Many of us, after a summer vacation, will think about the presence of worms (helminths).
Some people think that it is necessary to get rid of them at all costs, others, on the contrary, think that these parasites are also very useful for the body. Who will tell us the truth?
Surely, many of you are familiar with the famous Dr. In one of the series there was a case where a teacher got sick just in class. The children were frightened and the doctors did not know what was happening to him, as he was in a very serious condition. Each doctor promoted his theory. Some thought the patient had a tumor, others that he was suffering from inflammation of the vessels of the brain. This problem is solved by the protagonist of the series, Dr. House, finding the culprit of the teacher's suffering. It was a tapeworm that tormented the woman. The teacher was then prescribed a course of pill treatment and she recovered.
Although this series may seem like a fantasy, the script of this series is made by real professionals. Real cases of worm infection are also similar to a myth, but, alas, the consequences can not always be corrected, as in the case of the series. How do we know if we are infected or not? Are we in danger or not?
About preventing worms
People, when they hear about various wonderful medicines for destroying these parasites, forget everything just to get rid of them.
We have developed such a strong aversion to these animals that even when we think about them, it gets bad. We are ready to test ourselves with even the most "abnormal" medicines, drink all sorts of dubious herbs and even make garlic enemas.
It is very important not to overdo it with any medication and stop in time. In the case of parasitic diseases one should be careful in choosing medicines for helminths, because without taking the right medicines we can complicate the situation. Do not take anything for treatment! It is very important to know what you are struggling with, what medicine helps you, what dose is optimal and what contraindications it has. So it could turn out to be a whole detective story in the fight against parasites.
On our planet, more than 300, 000 species of helminths are known to affect vertebrates. In humans, there are 300 species of helminths (according to other sources, more than 12, 000 species). So to deal with anything, it just will not work. Although it is good that most of them are in the tropics. This only if we do not take such "tourists" from tropical countries where we like to rest (Turkey, Cyprus, Egypt, Thailand).
Every region in the world is characterized by several worms. And they all have a different form of entry into the body.
How many types of helminths are there on Earth?
Schistosomes
Africa and Asia are famous for their schistosomes. And you can get infected with them very simply if you swim in a local freshwater reservoir or drink water from local springs. Schistosomes mainly enter the body through the genitourinary organs.
How to avoid schistosome infection?
If you do not swim in fresh water and wash only with boiled water, in principle, you can avoid this.
Filaria and elephantiasis (filariasis)
You can also "get acquainted" with filaria during your vacations in the islands of Fiji, Mozambique, Goa, Tahiti, as well as in Egypt. The main carriers of these parasites are mosquitoes (local mosquitoes).
Filariasis is dangerous because it causes filariasis (elephantiasis), which affects the lymph nodes and is very difficult to treat.
Mosquitoes are also dangerous because they can be carriers of leishmaniasis (caused by leishmania) and malaria. Leishmaniasis affects the mucosa and skin.
How to avoid filariasis infection?
The main rule is not to let mosquitoes get close to you, much less bite. Use curtains, repellents and special mosquito nets.
When in the tropics, avoid running or walking barefoot on local trails or sandy beaches. The fact is that this way you can catch other types of parasites. In the "harmless" sand are often hidden various parasitic larvae, which can very quickly penetrate into the body even through the skin of the feet! So sometimes after returning from trips, you can find some kind of larvae under the skin. Like in any horror movie!
How to avoid infection with such parasites? Walk only in shoes and it is not recommended to lie on the sand or grass without a mattress.
Fluke
The most dangerous food is raw and also uncooked fish.
Fluka is one of the many parasites that can be found in raw fish in:
- China;
- Japan.
Once you have tasted such a piece of fish (which means infected), after 1/2 - 1 month you may feel discomfort in the liver area as well as redness.
Not only the case is transmitted in this way. Many worms are waiting for the next host to bite a raw fish. Fans of caviar, sushi, salted and dried fish, too, are at risk of contracting a stroke.
