The digestive system of the human roundworm is continuous. It is characterized by a tubular structure. There is an oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus and intestines. The nervous system is represented by the peripharyngeal ring. There are sense organs. Roundworms are dioecious helminths. Females release eggs. Their number can reach more than 200,000 pieces. They ripen in the soil at a certain temperature and humidity.

Most often, single roundworms live in the intestines. Massive invasion is rare, mainly among residents of disadvantaged countries.

It is necessary to know not only what roundworm is, but also how it penetrates the intestines of people. A person becomes infected through the fecal-oral route. This occurs as a result of accidental ingestion of invasive eggs in food or water. The main way is nutritional. Less common is the water method of transmission of the infectious agent. Ascaris eggs can survive in the soil for years. The reason is the thick, five-layer shell.

How do roundworms enter the body? Factors in the transmission of eggs are poorly washed vegetables, fruits, berries, herbs or raw water. Infection through contaminated hands is possible. This most often occurs upon contact with the ground. You can get infected anywhere: on the street, in a sandbox, in a garden or summer cottage, when visiting a forest, during excavation work.

Ascariasis in adults often occurs in a latent form. There are 2 phases of disease development: acute (migration) and intestinal. In childhood, the early stage is often asymptomatic. It all starts with the circulation of roundworms throughout the body. During this period of the disease the following symptoms are possible:

• allergic reactions in the form of skin rash;
• cough;
• moderate increase in body temperature;
• chest pain;
• swollen lymph nodes;
• headache;
• weakness;
• malaise;
• pain in the hypochondrium on the right side;
• enlarged liver and spleen;
• dyspnea;
• wheezing.

Signs of ascariasis during the larval migration phase are combined into several syndromes: infectious-toxic, pulmonary, hepatic and allergic. Roundworms in the human body cause an immune response when an allergic reaction develops to the introduction of foreign microbes. Often a urtic or blistering rash appears on the body. It is localized on the torso, feet and hands.

When roundworms are present, symptoms in adults include malaise, weakness, and pyrexia. The temperature rises slightly. Severe fever is possible against the background of massive infestation. Patients complain of headache, weakness, and rapid fatigue. Ascaris larvae penetrate the lung tissue, but they do not stay there for long.

Symptoms of chronic ascariasis

How dangerous are roundworms for people?

• acute or chronic intestinal obstruction;
• inflammation of the pancreas;
• perforation of the small intestine;
• inflammation of the anterior abdominal wall;
• formation of abscesses in the liver;
• development of purulent cholangitis;
• bile stagnation;
• jaundice;
• suffocation (during the migration of helminths into the upper respiratory tract);
• pneumonia;
• pleurisy.

It is necessary to know not only why roundworms are dangerous, but also how to make a diagnosis. For this you will need:

• collection of epidemiological anamnesis;
• identification of chief complaints;
• external examination of the patient;
• physical examination (palpation and auscultation);
• laboratory tests;
• instrumental studies.

Treatment is carried out on an outpatient or inpatient basis. Most often, conservative therapy is performed. It assumes the following:

• taking antihelminthic drugs;
• compliance with diet No. 13;
• taking painkillers.

During the migration stage, when only larvae are present in the body, taking Vermox or its analogues (Vormina) is indicated. If the disease lasts a long time and there are intestinal disorders, then medications such as Nemozol, Dekaris, Pirantel or Helmintox are used.

Only doctors know how to remove roundworms. Self-medication is contraindicated. The drug is prescribed taking into account the following factors:

• patient's age;
• drug tolerance;
• contraindications.

To normalize digestion, it is recommended to take enzyme preparations. They are not prescribed for the development of acute pancreatitis. The intestinal microflora is restored with the help of eubiotics (Linexa, Bifiform, Hilak-Forte). For pulmonary symptoms, expectorants are prescribed. Treatment of roundworms in adults and children involves following a diet. It is necessary to include in your diet foods rich in animal protein and vitamins.

After the treatment of ascariasis in adults is completed, a control laboratory test is carried out. This is done three times. Surgery may be required if complications develop. The operation is performed for acute intestinal obstruction, perforation and peritonitis. In the absence of complications and proper treatment, recovery occurs.

How to prevent the penetration of roundworms

To reduce the risk of helminth infection, you must adhere to the following rules:

• wash your hands thoroughly with soap before each meal, after visiting the toilet and after contact with the ground;
• drink only boiled water;
• rinse vegetables, berries and fruits well;
• Do not bite your nails or put your hands in your mouth.

