Helminths are parasitic worms. To do this, they use intermediate and main hosts, feed on cells or tissues, and absorb nutrients and vitamins that enter the body for the host. Worms in the human stomach as well as in the intestines or other tissue structures poison the body with toxic substances in the course of their vital activity.
Types of parasites that enter the body through the stomach
Any 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 from organ to organ throughout the body. Parasite infection occurs in a number of ways. The most common way of parasites entering the human body is through diet. Problems can be avoided by following basic hygiene rules - washing hands before eating and handling food carefully.
Parasites do not live long in the human stomach due to the action of hydrochloric acid on their membrane. The most common foreign microorganisms that parasitize the human body are:
- Ascaris- have the ability to move through the ducts of the liver and lung structure and penetrate the intestines. In the small intestine, roundworms develop into sexually mature individuals.
- Schistosomes- in advanced cases, affect the liver tissue and provoke the development of oncological diseases and dystrophy of the hepatobiliary system.
- Hookworms- cause disorders in the digestive tract. The most dangerous for the human body are hookworms and necators. Localization of parasites mainly in the area of the duodenum. Hookworms cannot only enter the human body via the stomach. Parasites can penetrate the skin and cause allergic reactions in the form of itching, burning and redness.
- Toxoplasma- the simplest parasites that often affect the human body. The disease runs quite easily, often imperceptibly to humans. Serious consequences for the body arise only with severely weakened immunity.
- Broad tapeworm- located in the small part of the human intestine. It can be several meters long. The parasite leads to a lack of cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) and folic acid in the body. Toxic-allergic reactions of the body cannot be excluded. Infection occurs when eating fish affected by larvae.
- Beef tapewormis a worm that causes the development of a disease such as teniarinchiasis. The beef tapeworm parasite enters the human body through food and passes through the stomach, where it removes the membrane under the action of gastric juice. Its suction cups are released and the parasite can easily attach to the mucous membranes of the small intestine. Signs of a beef tapeworm in the body include stomach pain, nausea and eruption of the contents of the stomach. The patient loses appetite, may suffer from dyspeptic disorders (e. g. belching). In some cases, infection with the beef chain is the manifestation of allergic reactions on the skin in the form of urticaria.
- Pork tapewormis a worm up to 10 meters in size. It is one of the largest worms to infect the human body. When passing through the stomach, the parasite's eggs lose their shell due to the action of hydrochloric acid. The larvae emerging from the egg spread to all tissues of the human body and trigger the development of cysticercosis. Cysticercosis is the greatest danger to the nervous system.
- Vlasoglavis a round worm that causes the disease trichocephalosis. Symptoms of invasion can be absent for a long time. In complicated cases, signs of ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease can appear when the parasite is large. The person has stomach pain, appetite decreases, and the stool becomes runny. There are streaks of blood and mucus in the feces.
Symptoms of parasites and worms in the gastrointestinal tract
Extraterrestrial organisms that lead a parasitic lifestyle in the body of their host disrupt the function of many organs, cause inflammatory processes and severely destroy body tissue.
Parasitic individuals in the intestinal tract use nutrients from foods intended for the host for their development and reproduction. The consequences for humans are sad. The body suffers from a severe lack of trace elements and vitamin complexes.
Children's organisms are most at risk.
Against the background of severe helminthiasis, the growth processes and normal development are severely disturbed both physically and mentally. Helminths have the ability to adapt perfectly and live in the host's body for decades. Helminth eggs have a pronounced resistance to environmental factors.
In the digestive tract, different types of helminthiasis can disrupt the digestive process by releasing certain toxic substances for their protection and by inactivating enzymatic activity. Helminthiasis can cause gastritis and other dyspeptic disorders.
Symptoms that occur during a parasite infection can vary widely in terms of their manifestations. In the vast majority of clinical cases, discomfort and painful sensations are observed at the site of the parasites. Helminths, whose habitat is the skin, damage the dermis, which leads to allergic reactions. Parasites located in the lung structures can cause an annoying cough or shortness of breath. The symptoms of dwarf tapeworms manifest themselves in weakness of the body, memory disorders, abdominal pain and headaches. Sometimes nausea and constant vomiting are diagnosed, like a stomach ulcer.
Stool disorders, bad breath, intestinal pain or disorders of the digestive process are in most cases associated with the effects 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;
- attacks of headache;
- insomnia;
- flatulence;
- rashes and itching on the skin of an allergic nature;
- attacks of bronchial asthma.
In addition, the body's total resistance decreases against the background of changes in the functioning of the immune system. In young children, helminthiasis manifests itself in a delay in physical and psychological development.
Diagnosis
Diagnostics combines studies to identify larvae or eggs of worms.
Biological materials for diagnosis are:
- feces;
- urine;
- sputum;
- contents of the duodenum;
- bile duct secretion;
- rectal scratches;
- smear from the perianal space;
- muscle fibers;
- blood.
Due to the fact that helminths and their particles can be detected macroscopically, eggs and larvae can only be detected by laboratory tests with a microscope.
The acute phase of helminthiasis caused by parasites in tissues or by larvae of parasitic forms of toxocariasis, trichinosis, cystocerkiasis, trichocephallosis, implies the use of serological samples such as:
- RSK- complement fixation reaction;
- ON- indirect agglutination;
- ELISA- immunofluorescence analysis;
- AHL- lysis-agglutination.
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 endobiopsy.
Treatment
Treatment for helminthiasis can be very different. Science knows more than 300 all types of helminthiasis, but the main parasites that cause changes and systemic poisoning 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 that are peculiar to only a certain class of helminths that are harmful to human health.
To get rid of helminths, a specialist prescribes a whole regimen of treatment, and it is important to take into account the factors of the frequency of infection of certain organs, the intensity of the infection, the degree of intoxication and the duration of helminths. This will allow you to prescribe the most effective means.
Medicines
To combat the diagnosed type of helminths, an individual therapy scheme is developed. The specialist will prescribe the appropriate drug based on the patient's test results.
Folk Remedies
Traditional medicine can help get rid of parasites at home.
To treat helminthiasis, you can use the following recipes:
- Inflorescences of wormwood seeds,must be ground and mixed with honey. Take the drug for 3 days in a row, 3 times a day, 1 teaspoon. Effective for ascariasis.
- The bitter wormwood infusionis prepared as follows: grind the grass, pour boiling water over it and let it steep all night. In the morning, filter the infusion and drink it three times a day. The duration of treatment is up to 3 weeks. Effective for ascariasis and enterobiasis.
- 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. Copes with tapeworms. You can make a decoction of pumpkin seeds. A pound of seeds is crushed in a mortar, poured with 1. 5 liters of hot water and placed in a water bath. It is not necessary to bring to a boil. Drink the broth on an empty stomach.
- Infusion of pomegranate peel.Dried and chopped pomegranate peels, pour boiling water, allow to 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, then parasites must be constantly removed from the body, which has a detrimental effect on the condition of the entire body.
For prevention reasons, 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 every time you go outside.
- It is important to maintain cleanliness in the living area, wet cleaning and washing dishes with detergents.
- If there are children in the house, it is recommended to wash children's toys with soap, especially after going for a walk.
- Wash vegetables and fruits under running water, preferably warm or even hot, as the worms' eggs have a sticky substance that prevents them from peeling off the surface.
- eat meat and fish products only after preliminary heat treatment;
- drink clean water, avoid tap water as it can contain lamblia and schistosomes.
Helminthiases not only cause discomfort, but also cause considerable damage to the human body. The neglected cases of helminth damage lead to functional disorders of the entire organism. It is important to take preventive measures in a timely manner to avoid infection.