If a person feels general malaise, discomfort and pain in the organs of the digestive system, it is possible that there are parasites in the intestines. Any helminthic infestation is very dangerous, as it provokes serious complications and sometimes threatens life. Worms in the intestines can cause immunodeficiency, dysbacteriosis, and cancer. They parasitize in the small intestine, liver, and move to other organs. Only timely diagnosis and control of parasites will help prevent serious consequences.
Types of parasites in the intestines
Parasites of the gastrointestinal tract have varieties: round, tape or flatworms, as well as protozoa. Intestinal worms can migrate throughout the body and settle in organs of other systems, which complicates diagnosis. Common types of intestinal parasites are:
| Parasite | How is it dangerous and where is it located? |
| Whipworm | The disease is trichocephalosis. Parasites are localized in the human stomach and parts of the large intestine. Cause of anemia or appendicitis. Infection is through unwashed hands. |
| Pinworms | The disease is enterobiasis. It is transmitted through dirty water and hands, as well as from person to person. Habitat: cecum or appendix. |
| Hookworm | Habitat: duodenum. Cause of hookworm. It enters the body through the skin when walking barefoot, as well as through unwashed vegetables and fruits and through dirty hands. |
| Ascaris | The disease is ascariasis. Ways of infection are raw water, dirty hands, contaminated food. Also parasitic in the heart, lungs, and brain. It poses a deadly threat to life, since a large number of worms leads to blockage of cavities and ducts. |
| Alveococci and echinococci | They cause alveococcosis and echinococcosis, parasitize the liver, forming cysts and nodes similar to cancer. Deadly dangerous. Transmitted from animals and through dirty water and hands. |
| Bovine and pork tapeworm, wide tapeworm | Causative agents of diphyllobothriasis and teniarynchosis. These are large worms, up to 20 m in length. Infection occurs through unfiltered water and dirty food. Parasites living in the human intestine can cause erosion and inflammatory processes. |
| Giardia | Protozoan parasites that cause giardiasis. It parasitizes mainly in the small intestine. Complications in the form of pancreatitis, cholestasis, gastritis, biliary dyskinesia. |
How to get rid of worms in the intestines
To cleanse the intestines, antiparasitic drugs are used; almost all of them have a wide spectrum of action, but are effective against certain types of worms. As an additional method of therapy, you can use folk remedies that have anthelmintic and immunomodulating properties.
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Medicines from the pharmacy
Drugs for the treatment of helminthiasis have a paralyzing effect on parasites, destroy their shell, interfere with the normal nutrition of the worms - all this leads to the death of worms and protozoa, they are eliminated from the body naturally.
What tablets and suspensions will help get rid of parasites
| Drug name | What parasites does it help with? |
| Vermox | Roundworms, whipworms, echinococci, pinworms, mixed types of parasitic infections |
| Dekaris | Pinworms, whipworms, tapeworms, flukes, hookworms |
| Piperazine | Pinworms and roundworms |
| Helminthox | Roundworms, pinworms, hookworms |
| Medamin | Whipworms, hookworms, pinworms |
| Fenasal, Praziquantel | Tapeworms, pork, bovine tapeworms |
| Albendazole, Mebendazole | Trichinella, mixed invasions |
| Mintezol | Intestinal eel |
| Nifuratel | Giardia |
| Gelmodol-VM | All types of parasites and protozoa |
Most medications affect only adult parasites, so therapy should be carried out twice with an interval of 2 weeks.
Treatment with folk remedies at home
If helminths have settled in the stomach, cleansing enemas, decoctions and tinctures of medicinal plants, and some foods will help get rid of them.
Carrot juice for intestinal parasites
Carrot juice is a tasty and healthy medicine for eliminating parasites and is safe for children. Most worms that live in the digestive tract do not tolerate specific enzymes contained in the root vegetable. You can drink 250–500 ml of natural juice per day, the first portion should be taken in the morning on an empty stomach; packaged drinks are not suitable for the treatment of helminthiasis.
Carrot juice is a simple remedy for cleansing the intestines of worms
Enemas for cleansing
An effective remedy for cleansing the intestines is soda enemas. Dissolve 40 g of sodium bicarbonate in 1 liter of water at a temperature of 37–39 degrees.
Cleansing steps:
- Prepare a solution for a cleansing enema - dissolve 30 g of salt in 2 liters of water at room temperature; for children, the amount of ingredients should be halved. This will help avoid absorption of the medicinal solution by the intestinal walls.
- Introduce the saline solution using an Esmarch mug; the liquid should be retained in the rectum for 7–10 minutes.
- After bowel movements, introduce a soda solution and hold it for half an hour.
