To get rid of parasites, you must first understand which parasites have settled in the patient and whether they exist at all.There is a simple fingerstick blood test for this.If the eosinophil count does not exceed 5, you can be sure that there are no parasites in the body.If this indicator is higher than 5, a stool test for worm eggs is carried out and based on the results of the analysis, treatment is prescribed.Antiparasitic drugs have many unpleasant side effects: hair loss, seizures, kidney failure, drug-induced hepatitis, even liver cirrhosis, so only a doctor should prescribe them.
Popular symptoms usually attributed to the presence of parasites include nausea, fatigue, lethargy, paleness, irregular bowel movements, and constipation.These symptoms are more likely to indicate anemia or thyroid disease.If they occur or have existed for a long time, it makes sense to see a doctor.And wash your hands more often as a preventive measure.
Fear of parasites
Many people are sincerely and deeply afraid of parasites that supposedly seek to invade their bodies.And that is why they are ready to spend a lot of money on scammers who not only look for parasites, but also “find” them, and then “prescribe” all sorts of nutritional supplements and other remedies for imaginary helminths to naive victims.Some try to remove parasites themselves using garlic, onions and horseradish - the medicines made from them are at least safe.But what will be contained in the glass received by the aspiring doctors is still unknown.
The problem of parasitosis actually exists, only in the countries of Asia, Africa and South America.So, in some Asian countries, human infection with opisthorchiasis reaches 80%.There they take special measures to disinfect water and food.But none of this is our case;tropical parasites do not survive in our climate, although opisthorchiasis is common in cold regions.Transmission occurs through fish and through cats and dogs that feed on these fish.But today we will talk about other parasites with which it is quite possible to become infected in our middle zone.These parasites are roundworms and pinworms.
Roundworms and ascariasis
Roundworms only parasitize humans.The parasite is a fairly long round worm of a yellowish-reddish color.The length of an adult male is 15-25 cm, that of the female is longer - up to 20-40 cm.If roundworms penetrate the human body, the disease ascariasis occurs.In this case, the gastrointestinal tract is most affected, but other organs may also be affected and allergic reactions may occur.Ascariasis is common, affecting 60-85 out of 100,000 people.
Life cycle of the roundworm: via the blood into the intestine
There is no risk of infection for a sick person because infection occurs when eggs enter the body.And the eggs come out with the feces and first mature in the soil.The eggs have a tight shell, allowing them to remain in the ground for up to seven years.You can become infected by eating vegetables, fruits or berries that have come into contact with Ascaris eggs.The parasite goes through a long cycle of movement in the body.Larvae hatch from swallowed eggs and enter the blood through the intestinal walls.With the blood flow they travel to the liver, to the heart, then to the lungs and from there to the throat.When the patient ingests them, the larvae mature in the intestines into adult worms that can lay eggs.
Symptoms: abdominal pain, nausea, weight loss
As the larvae migrate through the body, allergic symptoms come to the fore.Mechanical damage to the organs through which the larvae migrate - liver, blood vessels, lungs and intestines - is also possible.The patient may develop high fever, rash and pain in the liver area, and develop cough and shortness of breath at the end of the migration phase.When roundworms settle in the intestines, poisoning with their waste products occurs.In addition, the sharp ends of the worms can injure or even puncture the intestines.Symptoms include abdominal pain, morning sickness, loss of appetite, and stool changes.There are also health problems, poor sleep, headaches, increased fatigue and weight loss.The presence of roundworms in the intestines leads to 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.Larvae can be detected in patient sputum under the microscope.In the intestinal stage, roundworm eggs and sometimes the worms themselves are detected in the feces.
Drugs for ascariasis
Treatment of ascariasis does not require hospitalization, except in complicated cases.Patients are prescribed a diet rich in vitamins and low in fat and carbohydrates.Eat four to five times a day.Medicines with antiparasitic effects, antihistamines, probiotics and enzyme preparations are indicated.
Complications of ascariasis
A complication of ascariasis can be intestinal obstruction due to constipation caused by a worm ball.When roundworms crawl into the bile ducts, vomiting, jaundice and severe pain in the right abdomen occur.According to the same principle, ascariatic pancreatitis, as well as respiratory failure, is possible if the airways are blocked by parasites.
Pinworms and enterobiasis
Pinworms are translucent white worms only 0.5 to 1 cm long.One end of their body is pointed, which explains the name.They parasitize primarily in the large intestine and can disappear over time without medication if self-infection does not occur.The fact is that the females descend to the anus to lay eggs and do so in the perianal folds, after which they die.This process causes severe itching in the patient.If the patient does not wash his hands after scratching an itchy spot, the eggs get on laundry, surrounding objects, in food and can remain under the nails.The patient can swallow pinworm eggs himself.This is how self-infection occurs.
Symptoms: Itching in the anal area
The main symptom is severe itching in the anus at night, as the parasite lays eggs at this time.With enterobiasis, symptoms are possible from the gastrointestinal tract: abdominal pain, nausea, increased gas formation, and from the nervous system: fatigue, sleep disorders or insomnia (severe anal itching interferes with normal sleep).Pinworms can invade the female genital tract and cause irritation, pain and discharge.And even cause coughing when they penetrate the lower respiratory tract.
Diagnosis and treatment of enterobiasis
Basically, the perianal folds are scraped off (or adhesive tape is applied) and the resulting material is then examined under a microscope.This way you can detect helminth eggs.When taking a blood test, as with ascariasis, there is an increase in eosinophils;If complications occur, signs of inflammation occur (increased leukocyte count, increased ESR).Antiparasitic drugs are used for treatment.Some of them are contraindicated for pregnant and breastfeeding women.To relieve the itching, the anal area is lubricated with an anesthetic ointment.The most popular folk remedy is garlic.
Complications: dysbiosis, appendicitis
Complications depend on the body's reaction and the number of parasitic worms.Dysbacteriosis, appendicitis, vaginitis, salpingitis, endometritis (inflammation of the limbs) are possible.
Prevention of ascariasis and enterobiasis
Ascariasis:
- Identify and treat patients in a timely manner;
- Loosen up sandboxes (eggs do not tolerate direct sunlight);
- Wash your hands after using the toilet and before eating;
- Wash vegetables, fruits, berries.
Enterobiasis:
- Iron the laundry thoroughly, especially wrinkles.
- Clean the apartment with disinfectants.
- provide the patient with personal bedding and a place to sleep;
- It is important for children to trim their fingernails short.