Symptoms of worms in humans can be very different, it all depends on the type of parasites present in the body. Treatment necessarily requires an integrated approach; only under this condition will it be possible to eliminate this problem. For this purpose, medications and traditional methods are used.
Sometimes it can be very difficult to determine the signs and symptoms of worms in humans, since helminthic infestation is very similar in its symptoms to the pathologies of many diseases of the intestines and stomach, gall bladder, liver and infectious diseases.
What types of worms are there?
Worms are usually divided into several groups, namely:
- round;
- tapeworms;
- flukes.
Roundworms are thin and long worms of a yellowish or pink hue. The disease begins to develop when the eggs of these worms are ingested, which can happen if contaminated foods are consumed. Larvae grow from eggs in the intestines and spread throughout the body.
Together with the blood flow, they are carried throughout the internal organs, causing minor hemorrhages. Among the main symptoms of worms (in the photo one of the signs of helminthic infestation is abdominal pain) one can highlight the presence of fever and body aches. Often no one pays special attention to these signs, as they associate them with colds. Meanwhile, the larvae, along with the bloodstream, are transferred to the lung tissue. From there, after maturation, they penetrate into the oral cavity, and then into the intestines, where they grow and multiply. During their life, roundworms release toxic substances into the human intestines, which provokes poor health and unpleasant symptoms.
Among the main symptoms of worms in adults are:
- abdominal pain;
- frequent urge to defecate;
- loose stools;
- signs of intoxication.
As a result, weight loss may occur, rashes may appear on the body, and other signs of allergies may appear.
In childhood, pinworms are the main concern. These are small, grayish roundworms. Their appearance is caused by non-compliance with hygiene rules and consumption of low-quality products. In addition, infection through pets is possible. Pinworms live and reproduce in the intestines.
It is quite difficult to get rid of this type of parasite, since self-infection constantly occurs. At night, pinworms lay eggs in the folds near the anus. At this time, very severe itching and painful sensations are noted. General health deteriorates significantly, as parasites have a toxic effect on the body, causing severe inflammation. This appears in the form:
- nausea;
- diarrhea;
- stomach ache.
Another roundworm is the whipworm. Its back part is thick, barrel-shaped, and the head part is very thin, hair-shaped. Using a thin part of the body, parasites penetrate the intestinal walls and feed on blood. Infection occurs when whipworm eggs enter food.
The parasite damages the intestinal walls, causing intoxication of the body, which often leads to appendicitis.
The broad tapeworm is a long worm that belongs to the tapeworm family. This flat parasite reaches very large sizes. Larvae go through several stages during development. Its intermediate hosts are river fish and crayfish. A person consumes river fish infected with helminths, with which the latter enter the body, where they begin to grow.
This parasite is large in size, so it requires a lot of food. As a result, a person develops quite characteristic symptoms of worms, in particular, rapid weight loss, poor health, fainting, and anemia.
Bovine and pork tapeworms are classified as tapeworms. They reach several meters. You can become infected by consuming undercooked or undercooked meat. The body of the tapeworm consists of several flat parts in which the eggs develop.
They can live in the human body for several years. Thanks to the presence of special suction cups and hooks, these parasites are very firmly attached to the intestinal walls. They suck out all the nutrients, poisoning the human body with toxins. Among the main symptoms of worms are severe weakness, weight loss, nausea, and bowel dysfunction. A person is constantly bothered by headaches, even migraines, and dizziness. There are fainting spells.
When the liver fluke enters the body, it causes the disease opisthorchiasis. You can become infected by consuming river fish that has not undergone sufficient heat treatment. If a person has this type of worms, the symptoms are expressed in the form of pain and a feeling of fullness in the right side, disturbance of stool, and sometimes a slight yellowness of the skin may be observed. Most people go to the doctor with signs of hepatitis and cholecystitis. If the parasites are not removed from the body for a long time, cirrhosis of the liver and malignant tumors may form.
Methods of infection
Before identifying the signs and symptoms of worms in humans, you need to understand exactly how infection occurs. The main ways of infection by worms:
- through the soil;
- contact with animals;
- food;
- open reservoirs.
Sometimes the source of infection can be the bite of stinging insects. You can become infected through food that has not undergone sufficient heat treatment.
Main signs in adults
Symptoms of worms in humans cannot always be immediately recognized correctly. Parasites provoke a number of symptoms. If they occur, you should definitely consult a doctor for a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment. If you recognize the symptoms of worms in a person at the initial stages, this will allow you to avoid a number of diagnostic errors. Among the main features it is necessary to highlight:
- allergic skin rashes;
- frequent cough;
- the appearance of a runny nose, pneumonia;
- constipation;
- frequent colds;
- nervousness.
If the worms are long, they form whole balls that prevent the secretion of bile and pancreatic juice. As a result, symptoms of worms in humans appear, such as constipation, diarrhea and bloating. Teeth grinding may occur.
Against the background of constant chronic poisoning by waste products of worms, depression is observed. When parasites move through the body and injure tissues, a person begins to experience pain in the joints. If there are worms, the symptoms can be very different; only a doctor can make the correct diagnosis.
Signs of childhood helminthic infestation
Symptoms and signs of worms in a child are quite specific. The doctor will be able to accurately determine whether the baby has parasites in the intestines by such manifestations as:
- increased activity;
- salivation;
- itching near the anus;
- peeling of the eyelids;
- craving for sweet foods;
- lethargy and drowsiness;
- signs of anemia;
- frequent colds.
If these signs and symptoms of worms are observed in a child, then there is a high probability of the presence of parasites in the body. In this case, you should definitely visit a doctor for diagnosis and prescribing correct and effective treatment.
