Worm diseases

At a Worm disease parasitic worms enter the human body and use it to reproduce. In most cases, worm diseases are harmless and can be treated well.

What are worm diseases?

The term Worm disease refers to a settlement of worms in humans. These worms are known as helminths. Helminths colonize the human body in order to reproduce in it. So those affected are the hosts that serve the parasites as a source of food.

Although worm disease is a global phenomenon, southern countries are more commonly affected. Children are more often affected than adults, as they are not infrequently used to hygiene measures such as regular hand washing, which makes it easier for the worms to penetrate the body.

The worms enter the body as eggs or larvae, use humans as a source of food and multiply. The eggs laid by the parasites are excreted by humans during bowel movements, which can lead to the transmission of the parasites.

causes

The most common cause of a Worm disease is the eating of food contaminated with worm eggs and the so-called smear infection.

In this way, especially small children get sick because they put their hands in their mouths without washing them beforehand. If they have come into contact with worm eggs beforehand, an infection occurs. A worm disease that is also common in adults is tapeworm infection.

These parasites can enter the human body through insufficiently fried pork or beef. A mostly neglected source of infection is eating wild berries and mushrooms in the forest. This allows dog or fox tapeworms to colonize the body.

Symptoms, ailments & signs

The symptoms of worm diseases depend on the particular worm species. General symptoms include pressure in the upper abdomen or persistent slight abdominal pain, itching in the anal region, weight loss or anemia. Roundworms often infest children.

Above all, these produce excruciating itching in the anal area, which encourages children to constantly scratch. When infected with roundworms, flu-like symptoms such as cough and fever can occur. Abdominal pain also occurs. Since the roundworms tend to form clumps in the intestine, there is a risk of intestinal obstruction. The bile duct is also sometimes blocked, which can lead to biliary colic.

When infested with trichinae, the muscles in particular are affected. In addition to watery diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and fever, muscle pain, edema, heart muscle inflammation and rheumatic complaints are the main symptoms. Beef and pork tapeworms usually cause only minor complaints. However, loss of appetite and food cravings often alternate.

Weight loss occurs. In rare cases, the tapeworms can also migrate to the pancreas or the appendix and cause inflammation of the pancreas or appendicitis there. When humans ingest tapeworm eggs instead of Finns, larvae form first, which often cause additional symptoms such as eye diseases up to blindness, seizures or muscle ailments. Dog and fox tapeworms can eventually completely destroy the liver by forming cysts.

Diagnosis & course

Based on the symptoms of a child, it seems reasonable to assume that it is due to a Worm disease there are different diagnostic methods. If the attending physician suspects an infestation with the relatively harmless and easy to treat pinworms, he carries out the Tesa smear test.

He attaches an adhesive strip in the anus area of ​​the affected child and pulls it off again. Then he can examine the strip and determine whether worm eggs have stuck to it. Taking a medical history is also important. After the consultation with the patient, the doctor will order a stool sample, because in the case of a worm disease, parts of the worm or its eggs are excreted with the stool and these can be detected there. A blood test can be performed to determine the disease more precisely. In our latitudes, worm diseases can usually be treated effectively, which means that the prognosis is very good.

Complications

Worm diseases cause different complaints and complications depending on the type of worm. Children often become infected with roundworms. Roundworms such as pinworms, roundworms or trichinae can be treated well. In some cases, however, complications can also arise. Roundworms sometimes form real balls in the intestines or in the bile duct, which can lead to an intestinal obstruction.

Trichinae, in turn, often affect the intestines and muscles. If the muscles are affected, chronic heart muscle inflammation and rheumatic complaints can develop over the long term. Heart muscle inflammation often leads to cardiac insufficiency. The pork or beef tapeworms can also be treated well.

If humans become infected with the fins of these tapeworms through raw or half-cooked meat, they get into the intestines and cause the typical symptoms. In rare cases, however, individual tapeworm limbs migrate into the pancreas or the appendix and cause acute pancreatitis or appendicitis as a complication. When infected with pork tapeworm eggs instead of pork tapeworm fins, larvae develop, which infect all organs of the body and sometimes cause blindness and seizures.

The most dangerous are the dog and fox tapeworms. They form cysts in the liver and sometimes in the lungs, which can destroy organs, block the intestines, or cause an allergic shock if the cyst bursts. In addition, dog and fox tapeworms are very difficult to treat.

