A common cause of poor health, sleep disorders and digestive problems are helminths.Parasitic infection of a child or adult causes a number of different, seemingly unrelated symptoms, and to prevent it you need to know how worms are transmitted from person to person.Parasitic diseases caused by worms can usually be cured, but such treatment involves the use of toxic drugs, so it is best to avoid infection with the larvae.
What are worms
There are many types of helminths, divided into two categories: roundworms (roundworms) and flatworms.Worms are parasitic organisms that live in the body of an animal or person, affecting various organs and tissues, causing specific symptoms and general health problems.Worms vary in size: from a couple of millimeters to tens of meters.Helminths are contagious and their presence in the body is signaled by symptoms identical to those of other diseases (intestine, liver, pancreas, etc.).
Where do parasites come from?The presence of helminths in the body is often associated with insufficient hand hygiene, but this is not the only way of transmitting them.Different types of parasites are transmitted from one person to another in various ways.Pathologies caused by the spread of worms between people are called contact helminthiasis.
Today, several dozen causative agents of parasitic diseases are known, however, despite this, the process of infection with them is approximately the same.Parasite eggs and larvae can enter the body along with food, water, sexual intercourse, etc.Another common method of infection is the ingestion of mature individuals or fragments of the worm's body.After entering the body, helminths begin to develop and some of them multiply.Some types of parasites remain in the larval stage and are covered in a protective capsule.
Any type of helminthiasis is characterized by active progression, and the lack of adequate treatment will lead to a deterioration of the patient's health.In addition, without adequate therapy, a person becomes a source of spread of helminthiasis.The most commonly diagnosed helminth infestations are ascariasis and enterobiasis.Roundworms and pinworms have effective protection - a sticky shell, thanks to which they are firmly fixed in the organs.
Are worms transmitted from person to person?
With the strictest observance of all hygiene rules, it is impossible to 100% protect yourself from helminth infection.However, this reduces the risk of parasites entering the body by about 60%.Are parasites transmitted from person to person?Despite popular opinion, animals do not pose the greatest risk of becoming infected with helminths.The route of infection with parasites through contact between people is the most common, moreover, some types of worms are transmitted only in this way.
The at-risk group includes preschool children and those attending primary school.This is explained by the still fragile immune system, the daily presence of the child in public places, the characteristics of the child's body and the common habit of biting his nails.Parents should know how helminthiasis is transmitted - this will prevent infection of the child.
How are worms transmitted?
There are several main ways that parasites spread.How does helminth infection manifest itself?Worms are transmitted in the following ways:
- From airborne droplets.In this case, a person, as a rule, swallows eggs, fragments or larvae of worms by eating dirty fruits/vegetables (it is extremely important to wash products thoroughly before consumption), drinking, swimming in contaminated water, eating meat or fish carrying the parasite.
- For domestic contacts.The worms lay still immature eggs, which, leaving the host, remain harmless to others for a couple of weeks.However, the larvae can remain under the nails for a long time and can be transmitted through shaking hands, other personal contact or sharing hygiene items and underwear.
- Through saliva.Pinworms and other types of parasites are capable of moving from host to host in this way, but this is extremely unlikely.
- Transmissible method of transmission of worms.It is possible to become infected with parasites when they are attacked by carriers of helminth larvae such as insects (fleas, mosquitoes, mosquitoes).As a rule, such a danger exists in countries with a tropical climate.
- Transplacental route.If the mother is a carrier, they can pass through the placenta to the baby.
Percutaneous route
With this method of helminthiasis infection, the larvae/eggs of the pathogen penetrate the human body through the mucous membranes or skin.The percutaneous route involves an attack by larvae waiting in the soil on a person.At the same time they penetrate the skin and migrate into the intestine.Another example is a person who becomes infected with schistosomes while swimming in a pond.As a rule, such dangerous parasites live in places with warm climatic conditions.
Are worms transmitted through kissing?
There is practically no chance of helminthiasis becoming infected through saliva (during a kiss).Worms do not live in the mouth and their eggs also do not linger in the initial part of the digestive tract.Saliva cannot contain parasite larvae;furthermore, it acts as the first barrier against the entry of helminths into the body, therefore, through a kiss, they can enter the human body only if specific requirements are met:
- one of the partners has just bitten, but not swallowed, a product contaminated with helminths;
- the woman kissed the palm of the child who had just played in the sandbox and immediately kissed her husband;
- immediately before the kiss, one of the partners touched his lips to an object on which there were worm eggs.
Is it possible to infect parasites through bed?
The eggs of pinworms and some other helminths live outside the animal or human body for several months, and in everyday life they can be found on any surface touched by the carrier.You can contract parasites through bedding, dishes, doors, furniture, etc.So, if one family member is infected, after a short period of time the rest of the family will be infected too.Everyone should get tested and start timely treatment so as not to continue the spread of helminthiasis among loved ones and those around them.
Worm infection of mother and child
Doctors do not exclude the possibility of infection of the fetus with worms through the placental tissue.In addition, if a woman was infected with a helminthiasis pathogen during pregnancy, the risk of the baby getting sick is very high.Parasites are unlikely to enter the baby through breast milk.Worms can enter the baby's body during childbirth, when the baby comes out through the birth canal.Helminth infestation of mother and child requires complex treatment, while many drugs are prohibited, so traditional medicine is often used.
Worm infection through sexual contact
There is a risk of contracting a helminthic disease during intimacy with a carrier of parasites, especially if it is amoebiasis or giardiasis.Statistics show that contagion through sexual contact is more common among people with gay sexual orientation.As a rule, Giardia and amoebae live in the intestines and organs of the genitourinary system, so protective measures such as contraceptives are not able to protect a healthy person from this disease.
Does worm infection occur through dishes?
A common variant of parasite infection occurs through household contact.Often a person gets sick with helminthiasis by eating from dishes containing larvae or eggs of worms.The spread pattern looks like this: after going to the toilet, a child or adult does not wash his hands well or does not wash his hands at all, therefore, while setting the table, he touches cutlery, plates and other objects.
Due to poor hygiene, eggs end up in food and then directly into the digestive system.Infection through dishes can be facilitated by flies settling first on the excrement and then on the dishes.When the first signs of helminthiasis appear, you should not self-medicate, but immediately visit a doctor to take a test and determine the type of parasite.A specialist will help you choose the appropriate therapy and prevent complications.
Measures to prevent infection with parasitic worms
There are many varieties of parasites from which it is not possible to protect yourself by vaccinations or other preventive measures.It is also impossible to ignore the probability of helminthiasis, since over the years it becomes a widespread problem and often leads to the development of serious concomitant pathologies.Despite the fact that new powerful drugs against worms are constantly appearing, parasites adapt to toxic substances and continue to be transmitted from person to person.
Due to the widespread nature of the problem, measures to prevent infection with parasitic worms are appropriate and mandatory:
- strictly observe hygiene rules;
- subject meat and fish to careful processing before consumption;
- provide each family member with personal hygiene items (wipe, toothbrush, towel, etc.);
- support the immune system with vitamins;
- drink only clean water;
- eradicate bad habits;
- reduce the consumption of sweets (parasites love them);
- undergo an annual body examination for helminth infestation.