When afflicted with ascariasis, people face serious health problems. Symptoms of this disease can be different, it all depends on the degree of infestation. These helminths, unlike other types of parasites, can migrate throughout the body and affect various organs. That is why the symptoms depend on what organ is affected, for example, when the larvae enter the lungs, the patient may be tormented by a violent cough and fever. In order not to confuse this helminthiasis with other diseases you need to know its symptoms.
Ascariasis manifests itself in different symptoms, so before you start medication you need to take tests and make sure you have parasitic disease. The severity of the signs of the disease depends on the number of parasites, on their location and phase of development.
Manifestations of ascaridosis in adults
In the migratory phase, ascarids in adults do not cause any symptoms or signs are not pronounced. The patient may feel a general malaise and a slight increase in temperature, and a dry cough may also occur. On the X-ray of the lungs, in the phase of migration of larvae, infiltrates can be detected.
Symptoms of ascariasis in children are usually more pronounced, but with an insignificant number of worms, the symptomatology will be expressed in an erased form. With a massive attack of parasites, the patient will experience severe intoxication: the temperature rises, lymph nodes increase, a severe headache appears. Symptoms of ascaridosis in adults, as in children, in this case, too, will be strongly pronounced.
The phase of migration of larvae is characterized by a single symptom - the appearance of an allergic rash on the skin. Especially often an itchy rash occurs on the feet and hands. In adults, allergies may not be, but in children it is almost always present, because parasites in their immune system fail. As a rule, the first phase lasts 1-2 weeks, then these symptoms subsided, and the intestinal phase begins.
In the migratory phase, larvae travel to all organs, they enter the liver, the heart and the lungs. Because of the accumulation of larvae in the lungs, the patient begins coughing and together with sputum parasites enter the mouth, where their secondary ingestion occurs. They again enter the intestine and begin to grow and multiply. Human ascarids in this phase in adults and children cause the following symptoms: indigestion, constipation alternating with dysentery, nausea, sometimes vomiting, pain in the navel.
In addition, ascarids show allergic reactions, as in the photo. The adult patient becomes nervous and irritable, the appetite disappears, the children with ascariasis look weak and sick, they quickly get tired and refuse to eat.
Since the main sign of ascaridosis in adults and children is a decrease in immunity, the parasitic disease can be combined with infectious lesions. For example, there may be stomatitis, purulent inflammation of the mucous membranes, if you do not treat ascariasis, then the development of bronchial asthma. Due to the constant lack of nutrients, the patient develops anemia. At the first signs of this disease it is necessary to be examined and start treatment on time.
Unusual symptoms of ascaridosis
We described characteristics of ascaridosis in adults, now we consider the symptoms in which a person may not know about the appearance of parasites. Round worms ascarids, as in the photo, are dangerous because they can penetrate into various organs. For example, if the larvae penetrate into the joint fluid, the patient will have pain in the joints, he will think that the cause is in osteoporosis or in arthritis, but in fact the pain is caused by worms.
Symptoms of the disease depend on the organ that is affected. Helminths damage the tissues of organs and cause inflammation there. Besides this, because of the poison that worms secrete in the course of their vital activity, the nervous system suffers. A sick person may have seizures, nightmares, convulsions, and moaning and throwing in a dream are also characteristic. Signs of the disease with ascariasis are more pronounced in children, this disease in the absence of treatment can lead to mental and physical developmental lag.
In some cases, non-specific symptoms of ascaridosis may occur, namely, increased blood pressure, photophobia, and uneven changes in the size of the pupils. Frequent bronchitis, bronchial asthma can also be symptoms of infection.
White long worms in feces - is it an ascariasis?
The most accurate indication of the presence of ascaris in the body is the exit of the dead worm along with feces. Helminths live about a year, then they die and go outside. Dead worms are white, and live worms are pink, usually from 15 to 40 cm in size. The patient can not infect himself, because eggs that stand out with feces are still immature, they need to lie in the ground for a whilethey became invasive.
Cancer infection can occur repeatedly if a person does not follow the rules of hygiene, does not wash his hands before eating, eats unwashed vegetables and fruits. As a result, the population of worms will be replenished again and again, even if it is treated. That is why prevention of parasitic infestations is very important.
Clinical symptoms of ascaridosis can be confused with other diseases, but if a white worm is found in the stool, there is no doubt that helminthiasis is present. Do not try to quickly wash the worm in the toilet, you need to remove it and put it in a jar of alcohol, and then take it to the parasitologist so that he can accurately diagnose and prescribe the right treatment. A human ascarid can be seen in the photo.
What are the symptoms of ascariasis?
Not only does the symptoms of ascariasis cause an adult patient many problems, so this disease can lead to death if not treated. According to WHO statistics, about 10 thousand people die of this disease every year. With a massive attack of parasites, the symptoms become pronounced. Most people die from complications caused by helminthic invasion, for example, from intestinal obstruction, inflammation of the lungs, appendicitis, as well as from various brain injuries.
Attributes of invasion by ascarids are so diverse that it is not always immediately possible to recognize this disease. Such worms are localized in different organs, they were found in the liver, in the spleen, in the heart, in the ears, in the vagina, in the brain and even in the eyes. They cause various disturbances in the work of organs and poison the body with the products of their vital activity, as a result, the immunity decreases and the adult person simply can not resist the attack of parasites.
Treatment of ascaridosis is best entrusted to a specialist, because self-medication can lead to serious consequences. For example, if a patient attempts to remove worms with garlic, they will still not die, but as a result of such treatment, their migration may increase. If ascaris clogs into the appendix, then it can become inflamed, and then the patient will need surgery. Only medicamentous treatment is shown, preparations should be prescribed by a doctor.