General
Ascariasis - a widespread worm infestations caused by human roundworm - representative of the family of roundworms that parasitize the small intestine. On the basis of route of infection - fecal-oral, the disease widespread in childhood and people with a low social status. Also worth noting is that in the absence of timely treatment, the disease is dangerous due to its characteristic complications complications: intestinal rupture and subsequent development peritonitis. This is due to the overflow of individual sections of the intestinal parasites, due to the high fertility of females.
Ascariasis: Symptoms and Treatment
The symptoms of ascariasis well treated by applying different anthelmintic drugs and easily prevented by observing the banal rules of personal hygiene. Only in rare cases, when a massive infection, there is a need for surgical intervention. Repeated infection is possible, as well as stable formation of specific immunity.
Description and characterization of Ascaris
- The body shape of the parasite - fusiform, pointed at both ends, painted in pink or white (the latter may be a shade of gray). In males, the tail end is rounded in the ventral side. The body length of males between 15 and 25 cm, the females are much larger and can reach lengths of 40 cm.
- Parasite eggs are often oval in shape, covered with thick rough coat protein (also possible lack thereof), the size of 0,05-0,07H0,04-0,05. The shape and size of eggs may vary depending on the presence of the protein shell and fertilization. Eggs are resistant to low temperatures and die within a few seconds to a few minutes when exposed to temperatures of the order of 60-80 degrees. Under favorable environmental conditions can maintain its viability for several years.
- The life expectancy of adults - up to 1 year, provided their location in the intestine.
- Intermediate and definitive host of Ascaris is a human.
- The main carrier - housefly.
- route of infection - fecal-oral.
- Prevalence - everywhere except the semi-deserts, deserts and permafrost. The maximum number of recorded cases of infection observed in the tropical and subtropical zones.
The life cycle of roundworm
2-3 weeks after getting fertilized eggs of Ascaris in the human digestive tract, along with insufficiently treated or unwashed vegetables and / or fruit, taken in food, are already in the intestine develop into larvae, which soon pierce the intestinal wall and enter the blood vessels, this period is the most favorable for the detection and treatment of symptoms ascariasis. Further, with the venous blood flow, they fall into the "right" the heart and lungs, where they penetrate into the lumen of the alveoli, causing symptoms bronhitopodobnye. At the outgoing sputum and cough reflex due they fall into the tracheal lumen and further rise in the oral cavity. Then, together with saliva swallowed larvae fall back into the lumen of the intestine and develop into the adult form, the ability to reproduce.
It is noteworthy that the digestive tract - is not the only place of Ascaris localization. In medical practice, there are many cases when the larvae of the parasite while in the bloodstream "settle" in organs other than the digestive system. In this case, ascarids no further development, the larvae are usually die, causing the most inflammatory disorders and symptoms organ activity, depending on its localization.
The cause of ascariasis
- Eating eggs osemenonnyh unwashed or poorly thermally processed vegetables and / or fruit;
- Lack of personal hygiene.
The symptoms of ascariasis
Symptoms of migration steps:
- Excessive sweating, swelling, weakness;
- A slight increase of body temperature until the development of fever;
- Development of pathological processes in the lungs, accompanied by cough;
- Arthralgia and myalgia;
- Hepatomegaly and splenomegaly.
Symptoms of chronic (intestinal) step:
- Increase or decrease of appetite, salivation;
- Abdominal pain (until the development of severe attacks);
- Changes in the nature, amount and intensity of the chair;
- Kranialgiya, sleep disorders, various neurological disorders;
- Detection helminths different developmental stage in the stool.
Symptoms of a massive infection:
- Persistent loss of appetite, severe emaciation;
- Pale skin;
- Recurrent abdominal pain;
- frequent constipation;
- Delayed physical development (for pediatric patients).
Diagnostics
For detection of the disease and its differentiation from diseases having similar symptoms, an integrated approach, comprising:
- Complete blood count (increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, expressed eosinophilia, thrombocytopenia, Hypochromic anemia);
- Sputum analysis (with pulmonary symptoms; Detection may ascaris larva);
- Fecal (ascarid eggs can be detected depending on the stage of development of the parasite);
- Radiographic studies (detection of "volatile" formations in the lung and the intestine lumen sites);
- Serology (reaction of indirect hemagglutination, complement fixation test, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay).
treatment of ascariasis
- Using anthelminthics;
- Carrying out therapeutic interventions, depending on the symptom;
- At a massive bowel lesions with occlusion of its lumen is urgently needed surgical intervention.
complications
- After contact with the larvae of Ascaris in the bile duct: jaundice, Zholchnaya colic;
- When excessive accumulation of Ascaris in different parts of the intestinal: inflammation of the appendix, a mechanical obstruction, the wall breaks gut and the subsequent development peritonitis;
- After contact with the larvae of Ascaris in the ducts of the pancreas: purulent pancreatitis;
- After contact with the larvae of Ascaris in the cranial cavity: meningitis, Disorders of the nervous activity, paralysis, various mental disorders;
- Under different location of the larvae of Ascaris: abscess.
prevention
- Compliance with the rules of personal hygiene;
- sufficient heat treatment of foodEspecially used in food in its raw form;
- Take all necessary measures for the complete elimination of flies in a residential area as the main carriers of the eggs of Ascaris.
Forecast
ascariasis fully cured, Regardless of its current features. When "unusual" localization of Ascaris may develop effects that usually remain for life. For early diagnosis of the disease and timely beginning of treatment the risk of complications is minimal. Continued compliance with all precautionary measures almost completely eliminates the possibility of re-infection. Repeatedly moved disease leads to the development persistent immunity.
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