Parasitic Worms: Signs Of Infection And Prevention Measures

2023 Author: Riley Dean | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-24 12:07

Parasitic infestations are quite common in people of any age. There are several types of helminths that are most commonly diagnosed in humans. They harm not only the organs in which they live and feed, but health in general. Prevention against parasites makes it possible not to get infected and not to use toxic medicines to combat them.

Content

• 1 Signs of pinworm infestation and prevention
• 2 Ascariasis
• 3 Opisthorchiasis
• 4 Giardiasis
• 5 Toxocars
• 6 Less common, but very dangerous infestations

Signs of pinworm infestation and prevention

Enterobiasis is the most common parasitic infection in children and adults. Such statistics are due to frequent re-infections, even after a complete cure. This feature is associated with the life cycle of this type of worms.

The female, crawling out, irritates the skin on the anus, causes severe itching. A man scratches this place and spreads thousands of eggs around him. Then they fall back into the digestive tract with dust or products that are taken with dirty hands.

The symptoms of pinworm infestation are quite pronounced and well recognizable:

• itching in the anus, especially after 21.00 (females crawl out to lay eggs);
• poor appetite or a sharp need for sweets;
• weight reduction;
• troubled sleep;
• fatigue.

Measures to prevent parasites in the case of pinworms can not only help prevent infection, but also heal. This type of roundworm lives in the human intestine for about 6 weeks, and if hygiene and prevention measures are strictly followed during this period, re-self-infection can be prevented.

1. Washing with soap in the morning and evening. Thus, the eggs left by the female on the anus do not spread.
2. Wet cleaning indoors at least 4 times a week.
3. Short-cut nails, especially in children.
4. Washing hands after going to the toilet, upon arrival from the street.
5. Ironing underwear with a hot iron after washing.
6. Frequent bed linen change.
7. Maintaining immunity at a high level, and then, even after entering the body, helminths do not take root.

Ascariasis

These roundworms can be up to 45 cm long. Ascaris live in the small intestine and cause enormous harm to the body. During their life cycle, they pass through several organ systems, capable of causing serious diseases:

• bronchial asthma;
• anemia;
• pneumonia;
• allergic manifestations;
• disruption of the digestive tract.

It is easy to get infected with ascaris after eating unwashed fruits, especially strawberries. Ascaris eggs can be found on greens and vegetables that grow close to the ground. This feature is due to the life cycle of these helminths. Eggs enter the soil with animal and human feces.

Before the eggs can move to the next stage of development, they must lie in the soil for a certain time. Therefore, roundworms that live in the human body cannot reproduce. They lay eggs, but parasites do not develop from them immediately.

Ascaris invasion has pronounced symptoms. 10-14 days after infection, the first signs of the disease appear:

• allergic rash;
• obsessive cough;
• low temperature;
• suffocation;
• enlarged lymph nodes.

These symptoms are due to the fact that roundworms migrate through the lungs and bronchi to the gastrointestinal tract. They damage the tissues of the respiratory system and can cause pneumonia. At this stage, symptoms resemble bronchitis or pneumonia, so treatment is often incorrect.

How not to get infected with parasites of this species? The main rule is personal hygiene, the obligatory processing of fruits and vegetables with boiled water. Children must wash their hands after playing in the sandbox. With the advent of wet wipes, it is much easier to maintain personal hygiene outdoors and defend against parasites.

Ascaris treatment is carried out in several stages with the help of drugs toxic to the liver, therefore it is better to carry out antiparasitic prophylaxis. But if at least one symptom appears, laboratory tests need to be done.

Opisthorchiasis

These flatworms are a fluke subspecies and are diagnosed with the same frequency as pinworms and roundworms. Worms can reach a length of 20 mm and lead a parasitic lifestyle for a long time. Infection occurs by eating freshwater fish with improper heat treatment.

Invasion by these worms leads to damage to the nervous system, its symptoms:

• irritability;
• fatigue;
• bad dream.

They are joined by nausea and vomiting. In the chronic stage of the disease, symptoms of pancreatitis and gastritis may worsen. Such a helminth with its vital activity leads to the development of serious anemia.

Freshwater fish should be cooked for at least 40 minutes

Giardiasis

In an acceptable amount, these parasites cannot harm the human body. But if immunity decreases, they begin to multiply sharply. This type of parasite has a strong negative effect on the human gastrointestinal tract, especially the liver.

The symptoms of infection are associated with the functions of the gastrointestinal tract, these are:

• nausea;
• vomiting;
• diarrhea or constipation;
• pain in the right side of the abdomen, especially after eating fatty foods;
• plaque on the tongue;
• increased body temperature.

Prevention of parasite infestation consists in maintaining immunity at the proper level:

• in proper nutrition;
• walking on the street;
• in the use of a sufficient amount of fruits and vegetables;
• in hardening.

These measures will promote a good defense response to prevent the proliferation of giardia.

Toxocars

People can become infected with these worms only from animals. Toxocars bring a lot of troubles. Treatment for these parasitic worms is long and tiring.

Parasites can have two forms of localization - ocular and intraocular. The symptoms are dangerous:

• inflammation of the eye membranes;
• purulent discharge from the eyes;
• noticeable movement of the larvae along the eyeball;
• enlargement of the liver and spleen;
• nausea and vomiting;
• periodic appearance of red spots on the body, which disappear on their own.

In advanced cases, damage to the heart muscle and the development of bronchopneumonia can occur. When these parasites enter the nervous system of the body, the following can develop:

• epileptic seizures;
• convulsions;
• severe excitability;
• nightmares;
• fears.

Sometimes total infection leads to severe inflammation of the lymph nodes.

Prevention should be carried out following simple rules:

• prohibit any contact with unfamiliar animals;
• after playing with pets, be sure to wash your hands with soap and water;
• properly care for four-legged friends;
• conduct a prophylactic course of anthelmintic drugs for pets.

You can cleanse the body from parasites using herbal collection. This method can be used by people who are not allergic to medicinal decoctions. Small children do not need such procedures.

Less common, but very dangerous infestations

Vlasoglav causes false signs of acute appendicitis. Because of this, surgery is often performed off indications. Infection occurs through poorly processed food.

Antiparasitic cleaning and preventive measures can protect you from infection with whipworms. All meat and fish products must be heat treated. Vegetables and fruits must be doused with boiling water before cooking.

Signs of infection and preventive measures against parasitic worms should be known to absolutely all people. This will help avoid getting infected with these dangerous worms.

Broad tapeworm and bovine tapeworm can reach enormous sizes. There is evidence of the length of the parasites over 10 meters. Such creatures simply "drink all the juices" from the host. From one such worm, you can lose all vitality and turn into a chronic patient. Prolonged invasion can be fatal.

The symptoms of the lesion are quite serious:

• fast weight loss;
• severe anemia;
• persistent nausea;
• profuse vomiting;
• severe abdominal pain.

Heat treatment of meat can save from parasites in the human body. Lovers of raw or raw steak need to think about the consequences of such food. Only this method will help to avoid the appearance of parasites in humans.