- The final stage is to add 5 ml of lemon juice to the saline solution, do a cleansing enema, and keep the solution inside for 10 minutes.
- In total, you need to do 10 procedures with an interval of 2 days.
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For greater effect, add lemon juice to the soda solution.
Instead of soda, you can use a decoction of onion peels - 30 g of raw material per 1 liter of water, simmer over low heat for a quarter of an hour. The steps of the procedure are the same.
Pumpkin seeds with honey
A good cleansing and tonic remedy can be prepared from just three ingredients - grind 300 g of raw, unpeeled pumpkin seeds in a blender, pour in 300 ml of warm water, add 15 ml of liquid honey. The entire mixture should be eaten in small portions before breakfast, after 3 hours take a laxative, and do a cleansing enema. Duration of treatment – 2 weeks.
Pumpkin seeds with honey are not only an effective, but also a tasty remedy for parasites
Pomegranate peel
Pomegranate will help get rid of parasites in the intestines: pour 5 g of crushed dried peels into a thermos, add 400 ml of hot water. After 6 hours, put the mixture on low heat and simmer until the volume of water is reduced by half. Drink the entire portion of the medicine before breakfast, after 2 hours take 30 ml of castor oil.
Pomegranate peels have anthelmintic properties
Collection of herbs
Tansy, calendula, and wormwood have an antiparasitic effect. Herbs can be used separately or prepared as infusions. Brew 220 ml of boiling water for 6 g of raw materials, leave in a closed container for 4 hours, strain, take 15 ml before each meal. Duration of treatment – 3 days.
During cleansing from parasites, it is necessary to take enterosorbents - Smecta, activated carbon, Enterosgel.
Tansy decoction will help cleanse yourself of parasites
General symptoms
Abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea can signal the presence of worms in the human body.
Each worm has its own characteristics, but there are a number of symptoms characteristic of helminthic infestation. It should be remembered that parasitosis is often disguised as diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or is not one of them, and people have been treating diseases for years without getting rid of the main cause of ill health. You can determine whether worms live in the body by noticing the presence of the following signs:
- Constipation or diarrhea. If there is a blockage by parasites in the rectum, bile ducts or intestinal lumens, defecation is difficult. And frequent loose stools may be the body’s reaction to substances similar to hormones secreted by worms during their life processes.
- Muscle and joint pain. When migrating, parasitic worms and larvae can settle in muscle mass or synovial fluid and injure tissue. The symptoms are similar to arthritis or arthrosis.
- Intestinal inflammation. Worms disrupt the integrity of the intestinal mucosa, causing nutrients to be poorly absorbed. Increased fat levels in stool tests indicate intestinal parasites in humans.
- Allergic reactions. They appear in the form of skin rashes as a response of the immune system to waste products of worms.
- Low hemoglobin. By feeding on nutrients through the intestinal walls, parasites can cause internal bleeding or iron deficiency anemia. In this case, iron supplements are not effective.
- Sudden weight loss. It is caused by a systematic lack of nutrients in the body due to the activity of worms.
- Irritability, fatigue and insomnia. These are the consequences of intoxication of the body.
- Formation of tumors or cysts. Many parasites cause necrosis or degeneration of cells in the gastrointestinal tract.
Symptoms in children
Frequent colds, drowsiness and abdominal pain are symptoms of the presence of parasites in a child.
In addition to the above, symptoms of worms in children can be expressed in lethargy, drowsiness, and refusal to eat (even the previously favorite food). Frequent and long-term acute respiratory viral infections, resulting in complications, indicate a weakened immune system, which also indicates the presence of worms living in the body. If the disease is advanced, mental retardation may occur. Also a cause for concern are nausea in the morning, pain in the abdomen and around the navel, caries and grinding of teeth in sleep, bluish skin (“circles”) around the eyes and pallor. If doctors constantly diagnose a child with chronic diseases in the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, dyskinesia, cholangitis), it is necessary to be tested for worms.
What are the consequences of infection with worms?
Once in the human body, worms begin to actively multiply. To do this, they need a nutrient medium, which includes not only vitamins and minerals found in the intestines, but also organ cells. In this regard, the vital activity of worms leads to serious health problems:
- The functionality of the gastrointestinal tract is impaired. Worms, actively developing in the intestines, provoke problems with stool, cutting pain in the abdomen, bloating, attacks of nausea and vomiting. Depending on the type of parasite, disorders can manifest themselves in different ways. Sometimes they provoke constipation, and in other cases diarrhea. As the worms grow, they can chew through the intestinal walls and spread throughout the body. Helminths are often found in the kidneys, liver, lungs and even the brain.
