Nematodes in humans: symptoms, prevention, causes and characteristics of treatment

Round worms, or nematodes - the most diverse type of helminths, numbering several tens of thousands of species. Some of them do not harm a person, but there are predatory nematodes in people who are dangerous to their health, as they cause some very dangerous diseases: ascaridosis, strongyloidosis, etc.

Description and life cycle

The most characteristic feature of their appearance is a round section and an elongated fusiform shape of the body, due to which they easily adapt to the environment and successfully penetrate into the tissues of the human body, reaching the blood vessels or a suitable organ, most often the intestine.

Some features of the structure of nematodes:

• These helminths are dioecious, and the female is usually larger than the male;
• Have developed nervous and digestive systems;
• The reproductive system is also well developed.

The life cycle of such worms consists of 1-3 stages of larvae maturing into a matured individual. A threat to human health is represented by both larvae and adult helminths. Their eggs find themselves on the ground together with the faeces of a sick person, then fall into the intermediate organism of the animal or immediately find the host in the human body, penetrating through soil or mud. Once in a favorable human environment for them, worms gradually develop to an adult state, migrating with blood flow throughout the body. They can settle in any human organ, even in the brain, but more often they enter the lungs, and then through saliva into the digestive organs.

The most common types of human nematodes are pinworms, roundworms and whipworms.

Pathways of infection with nematodes

In the human body can simultaneously settle up to 45 species of these worms, sometimes causing severe diseases, which are called nematodes.

Infection with nematodes in humans can occur in several ways:

• Eating unwashed fruits or vegetables;
• When exposed to insects, such as mosquitoes;
• Through the skin.

In most cases, people are able to protect themselves from getting these worms, observing personal hygiene and conducting regular preventive treatment with medicines or herbs.

Depending on which nematodes have settled in humans, the symptoms and treatment of them may vary.

Ascaris

Ascaris is a round worm that is quite large: females reach 40 cm, males - 20 cm. This type of worms lives and develops only in the human body. Adult females, being in the body of an infected person, allocate eggs, which with feces fall into the soil. The parasite ripens in 2-3 weeks only under favorable conditions: with high humidity, presence of oxygen and temperature up to 25 ºС, being in the ground.

Then, through unwashed products into the human body, the eggs migrate to the internal organs, gradually ripening into the larva. Therefore, the answer to the question "Which larvae of which nematodes migrate through the human body?" There will be ascarids. It is such a larva, hitting the intestine, piercing its wall and penetrating the vein, through it - into the lungs. At this stage, the patient begins coughing, so that the helminth is thrown into the pharynx and enters the intestine via the digestive tract, already becoming a mature worm, ready for reproduction. In this state, the ascarid is located there for the next year.

The number of such nematodes in a sick person can amount to several hundred, as they multiply rapidly.

Pinworms

Pinworm is a small white worm with a size of 5 mm (males) to 10 (females), which is the causative agent of enterobiasis, a common disease in children. An adult worm usually lives in the small intestine, from where it crawls out at night through the anus to lay eggs (up to 15,000), then perishes. Such a process is usually manifested by itching in the anus area, which is why children in a dream often comb this place.

Eggs ripen very quickly, in almost a few hours. Getting by means of children's handles on clothes or a bed, they further re-enter into a mouth of the child and back in an intestine. The life cycle of the pinworm is about 58 days, and then it dies.

Because of the constant itching, the infected children do not sleep well, become nervous, their health deteriorates. With the penetration of pinworms into the appendix may begin its inflammation.

Glossy Human

This species of human nematode-parasite is the cause of the disease of trichocephalosis, it dwells in the lower and upper part of the intestine, it is found only in humans. Further development is carried out through the feces: getting outside, the eggs of the whip head develop for 3 weeks, and then penetrate through unwashed vegetables and fruits, drinking water into the human intestine.

The parasite feeds exclusively on blood, digging into the intestinal wall, it causes an inflammatory process and pains in the abdomen. It is also likely the occurrence of seizures, due to the supply of blood clots in the blood, the patient develop anemia, dysbiosis, possibly an inflammation of the appendix.

Symptoms of helminth infection

Common to all types of nematode infection in humans are the following symptoms:

• A feeling of general weakness, chronic fatigue;
• Periodic headaches;
• Sleep disorders;
• Nervous excitement, mood swings.

