Most often, roundworm worms contribute to damage to the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, causing ascariasis.
Adult ascaris like to settle in the small intestine.
These parasites are bisexual worms. In just one day, a female roundworm is able to lay about 200,000 eggs.
Among the intestinal parasitic worms, there are also pinworms and flatworms.
What roundworms look like
As we already wrote, roundworms are round worms (round cross-section) with pointed edges. The color can vary from yellowish white to pink.
The female roundworm is usually twice as long and thicker than the males.
The difference between males is that their front (head) end is slightly rounded, and the back (tail) end is pointed.
Causes of Ascaris infection
It is possible to become infected with roundworms only from a person, because only in his body these parasites live.
Infection can occur through:
- drinking water;
- fruits and vegetables;
- Food;
- contaminated hands, dishes, clothing, and other household items.
Common flies, which are very widespread in the summer, are also capable of infecting a person with ascariasis.
Helminth eggs, being in the human body, immediately feel favorable and comfortable conditions for their development.
Ascaris development cycle
Sexually mature female roundworms lay eggs every day, covered with a five-layer shell, which helps the eggs to maintain their viability.
The human roundworm does not have, throughout its entire life cycle, an intermediate host.
A larva emerges from the egg, the development of which occurs in the external environment.
At this time, the larva must have:
- the required level of humidity;
- free access to oxygen;
- required ambient temperature.
Usually, the development of roundworm at this stage ends in 16-17 days, when a mature larva is formed in the egg and the egg begins to pose a danger to humans (becomes invasive).
After entering the human body, the egg's protective shells dissolve, and the larva enters the small intestine, its favorite habitat.
True, sometimes the migration of microscopic roundworm larvae through the human circulatory system is possible, and it can be in any area of the body:
- in the brain;
- liver;
- trachea;
- bronchi;
- alveoli;
- in the ventricles of the patient's heart.
The body cavity of the roundworm is enclosed in a skin-muscular sac without its own walls and partitions. The entire body cavity is filled with fluid, which contains the organs of reproduction and digestion.
The body of the roundworm is dense enough to be in a constantly maintained shape.
Symptoms of the appearance of ascariasis
The first characteristic symptoms are:
- indigestion;
- abdominal cramps and pains;
- loose stools (melena);
- bouts of nausea.
While developing, roundworms cause more in-depth symptoms:
- an increase in the number of parasites;
- weight loss;
- acute abdominal pain;
- nausea;
- vomit.
Roundworms can be observed in the vomit.
In the state of the intestinal form of the disease, the following symptoms may occur:
- violations of sensitivity to light;
- temperature increase;
- headache;
- decreased appetite;
- nausea;
- poor sleep;
- increased fatigue;
- general weakness;
- dizziness;
- lowering blood pressure;
- sputum production.
Symptoms of ascariasis in a child become noticeable when:
- slowing down the rate of body growth;
- the occurrence of intestinal obstruction.
To detect roundworm in children, it is necessary to conduct an analysis under a microscope, which can show the presence of the parasite or its eggs in the child's feces.
Treatment of ascariasis
Let's answer the question: how to remove these parasites from your body or from the body of a child.
To remove ascaris, the following medicine is used:
- Pirantel;
- Piperazine adipate;
- Levamisole (Decaris).
An effective remedy for ascariasis is oxygen. Its introduction is carried out on an empty stomach in the morning through a special gastric tube at least twice in a row. One session requires about 1500 ml of oxygen. After its introduction, the patient needs to lie for at least two hours.
Contraindications to the use of oxygen:
- inflammatory diseases of the abdominal cavity;
- peptic ulcer.
If adults are treated according to this scheme, then milder methods of treatment are used for children, taking into account the characteristics of the child's body.
Treatment of ascariasis in children
Treatment is based on the use of naphtamon, oxygen and piperazine. It is possible to use citric seed or heptylresorcinol.
Piperazine is a fairly low toxic drug.
Oxygen is widely used for the treatment of children, since it is completely non-toxic and highly effective enough.
Paftamon - also refers to low-toxic drugs.
There are other medications used in the treatment of children:
- Helmintox;
- Combantrine;
- Vermox;
- Vermacar;
- Decaris.
Prevention of ascariasis
The complex of preventive actions includes:
- detection and treatment of patients;
- protection of the soil against the penetration of fecal masses into it;
- sanitary and educational work with the population.
In addition, preventive measures include:
- washing hands thoroughly before eating;
- thorough washing of raw vegetables and fruits.
Alternative treatment of ascariasis
We offer you several recipes that have a gentle and gentle effect on the body.
Recipe number 1.
Take one teaspoon of wormwood herb, spicy clove stars, flax seeds.
We bring everything to a state of powder.
The resulting mixture should be consumed in the morning, on an empty stomach, half a teaspoon.
Drink with one glass of carrot juice.
Recipe number 2.
We take one tablespoon of elecampane root, centaury herbs, tansy flowers.
One spoon of the mixture is poured with boiling water and put on fire for 20 minutes.
The resulting infusion should be consumed on an empty stomach in the morning and after meals in the evening, half a glass.
This dosage is for one adult.
Recipe number 3.
We take in the ratio 1: 1: 1: 2 buckthorn bark, tansy flowers, chamomile flowers and wormwood herb.
One tablespoon of the mixture is brewed in a glass of boiling water and put on fire for 20 minutes.
In the morning before breakfast, one half of the infusion is taken, and in the evening, before bedtime, the other.
Take care of yourself.
Be healthy!
