drink a drug complex. However, sometimes doctors are still forced to resort to surgery. For example, a large accumulation of roundworms can cause bowel obstruction. This is an urgent condition that requires surgery.

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

Surgery is often resorted to when organs are damaged by the echinococci. These parasites accumulate, forming echinococcal plugs in the liver, lungs, bones, kidneys and even the brain. The danger of such a plug is that it can become infected and burst.

Popular Remedies for Worms

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

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

Myth 2: Garlic enemas eliminate worms

Worms really don't like garlic, because it contains phytoncides - antibacterial and antiparasitic substances. However, it is not necessary to do garlic enemas for helminthiasis. In the large intestine, where the enema contents are injected, there are very few worms. Most parasites live in the small intestine, so this procedure is useless. Also, with this enema, you may experience severe irritation of the mucous membrane.

Prevention and precautions

In most cases, the prognosis for treating helminthiasis is favorable. A timely visit to the doctor will prevent a number of complications caused by the worms.

Worm prevention is reduced to complying with the following recommendations:

• Wash your hands with soap and water before eating, after returning from the street, using the bathroom or after contact with animals.
• Wash vegetables, fruits and herbs thoroughly. Better to pour boiling water over them.
• Do not use other people's toiletries and dishes.
• Give up bad habits (smoking, alcohol).
• Avoid stress as it will have a beneficial effect on immunity.
• Regularly present your pet to the veterinarian, get it vaccinated in a timely manner.
• Every year, they undergo a comprehensive preventive examination, including testing for worm eggs.
• Cook meat, poultry, fish and eggs properly.

Myth 3: parasites die in frozen meat.

This is only true for some worms. For example, the bovine tapeworm actually dies when the meat is deep frozen (minus 12 and minus). And, for example, Trichinella larvae can only be eliminated after 2-3 hours of cooking.

Conclusion

The main cause of helminth invasions is inadequate hygiene. Improving sanitation and proper preparation of animal feed significantly reduces the likelihood of helminthiasis. In most cases, worms pose no danger to human health if detected early enough. Even so, lack of treatment leads to serious consequences - anemia, damage to the nervous system and other infections.