To get rid of parasites, you first need to understand which parasites have settled inside the patient and whether they exist at all. To do this, there is a simple fingerprint test. If the eosinophils in it do not exceed 5, you can be calm - there are no parasites in the body. If this indicator is higher than 5, an analysis of feces for worm eggs is taken, and according to the results of the analysis, treatment will be prescribed. Medicines for parasites have many unpleasant side effects: hair loss, seizures, kidney failure, drug hepatitis up to liver cirrhosis, so only a doctor should prescribe them.
Popular symptoms that are 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 thyroid malfunction. If they have appeared or have lasted for some time, the most sensible thing to do is to see a doctor. And as a preventive measure - wash your hands more often.
Fear of parasites
Many people are completely sincere and very much afraid of parasites, which, supposedly, strive to get into their bodies. And therefore, they are ready to spend a lot of money on scammers who not only look for, but also "find" parasites, and then "prescribe" all kinds of dietary supplements and other remedies for imaginary helminths to naive victims. Some try to remove parasites on their own with the help of garlic, onions and horseradish - the drugs from them are at least safe. But what will be in the jar received from the would-be doctors is still unknown.
The problem of parasitosis really exists, only it exists in the countries of Asia, Africa, and South America. So, in some Asian countries, infection of people with opisthorchiasis reaches 80%. There, special measures are taken to disinfect food and water. But all this is not with us, tropical parasites do not survive in the domestic climate, although opisthorchiasis is common in the holon regions. It is transmitted through fish, as well as through cats and dogs that feed on this fish. But today we will talk about other parasites, which it is quite possible to get infected in our middle lane. These parasites are roundworm and pinworms.
Ascaris and ascariasis
Ascaris parasitizes only in humans. The parasite is a rather long round worm of 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 develops ascariasis. At the same time, the gastrointestinal tract suffers to a greater extent, but damage to other organs is also possible, as well as allergic reactions. Ascariasis is quite widespread, 60-85 people out of every 100 thousand fall ill with it.
Roundworm life cycle: through the blood to the intestines
A sick person is not dangerous in terms of infection, since infection occurs when eggs enter the body. And eggs come out with feces and first ripen in the soil. Eggs have a dense shell, so they can stay in the soil for up to seven years. You can get infected by eating vegetables, fruits or berries that have been exposed to Ascaris eggs. In the body, the parasite goes through a long cycle of movements. First, larvae hatch from the swallowed eggs and enter the bloodstream through the intestinal walls. With the flow of blood, 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 intestines mature into adult worms, which are capable of laying eggs.
Symptoms: abdominal pain, nausea, weight loss
While the larvae travel through the body, allergic manifestations come to the fore. It is also possible mechanical damage to those organs through which the larvae pass - the liver, blood vessels, lungs, intestines. The patient may have a high fever, a rash and pain in the liver area, and at the end of the migratory stage - cough and shortness of breath. When roundworms settle in the intestines, their waste products are poisoned. Also, the pointed ends of the worms can injure or even pierce the intestine. Manifestations include abdominal pain, morning sickness, loss of appetite, and changes in stool. In addition, there are impaired well-being, poor sleep, headaches, increased fatigue, and weight loss. The presence of ascaris in the intestine 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 the sputum of patients. In the intestinal stage, ascaris 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 assigned a diet rich in vitamins, low in fats and carbohydrates. Food intake - four to five times a day. Shown are drugs with antiparasitic action, antihistamines, probiotics and enzyme preparations.
Complications of ascariasis
A complication of ascariasis can be intestinal obstruction due to blockage by a ball of worms. When ascaris crawls into the biliary tract, vomiting, jaundice, severe abdominal pain on the right occurs. By the same principle, ascariasis pancreatitis is possible, as well as respiratory failure when the respiratory tract is 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 parasitize mainly in the large intestine and can disappear over time without drugs, if self-infection does not occur. The fact is that to lay eggs, females descend into the anus and do this in the perianal folds, after which they die. In the patient, this process causes severe itching. If, after scratching the itchy area, the patient does not wash his hands, then the eggs will fall on the linen, surrounding objects, in food, and may remain under the nails. The patient can himself swallow pinworm eggs. This is how self-infection occurs.
Symptoms: anal itching
The main symptom is severe itching in the anus at night, since it is at this time that the parasite lays eggs. With enterobiasis, symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract are possible: abdominal pain, nausea, increased gas production, and 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 a cough - if penetrated into the lower respiratory tract.
Diagnostics and treatment of enterobiasis
Mainly, scraping from the perianal folds (or the application of adhesive tape) is used, after which the resulting material is examined under a microscope. So you can find helminth eggs. In a blood test, as in ascariasis, there will be an increase in eosinophils, with the development of complications - signs of inflammation (increased leukocytes, increased ESR). For treatment, antiparasitic drugs are used. Some of them are contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women. To reduce itching, the anus is lubricated with ointment with anesthesin. From folk remedies, the most popular is garlic.
Complications: dysbiosis, appendicitis
Complications will depend on the body's response and the number of parasitic worms. Possible dysbiosis, appendicitis, vaginitis, salpingitis, endometritis (inflammation of the appendages).
Prevention of ascariasis and enterobiasis
Ascariasis:
- identify and treat patients on time;
- loosen sandboxes (eggs cannot stand direct sunlight);
- wash your hands after using the toilet and before eating;
- wash vegetables, fruits, berries.
Enterobiasis:
- iron the laundry thoroughly, especially the folds;
- clean the apartment with disinfectants;
- to provide the patient with personal bedding and sleeping place;
- It is important for children to cut their fingernails short.