One of the most common helminth infections (worm infestations) is enterobiosis.
The disease is caused by pinworms, which look like small white worms. females pinworms length reaches 10mm and 5mm males. The females have a pointed end, whereas the male end of the round, and rolled into the ventral side. Most often enterobiasis sick children, they most vulnerable contingent in relation to personal hygiene.
Pinworms through the mouth enter the thin end and beginning of the large intestine, which are attached to its walls. Parasites feed on food mass contained in the intestine, and blood. Males immediately after entering the small intestine and the fertilization of female die. After 4 weeks, the time comes to lay eggs.
To do this, the females descend into the lower parts of the gastrointestinal tract and enter the colon and crawling on the skin of the anal region, where it lays eggs. One female can lay from 5 to 15 thousand eggs.
The skin of the anal region is most favorable for egg laying: high humidity and folding ensure optimal conditions. Pinworms often actively move in the crotch area, where they continue to lay eggs, and even creep into the vagina.
After laying eggs the female die, and new pinworms hatch within a few hours. Usually, the female pinworms crawl out of the rectum at night, when all the sphincters are relaxed.
Ways of infection
Enterobiasis often called "disease of dirty hands", which is associated with high rates of infection with the non-observance of rules of personal hygiene. In the human body pinworms fall fecal-oral route, which is facilitated helminthiasis transmission factor 3:
- Oral. In this case it is a question of re-infestation, when the patient, after scratching itchy skin of the anal region, puts it into his mouth helminth eggs under the fingernails.
- Contact. helminth eggs for a long time may be on the surrounding objects (tableware, furniture, bed linen) and animal hair.
- Domestic. After the handshake, when ingested by mouth with dust helminth eggs.
The life expectancy of pinworms is 20 days, sometimes up to 40 days.
Symptoms of pinworm infection
The main manifestation of helminthic infestation is intense itching in the anal area, which increases at night (at this time the females lay eggs crawling).
Pruritus is caused by the release of pinworms isovaleric acid. Intense scratching the skin gives rise to abrasions, micro-traumas and fractures.
Also for enterobiosis characterized by disorders of the digestive tract:
- stomach ache,
- loose stools,
- nausea,
- increased flatulence,
- decreased or increased appetite.
In severe helminthic infestation child loses weight, and restless sleep causes its capriciousness, carelessness, headaches and irritability.
With the penetration of pinworms in the vagina observed symptoms characteristic vulvovaginal:
- itching and burning of the external genitalia,
- plentiful, often purulent vaginal discharge.
Furthermore, pinworm weaken the immune system.
Diagnostics
Diagnosing the presence of pinworms based on clinical findings and laboratory findings:
- CBC - there is an increase of eosinophils, as an allergic reaction to a parasitic infestation;
- scraping from the skin of the perianal region - found parasite eggs (scraping is done in the morning, and before cleaning the bowel movements, and repeated after 3 days);
- Method adhesive tape - gluing on perianal skin adhesive tape (it is transparent), which is subsequently examined under a microscope to detect helminth eggs;
- feces analysis on helminth eggs ineffective.
pinworm treatment
Enterobiasis treatment has been an infectious diseases doctor, or, in extreme cases, a pediatrician (children).
pyrantel, albendazole, Vermoxum, adipant other: the following anthelmintic drugs used to treat the disease.
On the eve of taking pills sick during the day must comply with semi-liquid diet (soups, cereals).
In the morning the patient takes the drug anthelmintic and laxative in the evening.
The next day, you need to make a cleansing enema to remove the remaining pinworms.
The duration of treatment depends on the type of drug and is 3-5 days with repeated anthelmintic taking 3-4 weeks.
To be effective, treatment for 4 weeks, it is necessary to follow the rules:
- Careful handwashing after each toilet visit and caving;
- daily change of underwear with his obligatory ironed;
- Nails should be cut short;
- Daily wet cleaning;
- processing the toilet after each visit to the toilet.
Pregnant women up to 12 weeks and to children who are breastfed are assigned piperazine naftamon and decoctions of herbs (tarragon, tansy).
In addition, the detection enterobiosis one family member treatment must pass the entire family in mind the high contagiousness (infectiousness) disease.
Complications and prognosis
Possible complications that may result from parasitic infestation pinworms:
- vulva, coleitis, inflammation of the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries;
- peritonitis;
- Eczema in the anal area;
- abscess;
- dysbiosis.
The prognosis for pinworm infection favorable.
