A common cause of poor health, sleep disorders and digestive problems are helminths.Infection of a child or adult with parasites causes a variety of different, seemingly unrelated symptoms, and to prevent this, you need to know how worms are transmitted from person to person.Parasitic diseases caused by worms can usually be treated, but such treatment involves the use of toxic drugs, so it is best to avoid infection with larvae.
What are worms?
There are many types of helminths, which are divided into two categories - nematodes (roundworms) and flatworms.Worms are parasitic organisms that live in the body of an animal or a person, affecting various organs and tissues, causing specific symptoms and general health problems.Worms vary in size: from a few millimeters to tens of meters.Helminths are contagious and their presence in the body is indicated by symptoms identical to those of other diseases (intestines, liver, pancreas, etc.).
Where do parasites come from?The appearance of helminths in the body is often associated with insufficient hand hygiene, but this is not the only way of their transmission.Different types of parasites are passed from person to person in all manner of 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.Eggs and larvae of parasites can enter the body along with food, water, sexual relations, etc.Another common method of infection is the ingestion of mature individuals or body fragments of the worm.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 with a protective capsule.
Each 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 appropriate therapy, a person becomes a source of spread of helminthiasis.The most commonly diagnosed helminthic infections 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 protect yourself 100% from helminth infection.However, this reduces the risk of parasites entering the body by approximately 60%.Are parasites transmitted from person to person?Despite popular opinion, animals do not pose the greatest risk of being infected with helminths.The route of infection by parasites through contact between people is the most common, in addition, some types of worms are transmitted only in this way.
The risk group includes preschool children and children going to primary school.This is explained by the still fragile immune system, the child's daily presence in public places, the characteristics of the child's body and the usual habit of biting nails.Parents should know how helminthiasis is transmitted - this will prevent infection of the baby.
How are worms transmitted?
There are several main ways parasites spread.How does helminth infection occur?Worms are transmitted in the following ways:
- From the airport.In this case, a person, as a rule, ingests eggs, fragments or larvae of worms by eating dirty vegetables/fruits (it is extremely important to wash the products well before consumption), drinking, swimming in contaminated water, eating meat or fish that carry the parasite.
- For domestic contacts.Worms lay immature eggs, which, leaving the host, remain harmless to others for several weeks.However, the larvae can remain under the fingernails for a long time and can be transmitted by shaking hands, other personal contact, or sharing hygiene and underwear items.
- Through saliva.Worms and other types of parasites are able to move from one host to another in this way, but this is extremely unlikely.
- Transmissible method of transmission of worms.It is possible to become infected with parasites when attacked by carriers of helminth larvae such as insects (fleas, mosquitoes, mosquitoes).As a rule, such a risk 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 infection with helminthiasis, the larvae/eggs of the pathogen penetrate the human body through 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 to the intestines.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 hot weather conditions.
Are worms transmitted through kissing?
There is practically no chance of helminthiasis being infected through saliva (during a kiss).Worms do not live in the mouth, and their eggs also do not stay in the initial part of the digestive tract.Saliva may not contain parasite larvae;in addition, it acts as the first barrier against helminths entering 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 get parasites through bed?
The eggs of worms 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 become infected with parasites through bedding, dishes, doors, furniture, etc.So, if one member of the family is infected, then after a short period of time the rest of the family is also infected.Everyone should be tested and start treatment in time to prevent the spread of helminthiasis to loved ones and those around them.
Worm infection of mother and child
Doctors do not exclude the possibility of infecting the fetus with worms through the placental tissue.In addition, if a woman, during pregnancy, has been infected with any helminthiasis pathogen, the risk that the child will get sick is very high.It is unlikely that parasites will enter the baby through breast milk.Worms can enter the baby's body during birth, when the baby moves out through the birth canal.Helminthic infection of mother and child requires complex treatment, while many medications are prohibited to use, so traditional medicine is often used.
Infection with worms through sexual contact
There is a risk of contracting a helminthic disease during intimacy with a parasite carrier, especially if we are talking about amebiasis or giardiasis.Statistics show that infection through sexual contact is more common in people with homosexual sexual orientation.As a rule, Giardia and amoeba 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 vessels?
A common variant of parasite infection is through family contact.Often a person becomes ill with helminthiasis by eating from dishes containing worm larvae or eggs.The pattern of spread looks like this: after visiting the toilet, a child or an adult did not wash their hands well or at all, and then, while setting the table, they touch cutlery, plates and other items.
Due to insufficient hygiene, eggs end up in food and then directly in the digestive system.Infection through dishes can be facilitated by flies that first landed on feces and then on dishes.When the first signs of helminthiasis appear, you should not self-medicate, but immediately visit a doctor to be tested and determine the type of parasite.A specialist will help you choose the appropriate therapy and prevent complications.
Measures to prevent infection by parasitic worms
There are many types of parasites that cannot be protected from through vaccinations or other preventive measures.It is also impossible to ignore the possibility of helminthiasis, as over the years it becomes a widespread problem and often leads to the development of serious accompanying pathologies.Despite the fact that new powerful anti-worm drugs are constantly appearing, parasites adapt to toxic substances and are still transmitted from person to person.
Due to the prevalence of the problem, measures to prevent infection by parasitic worms are appropriate and mandatory:
- strictly observe hygiene rules;
- subject meat and fish to thorough processing before consumption;
- provide each family member with personal hygiene items (washcloth, toothbrush, towel, etc.);
- support the immune system with vitamins;
- drink exclusively clean water;
- elimination of bad habits;
- reduce the consumption of sweets (parasites love them);
- undergo an annual examination of the body for helminthic infection.