Types of parasites that enter the body through the stomach
Each type of parasite can develop in its inherent part of the human body, where the best conditions for its reproduction and nutrition are created. Certain types of parasites can move through the body from one organ to another. Parasite infection occurs in several ways. The most frequent form of parasites penetrating the human body is food. Problems can be avoided by following basic rules of hygiene - washing your hands before eating and handling food well.
Parasites do not live long in the human stomach due to the effect of hydrochloric acid on its membrane. The most common foreign microorganisms that parasitize the human body are:
- Ascaris- have the ability to move through the ducts of the liver and lung structures, penetrating the intestines. In the small intestine, roundworms develop in sexually mature individuals.
- Schistosomes- affect liver tissue, in advanced cases, causing the development of oncological diseases and dystrophy of the hepatobiliary system.
- Hookworms- cause disturbances in the digestive tract. The most dangerous for the human body are hookworms and necators. Parasite localization mainly in the duodenum. Hookworms are able to enter the human body not just through the stomach. Parasites have the ability to invade the skin, causing allergic reactions in the form of itching, burning and redness.
- Toxoplasma- the simplest parasites that often affect the human body. The disease progresses quite easily, often unnoticed by a person. Serious consequences for the body arise only in the case of severely weakened immunity.
- Broad tapeworm- located in the small part of the human intestine. It can reach several meters in length. The parasite causes the development of a deficiency in the body of cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12), as well as folic acid. Toxic allergic reactions in the body are not excluded. The infection occurs when eating fish affected by larvae.
- Bovine tapewormis a worm that causes the development of a disease such as teniarinquiasis. By penetrating the human body through food, the bovine tapeworm parasite passes through the stomach, where it gets rid of the membrane under the action of gastric juice. Its suction cups are released and the parasite can easily attach to the mucous membranes of the small intestine. The signs of a bovine tapeworm in the body are abdominal pain, nausea and an eruption of gastric contents. The patient loses his appetite, may suffer from dyspeptic disorders (belching, for example). In some cases, infection of the bovine chain is the manifestation of allergic skin reactions in the form of urticaria.
- The swine tapewormis a helminth that reaches up to 10 meters in size. It belongs to one of the largest worms that infect the human body. Upon passing through the stomach, the parasite's eggs, due to the action of hydrochloric acid, lose their shell. The larvae that emerge from the egg spread to all tissues of the human body, causing the development of cysticercosis. Cysticercosis represents the greatest danger to the nervous system.
- Vlasoglavis a round worm that causes trichocephalosis disease. The invasion symptoms may be absent for a long time. In complicated cases, with a large accumulation of parasites, there may be signs of ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. The person has abdominal pain, decreased appetite and the stools become liquid. In the stool, streaks of blood and mucus are observed.
Symptoms of parasites and worms in the gastrointestinal tract
Alien organisms that lead a parasitic lifestyle in their host's body disrupt the functioning of many organs, causing inflammatory processes and severely destroying body tissues.
Individuals parasitic on the intestinal tract, for their development and reproduction, use nutrients from food intended for the host. The consequences for humans are sad. The body is experiencing a severe deficiency of trace elements and vitamin complexes.
Children's organisms are most at risk.
In the context of severe helminthiasis, normal growth and development processes, both physically and psychologically, are seriously disturbed. Helminths have the ability to adapt perfectly and live for decades in the host's body. Helminth eggs have a pronounced resistance to environmental factors.
As they are in the digestive tract, several types of helminthiasis can interrupt the digestive process, releasing specific toxic substances for their protection, inactivating the enzymatic activity. Helminthiasis can cause gastritis and other dyspeptic disorders.
The symptoms that appear during infection by parasites can be very different in their manifestations. In the vast majority of clinical cases, discomfort and painful sensations are observed at the site of the parasites. Thus, helminths, whose habitat is the skin, damage the dermis, which leads to the appearance of allergic reactions. Parasites located in the lung structures can cause a disturbing cough or shortness of breath. The symptoms of dwarf tapeworm infection are manifested by weakness throughout the body, impaired memory, pain in the abdomen and head. Sometimes, constant nausea and vomiting are diagnosed, such as a stomach ulcer.