It is not difficult to remove ascaris, but the disease can develop again. To prevent infection in children, parents should teach them hygiene skills. Assessing the condition of the soil in crowded areas is of great importance. Sampling is carried out in sandboxes and on beaches.

Why people suffer from ascariasis, what it is and how to prevent helminthic infestation is not known to everyone.

The main measure to prevent complications from this infection is the timely identification of patients and their treatment.

Roundworms are very common helminths. Their presence in the body may not appear for a long time.

The outer layer of the roundworm is made up of hypodermis - its structure resembles epithelial cells, of which there are a significant number - ten layers, which play a protective role and prevent damage to the individual itself and digestion by intestinal enzymes. Under the hypodermis there is a layer of muscle fibers that allow the roundworm to actively move. Further under the muscle fibers there is a cavity that is filled with fluid. This structure allows the worms to maintain a constant body shape and elasticity.

The excretory system of the roundworm is represented by two lateral canals that run along the body and correspond to the length of the roundworm's body. Harmful undigested substances after the intestines enter the cavity filled with liquid, and then into these channels. Near the initial end of the roundworm's body, excretory openings open, which correspond to the excretory organs.

The nervous system of the human roundworm is represented by neural tubes, which are located on the sides of the body; they have connecting elements. This is how the innervation of the sense organs and other internal organs occurs. Sensitive organs are very poorly developed - they are represented by bristles, which are organs of touch.

The species of human roundworm that causes ascariasis is Ascaris lumbricoides, there may only be differences in the length of the individual between males and females.

Life cycle of the human roundworm

Ascaris has a very long life cycle, the peculiarity of which is the change in the location of the individual in the human body. The route of infection by worms from the class Nematodes is the fecal-oral route. The human roundworm belongs to geohelminths because one of its development cycles is in the ground. Thus, infection occurs during the ingestion of roundworm eggs. The routes of infection may be the following:

1. dirty hands – children are at greater risk due to the fact that they constantly play in the sandbox and eggs can remain under the nails;
2. dirty, unwashed vegetables and fruits - during ripening, eggs from the ground can fall on vegetables and berries;
3. after animals that have roundworm eggs on their fur - they can be carriers;
4. with unboiled water that contains roundworm eggs;
5. poorly thermally processed food that does not kill roundworm eggs or larvae.

Diagnosis should begin with a thorough history taking. Ascaris, being in the human body for a long time, contributes to the development of symptoms of intoxication, as well as dyspeptic disorders. Therefore, this disease will be accompanied by complaints of poor appetite, rumbling in the stomach, weight loss, and nausea in the morning. If it concerns children, then it is clear that the child is thin, small, and pale. A characteristic sign of ascariasis, like any other helminthiasis, is teeth grinding at night while sleeping. If such symptoms have been observed for at least the last few months, then you should think about helminthiasis.

If the larvae of human roundworm enter the liver and lungs during migration, then nonspecific symptoms may occur with disruption of the intrahepatic outflow of bile. In this case, an informative method for identifying the cause of this pathology is an ultrasound examination. Ultrasound in the liver reveals anechoic foci that have clear edges and a round shape. Also, such changes can be detected in the lungs, which makes it possible to suspect the presence of roundworm larvae.

Many of the helminths can cause similar symptoms to those caused by roundworms, so differential diagnosis is necessary. First of all, it is necessary to differentiate between ascariasis and bovine tapeworm.

Although the principles of treatment for different types of helminthiases are similar, there are differences, so it is necessary to accurately differentiate the pathogen.

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1. Pirantel is an anthelmintic drug that acts against human roundworm by depolarizing the membranes of muscle cells of worms, which contributes to the death of mature forms of roundworm. The drug is available in the form of tablets and suspension. The dosage of the drug for children is 250 milligrams up to six years old, and over six years old – 500 milligrams. For adults in the treatment of roundworms, a dose of one gram is recommended, that is, four tablets per dose. Possible side effects from the digestive system in the form of diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, as well as changes in nervous activity in the form of dizziness, drowsiness, increased excitability, paresthesia.
2. Wormil is an anthelmintic drug whose main active ingredient is albendazole. The mechanism of action of the drug is to disrupt the metabolism of roundworm cells. The advantage of this remedy is that albendazole acts both on the intestinal form, that is, on the adult, and on larvae and eggs. The drug is available in the form of chewable tablets and suspension. The dosage of the drug is one tablet at a dose of 400 milligrams once a day, the course of treatment is three days. Possible side effects of the drug in the form of drowsiness, dizziness, decreased performance, as well as dyspeptic symptoms.