When should you go to the doctor?

Pain in the abdomen, a feeling of pressure in the upper abdomen and intestines, loss of appetite or attacks of cravings are cause for concern.If the irregularities persist for several days or weeks and if they increase in intensity, it is necessary to consult a doctor. A doctor should also be consulted in the event of itching, bleeding in the bowel area or spotting. If movements are perceived in the chair when using the toilet, this is considered a warning signal.

The observations should be discussed with a doctor so that medical tests can be performed. Muscular pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are also considered complaints that need to be investigated and treated. If there is constipation, behavior problems, or mood swings, a medical examination is required. If you have a fever, anxiety or irritability, the irregularities should be followed up.

If the person concerned suffers from seizures, see a doctor as soon as possible. A diagnosis is required so that a treatment plan to alleviate the symptoms can be worked out. If the person concerned suffers from an uncomfortable feeling when moving or sitting, it is advisable to clarify the symptoms. Sleep disturbances, tiredness and changes in the complexion are also signs of a health disorder. A doctor should be seen if the skin is pale or under the eyes.

Treatment & Therapy

The treatment of an infection with helminths is relatively simple by administering special drugs. These are called anthelmintics; it is an anti-worm agent. Anthelmintics ensure that worms in the body are killed and excreted.

Although anthelmintics are very effective in combating parasitic worms, they can only be taken for a short period of time, otherwise a number of side effects can be expected. Also because of the side effects of these drugs, it is of great importance to diagnose a worm disease in good time and initiate treatment.

The earlier the therapy can be started, the faster it works and the fewer side effects are to be expected. Surgical intervention in the case of worm disease is only necessary in exceptional cases. Fox and dog tapeworms, if they go undetected, can form cysts which must then be surgically removed. Except for infections with the fox or dog tapeworm, worm diseases are easy and effective to treat and hardly lead to complications.

prevention

The best way to get a Worm disease to avoid is a hygienic lifestyle. This includes, above all, washing hands before eating. In addition, worm infections can easily be prevented by sufficiently thorough cooking of meat. When traveling to tropical countries, the rule is always to wash fruit and vegetables and not to eat anything raw.

It is also advisable not to consume wild berries and to have pets regularly dewormed. Even small children should be made aware of the importance of simple hygiene measures such as hand washing.

Aftercare

Depending on the duration and severity of the disease, the intestine may have been affected. In aftercare, it is therefore important to pay particular attention to the body's immune system and intestinal health. The use of probiotics has proven itself here. These are living microorganisms that are supposed to multiply in the intestine.

They are now offered as powder, capsules or drops and sold as a dietary supplement or medicine. Doctors who specialize in naturopathy and some naturopaths can give recommendations here. A fresh, fiber-rich food also helps the intestines to regenerate from the worm disease. Too much fat and calories should be avoided in the follow-up period as well as too much stress.

High external pressure can negatively affect the intestinal flora. In order to fully recover, exercise outdoors is advisable. Long walks, hikes or even regular jogging get the circulation going and ensure better blood circulation - also in the intestines!

Pleasure poisons should be avoided in the follow-up care of a worm disease so as not to unnecessarily burden the body again. Smoking and alcohol should be avoided for at least a while. Instead, we recommend drinking large amounts of still water in order to thoroughly flush the excretory organs (kidneys, bladder).

You can do that yourself

In the case of worm infections, special hygienic measures must be taken. The clothes must be changed, washed and, if possible, disinfected. The same applies to bed linen or towels. The body must be washed regularly and sufficiently and should then be covered with clean and freshly washed clothing. All household textiles, including sofas and chairs, should be disinfected if possible.

The diseases are highly contagious, so people from the close social environment should be informed. Depending on the illness, various measures can be used to support the healing process. The intake of onions or garlic cloves, for example, has proven itself. These can be consumed raw or used more often when preparing meals. Crushed pumpkin seeds mixed with honey can be eaten in the morning before the first intake of food. A natural laxative can be taken about two hours after this.

Foods that contain vitamin A help fight worm eggs. Therefore, more carrots should be eaten during the day. The consumption of coconuts or coconut oil has also proven to be helpful. Both can be deliberately taken with meals or consumed raw in small quantities. A natural laxative should also be taken for a few hours afterwards.