Many do not even think about the presence of parasites in their body. Moreover, people often do not even suspect that if they have health problems, then the culprits of this condition are the microorganisms that exist at the expense of the owner.
Meanwhile, worms cause various helminthiases (ascariasis, enterobiasis, echinococcosis, trichinosis, etc. ). In the absence of deworming, a person develops a number of different complications.
So in the case of non-treatment of helminthic infestation in childhood, a delay in mental and physical development may occur. And the organs affected by the worms contribute to the appearance of inflammation, which does not disappear even after the parasites are removed.
But how to determine the presence of parasites in the body at home? What symptoms and diseases accompany different types of helminthiasis?
What to look for to identify worms in humans
The roughness of the skin, the appearance of spots, acne on it, baldness and premature wrinkles - all these manifestations can indicate the presence of parasitic microorganisms. In addition, problems with nails or the formation of cracks in the heel (damage to the digestive organs) may indicate helminthiasis, sometimes there may be a link between psoriasis and lamblias.
Often the above symptoms are caused by lamblia or Trichomonas. However, any helminthic infestation adversely affects immunity.
This, in turn, leads to the appearance of such signs:
- sinusitis;
- angina;
- polyps;
- inflammation of the paranasal sinuses;
- sudden onset of snoring.
To recognize parasites in men, you need to pay attention to the presence of adenoma, cystitis, impotence, prostatitis, stones and sand in the kidneys and bladder. Some worms affect the brain and affect the development of future offspring.
To find out what parasites women have, the following symptoms will help:
- myoma;
- painful sensations during menstruation;
- fibroma;
- interruption in the menstrual cycle;
- disorders of bladder and kidney function;
- fibrocystic breast disease;
- inflammation of the ovaries.
With appendicitis, it is worth thinking about the presence of worms, biliary dyskinesia or pancreatitis indicates opisthorchiasis.
Hookworm larvae that penetrate the lungs often cause false pneumonia. Moreover, the manifestations of some types of helminthiasis are similar to angina or bronchitis.
Also, the symptoms of parasites in the human body are:
- insomnia, malaise and anemia;
- weakening of immunity;
- avitaminosis;
- gastrointestinal tract discomfort, constipation, dysbiosis;
- weight changes;
- allergic reactions;
- irritability and anxiety;
- skin problems.
Symptoms of the presence of parasites in the body
To find out if I or you have helminths, you need to pay attention to a number of signs that are quite different. Typically, large worms contribute to constipation, as they block the bile and intestinal tract, which interfere with natural bowel movements.
A certain type of parasite secretes special substances that dilute feces. Therefore, diarrhea is not always a symptom of a gastrointestinal disorder, it often indicates the presence of parasitic microorganisms in the human body.
Also, the parasitic microorganism causes bloating and gas formation. This occurs when toxins enter the small intestine, provoking an inflammatory process there.
Irritable bowel syndrome is another sign of helminthic infection. So, worms contribute to the poor absorption of fat, as a result of which it enters the colon, therefore, its increased amount in the feces is observed. This leads to cramps, diarrhea and constipation.
Some types of worms can exist in muscle and joint fluid. Therefore, their presence in these areas causes painful sensations that are similar to the symptoms of arthritis. In reality, this concern occurs due to inflammation, which is the immune response to the presence of worms.
Allergic manifestations are a characteristic feature of many types of helminthiasis. After all, toxins secreted by worms trigger an immune response, which must produce a lot of eosinophils. But an abundance of protective cells contributes to the appearance of inflammation, which results in allergies.
Often, worms cause skin rashes, eczema, acne and other problems. So the simplest parasites lead to the formation of ulcers, papillomas and dermatitis.
Helminthic invasion is almost always associated with anemia. This is due to the fact that after entering the intestine, worms attach to its mucosa and absorb nutrients from the host's body. In particular, Trichomonas, which feeds on blood cells, leads to poor condition, as a result of which considerable blood loss occurs.
People with helminthiases often have weight problems. Thus, excess body weight indicates that worms poison the human body with toxins or consume glucose. And excessive detail indicates disruption in metabolic processes.
Due to the deterioration of well-being caused by helminthic invasion, the patient becomes very irritable and emotionally unstable. Above all, the products of worm residues poison their host, adversely affecting the nervous system, as a result of which the patient is in a depressed state.
Insomnia is a characteristic sign that parasites are active in the body. Therefore, if a person often wakes up at 2-3 o'clock in the morning, then he needs to contact a parasitologist, because exactly at this time the liver is trying to remove all toxins. In addition, roundworms or worms emerge through the anus at night, provoking itching and irritation.
In patients under the age of 15, worms often cause gnashing of teeth during sleep. Thus, the nervous system reacts to toxins secreted by worms.
Also, almost every helminthiasis is associated with chronic fatigue syndrome, which is characterized by memory impairment, apathy, and the presence of flu-like symptoms. This signals a lack of nutrients eaten by pathogenic microorganisms.
With prolonged helminthic invasion, immune disorders occur in the patient's body. After all, the vital activity of worms greatly depletes the body's defenses, as a result of which allergic manifestations develop and favorable conditions are created for the penetration of the infection.
Prolonged parasitism of harmful microorganisms also causes damage to organs and tissues, against the background of which, oncological diseases develop. In this case, inflammatory foci are formed and the body experiences a lack of nutrients.
All of this is complemented by malfunctions in the functioning of the immune system. Thus, favorable conditions are formed for the emergence of various oncological diseases.
Certain types of worms are localized in the human respiratory system, causing inflammation in its organs. As a result, the following symptoms appear:
- lightning;
- temperature rise;
- cough;
- pneumonia;
- asthma.
How to detect helminthiasis using medical research?
In the presence of the above symptoms, in order to find out whether or not there are parasites in the body, you should seek medical help. You may need to visit a parasitologist, infectious disease specialist, gastroenterologist, surgeon, sometimes an ENT specialist or an ophthalmologist, as it all depends on the location of the worms.
Often, the diagnosis consists of taking a scratch and examining the stool for the presence of eggs. However, such tests allow you to check if there are worms that live in the intestinal tract or parasites that migrate along it (tapeworms and flatworms, flukes).
Due to the fact that the eggs do not always come out of the anus, the study should be performed 2-3 times. Using these diagnostic methods, the following are detected:
- fluke;
- worms;
- tapeworms;
- peg worms;
- schistosome;
- round worm;
- trichinella;
- worms.
Many species of helminths (leishmaniasis, lamblia, trypanosome, echinococcus, plasmodia, amoebae, toxoplasma) can be localized to almost any tissue and organ, making fecal analysis uninformative. In such a situation, the patient should perform a blood test for the presence of immunoenzymes, which indicates the presence of antibodies and antigens.
To determine the parasite that lives in the liver of the host, probing and examination of the obtained material is performed. If helminth waste products are found in the human liver, this indicates infection.