How to avoid grain infection?
First of all, exclude from the menu all kinds of exotic dishes from raw fish. If you still can not refrain from taking such dishes, at least eat them only in good and certified restaurants.
If you buy raw fish at the market or from foreigners, then you should definitely cook it already, otherwise you risk it.
Trichinella and trichinosis
What do you think there are no other worms? Make no mistake, we found them in other popular products.
Here Europeans love bloody steaks. And here lies another danger - trichinosis.
Other helminths can not even be compared to this, because Trichinella is one of the most dangerous! They can settle in muscle tissue and lead to death.
In addition to trichinella, such a European dinner can "give" other parasites: pork and beef ribs.
How to avoid trichinosis and tapeworm infection?
Eat well-prepared meat dishes and only in good restaurants.
round worms and needles
Even when we eat vegetables and fruits, we have to think about the fact that there is another threat of infection: roundworms and worms. This is why our mothers taught us to wash fruits and vegetables before consumption. Most often, the threat comes from spicy herbs (greens), which are brought to us from the southern regions.
How to avoid infection with roundworms and needles?
If you bought greens at the market, then make sure you rinse them well. First, leave the grass in the water for an hour, so that the helminth eggs found on the leaves sink to the bottom of the container, and only then wash each leaf individually. Like this!
Positive aspects of worms
I think the thought that such "pets" wander around is not very warm. But let’s be optimistic, because life is beautiful.
The microcosm around us is full of all kinds of surprises:
- bacteria,
- viruset,
- parasites.
And we have whole pounds of such biomass and there is nothing pathological in this. We were not created to live in an absolutely sterile environment, where we would simply die.
Some of these organisms have a positive effect because they participate in improving immunity, in the synthesis of some vitamins and digestion works differently thanks to them.
I do not want to call helminths animals useful to humans, but there are those that are safe (intestinal parasites) and particularly dangerous (parasites that live in other organs: lungs, liver, eyes, and even the brain! ). In the latter case, everyone thinks about how to recover quickly, because the problem is very serious.
It happens that helminths leave the body of the owner, even when he does not know about their existence in his body.
For example, you can get rid of worms with a head of garlic, or through hormonal changes (in the case of a pregnant woman), anything is possible. If you decide to rebel against these parasites without knowing what you are fighting against, you can anger them. Thus, they can complicate the situation by penetrating the bile ducts and provoking a liver abscess. So keep in mind, regular prevention is not always helpful! It is best to pass the check-up at the hospital for the presence of helminths.
Symptoms of worm infection
How to proceed? Worms surround us everywhere and, thus, we can be easily infected, their treatment without diagnosis is not recommended and diagnosing helminths is not an easy task. Worms are very good at disguising themselves like other diseases.
And what is more interesting: the bigger the helminth (there are giants that reach up to 10 meters), the calmer it behaves. So it is not always possible to analyze only a few symptoms, it turns out, to identify the correct diagnosis. You can not do without the examination of a parasitologist.
Of course, no one can help you better than a doctor. Here are some cases in which you should be sure to get tested:
- during a recent vacation in different parts of the world, you ate various dubious local foods, swam in hotel pools where the water was not chlorinated, walked barefoot on the beach, lay naked in the sand, grass, youaffected native dogs and cats;
- you have high fever, urticaria, rash, itching, redness of the body, chills, bloating and abdominal pain.
If you discover your situation, then you should see a parasitologist.
Rules of personal hygiene to not get infected with worms
Food
- Let's start with the fact that in exotic places you can only drink bottled water.
- Fruits, even if they look very tasty, should be peeled or boiled. In a simple form, their use is not recommended at all.
- Other dubious products are
- unripe meat;
- raw fish (any form, even seafood).
- Freshly squeezed juices are also prohibited. Juicy fruits do not always go through a thorough washing process.