Manifestations of the acute stage
The first symptoms of worms in an adult do not appear immediately after infection, but after a few days. The average incubation period is 2-3 weeks. The presence of parasites in the body can manifest itself in the form of allergic reactions. During the process of growth and vital activity, helminths release toxic substances that lead to intoxication of the body.
Among the allergic symptoms of worms in an adult, the following are observed:
- swelling;
- rashes;
- skin itching;
- cough.
In particularly severe cases, the development of bronchitis and asthma cannot be ruled out. Some types of parasites can cause severe reactions such as swelling of the face. Particularly complex manifestations can occur against the background of echinococcosis. This happens as a result of cyst rupture. In this case, the risk of anaphylactic shock and death of the patient increases significantly.
Symptoms of worms in an adult in the acute stage include not only allergic manifestations, but also an increase in temperature. With severe infection, your health deteriorates significantly. Cough and chest pain often appear.
Manifestations of the chronic stage
In the chronic form of infection, the symptoms of worms in an adult largely depend on the location of the parasite. In particular, the following symptoms may be observed:
- bowel dysfunction;
- painful sensations;
- bloating;
- decreased or increased appetite.
Helminths secrete substances that negatively affect the digestion process. There may be a lack of nutrients in the body.
Symptoms of worms in adults often include various psychological disorders. The more parasites in the body, the more pronounced the signs of damage to the nervous system. Among the manifestations of the presence of helminths, it is necessary to highlight headaches, insomnia, and absent-mindedness.
Specific symptoms
There is a high risk of infection with worms such as trematodes, or, as they are also called, flukes. These parasites live in different organs of the human body. Signs and symptoms of worms appear as:
- local swelling;
- cough;
- temperature rise;
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- myalgia;
- chills;
- enlarged spleen and liver.
These helminths can lead to the development of pyelonephritis, cystitis and urolithiasis. Possible complications include chronic renal failure. The intestinal form manifests itself in the form of pain, poor appetite, and diarrhea mixed with blood.
Carrying out diagnostics
If symptoms of worms occur in a person, treatment must be carried out immediately after diagnosis. To detect the presence of parasites in the body, several accurate and informative diagnostic methods are used. These include:
- linked immunosorbent assay;
- ELISA tests;
- serological techniques;
- X-ray;
- ultrasound diagnostics;
- tomography;
- bioresonance diagnostics.
Enzyme immunoassay helps determine the presence of adult parasites or their eggs in the body, as well as identify their type. ELISA tests indicate the body's reaction when infected with parasites. This technique is not independent. It should be used in conjunction with other types of research.
Serological methods are used to diagnose helminthiasis in the acute stage. Bioresonance diagnostics is a study that allows you to identify parasites at a very early stage.
Modern diagnostic techniques with high accuracy will help not only to recognize the fact of infection with worms, but also to determine what type they belong to, establish age, stage of development, which significantly speeds up the recovery process.
Drug therapy for adults
If symptoms of worms occur in adults, treatment must be carried out immediately, since only this will prevent the development of complications and dangerous pathologies. Therapy for helminthiasis involves the use of a whole range of procedures and medications, as well as strict doctor’s orders.
To eliminate the symptoms of worms in humans, treatment necessarily includes taking certain medications. The use of anthelmintic compounds is aimed at destroying many types of worms. There are also narrowly targeted drugs.
It is worth noting that all drugs provoke certain side effects, in particular, nausea, dizziness, weakness, abdominal pain, drowsiness and many other signs of poisoning. If such manifestations occur, you need to take enterosorbent.
To eliminate the symptoms of worms in adults, treatment can be carried out with anthelmintic drugs in the form of drops. This medicine is very convenient to use, as it allows you to accurately calculate the dosage, which often cannot be done with tablets, since they are coated with a protective coating.
All drugs for the treatment of worms help eliminate the symptoms of helminthic infestation quickly and effectively, but they are highly toxic substances and can lead to intoxication of the body.
Drug therapy for children
Parasites provoke severe discomfort and deterioration in well-being. That is why, after symptoms of worms appear in children, treatment should begin immediately. The drugs are available in tablet form and in suspension form.
These medicines contain various active ingredients that are effective only against a specific type of parasite, so the medicine can be used only after diagnosis. Depending on the symptoms of worms in children, treatment is selected individually in order to effectively get rid of parasites and not harm the child’s body. It is imperative to strictly adhere to the recipe, since the dosage is always selected separately for each child and depends on his weight, age and type of parasite.
Many medications are prohibited for children weighing less than 12 kg.
Folk remedies
If you have symptoms of worms at home, treatment can be carried out using traditional methods. To combat helminthiases, various herbs are used, which are no less effective than medications. These include the following:
- dandelion;
- onion;
- nettle;
- tansy;
- sagebrush;
- burdock;
- garlic.
An equally common way to treat helminthic infestations is to consume raw pumpkin seeds. As a preventative measure, you can use carrot juice, which is recommended to be consumed for 2 weeks, 200 ml each.
In addition to decoctions and tinctures, it is additionally recommended to do enemas that will help remove helminths. For an enema, you can use garlic tincture, tansy infusion or dry wormwood. Any of this remedy is used only in strained form, so that small particles of plants do not enter the intestines and damage the mucous membrane.
Carrying out prevention
It is recommended to carry out preventive measures regularly, as this will prevent helminth infection and subsequent treatment for a long time. For prevention, you need to try to avoid foci of infection with worms, and also use folk remedies. It is also appropriate to include preventive measures:
- maintaining hygiene;
- eating only well-washed vegetables and fruits;
- extermination of insects in the house that carry helminth eggs;
- drinking only boiled water;
- carrying out drug prophylaxis.
You should use medications only after consulting a doctor, as they contain toxic substances that can harm your health.