Prevention of infection with human roundworm can be specific and nonspecific. Specific prevention is the use of anthelmintic drugs that have activity against roundworms for prophylactic purposes. To do this, it is necessary to take anthelmintic drugs twice a year; for children, half the therapeutic doses can be recommended. You can use any anthelmintic drugs - mebendazole, albendazole, Pyrantel.

Nonspecific prophylaxis should be used by all people, especially children should be monitored. Before eating, be sure to wash your hands; fruits and vegetables should also be washed before eating. As for water and food, it is better for children not to drink water raw, but to allow food to undergo sufficient heat treatment. For good digestion and reducing the possibility of roundworm infestation, proper nutrition is necessary, which increases local immunity and the anthelmintic capabilities of the intestines.

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The site provides reference information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Consultation with a specialist is required!

In developing countries, the incidence of ascariasis is higher than in developed countries. This is due to worse sanitary and epidemiological conditions, limited access to clean water, food and qualified medical care. The age peak of incidence occurs between 3 and 7 years. At this age, children wash their hands less often, often eat unwashed vegetables or fruits, and generally observe hygiene standards worse.

Roundworms themselves rarely pose a serious threat to life. Most often, they only cause a number of disorders in the body. However, children and weakened adults may develop dangerous complications.

Symptoms and signs of roundworms

In adults without underlying health problems, ascariasis may not cause any serious symptoms for a long time. Many patients associate periodic abdominal discomfort, belching or diarrhea with poor nutrition or other household causes. This is explained by the fact that ascariasis does not have any special manifestations that are not characteristic of other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal tract).

In general, the manifestations of the disease can be very diverse. They are largely related to the stage of the disease and the presence of any associated problems. During the course of the disease, two main phases are distinguished - early (migration) lasting 2 - 3 weeks and late (intestinal) lasting a year or more. The first phase corresponds to the migration of larvae through the bloodstream to the liver and lungs. The second is due to the vital activity of adults in the intestines.

With massive helminthic infestation by roundworms, larvae or adults can enter the following organs:

• small and large intestines (including the appendix);
• biliary tract and gallbladder;
• liver;
• pancreatic ducts;
• lungs;
• stomach and esophagus (do not stay at this level).

In rare cases, roundworm larvae are found in unusual places. Most often these are limited cavities that resemble abscesses. The larvae do not develop in them and cannot reach sexual maturity, so such accumulations are not dangerous. Pathological cavities do not increase in size, but rarely resolve on their own.

Symptoms and signs of roundworm in adults

As noted above, most often the symptoms of ascariasis appear in the gastrointestinal tract and respiratory system. In this case, there is both physical tissue damage and an allergic component. The onset of the disease depends on the degree of infestation by roundworms. When infected with a small number of helminths, the onset of the disease can be asymptomatic or erased, manifesting itself with minimal nonspecific symptoms - weakness, decreased performance and fatigue.

With moderate and massive infection at an early stage of the disease, the following symptoms appear:

• Dry or wet cough varying degrees of intensity with the release of mucous sputum, sometimes streaked with blood. This symptom is caused by physical damage to tissue during the migration of roundworm larvae from the capillaries to the alveoli of the lungs.
• Moderate chest pain sometimes associated with migration of larvae or temporary exclusion of a certain area of ​​the lung from the breathing process.
• Shortness of breath may occur during physical activity. It is not typical at rest, but is likely if a person suffers from bronchial asthma or the body’s allergic reaction is more pronounced than usual.
• Body temperature rises more often to subfebrile condition(37.0 - 37.9 degrees). It may also be accompanied by chills, muscle pain, joint pain, increased sweating, and abdominal discomfort.
• With massive infestation, heart palpitations are possible(tachycardia) more than 80 beats per minute.
• Possible sudden increases in blood pressure(most often these are episodes of hypotension, when blood pressure is below 90/60 mm Hg).

