Ascaris During Pregnancy: How To Treat, And What To Do?

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Ascaris During Pregnancy: How To Treat, And What To Do?
Ascaris During Pregnancy: How To Treat, And What To Do?

Video: Ascaris During Pregnancy: How To Treat, And What To Do?

Video: Ascaris During Pregnancy: How To Treat, And What To Do?
Video: DEWORMING DURING PREGNANCY | CAUSES |PREVENTION BY WHO | TREATMENT OF INTESTINAL WORM IN PREGNANCY| 2024, March
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Page content

  • Ascariasis during pregnancy
  • Diagnostics
  • Why are they dangerous?
  • Treatment
  • Folk remedies
  • Prevention
  • Complications

    • Intestinal obstruction
    • Damage to the bile ducts
    • Migration of Ascaris to other organs
  • Consequences for the fetus
  • You can defeat parasites!

Since during the life of the roundworm it releases toxic substances, the symptoms of infection can manifest themselves quite sharply.

So, how is ascariasis manifested during pregnancy, what should you pay attention to in the first place?

What to do in such a situation? To get started, we recommend reading this article. This article details the methods of dealing with parasites. We also recommend contacting a specialist. Read the article >>>

  • There is a decrease in appetite and rapid weight loss. In this case, a woman may complain of increased fatigue not associated with pregnancy.
  • Ascariasis leaves an imprint on the condition of the skin. A woman may notice the manifestation of unreasonable allergic reactions, the appearance of acne and itchy skin. In addition, in some cases, there is a slight yellowing of the whites of the eyes.
  • Ascariasis in pregnant women can manifest itself in stool disorders, constipation or diarrhea.

In addition to all of the above, ascariasis can cause problems with the lungs, bronchi or any other organs, since the larvae of the worm are able to freely move through the body.

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Ascaris

That is why it is extremely important to carefully monitor the health of the pregnant woman and conduct regular examinations. Pregnancy and ascariasis is a rather dangerous condition.

Ascariasis during pregnancy

The cause of the disease is the ascaris larvae that enter the body. At the same time, they easily penetrate the circulatory system and spread throughout the body, but in the bulk they are concentrated in organs such as the liver and lungs.

Ascaris located in the lungs, as a result of coughing, gradually penetrate the mouth and pharynx, where, in turn, the ascaris larvae re-enter the internal organs.

Over time, the larvae develop into a developed worm that parasitizes the small intestine of humans. It is worth noting that when roundworms enter other internal organs, their life cycle ends.

Ascariasis during pregnancy is manifested by the following symptoms:

  • High fatigue and increased weakness;
  • Insomnia;
  • General poor health of the body, malaise;
  • The onset of hypothermia;
  • The appearance of a dry cough;
  • The presence of pain on the right side;
  • Palpable liver, which indicates an increase in its size;
  • The appearance of a skin rash, which is a consequence of an allergic reaction and is accompanied by itching, burning sensation on the skin and the appearance of a rash.

It is important to understand that the symptoms of ascariasis can be confused with the symptoms that appear during pregnancy, while women often do not attach importance to the symptoms that appear and very rarely go to the doctor. Therefore, it is very important to conduct a medical examination and provide timely treatment.

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Diagnostics

At the first suspicion of ascariasis, a pregnant woman needs to see a doctor as soon as possible. In order to confirm the signs of this disease, it is necessary to do a comprehensive examination for the presence of parasites in the body.

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The most effective are the analysis of feces, in which the larvae are located, and a blood test to determine antibodies. In order to reliably check whether there are parasites in the body, feces are examined for 3 consecutive days.

With the help of a blood test, the disease can be determined early. Sputum analysis is less effective, in which larvae can rarely be found. Sometimes diagnostic procedures are used to determine elements such as fatty acids in saliva or urine.

Why are they dangerous?

Ascariasis during pregnancy causes discomfort for both the expectant mother and negatively affects the health of her child. A pregnant woman has a lack of useful elements, as a result of which hair, skin and nails deteriorate. The presence of ascaris leads to blockage of the biliary tract and intestinal obstruction. The occurrence of such problems is often solved with the help of surgery, which cannot be used during pregnancy.

In the early stages of pregnancy, this parasitic disease can cause miscarriage, and at a later date, premature birth. Roundworms in pregnant women enter the fetus through the blood vessels and the child is born with parasites. If the worms enter the lungs, then the born child will be more susceptible to pneumonia, bronchitis, acute respiratory infections and allergic diseases. If the larvae enter the liver of the fetus, there is a high probability that the child will suffer from jaundice. Waste products of worms can provoke abnormalities in the development of the fetus.

If the presence of ascaris is not detected in time, their length reaches 45 centimeters. Having the shape of a spindle with pointed ends, they are absorbed into any human organ, including the placenta. Therefore, timely diagnosis of the disease will help start treatment on time and prevent unwanted consequences. It is very important to take tests on time as prescribed by a doctor.

