"Diseases of civilization" are known to every modern person - these are allergies that are difficult to treat, frequent ARVI, runny nose and bronchitis, chronic fatigue and weakness, problems with the stomach and intestines, abdominal pain.Symptoms of obsession that force you to change your lifestyle and cause a lot of discomfort, which often become the reason for numerous visits to doctors.The treatment ends, but the symptoms remain.
What can such violations indicate?
Poor health, increasing symptoms, inexplicable manifestations from various body systems - respiratory, immune, nervous, digestive and others - are usually "attributed" to the modern busy pace of life, constant emotional and physical overload, which cause general fatigue and reduced immunity.In fact, there can be many reasons for this condition, and very often the malaise is caused by a single negative factor, for example, helminthic infestation.To accurately determine the cause of the malaise and also find out if there is an infection with parasites, you need to visit a doctor - therapist, gastroenterologist or immunologist-allergist.
If it is suspected that the presence of parasites is the cause of the disease, the doctor prescribes tests for the presence of parasites.There are several tests available to determine helminthiasis.Treatment is mostly quite simple: specific anthelmintic (anthelmintic) drugs are chosen.If you ignore the problem, the presence of parasites in the body can lead to serious diseases and sad consequences.
Symptoms of parasite infection in adults
Most adults associate helminth infection with children, and there is an explanation for this established view: helminth infestations are indeed widespread in childhood, because young children may not follow hygiene rules, be in large groups of children, etc.However, helminthiasis also occurs in adults!In addition, parasites in the body can cause symptoms that a non-medical person would never associate with a helminthic infestation.
For example, parasites can contribute to the development of allergies, as they (and their metabolic products) are allergens and also disrupt the functioning of immune defense mechanisms, which leads to a decrease in immunity.Various allergic reactions develop (runny nose, tearing, skin rash, swelling, diarrhea) to familiar foods, pollen, house dust and rapidly intensify.Against the background of changes in the immune system, frequent acute viral respiratory infections are observed and general health deteriorates.
On the part of the digestive system, when infected with parasites, there are
- pain in the upper abdomen, near the navel,
- bloating often occurs
- diarrhea,
- painful cramps in the lower abdomen,
- constipation,
- itch
Such symptoms may indicate an infection by roundworms, which live mainly in the small intestine, which is why the reported unpleasant sensations develop.Painful cramping in the lower abdomen, constipation and itching in the anus are more typical when infected with pinworms, as they are located in the large intestine.With all helminthic infestations, the appetite is reduced and can not only disappear, but also intensify.
Some helminthic infestations, for example, echinococcosis, opisthorchiasis, are asymptomatic.
Complications of helminthiasis that develop without treatment include the following (some of them are listed):
- anemia occurs due to reduced absorption of nutrients from the intestine, absorption of vitamins and proteins.studies show that even a mild degree of helminth infestation can cause such disorders.
- intestinal obstruction - mechanical obstruction of the intestine, occurs most often in children under 10 years of age, but adult patients also appear in global statistics.intestinal obstruction can cause death.
- blockage of the bronchi (with ascariasis) and corresponding manifestations from the respiratory system.
- jaundice (with ascariasis) due to obstruction of the bile ducts.
Great!An adult can become infected with parasites by eating uncooked food (fish, meat) or insufficiently washed greens.Dangerous helminths can enter the human body from pets - dogs, cats, turtles, etc.That is why even adults should undergo periodic examinations for the detection of helminthic infestation, especially if persistent symptoms from the digestive system are observed.
Diagnosis of helminths
Some helminth infections are extremely difficult to detect in feces due to the peculiarities of the life cycle of parasites, for example, with ascariasis, in such cases it is necessary to determine antibodies in the blood for helminths.When detecting worms, the analysis is informative (accurate).
Blood test to determine antibodies against helminths
These studies are prescribed to determine the presence of pathogenic microorganisms such as roundworm, hookworm and others in the body.The tests are accurate and allow you to determine the presence of parasitic infection.
Great!At the end of the treatment, it is necessary to verify its effectiveness (elimination of parasites) by conducting repeated studies.
Frequent tests - specific tests for helminthic infestations, as well as general and biochemical blood tests - help identify more dangerous health problems that require immediate treatment and can be fatal.For example, in conjunction with tests for helminthic infections, tests are prescribed to detect hidden viral infections that cause serious damage to the body and weaken the immune system - for Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus and others.That is why every test prescribed by a doctor can give him important information about the reasons for the patient's poor health and allow him to start targeted treatment in time.
Treatment of helminthiasis in the clinic
Despite the unpleasantness of the situation, most helminthiases are treated with the use of special drugs.Modern anthelmintic drugs are well tolerated, do not give serious side effects, and if the treatment regimen is followed, it is selected individually by the doctor, taking into account the condition of the body.Strict adherence to the rules for taking medication guarantees the complete elimination of parasites from the body.
However, the treatment does not end there.It is necessary to eliminate the consequences caused by the helminthic infestation in the body, so the doctor can prescribe drugs that improve digestion (enteroabsorbents, probiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs), anti-allergic drugs, expectorants, anti-anemic drugs (iron supplements), vitamin and mineral complexes and others.I would like to especially note that the treatment is always strictly individual and depends on the characteristics of the body of each individual patient, so it is better to carry out the treatment under the supervision of a doctor.
The clinic provides patients with a unique opportunity to further improve their body's health with herbal medicines.A gastroenterologist, also certified as a herbalist, will individually select a herbal mixture based on medicinal herbs with anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic and anti-allergic effects.Herbal medicine courses help normalize digestion and eliminate discomfort - heartburn and belching, bloating and stool disorders, restoring and supporting the body as comfortably as possible for the patient.The clinic also uses homeopathic treatment as a supportive treatment, as these drugs have a mildly complex effect on various body systems.