A pronounced allergic component in adults is quite rare and is explained by the increased individual sensitivity of the body. Its symptoms are especially varied during the period of larval molting. Here the disease can manifest itself as skin itching, rash, and rapidly increasing swelling. These symptoms are caused by the circulation of IgE class immunoglobulins in the blood. They trigger a chain of biochemical reactions, which, in turn, can lead to a variety of local tissue damage. With a massive influx of roundworms, the body’s reaction can be significant. Severe skin itching, disseminated rashes throughout the body like urticaria, and enlarged lymph nodes develop. It is possible to develop allergic hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), allergic myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle). One of the most severe complications of this phase can be anaphylactic shock, which poses a serious threat to the patient's life.

Children aged 3 to 10 years most often suffer from ascariasis. This can be explained by a combination of factors - the activity of children at this age, frequent consumption of foods contaminated with roundworm eggs. Also, at this age, hygiene skills have not yet been fully developed and there is no immunity to roundworms.

It is noted that in children more often than in adults, bacterial complications occur during the migration stage. This is manifested by pneumonia, a faster and more pronounced increase in temperature, and the appearance of pus in the sputum.

To confirm the fact of recovery, patients must re-take a stool test and undergo other examinations prescribed by the attending physician. Only after negative repeated tests is the patient declared healthy.

Drugs for the treatment of ascariasis

Drug name	Reception mode	Contraindications
Dekaris (levamisole)	Used for massive infestations. Adults take 120-150 mg once, children – 2.5 mg per 1 kg of weight.	Not for pregnant and lactating women and children under 14 years of age.
Mebendazole (vermox)	It is the drug of choice for simultaneous ascariasis and trichuriasis. Take 100 mg 2 times a day for 3 to 4 days.	Contraindicated in ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, liver failure. Not prescribed for children under 2 years of age, pregnant and lactating women.
Mintezol (thiabendazole)	50 mg/kg body weight twice daily for a week. The drug is also effective in the early stages of the disease.	Contraindicated in children under 2 years of age, pregnant women, and nursing mothers.
Albendazole	For adults, the dose of 100 mg is divided into 2 times a day. Take it for three days. For children, the dose is 25–50 mg/day ( age from 2 to 10 years).
Piperazine citrate	Indicated for intestinal or biliary obstruction caused by roundworms. Prescribed for 2 days at 75 mg/kg per day. The maximum single dose is 3.5 g.	Concurrent administration of chlorpromazine is prohibited.
Pirantel	10 mg/kg once orally after meals.	Can be used during pregnancy under strict medical supervision. Prohibited for renal failure and children under six months of age.

Self-administration of the above medications can be dangerous due to the high toxicity of the drugs. To select an individual dose and the safest drug, a full examination of the patient is required. Also, these drugs have a wide range of side effects, which are usually short-lived, but very noticeable for the patient. Improper use of these drugs often leads to a worsening of the patient's condition.

To combat roundworms, you can resort to the following folk remedies:

• Pomegranate decoction. Dried pomegranate skins are poured with boiling water (a few pieces per glass of water) and cooled. The resulting infusion is drunk in 3 doses throughout the day. The procedure is repeated 3–4 times with a break of 1–2 days.
• Onion infusion. Two chopped onions are poured with vodka (300 - 400 ml) and infused in a tightly sealed container for 8 - 10 days. After this, the infusion is filtered and taken 1 - 2 tablespoons 2 times a day before meals for a week.
• Infusion of garlic and horseradish. Chopped horseradish and garlic are mixed in equal proportions. For 100 g of mixture you need 1 liter of vodka. The bottle is sealed and placed in a dark place for 5 - 7 days. During this time, it is shaken daily to mix the contents. Drink 1 tablespoon of the infusion three times a day, half an hour before meals.
• Pumpkin seeds. Raw pumpkin seeds are peeled and eaten on an empty stomach, 1 to 2 teaspoons twice a day. This product has contraindications, and before taking it you should consult your doctor.
• Infusion of wormwood. For 1 teaspoon of wormwood leaves you need 2 cups of boiling water. The infusion is cooled, filtered and taken 2 tablespoons twice a day before meals.

In most cases, folk remedies rely on the use of onions, garlic or bitter herbs in combination with an alcohol base. It is believed that such mixtures paralyze worms, and they are passed naturally during bowel movements. However, this effect of these recipes has not been scientifically proven. But for patients with chronic gastritis, pancreatitis, colitis or other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal tract), these drugs are contraindicated, as they will cause exacerbation. Before use, you should consult a specialist.

