Helminthiasis

Helminthiases are a group of diseases caused by parasitic worms.Helminths can settle in the intestines, lungs, gallbladder and bile ducts of a person. Parasites cause mechanical damage to internal organs, waste products of helminths lead to intoxication. For humans, helminthiasis is also dangerous due to the fact that it suppresses the immune system, aggravates the course of other diseases, leads to increased fatigue, reduces the absorption capacity of the intestine, reduces the effectiveness of vaccination, etc. You can become infected with helminths by drinking dirty water or unwashed food. In rare cases, the disease is transmitted through the skin or air.

Classification of helminthiasis

By localization:

• Intestinal.These include ascariasis, strongyloidosis, trichocephalosis, teniarinchiasis, etc.
• Pulmonary.This group includes tominxosis and paragonimosis.
• Fabric.This class includes schistosomiasis, trichinosis, toxocariasis and filariasis.
• Hepotobiliary system.This group includes opisthorchiasis, fascioliasis and clonorchiasis.

By stage:

• Sharp.Helminthiasis usually appears 2-4 weeks after infection. Depending on the severity of the helminthic invasion, signs of helminthiasis are observed from 1 week to several months, then the disease becomes chronic.
• Chronic.The clinical manifestations of chronic helminthiasis depend on the species characteristics of the parasite. In the presence of helminths with reproduction of larvae (filariasis or strongyloidosis), allergic manifestations persist for a long time. In other forms of the disease, symptoms depend on the number, size and location of parasites in the body.

Helminthiasis and micronutrient deficiencies

Having settled in the human body, parasites feed on blood and tissue juices, absorbing nutrients. For growth and reproduction, helminths, first of all, need microelements, which leads to a decrease in their content in the body. The consequence of helminthiasis may be a deficiency of the following trace elements:

Zinc deficiency.Causes prostatitis, infertility, dwarfism, parakeratosis (resembles scab or scabies), various tumors and many other pathologies.

Selenium deficiency.Leads to a decrease in immunity, can provoke the development of malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, mammary glands, prostate.

Iodine deficiency.It causes stunted growth, impaired puberty and underdevelopment of the reproductive organs. With a lack of iodine, mental retardation is possible, up to dementia.

Manganese deficiency.May cause brittle bones, weight loss, seizures, dermatitis, and degeneration of the genital tract.

Chromium deficiency.Causes fatigue, sugar intolerance (borderline diabetes), growth retardation, increases cholesterol levels.

Signs of helminthiasis

• fever;
• various skin rashes;
• swelling of the face, conjunctivitis;
• inflammation of the upper respiratory tract;
• loose stools;
• in children, angina, lymphadenitis;
• bronchospasm, infiltrates in the lungs, pneumonia;
• myocarditis;
• hepatitis;
• meningoencephalitis.

Symptoms (clinical picture) of helminthiasis

Acute helminthiasis.For this form of helminthic infestationsigns of general allergic reactions are characteristic: itchy skin rash, fever, swollen lymph nodes, pain in muscles and joints. Acute helminthiasis often leads to the development of pulmonary syndrome, abdominal pain and dyspeptic disorders. At the same time, the liver and spleen increase in size, and symptoms from the central nervous system may appear.

Chronic helminthiasis.In many forms of helminthiasis, parasitism of several single individuals proceeds without any unpleasant symptoms. The characteristic signs of helminthiasis appear in the presence of large worms (teniids, broad tapeworm, etc. ). Symptoms depend on the type and location of the parasite. With intestinal helminthiasis, pain, dyspeptic and asthenoneurotic syndromes are observed. Ascariasis can cause pancreatitis, obstructive jaundice and intestinal obstruction. Enterobiasis is characterized by itching in the anus at night. With clonorchiasis and opisthorchiasis, hepatitis, cholecystocholangitis and various lesions of the gastrointestinal tract can develop.

Helminthiasis and infectious diseases

Worm infestations increase the risk of contracting infectious diseases. Helminths reduce immunity and weaken the body as a whole. Thus, parasites open up free access to the tissues of the body for microbes and viruses. Helminthiasis can be accompanied by the following infectious diseases.

Toxoplasmosis.It is an infectious disease that affects humans and animals. You can become infected with toxoplasmosis through a transfusion of contaminated blood, the use of dishes made from thermally unprocessed meat or fish, or through contact with the patient's feces. Toxoplasmosis is transmitted from mother to child during intrauterine development. The infection can cause fetal death or spontaneous miscarriage. Among newborns infected with toxoplasmosis, there is a high risk of mortality.

Chlamydia.An infectious disease that occurs in rodents, cats and humans. May be accompanied by fever, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and pneumonia. Affects the organs of vision, reproductive and respiratory systems. Chlamydia is transmitted by airborne droplets, contact and sex.

Toksokara.The disease is observed in humans, pets, rodents. Toxocar eggs remain viable for months in dried feces. You can get an infection through contact with animal hair or through the soil. The disease is accompanied by severe allergies and pathologies of internal organs.

Diagnostics and therapy of helminthiasis

How to identify helminthiasis

Prevention of helminthiasis is primarily in compliance with strict hygiene standards. It is unacceptable to drink raw water and eat poorly processed or unfamiliar foods (fish, meat). Early detection of people infected with parasites also plays an important role in prevention. Diagnosis of helminthiasis is carried out by identifying the larvae and eggs of helminths. Most often they are localized in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract, so the most common method is stool analysis.

In some cases, standard methods for diagnosing helminthiasis are ineffective. For example, some parasites do not lay eggs for a long period and therefore cannot be found in feces. The innovative method allows you to detect the presence of helminths and assess the general condition of the body by the iris of the eyes. The method is based on the fact that each organ has a projection on a certain segment of the "iris", where it transmits information about its state through the visceral centers of the brain. Such a diagnosis of helminthiasis makes it possible to detect parasites even in cases where the usual test for helminth eggs is negative.

How to get rid of helminthiasis

An effective, safe and proven means of getting rid of helminthic invasion and replenishing the necessary microelements in the body is a complex of drugs for helminths, which improves health in several main areas at once:

• improve immunity;
• normalize metabolism;
• improve the enzymatic functions of the stomach, pancreas, intestines;
• remove signs of allergies;
• normalize the activity of the gastrointestinal tract, etc.

Antiparasitic wellness program

To eliminate helminthiasis, it is necessary to take broad-spectrum antiparasitic drugs for 3 months. Between each month of admission, it is necessary to take a break of 7 days.