The "diseases of civilization" are well known to every modern person: these are difficult-to-treat allergies, frequent ARVI, runny nose and bronchitis, chronic fatigue and asthenia, stomach and intestinal problems, abdominal pain.Obsessive symptoms that force you to change your lifestyle and cause a lot of discomfort, which often become the reason for numerous visits to the doctor.Treatment ends, but symptoms persist.
What can such violations indicate?
Poor health, increased symptoms, unexplained manifestations of various body systems (respiratory, immune, nervous, digestive and others) are usually "attributed" to the modern, hectic pace of life, constant emotional and physical overload, leading to general fatigue and decreased immunity.In fact, there can be many reasons for this condition, and very often the discomfort is caused by a single negative factor, for example, a helminth infestation.To accurately determine the cause of the discomfort and also find out if there is a parasite infection, you should visit a doctor: a therapist, gastroenterologist or immunologist-allergist.
If there is a suspicion that the presence of parasites is the cause of the disease, the doctor prescribes tests to detect the presence of parasites.There are several tests available to determine helminthiasis.Treatment for the most part is quite simple: specific anthelmintic (anthelmintic) drugs are selected.If the problem is ignored, the presence of parasites in the body can lead to serious illnesses and sad consequences.
Symptoms of parasitic infection in adults.
Most adults associate helminth infection with children, and this well-established opinion has an explanation: in fact, helminth infestations are widespread in childhood, because young children may not follow hygiene rules, be in large groups of children, etc.However, helminthiasis also occurs in adults!Additionally, 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, since they themselves (and their metabolic products) are allergens and also disrupt the functioning of immune defense mechanisms, leading to a decrease in immunity.Various allergic reactions (runny nose, watery eyes, rash, bloating, diarrhea) develop to familiar foods, pollen, house dust and rapidly intensify.Against the background of changes in the immune system, frequent acute respiratory viral infections are observed, and general well-being worsens.
On the part of the digestive system, when infected with parasites,
- pain in the upper abdomen, near the navel,
- swelling occurs often
- diarrhea,
- painful cramps in the lower abdomen,
- constipation,
- itch
These symptoms may indicate an infection with intestinal worms, which live mainly in the small intestine, which is why the listed unpleasant sensations develop.Painful cramps in the lower abdomen, constipation and itching in the anus are more typical when infected with pinworms, since they are located in the large intestine.In all helminthic infestations, appetite is affected and may not only disappear, but also intensify.
Some helminthic infestations, for example, echinococcosis and opisthorchiasis, are asymptomatic.
Complications of helminthiasis that develop without treatment include the following (some of them are listed):
- anemia occurs due to poor 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 blockage of the intestine, occurs most often in children under 10 years of age, but adult patients also appear in world statistics;intestinal obstruction can cause death;
- blockage of the bronchi (with ascariasis) and corresponding manifestations of the respiratory system;
- Jaundice (with ascariasis) due to obstruction of the bile ducts.
Important!An adult can become infected with parasites by consuming non-thermally processed foods (fish, meat) or insufficiently washed vegetables.Dangerous helminths can enter the human body from pets: dogs, cats, turtles, etc.Therefore, even adults should be regularly tested for helminth infestation, especially if persistent symptoms are observed in the digestive system.
Diagnosis of helminthiasis.
Some helminth infestations are extremely difficult to detect in feces due to the peculiarities of the life cycle of parasites, for example, in ascariasis, in such cases it is necessary to determine antibodies to helminths in the blood.When identifying pinworms, the analysis is informative (accurate).
Blood test to determine antibodies against helminths.
These studies are prescribed to determine the presence of pathogens such as roundworms, toxocara and others in the body.The tests are accurate and allow the presence of a parasitic infection to be determined.
Important!At the end of the treatment, it is necessary to verify its effectiveness (elimination of parasites) by carrying out repeated studies.
Frequently performed 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, along with testing for helminth infections, tests are prescribed to identify hidden viral infections that cause serious damage to the body and weaken the immune system: Epstein-Bar virus, cytomegalovirus and others.That is why any test prescribed by a doctor can provide you with important information about the reasons for the patient's poor state of health and allow you to start specific treatment in a timely manner.
Treatment of helminthiasis in the clinic.
Despite the unpleasantness of the situation, most helminthiasis is treated with special medications.Modern anthelmintic drugs are well tolerated, do not give serious side effects, and if the treatment regimen is followed, they are selected individually by the doctor, taking into account the condition of the body.Strict compliance with the rules for taking medications 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 helminthic infestation in the body, so the doctor can prescribe medications that improve digestion (enterosorbents, probiotics, anti-inflammatories), anti-allergy, expectorants, anti-anemics (iron supplements), vitamin and mineral complexes and others.I would especially like to note that therapy is always strictly individual and depends on the characteristics of each patient's body, so it is best to carry out treatment under the supervision of a doctor.
The clinic provides patients with a unique opportunity to further improve their body health with herbal medicines.A gastroenterologist, also certified as a herbalist, will individually select an herbal mixture based on medicinal herbs with anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic and anti-allergic effects.Herbal medicine courses help to normalize digestion and eliminate discomfort: heartburn and belching, bloating and stool disorders, restoration and support of the body are as comfortable as possible for the patient.The clinic also uses homeopathic treatment as supportive treatment, as these medications have a mild and complex effect on various body systems.