The peculiarity of parasitic inferior worms( worms) lies in the fact that they, in order to survive even in unfavorable conditions, produce such forms and structure of the body that ensure their development and reproduction with the greatest efficiency. The main feature of all worms is a strong flattening of their body, but the sizes of helminths are very much different.
Classify worms for various signs. In appearance, they are divided into:
- flat tapeworms( cestodes);
- flat worms( flukes);
- roundworms( nematodes).
By the method of transmission, the worms are divided into the following groups:
- transmitted from animals( biohelminths);
- infection from an already infected person;
- is an infection through an intermediate development in the soil.
However, it is impossible to classify according to the size of a person's worms. The fact is that parasites of even one species have completely different sizes. Cestodes are indicative in this respect. In the initial stage of development they consist of a head and neck, which is a growth zone, and the size of these helminths is only a few millimeters. The number of segments can reach two thousand, and the length of the largest cestode of a bull chain can reach twenty or more meters.
At the same time, the same chain-seed, but dwarfish is only 1 cm long, rarely reaching 3 cm in length. In their structure, they are no different from other much larger tapeworms, but the maximum number of segments in the sexually mature stage isnot more than two hundred. There are also lower worms parasitizing the human body, which are so small in size that they are called microscopic. However, the most common are worms in humans, the sizes of which vary within one centimeter.
Worms 1 cm
Worms in 1 cm are most often found among round helminths. First of all, we are talking about pinworms, small nematodes of white color. Males are small in size, up to 3 mm, but females are much larger and reach a length of 9-12 mm. They parasitize in the small intestine( lower section).Pinworms during a night's sleep crawl out of the anus and lay eggs. Infection occurs when they spread through bed linen, transfer to household items. Sources of helminthic invasion are contacts with infected people or animals, or non-compliance with personal hygiene rules.
Another helminth, hookworm, reaching a maximum length of 1.5 centimeters, is very common. Very rarely identified species of parasites are their 12-gut tissue by biting its walls with sharp teeth, hookworm larvae penetrate the human skin from infected soil and penetrate the bloodstream when ingested into the intestine.
Glaucous invasion under the name opisthorchiasis causes a parasite up to 13 mm long, fluke. Parasitizing in the body, they affect:
- biliary tract;
- gallbladder;
- pancreas.
Among flukes also there are parasites, 1 cm long - ribbon, which lives in crayfish, freshwater mollusks, pork. The body of the parasite, covered with reddish-brown spines, has an ovoid shape. When infection occurs:
- increase in body temperature;
- cough in the morning with a little sputum;
- shortness of breath, attacks of headaches;
- noises, wheezing in the lungs.
Vomiting, visual impairment is also possible. The disease can often be re-infected. Larvae can for a long time parasitize in the lungs, muscles, diaphragm. In general, the danger of the consequences of helminth infection does not depend on the size, but requires immediate treatment.