To eliminate parasites, you first need to know which parasites have colonized the patient's body and whether they are present.There is a simple finger prick blood test for this.If the eosinophil count does not exceed 5, you can rest assured that there are no parasites in the body.If the indicator is higher than 5, the stool is examined for eggs and treatment is carried out based on the analysis results.Medications to treat parasites have many unpleasant side effects: hair loss, epilepsy, kidney failure, drug-induced hepatitis, and even cirrhosis, so only doctors can prescribe them.
Common symptoms often attributed to the presence of parasites include nausea, fatigue, lethargy, paleness, irregular bowel movements, and constipation.These symptoms are more likely to indicate anemia or thyroid disease.If they occur or have persisted for a period of time, the wisest thing to do is to consult a doctor.As a precaution, wash your hands frequently.
fear of parasites
Many people are very sincere and very afraid of parasites that are said to be struggling to appear in their bodies.Therefore, they are prepared to pay large sums of money to scammers who not only seek out, but "find" parasites and then "prescribe" various dietary supplements and other treatments for the imaginary parasites to their naive victims.Some people try to get rid of parasites on their own with garlic, onions and horseradish - medicines made from them are at least safe.But what will be in the jar received from the future doctor is still unknown.
Parasite problems do exist, but only in countries in Asia, Africa, and South America.As a result, in some Asian countries, the infection rate of human opiates reaches 80%.There, they take special measures to disinfect water and food.But none of this is our case; although opioditis is common in colder regions, the tropical parasite cannot survive in our climate.It is spread through fish and cats and dogs that feed on such fish.But today we are going to talk about other parasites that our central region is likely to be infected with.These parasites are roundworms and pinworms.
Roundworms and Ascariasis
Roundworms only live in humans.The parasite is a fairly long, yellow-red, round worm.The length of adult males is 15-25 cm, females are even longer - up to 20-40 cm.Ascariasis occurs when roundworms invade the human body.In this case, the gastrointestinal tract is most affected, but other organs may also be affected, as well as allergic reactions.Ascariasis is quite common, affecting 60-85 people per 100,000 people.
Roundworm life cycle: travels through the bloodstream to the intestines
The patient is not at risk of infection because infection occurs when the eggs enter the body.The eggs are excreted in the feces and first mature in the soil.The eggs have a dense shell so they can remain in the soil for up to seven years.You may become infected by eating vegetables, fruits, or berries that have been exposed to roundworm eggs.The parasite goes through a long cycle of movement in the body.First, the larvae hatch from swallowed eggs and pass through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream.As the blood flows, they migrate to the liver, heart, then to the lungs, and finally from the lungs to the pharynx.When patients ingest them, the larvae in the intestines mature into adult worms capable of laying eggs.
Symptoms: Abdominal pain, nausea, weight loss
As the larvae spread through the body, allergy symptoms manifest.The organs the larvae pass through—the liver, blood vessels, lungs, and intestines—can also be mechanically damaged.Patients may develop fever, rash and pain in the liver area, and develop cough and shortness of breath at the end of the migration phase.When roundworms colonize the intestines, their waste products can cause poisoning.Additionally, the tips of the worms can injure or even puncture the intestines.Symptoms include abdominal pain, morning sickness, loss of appetite, and changes in bowel movements.Additionally, health problems, poor sleep quality, headaches, increased fatigue, and weight loss can occur.The presence of roundworms in the intestines can lead to deficiencies in vitamins B6, A and C.
Diagnosis of Ascariasis
For diagnosis, blood needs to be drawn for general analysis (increased eosinophils, increased ESR, sometimes anemia) and antibody testing.Under a microscope, larvae can be detected in the patient's sputum.During the intestinal stage, roundworm eggs and sometimes the worms themselves can be detected in the stool.
Drugs to treat ascariasis
Treatment of ascariasis does not require hospitalization unless the condition is complicated.The patient's diet is rich in vitamins and low in fat and carbohydrates.Eat four to five times a day.Medications with antiparasitic action, antihistamines, probiotics and enzyme preparations are suitable.
Complications of ascariasis
A complication of ascariasis may be intestinal obstruction due to obstruction of the worm balls.When roundworms crawl into the bile duct, vomiting, jaundice, and severe pain in the right side of the abdomen can occur.By the same principle, ascaricidal pancreatitis and respiratory failure may occur when the respiratory tract is blocked by parasites.
Pinworms and pinworms
Pinworms are translucent white worms that are only 0.5-1 cm long.Their bodies are pointed at one end, which explains their name.They mainly live in the large intestine and can disappear over time without medical treatment if they do not become infected themselves.In fact, to lay eggs, the female descends into the anus and lays eggs in the perianal folds, whereupon she dies.For patients, this procedure can cause severe itching.If a person doesn't wash their hands after scratching an itchy area, the eggs can get on the sheets, surrounding objects, food, and may remain under the fingernails.Patients can swallow pinworm eggs themselves.This is how self-infection occurs.
Symptoms: Anal itching
The main symptom is severe itching of the anus at night, when the parasites lay their eggs.Pinworms may present with gastrointestinal symptoms: abdominal pain, nausea, increased gas formation, and neurological symptoms: fatigue, sleep disturbance or insomnia (severe anal itching that interferes with normal sleep).Pinworms can crawl into the female reproductive tract and cause irritation, pain and discharge.If it invades the lower respiratory tract, it may even cause coughing.
Diagnosis and treatment of pinworms
Basically, use scraping (or use tape) from the perianal folds and examine the resulting material under a microscope.This way you can detect worm eggs.In blood tests, as in ascariasis, there is an increase in eosinophils and, if complications occur, signs of inflammation (increased white blood cells, increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate).Treat with antiparasitic drugs.Some of them are contraindicated by pregnant and breastfeeding women.To reduce itching, lubricate the anal area with numbing ointment.The most popular folk remedy is garlic.
Complications: dysbiosis, appendicitis
Complications will depend on the body's response and the number of parasites present.Dysbiosis, appendicitis, vaginitis, salpingitis, endometritis (inflammation of the appendages) are all possible.
Prevent ascariasis and pinworms
Ascariasis:
- identify and treat patients promptly;
- Loosen the sandbox (eggs cannot tolerate direct sunlight);
- Wash your hands after using the toilet and before eating;
- Wash vegetables, fruits, berries.
Pinworm disease:
- Iron clothing thoroughly, especially folds;
- Clean the apartment with disinfectant;
- Provide patients with personal bedding and a place to sleep;
- It is important for children to keep their nails short.