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Treatment

The most important thing in the treatment of this disease for pregnant women is not to look for ways to solve the problem on their own. Treatment of ascariasis should take place under the strict supervision of a physician. In the first trimester of pregnancy, treatment with worms is strictly prohibited, since this can provoke a miscarriage. In the second and third trimester, when the child's organs are already formed, the doctor may prescribe potent drugs.

The least harm to the expectant mother and child is the antihelminthic drug Piperazine.

"Piperazine" is considered a less harmful drug for the mother and child. Also prescribed "Sankofen", "Pirantel" and oxygen procedures. For treatment, enterosorbents and antihistamines are used, if the doctor considers it appropriate. Prescribing drugs is necessary if the consequences of the invasion of this type of helminths will be much more serious than after taking drugs. In this case, an additional study of amniotic fluid and ultrasound is carried out, after which a decision is made on the appointment of appropriate medications.

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Depending on the duration of pregnancy and the severity of the disease, sick leave is issued. In some women, this disease is more easily tolerated, in others it is more difficult. Other parameters of a pregnant woman's health are also taken into account. Only the attending physician who knows about all these features gives a sick leave.

Folk remedies

Some herbal decoctions, tea with lingonberry, tansy, rosemary, decoctions of wormwood and ginger seeds, compotes from buds of birch, valerian, pomegranate have antiparasitic effect. For both prevention and treatment, it is recommended to introduce carrots, garlic, pomegranate, walnuts into the diet. Folk remedies for the treatment of ascariasis during pregnancy are also:

  • pumpkin seeds (no more than a handful of times a day, chewed together with the shell);
  • watermelon, if there are no kidney problems;
  • beet juice (1 tablespoon 4 times a day);
  • pomegranate fresh;
  • garlic with milk.

Prevention

The best treatment is prevention. When planning a pregnancy, it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive examination, including tests for the presence of ascaris. If parasites are found, it is necessary to undergo treatment in order to get rid of them and conceive a healthy child.

During pregnancy, you must carefully monitor your health, strictly follow the rules of personal hygiene. This will reduce the risk of helminth larvae entering the body. The main methods of prevention are as follows:

  • wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after going to the toilet, contact with money, coming from a walk, after visiting various public places, before preparing food and eating it;
  • raw foods (fruits, vegetables, herbs) must be washed under running water, doused with steam;
  • to subject fish and meat to high-quality heat treatment;
  • protect food from contact with insects and rodents;
  • do not bite your nails;
  • avoid contact with animals;
  • do not eat raw meat and dairy products from the village;
  • do not drink unfiltered water;
  • wash your toothbrush before brushing your teeth;
  • wash bed linen and towels frequently at high temperatures;
  • iron the laundry after washing.

Complications

Ascaris infection can cause the development of such conditions:

Intestinal obstruction

A complication occurs when the intestinal lumen is closed with a ball of woven roundworms. On palpation of the abdomen, a dense, rounded formation is determined - an accumulation of parasites. Intestinal obstruction can cause severe intoxication, bowel necrosis and sepsis.

Signs of intestinal obstruction:

  • pain in the abdomen (at the site of the localization of parasites);
  • lack of independent chair;
  • nausea;
  • repeated vomiting.

If you experience such symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor. Treatment is only surgical. During the operation, the doctor eliminates the cause of the obstruction by removing parasites from the intestines. For health reasons, the operation is performed at any stage of pregnancy.

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Severe ascariasis, when intestinal obstruction occurs

Damage to the bile ducts

The penetration of ascaris into the bile ducts and gallbladder leads to severe pain in the right hypochondrium, nausea and vomiting. Helminths may come out with the vomit. With blockage of the lumen of the biliary tract, obstructive jaundice develops. The addition of a bacterial infection leads to the appearance of liver abscesses and other severe complications.

Migration of Ascaris to other organs

In rare cases, mature parasites travel up the esophagus into the mouth, from where they enter the respiratory tract. The penetration of ascaris into the bronchial tree threatens with death from asphyxia (suffocation). It is possible that helminths enter the organs of the genitourinary system, nasolacrimal canals, and the middle ear. Further symptoms will depend on the location of the ascaris.

Consequences for the fetus

Ascariasis is a dangerous condition for a pregnant woman and her baby. With the blood flow, ascaris larvae can penetrate the blood-brain barrier, migrate into the intestines and other internal organs of the fetus. Intrauterine infection with roundworms can cause miscarriage, premature birth and delayed fetal development. In infected pregnant women, severe toxicosis, anomalies in the course of labor and the postpartum period are more often recorded.

Prolonged parasitic invasion is dangerous not only with possible infection of the fetus. The body of a woman with ascariasis is forced to provide nutrition for parasites, which inevitably affects the condition of the expectant mother. Nutrients are used to maintain the vital activity of helminths, while the baby suffers from a lack of vitamins and minerals. This condition threatens to delay the development of the fetus and the appearance of serious health problems after birth.

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