Enterobiosis
Enterobiosis is an infectious (parasitic) disease caused by a helminth, which is called a pinworm. The pathogen affects the intestines, causes itching in the anal area, increases the allergic background of the whole organism.
ETIOLOGY AND PATHOGENESIS OF ENTEROBIOSIS
The disease is caused by the parasite nematode pinworm, a small organism having a fusiform shape. The pinworm is usually milky-white in color, the size reaches no more than 12 mm. Sometimes pinworms can be detected with the naked eye.
Adult helminth individuals live in the lowest part of the small intestine, as well as in the blind part of the intestine and at the beginning of the large intestine. The number of individuals living in the intestine can reach up to several thousand. The main food for vital activity is the contents of the intestine, and pinworms are also considered facultative hematophages.
The large number of nematodes living in one human body is due to the problem of self-infection for a long period.
Direct infection of a person with pinworms occurs when pinworm eggs are ingested through food, unwashed hands. Getting through the esophagus into the stomach and the duodenum 12, the egg shells dissolve under the action of enzymes of the digestive tract, and mobile larvae penetrate into the intestines, descending into the lower sections of the small and upper sections of the large intestine. During this time, the larvae undergo several molts, after which they become sexually mature individuals.
Next, the fertilization of females occurs, after which the males leave the intestine along with its contents, and the females settle on the walls (in the mucous layer) of the intestine. After the number of helminth eggs accumulates in the uterus of the female pinworm, it detaches from the intestinal mucosa and passes under the action of intestinal peristalsis to the lower parts.
Next, the female goes beyond the rectum through the anus and lays eggs in the perianal folds. As a rule, these processes occur at night, since at this time the muscular ring of the anus is somewhat weakened. When laying eggs, the female secretes a specific substance that causes itching in the perianal area. When combing, eggs fall under the nails, after which they can re-enter the human body. This is how numerous repeated self-infections occur.
SYMPTOMS OF ENTEROBIOSIS
The clinical picture of the disease is very diverse, ranging from asymptomatic course to severe forms of allergic reaction. The degree of manifestation of symptoms directly depends on the number of helminths present in the body.
Moreover, with repeated infections, helminths can bypass the gastrointestinal tract, and with the blood flow get into internal tissues and organs. Once in unfavorable places in the body, the larvae are encapsulated. They can be detected during radiography or computed tomography.
With massive helminthic invasion, the patient is concerned about pronounced itching not only at night, but also during the day. Abdominal pain, stool disorders may occur.
The patient may complain of weakness, headaches, memory impairment.
DIAGNOSIS OF ENTEROBIOSIS
A reliable sign of enterobiosis is the detection of pinworm eggs on the skin in the perianal folds. During coprological examination of feces, helminth eggs are rarely detected.
TREATMENT OF ENTEROBIOSIS
The first stage in the treatment of enterobiosis is aimed at preventing repeated self-infections of the patient. To do this, a thorough disinfection is carried out. Bed linen and underwear are subject to boiling.
All people in contact with the patient should also be examined for enterobiosis. Everyone needs to follow the rules of personal hygiene, since the main way of infection is through dirty hands.
The patient should sleep in closed underpants (elastic bands around the legs, mandatory shower before going to bed and in the morning, daily change of underwear.
In addition to observing the rules of personal hygiene, anthelmintic agents are prescribed – vermox, wormil, piranter, piperazine
