Many of us, after the summer vacation, will think about the presence of worms (helminths).
Someone thinks that it is necessary to get rid of them at all costs, others, on the contrary, think that these parasites are very useful for the body. Who will tell us the truth?
Certainly, many of you are familiar with the famous Dr. Casa, Lar. In one of the series there was a case where a teacher got sick well in class. The children were scared, and the doctors didn't know what was happening to her because she was in such a serious condition. Every doctor promoted her theory. Some thought the patient had a tumor, others that she was suffering from inflammation of the vessels in the brain. The protagonist of the television series, Dr. House, solves this problem by finding the culprit for the professor's suffering. It was a tapeworm that tormented the woman. Then the teacher was prescribed a course of treatment with pills and she recovered.
Although this series may seem like a fantasy, the script of this series is done by real professionals. Actual cases of worm infection also resemble a myth, but unfortunately, the consequences cannot always be corrected, as in the case of the series. How do we know if we are infected or not? Are we in danger or not?
About worm prevention
People, when they hear about various miracle remedies for the destruction of these parasites, they forget about everything just to get rid of them.
We develop such a strong aversion to these animals that even when we think about them, it becomes bad. We are ready to test ourselves with even the most "abnormal" remedies, drink all sorts of dubious herbs and even do garlic enemas.
It is very important not to overdo it with any medication and stop in time. In the case of parasitic diseases, care must be taken when choosing drugs for helminths, because without taking the right drugs, we can even complicate the situation. Do not take anything for treatment! It is very important to know what you are struggling with, what drug helps, what dose is optimal and what contraindications it has. So it could be a whole detective story in the fight against parasites.
On our planet, more than 300, 000 species of helminths are known to affect vertebrates. In humans, there are 300 species of helminths (according to other sources, more than 12, 000 species). So to be treated with anything, it just won't work. Although it's good that most of them are in the tropics. That's if we don't take these "tourists" from tropical countries where we like to relax (Turkey, Cyprus, Egypt, Thailand).
Every region of the world is characterized by certain worms. And each one has a different way of entering the body.
How many types of helminths are there on Earth?
schistosomes
Africa and Asia are famous for their schistosomes. And you can get infected with them very simply if you swim in a local freshwater reservoir or drink water from local sources. Mostly schistosomes enter the body through the genitourinary organs.
How to avoid schistosome infection?
If you do not swim in fresh water and wash yourself with boiled water only, in principle, you can avoid this.
Filaria and elephantiasis (filariasis)
You can also "meet" the filaria during your holidays in the islands of Fiji, Mozambique, Goa, Tahiti and also Egypt. The main carriers of these parasites are mosquitoes (local mosquitoes).
Filariae are dangerous because they cause filariasis (elephantiasis), which affects the lymph nodes and is very difficult to treat.
Mosquitoes are also dangerous because they can carry leishmaniasis (caused by leishmania) and malaria. Leishmaniasis affects the mucous membranes and skin.
How to avoid infection with filariae?
The main rule is not to let mosquitoes get close to you, let alone bite. Use special curtains, repellents and mosquito nets.
When in the tropics, avoid running or walking barefoot on local paths or sandy beaches. The fact is that in this way you can catch other types of parasites. In the "harmless" sand often hide various parasitic larvae, which can very quickly penetrate the body, even through the skin of the feet! So sometimes, after coming back from travel, you might find some kind of larva under your skin. Just like in some horror movie!
How to avoid infection with these parasites? Only wear shoes and it is not recommended to lie on the sand or grass without a mat.
fluke
The most dangerous food is raw and also raw fish.
The worm is one of many parasites that can be found in raw fish in:
- China;
- Japan.
After tasting a piece of this fish (i. e. infected), after 1/2 - 1 month you may experience unpleasant sensations in the liver area, as well as rashes.
Not only is chance transmitted this way. Many worms are waiting for the next host to bite a raw fish. Fans of caviar, sushi, salted and dried fish are also at risk of contracting a fluke.
