In order to get rid of parasites, it is first necessary to understand which parasites live inside the patient and whether they exist at all.There is a simple finger blood test for this.If eosinophils are not more than 5, you can be sure that there are no parasites in the body.If this indicator is above 5, a stool test for worm eggs is performed, and treatment will be prescribed based on the results of the analysis.Medicines for parasites have many unpleasant side effects: hair loss, seizures, kidney failure, drug-induced hepatitis, even liver cirrhosis, so only a doctor should prescribe them.
Common symptoms commonly attributed to the presence of parasites include nausea, fatigue, lethargy, pallor, irregular bowel movements, and constipation.These symptoms are more likely to indicate anemia or a thyroid disorder.If they appear or persist for some time, the smartest thing to do is to see a doctor.And as a preventive measure, wash your hands more often.
Fear of parasites
Many people are quite frankly and very afraid of parasites trying to appear in their bodies.Therefore, they are ready to pay a lot of money to fraudsters who not only look for parasites, but also "find" them, and then naive victims are given "prescriptions" of all kinds of dietary supplements and other remedies for imaginary helminths.Some try to get rid of parasites themselves, using garlic, onions and horseradish - medicines made from them are at least safe.But it is not yet known what will be inside the jar taken from medical candidates.
The problem of parasitism really exists, it exists only in Asian, African and South American countries.Thus, in some Asian countries, the infection of people with opisthorchosis reaches 80%.There, they take special measures to disinfect water and food.But all this is not our business;tropical parasites do not survive in our climate, although opisthorchiasis is common in colder regions.It is transmitted through fish, as well as through cats and dogs that eat this fish.But today we will talk about other parasites that are quite possible to be infected in our middle zone.These parasites are roundworms and pinworms.
Roundworms and ascariasis
Roundworms only parasitize humans.The parasite is a rather long round worm of a yellowish-red color.The length of an adult male is 15-25 cm, the female is longer - up to 20-40 cm.If roundworms penetrate the human body, ascariasis develops.In this case, the gastrointestinal tract is most often affected, but other organs can also be affected, as well as allergic reactions.Ascariasis is quite widespread, affecting 60-85 people out of every 100,000.
The life cycle of the roundworm: through the blood to the intestines
A sick person does not pose a threat in terms of infection, because the infection occurs when the eggs enter the body.Eggs come out with feces and first mature in the soil.Eggs have a dense shell, so they can remain in the soil for up to seven years.You can become infected by eating vegetables, fruits or berries that have been exposed to ascaris eggs.The parasite has a long life cycle in the body.Larvae emerge from the first swallowed eggs and enter the bloodstream through the intestinal walls.With the blood stream, they pass to the liver, heart, then to the lungs and from them to the pharynx.When the patient ingests them, the larvae in the intestines turn into adult worms capable of laying eggs.
Symptoms: abdominal pain, nausea, weight loss
Allergic manifestations come to the fore when the larvae are walking in the body.Mechanical damage to the organs through which the larvae pass - liver, blood vessels, lungs and intestines is also possible.The patient may have a high temperature, rash and pain in the liver area, and cough and shortness of breath at the end of the migration phase.When tapeworms settle in the intestines, poisoning with their waste occurs.Also, the sharp ends of worms can injure or even puncture the intestine.Symptoms include abdominal pain, morning sickness, loss of appetite, and stool changes.In addition, there are health disorders, poor sleep, headaches, increased fatigue and weight loss.The presence of roundworms in the intestines causes a deficiency of vitamins B6, A and C.
Diagnosis of ascariasis
For diagnosis, blood is taken for a general analysis (increased eosinophils, increased ESR, sometimes anemia) and antibody testing.Larvae can be detected in the sputum of patients under a microscope.At the intestinal stage, roundworm eggs and sometimes worms themselves are detected in the feces.
Medicines for ascariasis
Therapy for ascariasis does not require hospitalization, except in complicated cases.Patients are prescribed a vitamin-rich, low-fat and carbohydrate diet.Eat four to five times a day.Medicines with antiparasitic effect, antihistamines, probiotics and enzyme preparations are indicated.
Complications of ascariasis
A complication of ascariasis can be intestinal obstruction due to blockage by a roundworm.When tapeworms crawl into the bile ducts, vomiting, jaundice, and severe pain in the right abdomen occur.According to the same principle, ascariasis pancreatitis is possible, as well as respiratory failure when the airways are blocked by parasites.
Pinworms and enterobiasis
Pinworms are transparent white worms only 0.5-1 cm long.One end of their body is pointed, which explains the name.They are mainly parasites of the large intestine and may disappear over time without medication if they do not become infected on their own.The fact is that in order to lay eggs, females go down to the anus and do it in the perianal folds, after which they die.For the patient, this process causes severe itching.If the patient does not wash his hands after scratching the itchy area, then the eggs will fall on linen, surrounding objects, food, and may remain under the nails.The patient may swallow pinworm eggs himself.This is how self-infection occurs.
Symptoms: anal itching
The main symptom is severe itching in the anus at night, because this is when the parasite lays eggs.With enterobiasis, symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract are possible: abdominal pain, nausea, increased gas formation, and from the nervous system: fatigue, sleep disturbance or insomnia (severe anal itching prevents normal sleep).Pinworms can crawl into the female genitalia, causing irritation, pain and discharge.And if it even penetrates the lower respiratory tract, it causes coughing.
Diagnosis and treatment of enterobiosis
Basically, scraping (or applying adhesive tape) from the perianal folds is used, after which the resulting material is examined under a microscope.In this way, you can detect helminth eggs.In the blood test, as in ascariasis, there will be an increase in eosinophils;if complications develop, there will be signs of inflammation (increased leukocytes, increased ESR).Antiparasitic drugs are used for treatment.Some of them are contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women.To reduce itching, the anal region is lubricated with anesthetic ointment.The most popular folk remedy is garlic.
Complications: dysbacteriosis, appendicitis
Complications will depend on the body's response and the number of parasitic worms.Dysbacteriosis, appendicitis, vaginitis, salpingitis, endometritis (inflammation of the appendages) are possible.
Prevention of ascariasis and enterobiosis
Ascariasis:
- timely identification and treatment of patients;
- loosen sandboxes (eggs do not tolerate direct sunlight);
- wash your hands after using the toilet and before eating;
- wash vegetables, fruits, berries.
Enterobiosis:
- iron clothes well, especially curls;
- cleaning the apartment with disinfectants;
- providing the patient with a personal bed and bed;
- It is important for children to cut their nails short.