Worms (ascariasis, enterobiosis)
Helminthiasis is a parasitic disease caused by various helminths living in the human body, for example, ascarids or pinworms.
There are three forms of helminthiasis – transmitted to humans from animals (biohelminthiasis), transmitted to humans from soil (geohelminthiasis), transmitted from an infected person (contagious).
The mechanism of helminth infection is only fecal-oral. Helminth eggs enter the human body through unwashed hands, unwashed vegetables, poorly thermally processed foods. The most common helminthiasis are ascariasis and enterobiosis, most often found in children of preschool and primary school age.
ASCARIASIS
The causative agent of ascariasis is the roundworm ascaris. Females are up to 40 centimeters in size, males are less overall, only up to 25 centimeters. The appearance of ascarids resembles ordinary earthworms, except for the color – ascarids are white. These helminths live in the small intestine. When the eggs enter the intestine, the shell dissolves, larvae develop, which then penetrate into the blood and absorb plasma. With the help of the circulatory system, the larvae spread throughout the body, enter the lungs. Then, with sputum, they return to the intestines as adults, starting to actively lay eggs. Eggs fall into the soil – from there into the human intestine, so the vicious circle of the life cycle closes.
CLINIC
From the moment of infection to the first symptoms (incubation period), no more than two months pass. Then there are symptoms of catarrhal lesions of the respiratory tract: signs of pneumonia, cough, chest pains, shortness of breath, subfebrile temperature, allergic reactions: acute urticaria, lymphadenitis (inflammation of the lymph nodes) and lymphangitis (inflammation of the lymph vessels). There are intestinal disorders, weight loss, loss of appetite due to intoxication with ascarid waste products, paroxysmal abdominal pain, jaundice of the skin and sclera with liver damage, nausea and vomiting, insomnia. In advanced cases, ascarid can be detected in the patient’s feces.
diagnostics
Coprological examination of feces, sputum examination, lung radiography.
Serological examination of blood.
treatment
Drug therapy: Pyrantel, Dicaris, enzymes (Mezim), vitamin therapy, antihistamines.
Diet therapy: protein diet.
In severe cases, infusion therapy, antiviral drugs, surgical removal of ascarids.
ENTEROBIOSIS
The causative agent of enterobiosis is a pinworm – a small round worm of white color, the size of the female is no more than 12 mm, the male is 5mm. Males differ from females in addition to size by the tail end twisted inwards. The development cycle is different from the ascarid cycle. Getting into the intestine, under the action of enzymes, egg shells dissolve, larvae are formed, migrate to the lower intestine, undergo 3 molts, adults grow up, males fertilize females, then leave the intestine, females remain and begin to produce eggs. At night, females are selected in the perianal folds and lay eggs. At the same time, itching occurs in the perineum, anal opening, in girls on the eve of the vagina, in the vagina itself. Combing (especially children) itchy areas, the patient puts eggs in the sub-elbow space and if personal hygiene is not observed, the eggs again fall into the mouth, then into the intestines and self-infection occurs, which can be repeated an infinite number of times.
symptoms
In some patients, enterobiosis is asymptomatic.
Perianal itching, itching in the perineum, vagina.
Periodic abdominal pain.
With a chronic course – constant itching in the anal folds, perineum.
Tenesmus (false urge to defecate).
Nocturia in children.
Headaches.
Diagnosis in enterobiosis is the same as in ascariasis.
treatment
Compliance with the rules of personal hygiene – washing, washing hands, food, heat treatment, disinfection of household items, clothing (boiling).
For itching, a soda cleansing enema before going to bed.
Medical treatment: Pyrantel, Piperazine, Wormil.