- Weakening of the immune system. During their life, parasites release toxic substances. Their toxic effects negatively affect the state of human immunity. This manifests itself in the exacerbation of chronic diseases, the frequent occurrence of inflammatory processes in various parts of the body, and women may develop gynecological diseases.
- Manifestation of an allergic reaction. The toxins released by parasites lead to the activation of the body's protective function. As a result, various rashes may appear on the skin. There may be other signs of an allergic reaction, such as severe itching or coughing.
- Damage to the nervous system. Toxic substances also have a poisonous effect on the human nervous system. This is expressed in irritability, headaches, and increased fatigue. Frequent migraine attacks and joint pain may be tormenting.
If the problem is not recognized in time and treatment is not started soon, damage may occur in the body that is difficult to treat. Therefore, it is important to listen to your own feelings and monitor symptoms.
The activity of worms also affects a person’s appearance. Hair becomes brittle and lifeless, nails begin to peel, and the skin takes on an unpleasant tint.
Diagnostics
Diagnosing parasitic infections in the human body is quite difficult, since intestinal helminths manifest themselves in different ways. Therefore, to find out whether there are worms, a person is prescribed a series of examinations. Refusal of research methods is fraught with inaccurate diagnosis, which means it leads to difficulties in choosing treatment tactics. Diagnosis of intestinal parasites in humans using laboratory and instrumental methods is as follows:
- stool analysis for worm eggs;
- blood test for helminth antibodies;
- general blood analysis;
- serological methods;
- coprogram;
- blood test “liver tests”;
- X-ray;
- computed and magnetic resonance imaging;
- radionuclide method;
- ultrasound examination (ultrasound);
- histological analysis (if it is necessary to determine the origin of the tumor, for example, with alveococcosis).
Diagnostic measures
It is impossible to make a reliable diagnosis on your own. Therefore, at the first alarming symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor. Among the diagnostic measures used in such a situation are:
- Stool analysis. If infection occurs, parasite eggs will be found in the sample. But a negative result does not guarantee the absence of a problem, so other examination methods are also used.
- Biochemical and general blood test. The study determines the level of eosinophils, hemoglobin and ESR. Exceeding standard values indicates invasion.
- Analysis of urine.
- Examination of a smear from the anus.
To identify worms in the liver, kidneys and other organs, ultrasound or computed tomography can be performed.
Such simple examination techniques will help the specialist accurately determine the diagnosis. Only after this will he be able to develop the correct treatment strategy.
Treatment of helminthiasis
Medicines
The remedy for worms and the treatment regimen will be selected by the attending physician.
The treatment regimen and medications are chosen only by the doctor (infectious disease specialist or parasitologist), based on the patient’s weight and age, the type and location of the parasite. Treatment may take several months. The regimen includes medications for parasites (tablets and suspensions), proper nutrition and traditional methods (provided that the latter are approved by a doctor). “Naftamon”, “Difezil”, “Levamisole”, “Mebendazole”, “Pyrantel”, “Piperazine”, “Praziquantel” will help get rid of worms and remove them. Suspensions (Zentel) are recommended for children. Complexes of vitamins and mineral supplements, choleretic and enzyme preparations are also prescribed. If we are talking about alveococcosis, then in addition to medications, surgery is performed to remove the tumors.
Medical nutrition
Worm infestation has a detrimental effect on all systems of the body. Therefore, proper nutrition is one of the foundations for quick recovery. Fried, fatty, spicy, smoked, salty foods, as well as the use of alcohol and cigarettes should be excluded from the diet. It is recommended to avoid dishes made from potatoes, pasta and flour products. Meat and fish must be thermally well processed.
Benefits for the body include products such as strawberries (carefully washed, and not “from the bush”, otherwise re-infestation is guaranteed), carrots, melon, pumpkin and seeds, watermelon, garlic. Kefir and fermented baked milk are useful, as they remove excess fats from the liver. To normalize the functioning of the intestines, fiber (fruits, vegetables, bread) is useful. Eggs, cream, nuts, legumes, currants, sea buckthorn, and rose hips are healthy.
Folk remedies
Wormwood is widely used to treat parasites in the body.
You can fight parasites with folk remedies. They are used only after consultation with a specialist. Otherwise, instead of the expected benefit, folk remedies will cause harm. Especially when treating young children. You can take pomegranate to expel worms. To do this, the crusts need to be brewed with boiling water and drunk little by little over an hour and a half. Tansy decoction also heals: brew 10 grams of flowers with a glass of boiling water, let cool, strain and take a tablespoon an hour before meals. Wormwood tincture kills helminths in the human stomach - three times a day, 30 minutes before meals, 20 drops. Worms “don’t like” dandelion, burdock and nettle leaves.
