This dangerous disease, like toxocarosis, has numerous symptoms. They depend on the organ in which larvae of nonspecific helminths were localized. Most often, small children become infected with toxocaram, because they do not have personal hygiene skills. Among adults, representatives of professions such as cynologists, veterinarians, and farmers are at risk. Signs of invasion by these worms are completely unlike the manifestations of intestinal forms of helminthiases, therefore, for only symptoms alone, specialists can not diagnose toxocariasis.
For the purpose of appropriate treatment, a special diagnosis is necessary, which consists in taking the patient's blood test by ELISA for antibodies against the antigens of these parasites. This study helps not only to identify their presence in the body, but also to determine in which particular organ their larvae are located. There are several clinical forms of this invasion - visceral, ocular, cutaneous and neurological. In order to timely suspect the development of the disease, any adult should know the warning signs pointing to it.
Symptoms of toxocarias of various forms of
Symptoms of eye toxocarias are similar to various ophthalmic diseases. It develops quite infrequently, in cases when helminth larvae are affected by the internal structures of the eyeball, its muscles or orbit. This form of toxocarias is manifested by the following symptoms:
- Partial or complete loss of vision in one eye, which arises abruptly;
- Prolonged, non-treatable conjunctivitis;
- Hyperemia and edema of the eyelids;
- Rasping pain in the damaged organ of vision;
- Strabismus.
Such symptoms, indicative of the development of this form of toxocariasis, are more common in children than in adults. How much they are dangerous can be easily understood by looking at photos.
The visceral form of toxocarias is diagnosed more often. It proceeds with the defeat of the internal organs, so its signs are directly related to the system that was infected by the larvae. In addition, the course of this helminthiosis in an adult is always accompanied by allergic manifestations( itchy skin rash, urticaria, edema Quincke), intoxication of the body and increased temperature. The temperature reaction is usually observed when larvae penetrate into the lungs of a person, which happens very often.
In addition to a significant increase in temperature, provoked by intoxication, in this case the patient has such a symptom as a cough. When toxocarosis, which develops due to the ingress of worm larvae into the lungs, cough is dry, occurring mainly at night, and not amenable to treatment. People have chronic, constantly recurring catarrhal phenomena, bronchitis, pneumonia. These symptoms occur in toxocarias due to the fact that the larvae of the parasites, localized in the lungs, damage the tissues of this organ. That is why a constant night cough in adults or children, shortness of breath, asthmatic phenomena should become for a person anxious signs requiring consultation of a infectious disease specialist.
The defeat of larvae of toxocar organs of the digestive system can be suspected by the symptoms of gastrointestinal diseases. Often patients with this infestation complain that they have a belly inflated. There is nothing surprising. Despite the fact that this helminthiosis is not an intestinal form, larvae of parasites with blood flow penetrate into the liver, from there to the pancreas and intestine. Traumatizing these organs, they cause such manifestations as pain syndrome, bloating, and stool disorders.
Dermal form of toxocarias can be suspected by the appearance of persistent allergic symptoms. They are provoked by the appearance of migrating larvae of these helminths. Very often, with this form of invasion, there is a rash on the hands and hives. Treatment of a dermatologist of these manifestations of invasion does not give any result, so when there is a passing rash on the hands requires an appeal to the infectious disease specialist. It is he who can determine the true cause of such an unpleasant symptom of the disease and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Often the question is asked about what symptoms of toxocarias in women, especially when they are pregnant with their child. Here, all experts note that in the female body the signs of invasion are exactly the same as in the male. The most frequent anxiety symptoms of toxocar are:
- Constant fatigue;
- Allergy;
- Frequent colds and persistent catarrhal symptoms;
- Sharp decrease in vision;
- Increased liver and bloating;
- Irritability.
The appearance of such a symptomatology in a woman suggests that it is necessary to urgently consult a specialist and donate blood for antibodies to toxocar antigens, and in case of a positive response to undergo appropriate treatment.
Symptoms and Treatment of Toxocar in Adults
When a person exhibits the first signs of infestation by toxocar larvae reaching sexual maturity only in domestic animals, it is necessary to urgently consult a specialist. Self-medication in this case is strictly prohibited. To see what symptoms are disturbing and indicate a disease, you can in numerous photographs. These photos are very impressive - they clearly show how the larvae of Toxocara affect the eyes, hands and internal organs. Having ascertained from them how the symptoms of an adult's disability look, it is possible to determine the onset of the disease in a timely manner and not to waste time for the course of treatment.
Therapeutical measures for getting rid of worm larvae the doctor will appoint only if the patient has strict indications - a high titer of ELISA, blood changes, the corresponding symptomatology. But the treatment of toxocarias is complicated by the fact that the medicines used during it effectively destroy only migrating larvae. In the same case, when in the internal organs of an adult or a child there were formed toxic granulomas, they are useless.
Anthelminthic medications for this invasion are Medigine, Thiabendazole( Mintezol), Mebendazole( Vermox, Wormin), Albendazole( Centel, Nemosol), as well as symptomatic drugs, hepatoprotectors, antihistamines, nonsteroidal and expectorants intended for removalsevere and unpleasant manifestations of toxocariasis. In the case of damage to the larvae of the organ of vision, in addition to taking the tablets, a patient may be assigned a surgical operation. Therapeutic courses with these drugs for this helminthiosis are quite long( 10 to 30 days), they are conducted under the supervision of a doctor and with regular blood tests by ELISA.Complete recovery of the patient is only ascertained when the symptoms of toxocarias have not completely disappeared, but the blood counts for 3 tests show the norm.