“Diseases of civilization” are known to every modern person - these are difficult-to-treat allergies, frequent ARVI, runny nose and bronchitis, chronic fatigue and weakness, problems with the stomach and intestines, colic.Obsessive symptoms force you to change your lifestyle and cause a lot of discomfort, which often becomes the reason for repeated visits to the doctor.Treatment ends, but symptoms remain.
What might such violations indicate?
Poor health, increased symptoms, unexplained manifestations from different body systems - respiratory, immune, nervous, digestive and others - are often due to the busy pace of modern life, constant emotional and physical overload, causing general fatigue and reduced immunity.In fact, there can be many reasons for this condition, and the discomfort is often caused only by a negative factor, such as helminth infection.To accurately determine the cause of discomfort, as well as find out whether there is a parasitic infection, you need to 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 will prescribe tests to find the presence of parasites.There are several tests available to identify helminthiasis.Treatment is largely quite simple: specific anthelmintic drugs are chosen.If you ignore this problem, the presence of parasites in the body can lead to serious diseases and sad consequences.
Symptoms of parasitic infection in adults
Most adults associate helminth infections with children, and there is an explanation for this well-founded opinion: helminth infections are really common in childhood, because young children may not follow the rules of hygiene, live in large groups of children, etc.However, helminths also occur in adults!Furthermore, parasites in the body can cause symptoms that a non-medical person would never associate with a helminth infection.
For example, parasites can contribute to the development of allergies, since they themselves (and their metabolic products) are allergens, and they also disrupt the function of immune defense mechanisms, leading to a decrease in immunity.Various allergic reactions develop (runny nose, watery eyes, skin rash, swelling, diarrhea) to familiar foods, pollen, indoor dust, and they quickly become worse.Against the background of changes in the immune system, viral acute respiratory infections and general health worsening are frequently observed.
As for the digestive system, when infected with parasites, there will be
- pain in the upper abdomen, near the navel,
- Bloating often occurs
- diarrhea,
- painful cramps in the lower abdomen,
- constipation,
- itchy
Such symptoms may indicate infection with roundworms, which live mainly in the small intestine, which is why the listed unpleasant sensations develop.Cramping pain in the lower abdomen, constipation and itching in the anus are more typical manifestations of pinworm infection because they are localized in the large intestine.With all cases of helminth infections, appetite is impaired and it not only does not disappear, but also increases.
Some helminth infections, such as echinococcosis and opisthorchiasis, are asymptomatic.
Complications of helminthiasis that develop without treatment include the following (some of them are listed):
- anemia occurs due to impaired absorption of nutrients from the intestines, absorption of vitamins and proteins;Studies show that even mild helminth infections can cause such disorders;
- intestinal obstruction - mechanical obstruction of the intestines, most often occurs in children under 10 years of age, but adult patients also appear in world statistics;Intestinal obstruction can be fatal;
- bronchial obstruction (with ascariasis) and corresponding manifestations from the respiratory system;
- jaundice (with ascariasis) due to bile duct obstruction.
Important!An adult can become infected with parasites by eating unprocessed foods (fish, meat) or unwashed green vegetables.Dangerous helminths can enter the human body from pets - dogs, cats, turtles, etc.That is why even adults need to be tested periodically to detect helminth infections, especially if persistent symptoms in the digestive system are observed.
Diagnosis of helminths
Some cases of helminth infections are extremely difficult to detect in feces due to the peculiarities of the life cycle of the parasite, for example, with ascariasis, in such cases it is necessary to determine antibodies in the blood to helminths.When identifying pinworms, analysis yields a lot of (accurate) information.
Blood test to determine anti-helminth antibodies
These studies are prescribed to determine the presence of pathogens such as roundworms, whipworms and others in the body.The tests are accurate and allow you to determine the presence of a parasitic infection.
Important!At the end of treatment, it is necessary to verify its effectiveness (elimination of parasites) by conducting repeated studies.
Tests performed regularly - specific tests for helminth infections, as well as general blood and biochemical tests - help identify more dangerous health problems that require immediate treatment and can be fatal.For example, along with tests for helminth infections, tests are prescribed to identify hidden viral infections that seriously damage the body and weaken the immune system - for Epstein-Bar virus, cytomegalovirus and others.That is why any test ordered by the doctor can provide him with important information about the cause of the patient's poor health and allow him to begin targeted treatment in a timely manner.
Treatment of helminths at the clinic
Despite the unpleasant situation, most helminthic diseases are treated using special drugs.Modern anthelmintics are well tolerated, do not cause serious side effects, and if the treatment regimen is followed, the doctor will choose it individually, taking into account the condition of the body.Strict compliance with the rules of taking the drug ensures complete elimination of parasites from the body.
However, the treatment doesn't end there.It is necessary to eliminate the consequences of helminth infection in the body, so the doctor may prescribe drugs that improve digestion (intestinal absorbents, probiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs), anti-allergic drugs, expectorants, anti-anemia drugs (iron supplements), vitamin-mineral complexes and others.I especially note that treatment is always strictly individual and depends on the physical characteristics of each patient, therefore it is best to carry out treatment under the supervision of a doctor.
The clinic offers patients a unique opportunity to further improve their body's health with herbal medicines.The gastroenterologist, who is also certified as a herbalist, will individually select an herbal mixture based on medicinal herbs with anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic and anti-allergic effects.Courses in herbal medicine help to normalize the digestive process and eliminate unpleasant sensations - heartburn and belching, flatulence and stool disorders, restore and support the patient's body as comfortably as possible.The clinic also uses homeopathic treatment as a supportive treatment, since these drugs have a mild complex effect on various body systems.