There are also specific signs that indicate some form of helminth and infect it:

• Itching in the anus, especially in children, is a sign of the presence of pinworms;
• Nausea and the urge to vomit, occurring paroxysmally, is a sign of the penetration of the helminth into the intestine;
• Rash after taking protein food, toxic-allergic reactions - when worms migrate through the human body;
• Coughing (sometimes with blood) occurs when ascaris penetrates the lungs, sometimes accompanied by bronchitis, pneumonia and other diseases;
• Pain in the muscles;
• Disorders in the digestive system: pain, diarrhea or constipation, the presence of mucus or blood in the feces;
• Reduction of body defenses, decreased immunity.

In addition to affecting the lungs and digestive organs, lesions of the liver, lungs, gall bladder, eyes and many other organs are possible.

Infection of people with nematodes from animals

Many pets, including cats and dogs, can become carriers of worms. The owners of animals often wonder whether nematodes are transmitted from cats to humans and which ones. Let's consider this issue in more detail.

In the cat organism, various types of worms can be inhabited: ascarids, toxa-karis, etc., which after falling into the human body can cause damage to various vital organs and provoke a deterioration in the general condition of the owner of the cat or dog.

How can a person avoid getting worms from his pets? The usual washing of hands here will not help, because animals, even without leaving home, can get nematodes, having got their eggs with the shoes of a person coming to the house. After that they walk around the apartment, jump on the couches, caress to their master, go to the toilet in a special tray - and everywhere can spread the eggs of worms, ie, nematodes in cats are transmitted to a person regardless of compliance with hygienic precautions.

The only correct solution in this situation is to conduct regular prophylaxis to both the domestic animal and the host, and necessarily simultaneously. The medication for a cat and for a human needs to be carried out in one day, and then repeated after 12-14 days to destroy not only the adult parasites, but also the young ones that have hatched over the days from eggs.

Diagnosis and treatment of nematodosis

At the slightest suspicion on presence of helminths it is necessary to address to the doctor and to make necessary analyzes:

• Analysis for the presence of eggs and larvae of nematodes in human feces;
• A blood test can show changes in leukocytes and eosinophils;
• If suspected of a non-intestinal form, do an x-ray or conduct an MRI scan;
• There is also an immunological way of testing for the presence of antibodies to a specific parasite.

Treatment is carried out with the help of anthelmintic medicines, which should be prescribed by the attending physician after an accurate diagnosis and determination of the species of nematodes. Calculation of the dose is based on the patient's body weight.

Popular cures for helminths

The most commonly used nematode tablets for humans are:

• "Nemozol" (analogous to "Vormil") is an anthelmintic preparation in the form of a suspension or tablets taken orally once a day, while eating. The active substance is albendazole, which has some contraindications to admission: retinal diseases, pregnancy, individual intolerance of the components. Possible side effects: upset stomach, increased blood pressure, allergic rash. The action of the drug is based on the inhibition of metabolic processes in parasites and their complete destruction.
• "Decaris" not only kills helminths (roundworms), but also positively affects the patient's immunity. When taking the medicine, the nematodes get paralyzed and die right in the intestine. Contraindications: pregnancy and feeding of the child, children under 3 years of age, bone marrow diseases. Side effects: headache, dizziness, possible allergic reaction, a feeling of nausea.
• "Pirantel" affects the transmission of impulses of worms (pinworms, ascarids, nematodes), causing paralysis. Its advantage is maximum safety: it is prescribed for pregnant women and small children. The only contraindication for patients with liver disease.

Admission of most drugs from worms should be repeated after 2 weeks to destroy those individuals that during this time have turned from eggs and larvae into adult worms.

Traditional methods of treatment

Many people refrain from taking chemical preparations, preferring old folk methods. There are plants that have a helminthic effect, which are quite capable of helping a person get rid of nematodes that have settled in the body. These include:

• sagebrush;
• Tansy flowers;
• pumpkin seeds;
• Garlic and others.

Wormwood is a herb that is successfully used in the form of powder, infusions and decoctions for the expulsion of helminths. Sagebrush infusion should be drunk three times a day before meals, while doing enemas with wormwood. Also often used to control pests and garlic enemas.

Measures for prevention against nematode infection

Considering the ways in which nematodes enter the human body, one should adhere to such preventive measures:

• Observance of personal hygiene rules: wash more frequently, use individual toiletries;
• Every time you return home, wash your hands thoroughly using soap or other disinfectants, and also after going to the toilet and before each meal;
• All grown or bought vegetables, fruits and berries must be washed;
• For drinking use only clean water, you can not swim in unknown reservoirs in summer;

• When visiting a forest or picnic, it is better to wear shoes;
• After tourist trips, especially in southern tropical countries, it is better to go through a test for the presence of worms.

All listed folk and medicamental methods will help get rid of nematodes in people, in order to avoid serious health consequences, which these worms can easily deliver to humans.