Worm Diseases: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

In worm disease, parasitic worms enter the human body and use it to multiply. In most cases, worm diseases are harmless and can be treated well.

What are worm diseases?

The term worm disease refers to a buildup of worms in humans. These worms are called helminths. Helminths colonize the human body to reproduce inside it. Thus, affected individuals are the hosts that serve as food sources for the parasites. Although worm infections are a worldwide phenomenon, southern countries are more frequently affected. Children are more often affected than adults, as they are often not yet accustomed to hygiene measures such as regular hand washing, and the worms can thus enter the body more easily. The worms enter the body as eggs or larvae, use humans as a food source and multiply. The eggs laid by the parasites are excreted by humans during defecation, which can result in transmission of the parasites.

Causes

The most common cause of worm disease is eating food contaminated with worm eggs and so-called smear infection. Through this route, young children in particular become ill because they put their hands in their mouths without washing them first. If they have previously come into contact with worm eggs, an infection occurs. A worm disease that is also common in adults is infection with tapeworms. These parasites can enter the human body through undercooked pork or beef. A usually little noticed source of infection is eating wild berries and mushrooms in the forest. This can allow dog or fox tapeworms to colonize the body.

Symptoms, complaints and signs

The symptoms of worm infections depend on the particular type of worm. General symptoms include pressure in the upper abdomen or persistent mild abdominal pain, itching in the anal region, weight loss or anemia. Children are frequently infested with threadworms. These mainly produce an excruciating itching in the anal area, which encourages children to scratch constantly. Infection with roundworms may cause flu-like symptoms such as cough and fever. Abdominal pain also occurs. Since roundworms tend to form tangles in the intestines, there is a risk of intestinal obstruction. The bile duct is also sometimes obstructed, so that biliary colic may occur. Infestation with trichinae particularly affects the muscles. In addition to watery diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and fever, muscle pain, edema, myocarditis and rheumatic complaints occur. Bovine and porcine tapeworms usually produce only minor symptoms. However, loss of appetite and ravenous hunger attacks frequently alternate with each other. Weight loss occurs. In rare cases, the tapeworms can also migrate to the pancreas or appendix and cause pancreatitis or appendicitis. When humans ingest tapeworm eggs instead of the fins, larvae are formed first, often causing additional symptoms such as eye disease until blindness, seizures, or muscle ailments. Dog and fox tapeworms can eventually destroy the liver completely by forming cysts.

Diagnosis and course

If the symptoms of a child suggest that he or she is suffering from a worm disease, there are various diagnostic methods. If the attending physician suspects an infestation with pinworms, which are relatively harmless and easy to treat, he or she performs the Tesa swab test. In doing so, he attaches an adhesive strip to the anus area of the affected child and removes it again. He can then examine the strip and determine whether worm eggs have adhered to it. Taking a medical history is also important. After the patient interview, the physician orders a stool sample, since in the case of worm disease, parts of the worm or its eggs are excreted with the stool and can be detected there. For a more precise determination of the disease, a blood test can be performed. In our latitudes, worm diseases can usually be treated effectively, making the prognosis very good.

Complications

Worm diseases cause different symptoms and complications depending on the type of worm.Children often become infected with threadworms. Threadworms such as pinworms, roundworms or trichinae can be treated well. In some cases, however, complications can arise. For example, roundworms sometimes form real tangles in the intestine or in the bile duct, which may lead to intestinal obstruction. Trichinae, on the other hand, often infect the intestines and muscles. If the musculature is affected, chronic inflammation of the heart muscle and rheumatic complaints can develop in the longer term. Heart muscle inflammation often leads to heart failure. The pork or beef tapeworms can also be treated well. When humans become infected with the fins of these tapeworms via raw or undercooked meat, they enter the intestine and cause the typical symptoms. In rare cases, however, individual tapeworm members migrate to the pancreas or appendix and cause acute pancreatitis or appendicitis as complications. Infection with pork tapeworm eggs rather than pork tapeworm fins results in the development of larvae that infect all organs of the body, sometimes causing blindness and seizures. The most dangerous are the dog and fox tapeworms. They form cysts in the liver and sometimes in the lungs, which can lead to destruction of organs, intestinal obstruction or, if the cyst bursts, allergic shock. In addition, dog and fox tapeworms are very difficult to treat.

