Helminths are parasitic worms. To do this, they use intermediate and main hosts, feeding on cells or tissues, absorbing nutrients and vitamins that enter the body for the host. Worms in the human stomach, as well as in the intestine or other tissue structures, in the course of their vital activity, poison the body with toxic substances.
Types of parasites that enter the body through the stomach
Each type of parasite can develop in its inherent part of the human body, where the best conditions are created for its reproduction and nutrition. Certain types of parasites can move through the body from one organ to another. Parasite infection occurs in various ways. The most frequent form of penetration of parasites in the human body is food. Problems can be avoided by following basic hygiene rules: wash hands before eating and handle food thoroughly.
Parasites do not live long in the human stomach due to the effect of hydrochloric acid on its membrane. The most common alien microorganisms that parasitize the human body are:
- Ascaris: they have the ability to move through the ducts of the liver and lung structures, penetrating the intestines. In the small intestine, roundworms develop into sexually mature individuals.
- Schistosomes: affect the liver tissue, in advanced cases, causing the development of oncological diseases and the degeneration of the hepatobiliary system.
- Hookworms: cause disturbances in the digestive tract. The most dangerous for the human body are hookworms and necadores. Localization of parasites mainly in the duodenum. Hookworms can enter the human body not only through the stomach. Parasites have the ability to invade the skin, causing allergic reactions in the form of itching, burning, and redness.
- Toxoplasma- the simplest parasites that often affect the human body. The disease progresses quite easily, often imperceptibly to humans. Serious consequences for the body arise only in the case of severely weakened immunity.
- Broad tapeworm: located in the small part of the human intestine. It can reach several meters in length. The parasite causes the development of a deficiency in the body of cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12), as well as folic acid. Toxic-allergic reactions of the body are not excluded. The infection occurs by eating fish affected by larvae.
- Bovine tapewormis a worm that causes the development of a disease such as teniarinchiasis. Penetrating the human body by food, the bovine tapeworm parasite crosses the stomach, where it is shed under the action of gastric juice. Its suction cups are released and the parasite can easily adhere to the mucous membranes of the small intestine. Signs of the presence of bovine tapeworm in the body are abdominal pain, nausea, and an eruption of gastric contents. The patient loses his appetite, he may suffer dyspeptic disorders (belching, for example). In some cases, bovine chain infection is a manifestation of allergic skin reactions in the form of urticaria.
- The pork tapewormis a helminth that reaches up to 10 meters in size. It belongs to one of the largest worms that infect the human body. When passing through the stomach, the parasite's eggs, due to the action of hydrochloric acid, lose their shell. The larvae that emerge from the egg spread throughout all tissues of the human body, causing the development of cysticercosis. Cysticercosis represents the greatest danger to the nervous system.
- Vlasoglavis a roundworm that causes the disease of whipworm. Symptoms of invasion may be absent for a long time. In complicated cases, with a large accumulation of parasites, there may be signs of ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. The person has pain in the abdomen, the appetite decreases, and the stool becomes liquid. Streaks of blood and mucus are seen in the stool.
Symptoms of parasites and worms in the gastrointestinal tract
Alien organisms that lead a parasitic lifestyle in the body of their host disrupt the functioning of many organs, causing inflammatory processes and severely destroying body tissues.
Parasitic individuals in the intestinal tract, for their development and reproduction, use the nutrients of the food, destined for the host. The consequences for humans are sad. The body is experiencing a severe deficiency of trace elements and vitamin complexes.
Children's organisms are most at risk.
In the context of severe helminthiasis, normal growth and development processes, both physically and psychologically, are seriously disrupted. Helminths have the ability to perfectly adapt and live for decades in the host's body. Helminth eggs have a pronounced resistance to environmental factors.
Being in the digestive tract, various types of helminthiasis can disturb the digestive process by releasing specific toxic substances for their protection, inactivating enzyme activity. Helminthiasis can cause gastritis and other dyspeptic disorders.
The symptoms that appear during infection by parasites can be very different in their manifestations. In the vast majority of clinical cases, discomfort and painful sensations are observed at the location of the parasites. So, helminths, whose habitat is the skin, damage the dermis, which leads to the appearance of allergic reactions. Parasites located in the lung structures can cause a bothersome cough or shortness of breath. Symptoms of dwarf tapeworm infection are manifested by weakness throughout the body, memory impairment, pain in the abdomen and head. Constant nausea and vomiting are sometimes diagnosed, such as with a stomach ulcer.