Symptoms of intestinal parasite infection
Most parasites live in the small and large intestines. Giardia and roundworms live in the upper part of the small intestine. Having attached themselves to the mucous membrane of the small intestine, pinworms, tapeworms, hookworms, necators, fasciolopsis, heterophyes, and metagonimus parasitize. Trichinella settles in the epithelial cells of the small intestine. Whipworms infest the colon and rectum. Schistosomes live in the veins of the colon, releasing eggs into its lumen.
Due to the fact that the intestines serve as a place for the accumulation of various parasites, the signs of intestinal helminthiasis are also very diverse. Moreover, the symptoms are not limited only to the intestines. Parasites living in the intestines can negatively affect other organs, both functionally related to the intestines (liver) and not connected (vessels, lungs, brain).
Diseases are consequences of infection
Most often, patients with damage to the gastrointestinal tract are concerned about:
Diarrhea is one of the symptoms of giardiasis, amoebic dysentery, dwarf tapeworm infection, trichinosis, strongyloidiasis, and intestinal schistosomiasis. The cause of jaundice in intestinal invasions is dead roundworms that clog the bile ducts.
Anemia is a consequence of helminths violating the integrity of the mucous membrane. The mucous membrane becomes covered with erosions and bleeding wounds. Bleeding in the intestines leads to iron and protein deficiency. With massive invasion, chronic intestinal bleeding leads to the development of hypochromic anemia.
As a result of intestinal invasion by parasites, the following pathological conditions can develop:
- abscesses;
- appendicitis;
- rectal prolapse;
- dysentery;
- intestinal obstruction;
- perforation;
- ulcerative colitis.
A liver abscess appears as a result of intestinal infection by amoebas. In such cases, a purulent focus usually develops in the right lobe of the liver. Sometimes the cause of an abscess is the settling of dead intestinal schistosomes in the liver.
Appendicitis develops as a result of damage to the cecum by roundworms, dysenteric amoebas or Angiostrongylus nematodes.
Rectal prolapse is a symptom of whipworm infestation. The intestine can prolapse only in cases where the patient receives poor nutrition and has recurrent diarrhea.
Liver enlargement is one of the signs of toxoplasmosis. Helminths are more often the cause of hepatomegaly than protozoa.
Helminths that have settled not in the intestines, but directly in the liver, do not cause enlargement of the organ, but jaundice.
Extensive ulcerative colitis , caused by parasitic protozoa, can lead to perforation of the large intestine. Protozoa in the intestines contribute to the formation of deep ulcers in the walls, any of which can suddenly perforate.
Ulcerative colitis begins with the migration of intestinal schistosome eggs from the veins passing along the intestinal walls into the intestinal lumen. In this case, ulcerations appear in the walls, and sometimes polyps form. The patient feels paroxysmal pain and there is bloody discharge in the stool - these symptoms can last for years. Ulcerative colitis can also develop with chronic amoebiasis.
Intestinal obstruction is a consequence of amoebic dysentery, during which pseudotumors consisting of necrotic tissue are formed in places where the colon bends. Often, intestinal obstruction is caused by roundworms that form a ball in the ileum of the large intestine. In a third of such cases, surgical intervention must be resorted to.
Prevention
Parasitic infection is a consequence of poor personal hygiene. Therefore, it is necessary to adhere to the rules of hygiene and teach children to do this. All fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed before consumption. Meat and fish must be heat treated. For these products you need to have separate equipment in the kitchen. You should not buy products at spontaneous markets. After all, in fish and meat, in addition to worms, there may be pathogenic microorganisms. Be sure to wash your hands after contact with animals (especially street animals). Pets should be regularly examined by a veterinarian and take anti-parasitic tablets. After contact with the ground, thoroughly rinse the area under the nails. Children should always keep their nails short and not allow them to put their hands in their mouth.
Diagnosis of intestinal parasites
Often after infection, the signs of the disease are erased. Deterioration in health and quality of life is the basis for identifying helminths or protozoa. A comprehensive examination will help you find out whether there are parasites in the intestines and other organs of the body.
Diagnosis of parasites
During the incubation period, which can last up to 4-6 weeks, most diagnostic methods will be unreliable. If the result is negative, the tests should be repeated after 2-3 weeks. To detect parasites in the intestines, perform:
- general blood test with a detailed leukocyte formula;
- biochemical blood tests;
- immunological tests to identify the parasite;
- PCR research;
- stool analysis with microscopy;
- scraping or smear for enterobiasis.
These methods will help detect the parasite and determine its type.
If necessary, the condition of internal organs is examined and consultations with specialized specialists are prescribed.