Stool disorders, bad breath, pain in the intestines or disturbances in the digestive process, in most cases, are associated with the action of parasites in the area of the digestive tract.
The effect of foreign microorganisms on the human body as a whole leads to the following symptoms:
- increased weakness;
- headache attacks;
- insomnia;
- swelling;
- skin rashes and itchy skin of an allergic nature;
- bronchial asthma attacks.
In addition, the general resistance of the body decreases, in the context of changes in the functioning of the immune system. In young children, helminthiasis is manifested by a delay in physical and psychological development.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis combines studies to identify larvae or worm eggs.
The biological materials for diagnosis are:
- feces; urine;
- sputum;
- duodenum content; bile duct secretion;
- rectal scraping;
- smear from the perianal space;
- muscle fibers;
- blood.
Based on the fact that helminths and their particles are detected by a macroscopic method, eggs and larvae can only be detected by laboratory examination using a microscope.
The acute phase of helminthiasis caused by parasites in tissues, or by larvae of parasitic forms of toxocariasis, trichinosis, cystocercosis, tricocephalose, implies the use of serological samples, such as:
- RSK- complement binding reaction;
- HA- indirect agglutination;
- ELISA- immunofluorescence analysis;
- AHL- agglutination by lysis.
In some cases of helminthiasis, a reliable diagnosis can only be established with the help of special ultrasound exams, computed tomography, X-ray exam and endobiopsy.
Treatment
The treatment of helminthiasis can vary widely. Science knows more than 300 all types of helminthiasis, but the main parasites that cause changes and systemic intoxication are roundworms and flatworms. They are usually divided into intestinal and non-intestinal. When prescribing therapeutic measures, it is important to take into account a number of characteristics that are characteristic only of a certain class of helminths that are harmful to human health.
To get rid of helminths, a specialist prescribes an entire treatment schedule, and it is important to take into account the factors of the frequency of infection of certain organs, the intensity of the infection, the level of intoxication and the duration of the helminths. This allows you to prescribe the most effective means.
Medicines
To combat the type of helminths diagnosed, an individual therapy regimen is being developed. The specialist prescribes the appropriate medication based on the patient's test results.
Folk remedies
Traditional medicine can help get rid of parasites at home.
For the treatment of helminthiasis, you can use the following recipes:
- Inflorescences of absinthe seeds,should be ground and mixed with honey. Take the medicine 3 days in a row, 3 times a day, 1 teaspoon. Effective for ascariasis. The
- infusion of bitter wormwoodis prepared in the following way - grind the grass, pour boiling water over it and let it ferment overnight. In the morning, filter the infusion and drink 3 times a day. The course of treatment is up to 3 weeks. Effective for ascariasis and enterobiasis.
- Pumpkin seeds.They can be used raw, dry or powdered. The powder is mixed with honey and the medicine is taken on an empty stomach. Handles tape worms. You can make a decoction of pumpkin seeds. Half a kilo of seeds is crushed in a pestle, poured with 1. 5 liters of hot water and placed in a water bath. It is not necessary to bring to a boil. Drink the broth on an empty stomach.
- Infusion of pomegranate peels.Dried and crushed pomegranate peels, pour boiling water, let it cool and take 1 teaspoon 3-4 times a day. The course of therapy is 7 days.
Preventive measures
If personal hygiene rules are not observed, parasites must be removed from the body constantly, which will adversely affect the state of the body as a whole.
For prevention purposes, it is important to comply with the following basic hygiene rules points:
- avoid close contact with animals;
- keep your hands clean - wash after each exit;
- it is important to maintain the cleanliness of the living area, doing a damp cleaning, washing dishes with detergent;
- if there are children at home, it is recommended to wash children's toys with soap, especially after a walk;
- wash vegetables and fruits under running water, preferably lukewarm or even hot, as the worms' eggs have a sticky substance that prevents them from separating from the surface;
- eat meat and fish only after preliminary heat treatment;
- drink clean water, avoid tap water, as it may contain lamblia and schistosomas.
Helminthiasis not only causes discomfort, but also seriously damages the human body. Neglected cases of helminth damage lead to disturbances in the functioning of the entire organism. It is important to take timely preventive measures to prevent infections.