Helminth is a parasite. There are different types of parasites like lice or bacteria and viruses, who either live on human or in them; helminth lives inside humans and as any other parasite it also feeds on them and derives nourishment form them. The word has a Greek origin and is translated as worm; helminthology, correspondingly, is a science that studies parasitic worms.
Helminth eggs can be found in food and water as well as in faecal matter, in pets and other animals, in toilets and on door handles. They appear in human body via mouth, also nose and anus and settle inside in the intestines, where they grow and multiply; rarely they can spread to other parts of the body.
In order to recognize the condition a full medical history is required as well as a physical check-up and a row of other tests. It is generally treated by some vermifuges (anti-worm drugs) that are specially designed to eliminate worms.
In order to prevent the condition some simple recommendations should be followed. They concern keeping your hands washed and clean, also cleaning kitchen and bathroom and being careful while cooking (especially meat); and using chlorinated water, if possible.
There are different types of helminthes. Let’s start with roundworms. They generally breed and thrive in the intestines. The eggs of roundworms appear in the body via contaminated water or food and also as a result of dirty hands that had a contact with contaminated object. Roundworms affect a person in a way that he or she looses appetite, experiences pain in abdomen, often suffers from diarrhea and feels exhausted. The condition requires treatment otherwise such complications as anemia and malnutrition can develop.
Another helminth representative is pinworm (other names: seatworm and threadworm). It enters the body via anus, with inhaled air and a result of dirty hands that had a contact with contaminated object as well; it stays in intestines mostly but can enter vagina in females. It causes anal itching, discomfort in the stomach and paleness of the skin; but it is not considered dangerous or life-threatening. It just requires medication treatment and can be cured in a couple of days.
Trichina spiralis represents another parasite. It is able to lead to serious complications – an illness of trichinosis. The worm eggs appear in the body through some meat that was raw or poorly cooked; it stays in intestines and then is able to spread to other parts of the body via bloodstream and lymphatic system. Furthermore it can appear in the muscles, the heart and the brain and lead to death. It causes vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps followed by more severe symptoms like a high fever, swelling of the face and pain in muscles. The condition in some cases can be diagnosed only after biopsy and requires compulsory treatment with such an anti-worm medication as thiabendazole. The patient is also recommended bed rest and constant doctor’s supervision as the whole treatment-recovery process can last up to several months.
Tapeworms are also very frequent parasites. And although the condition does not show any obvious symptoms it can cause abdominal pain, fatigue, diarrhea, and loss of weight. Tapeworm is usually found in raw or poorly cooked meat (beef). With the proper medications the condition can be treated in a period of couple days.
Flukes are parasites that can affect different body parts, among them spleen, the intestines, rectum, liver, bladder, lungs and veins. This worm is found in freshwater snails initially and can enter the human body through penetrating the skin when a person swims or bathes. The condition is called schistosomiasis, or bilharziasis, and does not usually reveal any symptoms but in cases of the second or the third infection the liver, bladder, intestines and lungs can be seriously damaged. Sometimes the worm appears in the spinal cord or brain and this leads to paralysis and seizures. It is generally wide-spread in the regions of Africa, the Carribean, South America and in the Middle East.
Helminth is a parasite. There are different types of parasites like lice or bacteria and viruses, who either live on human or in them; helminth lives inside humans and as any other parasite it also feeds on them and derives nourishment form them. The word has a Greek origin and is translated as worm; helminthology, correspondingly, is a science that studies parasitic worms.
Helminth eggs can be found in food and water as well as in faecal matter, in pets and other animals, in toilets and on door handles. They appear in human body via mouth, also nose and anus and settle inside in the intestines, where they grow and multiply; rarely they can spread to other parts of the body.
In order to recognize the condition a full medical history is required as well as a physical check-up and a row of other tests. It is generally treated by some vermifuges (anti-worm drugs) that are specially designed to eliminate worms.
In order to prevent the condition some simple recommendations should be followed. They concern keeping your hands washed and clean, also cleaning kitchen and bathroom and being careful while cooking (especially meat); and using chlorinated water, if possible.
There are different types of helminthes. Let’s start with roundworms. They generally breed and thrive in the intestines. The eggs of roundworms appear in the body via contaminated water or food and also as a result of dirty hands that had a contact with contaminated object. Roundworms affect a person in a way that he or she looses appetite, experiences pain in abdomen, often suffers from diarrhea and feels exhausted. The condition requires treatment otherwise such complications as anemia and malnutrition can develop.
Another helminth representative is pinworm (other names: seatworm and threadworm). It enters the body via anus, with inhaled air and a result of dirty hands that had a contact with contaminated object as well; it stays in intestines mostly but can enter vagina in females. It causes anal itching, discomfort in the stomach and paleness of the skin; but it is not considered dangerous or life-threatening. It just requires medication treatment and can be cured in a couple of days.
Trichina spiralis represents another parasite. It is able to lead to serious complications – an illness of trichinosis. The worm eggs appear in the body through some meat that was raw or poorly cooked; it stays in intestines and then is able to spread to other parts of the body via bloodstream and lymphatic system. Furthermore it can appear in the muscles, the heart and the brain and lead to death. It causes vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps followed by more severe symptoms like a high fever, swelling of the face and pain in muscles. The condition in some cases can be diagnosed only after biopsy and requires compulsory treatment with such an anti-worm medication as thiabendazole. The patient is also recommended bed rest and constant doctor’s supervision as the whole treatment-recovery process can last up to several months.
Tapeworms are also very frequent parasites. And although the condition does not show any obvious symptoms it can cause abdominal pain, fatigue, diarrhea, and loss of weight. Tapeworm is usually found in raw or poorly cooked meat (beef). With the proper medications the condition can be treated in a period of couple days.
Flukes are parasites that can affect different body parts, among them spleen, the intestines, rectum, liver, bladder, lungs and veins. This worm is found in freshwater snails initially and can enter the human body through penetrating the skin when a person swims or bathes. The condition is called schistosomiasis, or bilharziasis, and does not usually reveal any symptoms but in cases of the second or the third infection the liver, bladder, intestines and lungs can be seriously damaged. Sometimes the worm appears in the spinal cord or brain and this leads to paralysis and seizures. It is generally wide-spread in the regions of Africa, the Carribean, South America and in the Middle East.