The stool disorder, bad breath, painful sensations in the intestines or digestive disorders, in most cases, is associated with the action of parasites in the digestive tract.
The effect of foreign microorganisms on the human body as a whole gives rise to the following symptoms:
- increased weakness;
- headache attacks;
- insomnia;
- swelling;
- rashes and itchy skin of an allergic nature;
- bronchial asthma attacks.
In addition, the general resistance of the body decreases, in the context of changes in the functioning of the immune system. In young children, helminthiasis is manifested by a delay in physical and psychological development.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis combines studies to identify larvae or worm eggs.
Biological materials for diagnosis are:
- stool;
- urine;
- sputum;
- content of the duodenum;
- bile duct discharge;
- rectal scrapings;
- smear of the perianal space;
- muscle fibers;
- blood.
Based on the fact that helminths and their particles are detected by macroscopic method, eggs and larvae can only be detected by laboratory examination with a microscope.
The acute phase of helminthiasis caused by parasites in the tissues, or by larvae of parasitic forms of toxocariasis, trichinosis, cystocerciasis, trichocephalosis, involves the use of serological samples, such as:
- RSK- complement binding reaction;
- ON- indirect agglutination;
- ELISA- immunofluorescence analysis;
- AHL- agglutination by lysis.
In some cases of helminthiasis, a reliable diagnosis can only be established with the help of special ultrasound examinations, computed tomography, X-ray examination and endobiopsy.
Treatment
Treatment for helminthiasis can vary greatly. Science knows more than 300 all types of helminthiasis, but the main parasites that cause changes and systemic poisoning are round and flat worms. They are usually divided into intestinal and non-intestinal. When prescribing therapeutic measures, it is important to take into account a number of characteristic features that are characteristic only of a certain class of helminths that are harmful to human health.
To get rid of helminths, a specialist prescribes a complete treatment regimen, and it is important to take into account the factors of the frequency of infection of certain organs, the intensity of the infection, the level of intoxication and the duration of thehelminths. This allows you to prescribe the most effective means.
Medications
To combat the type of helminths diagnosed, an individual therapy regimen is being developed. The specialist will prescribe the appropriate medication based on the patient's test results.
Folk remedies
Traditional medicine can help you get rid of parasites at home.
For the treatment of helminthiasis, you can use the following recipes:
- The inflorescences of wormwood seeds,should be ground and mixed with honey. Take the drug 3 days in a row 3 times a day, 1 tsp. Effective for ascariasis.
- The bitter wormwood infusionis prepared in the following way: grind the herb, pour boiling water over it and let it steep overnight. In the morning, filter the infusion and drink it 3 times a day. The course of treatment is up to 3 weeks. Effective for ascariasis and enterobiasis.
- Pumpkin seeds.They can be used raw, dried or powdered. The powder is mixed with honey, and the medicine is taken on an empty stomach. Copes with tape worms. You can make a decoction of pumpkin seeds. One pound of seeds is crushed in a mortar, poured with 1. 5 liters of hot water, and placed in a water bath. It is not necessary to bring to a boil. Drink the broth on an empty stomach.
- Infusion of pomegranate peels.Dried and crushed pomegranate peels, pour boiling water, cool and take 1 teaspoon 3-4 times a day. The course of therapy is 7 days.
Preventive measures
If the rules of personal hygiene are not observed, parasites will have to be eliminated from the body constantly, which will have a detrimental effect on the state of the body as a whole.
For prevention purposes, it is important to comply with the following points of the basic hygiene rules:
- avoid close contact with animals;
- keep your hands clean - wash them after every outing;
- it is important to maintain cleanliness in the living room, do wet cleaning, wash dishes with detergents;
- if there are children in the house, it is recommended to wash children's toys with soap, especially after a walk;
- wash vegetables and fruits under running water, preferably warm or even hot, since the worm eggs have a sticky substance that prevents them from separating from the surface;
- eat meat and fish products only after preliminary heat treatment;
- drink clean water, avoid tap water as it may contain lamblia and schistosomes.
Helminthiases not only cause discomfort, but also greatly damage the human body. Neglected cases of helminth damage lead to disturbances in the functioning of the entire organism. It is important to take timely preventive measures to avoid infection.