To get rid of parasites, you first need to understand what parasites have settled in the patient and whether they exist at all.There is a simple finger prick blood test for this.If eosinophils do 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 is taken for worm eggs, and based on the analysis results, treatment will be prescribed.Medicines for parasites have many unpleasant side effects: hair loss, seizures, kidney failure, drug-induced hepatitis, and even cirrhosis of the liver, so only a doctor should prescribe it.
Popular symptoms commonly associated with the presence of parasites include nausea, fatigue, lethargy, pallor, irregular bowel movements, and constipation.These symptoms are more likely to indicate anemia or a thyroid disorder.If they appear or have been happening for some time, the most sensible thing to do is see a doctor.And as a preventive measure, wash your hands more often.
Fear of parasites
Many people are quite sincere and very afraid of parasites, which are allegedly trying to appear in their bodies.And therefore, they are ready to pay a lot of money to fraudsters who not only find, but also "find" parasites, and then "prescribe" all kinds of supplements and other drugs for imaginary helminths to naive victims.Some try to get rid of parasites themselves using garlic, shallots and horseradish - remedies made from them are at least safe.But what will be in the jar received from the future doctor is still unknown.
The problem of parasitosis really exists, but it exists in Asian, African, and South American countries.Therefore, 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 live in our climate, although opisthorchiasis is common in cold regions.It is transmitted through fish, as well as through cats and dogs that eat these fish.But today we will talk about another parasite that is quite possible to be infected in our middle zone.These parasites are roundworms and pinworms.
Ringworm and ascariasis
Roundworms are only human parasites.The parasite is a rather long round worm with a yellowish-reddish color.The length of adult males is 15-25 cm, females are longer - up to 20-40 cm.If the roundworm penetrates the human body, the disease ascariasis develops.In this case, the gastrointestinal tract is most affected, but other organs may also be affected, as well as allergic reactions.Ascariasis is quite widespread, affecting 60-85 people out of every 100 thousand.
Roundworm life cycle: through the blood to the intestine
Sick people do not pose a danger in terms of infection, because infection occurs when the egg enters the body.And the eggs come out with the feces and first ripen in the soil.Eggs have a dense shell, so they can remain in the soil for up to seven years.You can become infected by eating vegetables, fruits or berries that have been exposed to ascaris eggs.Parasites go through a long cycle of movement in the body.First, larvae hatch from ingested eggs and enter the bloodstream through the intestinal wall.With 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 it, the larvae in the intestine mature into adult worms capable of laying eggs.
Symptoms: abdominal pain, nausea, weight loss
As the larvae move through the body, allergic manifestations come to the fore.Mechanical damage to the organs the larvae pass through—the liver, blood vessels, lungs and intestines—is also possible.Patients may experience high temperature, rash and pain in the liver area, and at the end of the migration stage - cough and shortness of breath.When roundworms settle in the intestine, poisoning occurs with their waste products.Also, the pointed end of the worm can injure or even puncture the intestine.Manifestations include abdominal pain, morning sickness, loss of appetite, and changes in stool.In addition, there are disturbances in health, lack of sleep, headaches, increased fatigue, and weight loss.The presence of roundworms in the intestine causes a deficiency of vitamins B6, A and C.
Diagnosis of ascariasis
For diagnosis, blood is taken for general analysis (increased eosinophils, increased ESR, sometimes anemia) and antibody tests.Under the microscope, larvae can be detected in the patient's sputum.At the intestinal level, roundworm eggs, and sometimes the worms themselves, are detected in the feces.
Medicines for ascariasis
Therapy for 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 effects, antihistamines, probiotics and enzyme preparations are indicated.
Complications of ascariasis
Complications of ascariasis can be intestinal obstruction due to blockage by worm balls.When the roundworm crawls into the bile duct, vomiting, jaundice, and severe pain in the right side of the abdomen occur.By the same principle, ascariasis pancreatitis is possible, as well as respiratory failure when the airways are blocked by parasites.
Pinworms and enterobiasis
Pinworms are translucent white worms only 0.5-1 cm long.One end of their body is pointed, which explains the name.They are parasites 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 to the anus and do this in the perianal fold, after which they die.For patients, this process causes severe itching.If, after scratching the itchy area, the patient does not wash his hands, then the eggs will get on linen, surrounding objects, in food, and may remain under the nails.Patients can swallow pinworm eggs themselves.This is how self-infection occurs.
Symptoms: anal itching
The main symptom is severe itching in the anus at night, because this is when the parasite lays its eggs.With enterobiasis, symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract are possible: abdominal pain, nausea, increased gas formation, and from the nervous system: fatigue, sleep disturbances or insomnia (severe anal itching disrupts normal sleep).Pinworms can crawl into the female genital tract, causing irritation, pain, and discharge.And also cause coughing if it penetrates the lower respiratory tract.
Diagnosis and treatment of enterobiasis
Basically, scraping from the perianal fold (or using adhesive tape) is used, after which the resulting material is examined under a microscope.In this way you can detect helminth eggs.In blood tests, such as ascariasis, there will be an increase in eosinophils;if complications develop, there will be signs of inflammation (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 response and the number of parasitic worms.Dysbacteriosis, appendicitis, vaginitis, salpingitis, endometritis (inflammation of the appendages) are possible.
Prevention of ascariasis and enterobiasis
Ascariasis:
- identify and treat patients in a timely manner;
- loosen the sandbox (eggs do not tolerate direct sunlight);
- wash your hands after using the toilet and before eating;
- wash vegetables, fruits, berries.
Enterobiasis:
- iron clothes carefully, especially folds;
- cleaning the apartment with disinfection;
- providing patients with personal bedding and bedding;
- It is important for children to cut their nails short.