Refuse to use such products.
beach
Do not risk walking barefoot on sand, grass, trails in exotic places. Use a deck chair and slippers.
bathing
It is forbidden to swim in the freshwater reservoirs of India, Central Africa, South America. There are so many parasites that even the movie "Alien" looks like a children's fairy tale compared to these.
mosquitoes
Mosquitoes (or mosquitoes) are very dangerous parasites because they are serious carriers of many infections and helminths.
Avoid direct contact with them.
You have to use repellents, wear long-sleeved clothes, sleep under a tent.
freedom
In exotic countries it is strictly forbidden to dry clothes in the air.
The problem is that flies from tropical countries are very fond of laying eggs on it, and when you wear swimming trunks, the larvae that can cause dermatitis will hatch.
Where to do tests to detect worms?
Perform tests only at specialized state clinics. Suspicious institutions are not recommended to do such tests.
One of the reasons for not contacting such clinics is the fact that they can find everything you want even if you have nothing.
Yes, yes, to connect you, they may prescribe unnecessary treatment courses there. They will tell you that modern universal diagnostics sees everything, even where standard tests see nothing. Do not trust charlatans and do not hesitate to go to standard public clinics.
Now let's talk about the so - called universal diagnostics. In a case such as the discovery of helminths, this is not possible.
If they have to pass urine to the bladder, if to the intestines - then feces, if to muscle mass - then they will have to do a muscle radiograph, if to the liver - ultrasound.
What did you think? The positive results of such tests can only warn you to rule them out as soon as possible. Take only medications advised by the parasitologist, because accuracy and precision are very important in this matter.
What to remember about helminths?
Theoretically, helminths can be infected almost anywhere - in the city, on vacation, in tropical countries, in the woods. But as the statistics say, even in such cases not everyone is infected with them. Those who follow the basic rules of hygiene, as a rule, reduce the risk of infection for themselves.
- The main thing is not to panic and do not take any medicine for prevention, because there are no universal remedies for worms. Even tablets for worms have their classification according to the different forms of helminths. It turns out that some pills help with some parasites, while others do not. The doctor will best determine your diagnosis and prescribe the right pills. If you take care of your pets (cats and dogs) by regularly recommending anthelmintic drugs and if none of the symptoms mentioned above bother you, then you have nothing to worry about.
- If you have any doubts about this issue, then go to the doctor. Remember to tell us what you ate and where you were.
- As I told you before, you should only do tests in good specialized clinics. In bad clinics, you can spend a lot of money and will not be able to be treated.
- Any medication taken for prevention can only do harm. Do not use them "only for prevention", otherwise you can destroy the intestinal flora and even "gain" toxic hepatitis. Echinococcosis is very dangerous and therefore the initiative of such a thing can blow up the cyst where the larva is located. This can be fatal.
- If you were recommended "some diet supplements for worms" at "any clinic", it does not mean that you will all improve. Many of these products contain toxins that can provoke allergies and you may not get the effect.
The most common myths about helminths
Sea fish does not contain parasites
Who told you that? Most worms contain fish that have not undergone the necessary processing or that after catching have not been cleaned immediately before freezing. This increases the chances of getting infected.
Dogs can catch worms more easily than cats
Indeed, dogs have such a habit of tasting the feces of their relatives. The most dangerous helminths that can be "taken" from dogs are echinococci - very dangerous parasites of the liver and lungs. For prevention, prescribe a course of treatment for animals 4 times a year. So dogs can be more dangerous to this than cats.
Only children can get worms
a besove? This can only seem so because children are less precise, wash their hands less often and sometimes do not follow the rules of hygiene. So hygiene rules are important for everyone!
A person infected with worms can infect others
Of course it is true. Being near such a "patient" is risky, but you may not know it. So after shaking hands, wash your hands just in case. You can be especially easily infected with breast worms (enterobiasis) because they are the most common helminths. Also, very often children who are polluted can infect their parents, so teach your children to follow the rules of hygiene.