To get rid of parasites, you must first find out 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 rest assured that there are no parasites in the body.If this indicator is higher than 5, a stool test for worm eggs is taken and treatment is prescribed based on the results of the analysis.Medicines for parasites have many unpleasant side effects: hair loss, seizures, kidney failure, drug-induced hepatitis, even cirrhosis of the liver, so only a doctor should prescribe them.
Popular symptoms commonly attributed to 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 continue for some time, it is most reasonable to consult a doctor.And as a preventive measure, wash your hands more often.
Fear of parasites
Many people are sincerely and very afraid of parasites that supposedly seek to appear in their body.And that is why they are ready to give a lot of money to fraudsters who not only look for, but also "find" parasites, and then "prescribe" all kinds of nutritional supplements and other drugs for imaginary helminths to naive victims.Some try to eliminate the parasites themselves with the help of garlic, onion and horseradish - the medicines made from them are at least safe.But what will be in the jar received by future doctors is still unknown.
The problem of parasitosis does exist, but it exists in the countries of Asia, Africa and South America.Thus, in some Asian countries, the infection of people with opisthorchosis 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 opisthorchosis 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 with which it is quite possible to get infected in our middle zone.These parasites are roundworms and pinworms.
Roundworms and ascariasis
Roundworms only parasitize humans.The parasite is a rather long round worm with 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, affecting 60-85 people out of every 100 thousand.
The life cycle of roundworms: through the blood to the gut
The sick person is not at risk of infection, because the infection occurs when the eggs enter the body.And the eggs come out with the feces and first ripen in the soil.The 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.The parasite goes through a long cycle of movement in the body.First, the larvae hatch from ingested eggs and enter the bloodstream through the intestinal walls.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 them, the larvae in the intestine mature into adult worms that are capable of laying eggs.
Symptoms: abdominal pain, nausea, weight loss
As 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 high fever, 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 intestines, poisoning occurs with their waste products.In addition, the pointed ends of the worms can injure or even pierce the intestines.Symptoms include abdominal pain, morning sickness, loss of appetite, and changes in stool.In addition, there is a violation of health, poor sleep, headaches, increased fatigue and weight loss.The presence of roundworms in the intestines causes a lack 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 a microscope, larvae can be found in patients' sputum.In the intestinal stage, roundworm eggs and sometimes the worms themselves are found 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.Eating four to five times a day.Drugs with antiparasitic action, antihistamines, probiotics and enzyme preparations are indicated.
Complications of ascariasis
A complication of ascariasis can be intestinal obstruction due to blockage by a ball of worms.When ascarids crawl into the bile ducts, vomiting, jaundice and severe pain in the abdomen on the right appear.On the same principle, ascaris pancreatitis is possible, as well as respiratory failure when the airways are blocked by parasites.
Oysters and enterobiosis
Pinworms are translucent white worms only 0.5-1 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 in order to lay eggs, females descend to the anus and do this in the perianal folds, after which they die.For the patient, this process causes severe itching.If, after scratching an itchy area, the patient does not wash his hands, then the eggs will get on underwear, surrounding objects, in food and can remain under the nails.The patient can ingest pinworm eggs himself.This is how self-infection occurs.
Symptoms: anal itching
The main symptom is severe itching in the anus at night, as the parasite lays eggs at that time.With enterobiosis, symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract are possible: abdominal pain, nausea, increased formation of gases 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 even cause coughing if they penetrate the lower respiratory tract.
Diagnosis and treatment of enterobiosis
In principle, a scraping from the perianal folds (or placing a band-aid) is used, after which the resulting material is examined under a microscope.In this way, you can find helminth eggs.In a blood test, as in 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 reaction and the number of parasitic worms.Dysbacteriosis, appendicitis, vaginitis, salpingitis, endometritis (inflammation of the appendages) are possible.
Prevention of ascariasis and enterobiosis
ascariasis:
- timely identification and treatment of patients;
- loosen sandpits (eggs do not tolerate direct sunlight);
- wash your hands after using the toilet and before eating;
- wash vegetables, fruits, fruits.
enterobiosis:
- iron the laundry thoroughly, especially the folds;
- clean the apartment with disinfectants;
- provide the patient with a personal bed and place to sleep;
- It is important for children to trim their nails.