How to avoid worm infection?
First of all, exclude all kinds of exotic raw fish dishes from the menu. If you still can't abstain from taking these dishes, at least eat them only in good, certified restaurants.
If you buy raw fish at the market or from strangers, you should definitely already cook it, otherwise you are at risk.
Trichinella and trichinosis
What do you think, that there are no other worms? Make no mistake, we find them in other well-known products.
Here Europeans are very fond of steaks with blood. And here lies another danger - trichinosis.
Other helminths don't compare to this one, as Trichinella is one of the most dangerous! They can settle in muscle tissue and lead to death.
In addition to trichinella, this European dinner can "give" other parasites: pork and beef tapeworm.
How to avoid infection with trichinosis and tapeworm?
Eat well-prepared meat dishes only in good restaurants.
worms and worms
Even when we eat vegetables and fruits, we need to think about the fact that another threat of infection is looming: roundworms and pinworms. That's why our mothers taught us to wash fruits and vegetables before consumption. Most of the time, the threat comes from spicy (green) herbs, which are brought to us from the southern regions.
How to avoid infection with roundworms and worms?
If you bought vegetables at the market, be sure to wash them well. First, leave the grass in the water for an hour so that the helminth eggs that are on the leaves sink to the bottom of the pot, and only then wash each leaf individually. So!
Positive aspects of worms
I guess the thought that such "pets" are roaming around isn't very warm. But let's be optimistic, because life is beautiful.
The microcosm around us is full of all sorts of surprises:
- bacteria,
- virus,
- parasites.
And we have whole kilograms of this biomass and there's nothing pathological about it. We were not designed to live in an absolutely sterile environment where we would simply die.
Some of these organisms have a positive effect, because they are involved in improving immunity, in the synthesis of certain vitamins, and digestion works differently thanks to them.
I don't want to call helminths useful animals for humans, but there are those that are safe (intestinal parasites) and especially dangerous (parasites that live in other organs: lungs, liver, eyes and even the brain! ). In the latter case, everyone thinks about how to recover quickly, because the problem is very serious.
It happens that helminths leave the body of the owner, even when he does not know of their existence in his body.
For example, you can get rid of worms with a head of garlic, or through hormonal changes (in the case of a pregnant woman), anything is possible. If you decide to revolt against these parasites without knowing what you're fighting, you can piss them off. Thus, they can complicate the situation by penetrating the bile ducts and causing a liver abscess. So keep in mind that regular prevention is not always helpful! It is better to pass control in the hospital for the presence of helminths.
Symptoms of a worm infestation
How to proceed? Worms surround us everywhere and thus we can get infected easily, it is not recommended to be treated for them without a diagnosis, and diagnosing helminths is not an easy task. Worms are very good at disguising themselves as other diseases.
And the most interesting: the bigger the helminth (there are giants that reach 10 meters), the calmer it behaves. Therefore, it is not always possible to analyze just a few symptoms, it seems, to identify the correct diagnosis. You cannot do without the examination of a parasitologist.
Of course, no one can help you better than a doctor. Here are some cases where you need to make sure you get tested:
- during a recent vacation in different parts of the world, you ate various dubious local delicacies, swam in hotel pools where the water was not chlorinated, walked barefoot on the beach, lay naked on sand, grass, touched local dogs and cats;
- you have a high fever, hives, redness, itching, rash, chills, swelling, and abdominal pain.
If you discover your situation, then you need to consult a parasitologist.
Personal hygiene rules not to get infected with worms
food
- Let's start with the fact that in exotic countries you can only drink bottled water.
- Fruits, even if they look very appetizing, should be peeled or cooked. Simply put, it is by no means recommended to use them.
- Other questionable products are
- raw meat;
- raw fish (anyhow, even from the sea).
- Freshly squeezed juices are also prohibited. Fruit juices do not always go through a thorough washing process.
Refuse to use such products.
