Very often people come across parasites, but it is not always possible to identify their presence in the human body in time. What are the symptoms of parasites in the body? There are many of them and they are often intertwined with signs of internal diseases. How to understand what symptoms are inherent in helminths and how to cure a helminthic disease?
Infection routes
The larvae of the worms first enter the intestine and are located in it. Some types of helminths migrate from the intestines to other internal organs and are found even in those places in the human body where it is sometimes very difficult to identify them. The reasons for the entry of parasites into the human body are varied, here are the most common:
- a person can become infected due to insufficient hygiene;
- due to poor quality heat treatment of contaminated meat and fish products;
- poorly washed fruits and vegetables;
- through contaminated soil and water in open sources;
- when you come into contact with sick animals;
- from person to person, through infected personal belongings;
- An adult or child becomes infected by the bite of a blood-sucking insect.
Main symptoms
From the gastrointestinal tract
The symptoms of the presence of parasites in the body are very varied. From the side of the digestive organs, they manifest as follows:
- there are frequent stomach and intestinal complaints: constipation or diarrhea;
- increased gas production and dysbiosis;
- symptoms of intoxication;
- bloody discharge when urinating and during the act of defecation;
- itching and burning in the colon, especially at night;
- the appearance of an allergic reaction to food, unprecedented before;
- appetite disorders: total absence or excessive consumption of food.
Signs of digestive tract worms can appear daily or periodically. It all depends on the number of parasites in the body of a child and an adult, where they are located and how long they are in the body. If there are no visible causes or existing diseases that disrupt the work of the digestive organs, it is worth thinking about the presence of parasites in the intestines and, just in case, undergo an examination.
From the side of the nervous system
Adult parasites and their larvae secrete toxic products, the effect of which adversely affects the work not only of internal organs, but also of the human nervous system. The more parasites that have settled in the intestines, the more damage they cause to human health and the more characteristic the symptoms are. Manifestations of disorders of the nervous system and psyche:
- irritability and anxiety;
- chronic lack of sleep;
- chills and fever;
- dizziness and headache;
- the children are anxious and in a very bad mood.
Allergic reactions
The presence of parasites in the body can cause the appearance of allergic reactions never seen before. When infected with worms, allergies to foods, drinks or medicinal herbs appear. The reaction manifests itself in the form of various red rashes all over the body, itching and itching in the affected areas. Allergies are accompanied by mucus, severe cough, peeling, and dry skin.
Other symptoms
The symptoms of parasitic diseases, in addition to the common manifestations, can spread to other organs, causing dysfunctions and inflammatory processes. Symptoms of parasite poisoning can be caused by the presence of a certain type of worm that parasitizes the body. The name of the parasite and its characteristics:
- Schistosome worms.Symptoms of schistosomiasis infection: skin rash in humans, bad breath, intoxication of the body. The worms cause genitourinary infections, thrush (in women), and inflammation of the prostate (in men).
- Wide tape.The first signs of parasites: intestinal obstruction, anemia, pain in legs and joints. Diphyllobothriasis causes persistent diarrhea and alteration of the cardiovascular system.
- Cysticercus parasites.Symptoms of infection: mental disorders that cause hallucinations. Also, protruding moles appear on the body, which eventually transform into malignant formations.
- Ascaris.Other signs of parasites: allergic dermatoses, headache attacks. Roundworms cause anemia, migraine, and cerebrovascular problems.
Location in the human body
Parasites in the human body choose any localization place, suitable for the implementation of life. They can affect the human brain, genitalia, bronchi, liver, nasopharynx. The intestines are often the habitat of worms. Children, as a rule, are infected with pinworms, while in adults, in addition to pinworms, they parasitize the most common types of parasites: roundworms, cysticerci, broad tapeworms, schistosomes, lamblia.
How to know if there are parasites in the human body?
It happens that the presence of helminths in a person is manifested by mild symptoms. How to check if parasites live in the human body? If most of the signs match, it should be examined and the cause found. General signs of the presence of parasites in the human body:
- severe itching and itching in the anal area (especially at night);
- rash on different parts of the body;
- headache attacks;
- upset stomach and intestines;
- causeless weight loss;
- the appearance of swelling of the limbs;
- periodic abdominal pain;
- chronic fatigue and apathy towards everything;
- kidney pain and muscle pain.
Diagnosis and treatment
If a child or adult has all the signs of a parasite infestation, it is urgent to contact an infectious disease doctor or parasitologist. The doctor will prescribe the necessary tests and a course of examinations. Only after receiving the results of the diagnosis will there be an accurate definition of this problem. Parasitic tests include:
- Stool analysis for the presence of maggot larvae.
- Scraping for enterobiasis.
- Biochemical blood test.
- X-ray. It is carried out in the event that it is necessary to determine the location of the parasites.
Treatment of parasites is carried out in stages and consists of the following methods:
- Anthelmintic therapy. The choice of medicine to treat helminth disease depends on the type of parasite.
- Cleanse the internal organs of worms using homeopathic remedies.
- Traditional methods of therapy have a detrimental effect on parasites, they remove adults and their larvae from the body. Popular recipes include: antihistamines from medicinal plants, anthelmintic products (garlic, dill, pumpkin seeds).
- If necessary, use a mixture of ozone and oxygen (local ozone therapy). It is used to destroy bacteria and viruses, relieves poisoning, and has an immunomodulatory effect on the human body.
- Parasites that live in the human body and cause poisoning of the body require hospital treatment, in rare cases surgery.
The timely course of antiparasitic therapy will avoid negative health effects. Although a person falls into the risk group of helminth infection, it is important to observe preventive measures, treat infections in time to protect themselves from reinfection and maintain health.