To get rid of parasites, you must first understand which parasites have settled inside the patient and if they exist at all.There is a simple finger blood test for that.If eosinophils do not exceed 5, you can be sure that there are no parasites in the body.If this indicator is greater than 5, a stool test for worm eggs is taken, and treatment is prescribed based on the results of the analysis.Antiparasitic drugs have many unpleasant side effects: hair loss, seizures, kidney failure, drug-induced hepatitis, even cirrhosis of the liver, so they are only prescribed by a doctor.
Popular symptoms commonly attributed to the presence of parasites are nausea, fatigue, lethargy, pallor, irregular stools and constipation.These symptoms more often indicate anemia or a thyroid disorder.If they appear or last for some time, the most reasonable thing to do is to consult 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, which allegedly seek to appear in their body.And therefore they are ready to fork out a lot of money to fraudsters who not only look for, but also "find" parasites, and then "prescribe" to naive victims all kinds of nutritional supplements and other drugs for fictitious helminths.Some try to remove parasites themselves using garlic, onions and horseradish - remedies made from them are at least safe.But what will be in the jar received from the future doctors is still unknown.
The problem of parasitosis does exist, only it exists in the countries of Asia, Africa and South America.Thus, in some Asian countries, human infection with opisthorchiasis reaches 80%.There, they take special measures to disinfect water and food.But all this is not our case;tropical parasites do not survive in our climate, although opisthorchiasis is common in cold 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 get infected in our middle zone.These parasites are round and pinworms.
Roundworms and ascariasis
Roundworms only parasitize humans.The parasite is a rather long round worm of a yellowish-reddish 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, the disease ascariasis develops.In this case, the gastrointestinal tract is most affected, but other organs can also be affected, as well as allergic reactions.Ascariasis is quite widespread and affects 60-85 people out of every 100,000.
The life cycle of roundworms: through the blood to the intestine
A sick person is not a danger in terms of infection, because the infection occurs when the eggs enter the body.And the eggs come out with the feces and first mature in the soil.The eggs have a thick shell, so they can remain in the soil for up to seven years.You can become infected if you eat vegetables, fruits or berries that have been exposed to the eggs of ascaris.The parasite goes through a long cycle of movement in the body.First, the larvae hatch from the swallowed eggs and enter the blood through the intestinal walls.Through the blood flow, they migrate to the liver, to the heart, then to the lungs, and from them to the pharynx.When the patient swallows them, the larvae in the intestines mature into adult worms capable of laying eggs.
Symptoms: stomach pain, nausea, weight loss
While the larvae travel through the body, allergic manifestations come to the fore.Mechanical damage to the organs through which the larvae pass is also possible - liver, blood vessels, lungs and intestines.The patient may develop a high temperature, rash and pain in the liver area, and at the end of the migration stage - cough and difficulty breathing.When roundworms settle in the intestines, their waste products lead to poisoning.Also, the pointed ends of the worm can injure or even puncture the intestine.Manifestations include abdominal pain, morning sickness, loss of appetite, and stool changes.In addition, health disorders, poor sleep, headaches, increased fatigue and weight loss occur.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 an antibody test.Under the microscope, larvae can be detected in the sputum of patients.In the intestinal phase, roundworm eggs, and sometimes the worms themselves, are revealed in the feces.
Medicines for ascariasis
Treatment of ascariasis does not require hospitalization, except in complicated cases.Patients are prescribed a diet rich in vitamins, low in fat and carbohydrates.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 the ball of the worm.When roundworms enter the bile ducts, vomiting, jaundice and severe pain in the abdomen on the right side occur.By the same principle, ascariasis pancreatitis is possible, as well as respiratory insufficiency when the respiratory tract is 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 parasitic mainly in the large intestine and can disappear over time without medication if self-infection does not occur.The fact is that in order to lay eggs, females go down into the anus and do it in the perianal folds, after which they die.For the patient, this process causes severe itching.If after scratching the itchy place, the patient does not wash his hands, the eggs will get on the bedding, surrounding objects, in food and can remain under the nails.The patient may ingest pinworm eggs himself.This is how self-infection occurs.
Symptoms: anal itching
The main symptom is severe itching in the anus at night, because at that time the parasite lays its eggs.With enterobiasis, symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract are possible: stomach pain, nausea, increased gas production, and from the nervous system: fatigue, sleep disturbance or insomnia (severe anal itching interferes with normal sleep).Pinworms can crawl into the female genital tract, causing irritation, pain and discharge.And they even cause coughing if they penetrate the lower respiratory tract.
Diagnosis and treatment of enterobiosis
Basically, scraping from the perianal folds (or applying adhesive tape) is used, after which the obtained 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, signs of inflammation will appear (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 area is lubricated with anesthetic ointment.The most popular folk remedy is garlic.
Complications: dysbacteriosis, appendicitis
Complications will depend on the body's reaction and the number of parasitic worms.Dysbacteriosis, appendicitis, vaginitis, salpingitis, endometritis (inflammation of appendages) are possible.
Prevention of ascariasis and enterobiasis
ascariasis:
- timely identify and treat patients;
- loosen boxes with sand (eggs do not tolerate direct sunlight);
- wash your hands after using the toilet and before eating;
- wash vegetables, fruits, berries.
enterobiosis:
- iron the laundry thoroughly, especially the folds;
- clean the apartment with disinfectants;
- provide the patient with personal bedding and a place to sleep;
- It is important for children to keep their nails short.