A helminthic infestation caused by the entry of roundworm eggs into the human body is called ascariasis. Ascariasis is a fairly common disease in Russia, which can be explained by the simplicity of the routes of infection. Food or water contaminated with helminth eggs, contact with an infected person, pets are all possible ways of transmitting the disease.

Roundworms in humans are not always expressed by clear symptoms or specific signs of the disease. It happens that the patient himself does not notice the deterioration of his condition. But, most likely, he does not attach importance to the frequent pain in the intestines, attacks of nausea, weakness and malaise. All this can be attributed to fatigue, poor nutrition, etc.

Characteristics of roundworm

Characteristics of roundworm

But in the host’s body they, of course, do not appear in adult form. First, the female lays eggs: they come out directly with the feces and end up in the soil. The larvae grow in the eggs for more than three weeks under suitable temperature conditions. Under less optimal conditions, the first stage of development of this helminth can be inhibited even for several years. The life cycle of roundworm continues in the human intestine.

Having shed its shell, the helminth larva immediately goes through the intestines to the inferior vena cava, moves to the heart, from there it quickly enters the lungs. A person coughs, the worm ends up in the saliva, and with it it goes back to the gastrointestinal tract. There the roundworm already grows to a sexually mature state.

Helminth reproduction

The process of worm development should be roughly divided into two large stages - intestinal and migratory. The migration stage is the sensitization of the host’s body with the waste products and decay of the larvae that reside in the blood. The substances that the larvae secrete are, of course, the strongest allergens. That is, they are quite capable of causing an allergic reaction.

For example, only the migration of larvae can cause:

• The presence of infiltrates in the lungs;
• Skin rash;
• Granulomatous hepatitis;
• Traumatization of blood vessels (provokes internal bleeding or hemorrhage).

The intestinal stage usually does not show such an allergic picture. Adults mechanically damage the intestinal walls by simply moving through the digestive organ. This causes reflex disturbances in the activity of the intestines and stomach, and develops a spastic need for the small intestine. Even a rupture of the organ wall is not excluded.

What else is dangerous about ascariasis is a serious violation of vitamin metabolism. The absorption of nutrients is complicated: people with helminthic infestations have a lack of retinol, pyridoxine, and ascorbic acid.

Ascariasis in adults: how to recognize

At the migration stage, the clinical picture is not always pronounced. But with intensive infection, the symptoms are already quite vivid, and this is not only a general malaise.

Signs of ascariasis:

• Headaches;
• Fatigue;
• Noticeable skin rash.

In severe cases, the patient experiences pulmonary pathology: it is expressed by a wet cough, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Also, the migration of worm larvae sometimes even provokes pneumonia or bronchitis.

At the intestinal stage, the symptoms are often expanded, and this is due to the pathological processes that ascariasis triggered, or the severity of the infection. Sometimes the patient voices complaints of decreased appetite, severe malaise, nausea, and increased secretion of the salivary glands.

There are quite a few cases of ascariasis, which is characterized by alternating constipation with diarrhea. In some patients, enteritis is recorded, and in children, helminthic infestation is often manifested by abdominal pain and dyspepsia.

Roundworm worms can cause serious complications: blockage of the small intestine, pancreatitis, appendicitis, etc. Therefore, any negative symptoms are a reason for examination.

Diagnosis of ascariasis

Diagnosis of ascariasis

First, the doctor collects anamnesis: he asks the patient questions, conducts an examination, and listens to complaints. Dyspeptic disorders are characteristic of ascariasis: if a person feels unreasonably weak for a long time, he is pale, he is tormented by morning sickness, teeth grinding occurs at night, he has lost a lot of weight, this is all a reason to go to the doctor.

The most accessible procedure is scatological stool analysis:

• For analysis, you need stool collected on an empty stomach (be careful when collecting material: it should not come into contact with urine or menstrual flow);
• The procedure must be duplicated, and more than once (worms do not always secrete eggs all the time, so several tests will be indicative).

Light microscopy also helps in the study. Quite often, doctors use the polysize chain reaction (PCR) method. It allows you to identify the specific sequence of the DNA chain of a given helminth.

Diagnosis of roundworm also involves blood testing. Markers of eosinophils and anemia will be important. Anemia, by the way, develops due to the fact that worms eat red blood cells.

How to treat ascariasis

Stages of treatment for ascariasis:

• Preparation of the gastrointestinal tract (at this stage you need to take medications that stimulate the production of bile);
• Removing toxins from the patient’s body;
• Removal of the helminths themselves;
• Rehabilitation therapy.