Beach
Don't risk walking barefoot on sand, grass, trails in exotic countries. Use a lounger and flip-flops.
Bathing
Swimming is prohibited in the freshwater reservoirs of India, Central Africa, South America. There are so many parasites that even the movie "Alien" looks like a children's fairy tale compared to these.
mosquitoes
Mosquitoes (or midges) are very dangerous parasites because they are serious carriers of many infections and helminths.
Avoid direct contact with them.
You need to use repellents, wear long-sleeved clothing, sleep under the canopy.
linen
It is strictly forbidden to air dry clothes in exotic countries.
The problem is that flies in tropical countries are very fond of laying eggs on it, and when you put on swimming trunks, they hatch larvae that can cause dermatitis.
Where to test for worms?
Take exams only at specialized state clinics. Dubious institutions are not recommended to perform such tests.
One of the reasons not to contact these clinics is the fact that they can find whatever you want, even if you don't have anything.
Yes, yes, to hook you, they can prescribe unnecessary treatments there. They will tell you that modern universal diagnostics sees everything, even where standard analyzes see nothing. Don't believe the charlatans and feel free to go to the standard public clinics.
Now let's talk about the so-called universal diagnoses. In cases such as the detection of helminths, this is not possible.
If they have to urinate in the bladder, if in the intestines - then in the stool, if in the muscle mass - then they will have to do an x-ray of the muscles, if in the liver - ultrasound.
What do you think? The positive results of such analyzes can only alert you to kick them out as soon as possible. Only take the drugs prescribed by the parasitologist, as precision and accuracy are very important in this matter.
What should be remembered about helminths?
Theoretically, helminths can be infected almost anywhere - in the city, on vacation, in tropical countries, in the forest. But, as statistics say, even in these cases, not everyone is infected with them. Those who follow the basic rules of hygiene, as a rule, reduce the risk of infection by themselves.
- The main thing is not to panic and not to drink any medicine for prevention, because there are no universal remedies for worms. Even pills for worms have their own classification according to different forms of helminths. It turns out that some pills help with some parasites, while others don't. The doctor will better determine your diagnosis and prescribe the right pills. If you care for your pets (cats and dogs) by prescribing anthelmintic medication regularly, and if none of the symptoms mentioned above bother you, then you don't have to worry.
- If you have any doubts about this, then go to the doctor. Don't forget to tell us what you ate and where you were.
- As I said before, you only need to take tests in good specialized clinics. In bad clinics, you can spend a lot of money and you won't be able to be treated.
- Any medication taken for prevention can only cause harm. Do not use them "just for prevention", otherwise you can destroy the intestinal flora and even "win" toxic hepatitis. Echinococcosis is very dangerous which is why the initiative of such a thing can burst the cyst where the larva is located. This one can be fatal.
- If you were recommended "some dietary supplements for worms" in "some clinic", that doesn't mean that everyone will get better. Many of these products contain toxins that can trigger allergies and you may not get the effect.
The most common myths about helminths
Marine fish does not contain parasites
Who told you that? Most earthworms contain fish that have not undergone the necessary processing or that, after capture, were not immediately cleaned prior to freezing. This is how you increase your chances of getting infected.
Dogs can catch worms more easily than cats
In fact, dogs have a habit of tasting the feces of their relatives. The most dangerous helminths that can be "taken out" from dogs are echinococci - very dangerous parasites of the liver and lungs. For prevention, prescribe a course of treatment to animals 4 times a year. So dogs can be more dangerous in this regard than cats.
Only children can catch worms
Did you believe? This may seem just because children are less accurate, wash their hands less often, and sometimes do not follow hygiene rules. Therefore, hygiene rules are important for everyone!
A person infected with worms can infect others
Of course it's true. Being close to such a "patient" you take risks, but maybe you don't even know it. So after shaking hands, wash your hands just in case. You can get infected with pinworms (enterobiasis), especially easily, because they are the most common helminths. Also, dirty children can often infect their parents, so teach your children to follow the rules of hygiene.