Helminths are parasitic worms. For this purpose, they use intermediate and main hosts, feeding on cells or tissues, absorbing nutrients and vitamins entering the body for the host. Worms in the human stomach, as well as in the intestines 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 for its reproduction and nutrition are created. Certain types of parasites can move through the body from organ to organ. Infection with parasites occurs in a variety of ways. The most common way for parasites to enter the human body is through food. You can avoid problems by following the basic rules of hygiene - washing your hands before eating food, as well as careful handling of food.
Parasites do not live long in the human stomach due to the effect of hydrochloric acid on their membrane. The most common alien microorganisms that parasitize the human body are:
- Ascaris- 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, provoking the development of cancer and dystrophy of the hepatobiliary system.
- Hookworms- cause disorders of the digestive tract. The most dangerous for the human body are hookworms and some. Localization of parasites mainly in the duodenum. Hookworms are able to penetrate 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 unnoticed by humans. Serious consequences for the body occur only in the case of severely weakened immunity.
- Broad tapeworm- localized in the small part of the human intestine. It can reach several meters in length. The parasite provokes 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. Infection occurs when eating fish affected by larvae.
- Bovine tapewormis a worm that causes a disease such as tapeworm disease. Penetrating into the human body through the digestive tract, the bovine tapeworm parasite passes through the stomach, where it gets rid of the membrane under the action of gastric juice. Its suckers are released and the parasite can easily attach to the lining of the small intestine. Signs of the presence of bovine tapeworm in the body are abdominal pain, nausea and eruption of gastric contents. The patient loses appetite, may suffer from dyspeptic disorders (belching for example). In some cases, infection with bovine lesions is a manifestation of allergic skin reactions in the form of urticaria.
- Pork tapewormis a helminth up to 10 meters in size. It belongs to one of the largest worms that infect the human body. Passing through the stomach, the eggs of the parasite, due to the action of hydrochloric acid, lose their shell. The larvae that hatch from the egg spread through all tissues of the human body, provoking the development of cysticercosis. Cysticercosis is the greatest danger to the nervous system.
- Hairhead- a roundworm that causes the disease trichocephalus. Symptoms of invasion may be absent for a long time. In complex cases, with a large accumulation of parasites, signs of ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease may appear. The person has abdominal pain, decreased appetite and stools become liquid. Strips of blood and mucus are seen in the stool.
Symptoms of parasites and worms in the gastrointestinal tract
Foreign organisms leading 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 use nutrients from food intended for the host for their development and reproduction. The consequences for people are sad. The body experiences a severe deficiency of trace elements and vitamin complexes.
Children's organisms are most at risk.
Against the background of severe helminthiasis, the processes of growth and normal development, both physically and psychologically, are severely impaired. Helminths have the ability to adapt perfectly and live for decades in the body of the host. Helminth eggs have a pronounced resistance to environmental factors.
Being in the digestive tract, various types of helminthiasis can disrupt the digestive process by releasing specific toxic substances to protect them, inactivating enzyme activity. Helminthiasis can cause gastritis and other dyspeptic disorders.
The symptoms that appear during a parasite infection can be very different in their manifestations. In most clinical cases, discomfort and painful sensations at the site of the parasites are observed. So, helminths, whose habitat is the skin, damage the dermis, leading to allergic reactions. Parasites located in the lung structures can cause a disturbing cough or shortness of breath. Symptoms of dwarf tapeworm infection are manifested by weakness throughout the body, memory impairment, abdominal and head pain. Nausea and constant vomiting are sometimes diagnosed, as in gastric ulcer.
Stool disorders, bad breath, intestinal pain or digestive disorders are most often associated with the action of parasites in the digestive tract.
The effect of foreign microorganisms on the human body as a whole leads to the following symptoms:
- increased weakness;
- headache attacks;
- insomnia;
- bloating;
- rashes and itchy skin with an allergic nature;
- asthma attacks.
Diagnostics
Diagnostics combines studies to identify larvae or worm eggs.
The biological diagnostic materials are:
- stools;
- urine;
- sputum;
- contents of the duodenum;
- bile secretion;
- rectal scraping;
- smear from the perianal space;
- muscle fibers;
- blood.
Based on the fact that helminths and their particles are detected by a macroscopic method, eggs and larvae can only be detected by laboratory examination using a microscope.
The acute phase of helminthiasis, caused by parasites in the tissues or by larvae of parasitic forms of toxocariasis, trichinosis, cystocerciasis, trichocephaly, involves the use of serological samples such as:
- RSK- complement binding reaction;
- ON- indirect agglutination;
- ELISA- immunofluorescence analysis;
- AHL- agglutination of lysis.
In some cases of helminthiasis, a reliable diagnosis can only be made with the help of special ultrasound examinations, computed tomography, X-ray examination and the use of endobiopsy.
Treatment
Treatment for helminthiasis can vary greatly. Science knows more than 300 all kinds of helminthiases, but the main parasites that cause changes and systemic intoxication are roundworms and flatworms. 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 inherent only in a certain class of helminths, which are harmful to human health.
To get rid of helminths, a specialist prescribes a whole 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 helminths. This allows you to prescribe the most effective means.
Medicines
An individual treatment regimen is developed to combat the diagnosed type of helminths. The specialist will prescribe the appropriate medicine based on the patient's test results.
Folk remedies
Traditional medicine can help you get rid of parasites at home.
You can use the following recipes to treat helminthiasis:
- Wormwood inflorescencesshould be ground and mixed with honey. Take the drug 3 days in a row 3 times a day for 1 teaspoon. Effective in ascariasis.
- Bitter wormwood infusionis prepared as follows - grind the grass, pour boiling water, leave to infuse overnight. In the morning, filter the infusion and drink it 3 times a day. The course of treatment is up to 3 weeks. Effective in ascariasis and enterobiosis.
- Pumpkin seeds.They can be used raw, dried or as a powder. The powder is mixed with honey and the drug is taken on an empty stomach. I deal with tapeworms. You can make a decoction of pumpkin seeds. Pound seeds are crushed in a mortar, flooded with 1, 5 liters of hot water and placed in a water bath. You do not need to boil. Drink the broth on an empty stomach.
- Infusion of pomegranate peelDried and crushed pomegranate peel, 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 followed, the parasites will have to be constantly removed from the body, which will have a detrimental effect on the condition of the body as a whole.
For prevention purposes, it is important to adhere to the following points of the basic hygiene rules:
- avoid close contact with animals;
- keep your hands clean - wash them after each outing;
- it is important to maintain the cleanliness of the living space by doing wet cleaning, washing dishes with detergents;
- if there are children in the house, it is recommended to wash the toys with soap, especially after a walk;
- wash vegetables and fruits under running water, preferably warm or even hot, as worm eggs have a sticky substance that prevents them from separating from the surface;
- eat meat and fish products only after pre-cooking;
- drink clean water, avoid tap water, as it may contain lamblia and schistosomes.
Helminthiasis not only causes discomfort but also severely damages the human body. Neglected cases of helminth damage lead to dysfunction of the whole organism. It is important to take timely preventive measures to avoid infection.