Each case is individual. There is no single drug regimen that will help all patients. It is necessary to take into account the patient’s age, his general health, stage of the disease, degree of damage, reaction to these or other medications, and allergic status.

Modern medications for the treatment of ascariasis in adult patients can be divided into two groups. The goal of such therapy is to influence the muscles of the roundworm, it leads to their paralysis and death. The drugs prescribed by the doctor should affect not only adults, but also helminth larvae. Only a second negative control test can indicate recovery.

Additionally, doctors prescribe pathogenetic therapy, which serves to restore hemoglobin levels in the blood. Antihistamine therapy relieves allergic symptoms. To restore the intestinal microflora and functional activity of the gastrointestinal tract, modern enzyme preparations can be prescribed. Folk remedies can only be used as an additional treatment, and only after medical consultation.

What tablets are prescribed for ascariasis?

Albendazole Wormil Vermox
Mebendazole Pyrantel Decaris

Other commonly prescribed drugs against roundworm include Bactefort. It is released in the form of drops, which is convenient for taking.

Bactefort allows you to:

• Kill helminths at any stage of their development;
• Remove eggs and larvae from the body;
• Purify the blood;
• Remove toxins and waste from the body;
• Relieve allergic symptoms;
• Bring the intestinal microflora back to normal.

Ginger Tansy Wormwood
Birch leaf Mint Meadowsweet

The drug Helmifort is also considered a natural remedy for worms. In addition to the fact that this medicine removes larvae and worms from the body, it also removes toxins, restoring health after infection.

Rehabilitation after ascariasis

Rehabilitation after ascariasis

Rehabilitation therapy is a mandatory part of treatment. Doctors say that after treatment, many patients review their diet, choose a balanced diet for themselves, and increase the vitamin component in the menu. And these are reasonable actions: proper nutrition is recommended for everyone, and it is an important part of preventing secondary infection.

During treatment during the recovery period, the patient should eliminate sweets and starchy foods from the diet. These are those products that not only harm metabolism, but also enhance infectious and inflammatory processes in the body. For example, the effect of antibiotics is significantly weakened if a person eats sweets while taking the drugs. Doctors even recommend drinking tea these days without sugar.

Select vitamin complexes based on laboratory test results. If there are signs of anemia, the patient is prescribed medications with large amounts of iron.

It is logical to supplement the intake of synthetic complexes with natural vitamins: fruits, vegetables, berries, nuts. Nutrition should be fortified, high-quality, systematic.

Features of ascariasis in children

Features of ascariasis in children

Quite often, helminthic diseases in children manifest themselves as a rise in temperature (sometimes reaching fever), chest pain, dry cough and, in rare cases, sputum with blood. When roundworms are in the intestines, the migratory stage is over, the child will complain of abdominal pain, nausea and weakness, weight loss, constipation and/or diarrhea.

Diagnosis will be the same as for adults; perhaps the doctor will adjust the study regimen. Drugs are prescribed according to the patient’s age, weight, and stage of the disease. Symptomatic treatment will also be required.

Children are often prescribed oxygen therapy, and as an additional procedure this method is quite possible, it is effective and simple. But oxygen therapy alone is powerless against helminths. It should be noted that there are some contraindications; this method of fighting worms is not suitable for all children.

Prevention of ascariasis

The best disease is the one you avoided. This is an axiom, and yet not everyone follows it. Despite the high level of awareness and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, not everyone remembers the importance of preventing helminthiasis. And only frightening contextual advertising can make a person reconsider his attitude to this issue. But the miraculous remedies that some online resources so strenuously advertise can be not only useless, but even dangerous to health. Therefore, ascariasis can only be treated by a doctor, after taking tests and undergoing the necessary studies.

A few basic rules for preventing ascariasis:

• Wash your hands with soap. Doctors assure that hygienic hand washing with soap should take at least 1-2 minutes. Surface rinsing does not make sense. After going outside, after preparing food (especially working with fish and meat, vegetables), after contact with animals, wash your hands especially thoroughly.
• Never eat crops directly from the garden. This is, of course, tasty and tempting, but extremely dangerous. Ascaris eggs live in the soil, and it costs them nothing to get on strawberries or cucumbers. One such rash action can lead to illness, subsequent treatment and recovery.
• In a public toilet, try not to touch surfaces, wash your hands, and use extra wet wipes.
• Control insects in your home. There should be no flies or mosquitoes, because they carry the very eggs of worms on their legs.
• Carefully choose sandboxes where your child plays. They must be protected from animals. While playing in the sandbox, the baby should not touch his face or mouth, and when he comes home he needs to wash his hands thoroughly.

Unfortunately, pets can also become sources of infection. They are carriers of a number of diseases, from helminthiasis to toxoplasmosis, and the diseases are by no means harmless. Monitor your pet's health, its cleanliness, and regularly show the animal to the veterinarian.

Ascariasis is a problem that requires quick and high-quality treatment with mandatory careful monitoring of the results of therapy. A special diet with a smooth transition to proper nutrition, taking vitamin complexes and preventing secondary infection will help the patient recover.

Ascariasis is by far the most common helminthiasis. It belongs to the invasions of the naturally endemic type. The disease is directly dependent on the soil and climatic conditions of the territory, which determine the possibility of helminth development. Not the least role in infection with ascariasis is played by the characteristics of the area, sanitary conditions and traditions of the population living in a particular territory.

It is known that roundworms are absent only in areas of the tundra and dry deserts, that is, in places where there is practically no artificial irrigation for farming.

Ascariasis is more often diagnosed in children than in adults. This is explained by the fact that young children do not follow hygiene rules, which are very important in the prevention of ascariasis.

How does the human roundworm work?

The human roundworm (lat. Ascaris lumbricoides) belongs to the class Nematodes. It is a round worm that has a spindle-shaped body that is reddish-yellow in color. After death, the helminth turns pale yellow.

Males and females look different. Males are smaller than females. Their sizes vary from 15 to 25 cm in length and from 0.2 to 0.4 cm in width. Female roundworms reach a length of 20-40 cm, and the width of their body can be 0.6 cm. Visually, you can distinguish a male helminth from a female by the tail part: males have a hook-shaped process at the end of the body, and in females the tail part is represented by a pointed straight cone .

The helminth can enter the human body in the following ways:

Pathogenesis of the disease

The process of helminth development in the host body can be divided into 2 stages: migratory and intestinal.

At the intestinal stage, the allergic reaction from the immune system is weakly expressed. Adult worms mechanically injure the walls of the small intestine as they move through it. This can cause reflex disruptions in the functioning of the stomach and intestines, the development of spastic obstruction of the small intestine, and even rupture of the intestinal wall.

Ascariasis negatively affects the absorption of nutrients by a person, which in turn disrupts vitamin metabolism. People with this disease have a lack of the following vitamins: Retinol, Ascorbic acid, Pyridoxine. The child's body reacts to ascariasis with suppressed synthesis of antibodies to certain pathogenic agents.

Symptoms of ascariasis

The clinical picture of the disease during the migration stage is weakly expressed or does not appear at all. If intensive infection develops, patients may experience the following symptoms:

• general malaise;
• migraines;
• fatigue;
• loss of ability to work;
• periodic increase in temperature;
• the occurrence of urticaria on the skin.

Cases of ascariasis are described, accompanied by diarrhea and constipation, replacing each other. Some patients may develop enteritis with subsequent progression. In young children, infestation often manifests itself as dyspepsia, abdominal pain that occurs suddenly or upon palpation. An X-ray of the intestine shows a change in the relief of the mucous layer. There may be an uncomfortable sensation of something moving in the intestines, flatulence.

In children with helminthiasis, clinical manifestations of the central nervous system occur. Children complain of poor health, malaise, become irritable and absent-minded. Children cannot sleep well at night and have nightmares. In severe cases, hysterics and epileptic attacks occur.

In addition to scatological examination of feces, light microscopy is used. The polymerase chain reaction method can be used to identify specific roundworm DNA sequences.

The attending physician should recommend the patient a special diet that promotes healing. For the entire period of therapy, it is necessary to exclude bakery and confectionery products. You should eat foods rich in fiber: cereals, fresh vegetables. Fiber helps heal the intestines by stimulating peristalsis. Ideally, carryover therapy should be performed. For this purpose, the doctor prescribes laxative tablets to the patient.

After preparation, you can begin treatment for ascariasis. Therapy is carried out by taking special anthelmintic drugs (tablets such as Pirantel, Wormila).

But it is better to prevent any disease than to treat it later. To minimize the risk of developing ascariasis, its prevention is necessary: ​​you need to follow hygiene rules, thoroughly wash and process food, and do not drink water from untested sources.