When should you go to the doctor?

If there is pain in the abdomen, a feeling of pressure in the upper abdomen as well as in the intestines, a loss of appetite or attacks of ravenous hunger, there is cause for concern. If the irregularities persist for several days or weeks and increase in intensity, consultation with a physician is necessary. If there is itching, bleeding around the bowel or spotting, a doctor should also be consulted. If movements are noticed in the stool when going to the toilet, this is considered a warning signal. Observations should be discussed with a physician so that medical tests can be performed. Pain in the muscles, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are also considered complaints that need to be investigated and treated. If constipation, behavioral problems or mood swings occur, a medical examination is needed. In case of fever, an inner restlessness as well as irritability, the irregularities should be followed up. If the affected person suffers from seizures, a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible. A diagnosis is needed so that a treatment plan can be developed to alleviate the symptoms. If the affected person suffers from an unpleasant sensation when moving around or sitting, a clarification of the symptoms is advisable. Sleep disturbances, fatigue and changes in skin appearance are also signs of a health disorder. A visit to the doctor should be made if there is a pale appearance or rims under the eyes.

Treatment and therapy

Treatment of helminth infection is relatively simple, involving the administration of special medications. These are called anthelmintics; they are anthelmintic drugs. Anthelmintics ensure that worms present in the body are killed and excreted. Although anthelmintics are very effective in fighting parasitic worms, they can only be taken for a short period of time, otherwise a number of side effects can be expected. Also due to the side effects of these drugs, it is of great importance to diagnose worm disease in time and initiate treatment. The earlier therapy can be started, the faster it will take effect and the fewer side effects can be expected. Only in exceptional cases is surgical intervention necessary for worm disease. Fox and dog tapeworms, if undetected, can form cysts which then need to be surgically removed. Except for fox or dog tapeworm infections, worm diseases, are easily and effectively treated and rarely lead to complications.

Prevention

The best way to prevent worm disease is to lead a hygienic lifestyle. Above all, this includes washing hands before eating. In addition, worm infection can be easily prevented by cooking meat thoroughly enough. When traveling to tropical countries, the rule is to always wash fruits and vegetables and not to eat anything raw.It is also recommended to avoid eating wild berries and to have pets dewormed regularly. Even young children should be taught the importance of simple hygiene measures such as hand washing.

Aftercare

Depending on the duration and severity of the disease, the intestines may have been affected. During aftercare, it is therefore important to pay particular attention to the body’s immune system and intestinal health. Here, the use of probiotics has proven effective. These are living microorganisms that are designed to multiply in the intestine. They are now offered as powders, capsules or drops and sold as dietary supplements or as medications. Doctors who specialize in naturopathy and some alternative practitioners can make recommendations. A fresh diet rich in fiber also helps the intestines to recover from worm disease. Too much fat and calories should be avoided during the aftercare period, as should too much stress. High external pressure can have a negative effect on the intestinal flora. In order to fully recover, outdoor exercise is advisable. Long walks, hikes or even regular jogging get the circulation going and ensure better blood flow – also in the intestines! During the aftercare of a worm disease, stimulants should be avoided so that the body is not unnecessarily burdened again. Smoking and alcohol should be avoided, at least for a while. Instead, large amounts of drinking still water are recommended to flush the excretory organs (kidneys, bladder) well.

This is what you can do yourself

In case of worm diseases, special hygienic measures must be taken. Clothing must be changed, washed and, if possible, disinfected. The same applies to bed linen or towels. The body must be regularly washed sufficiently and should be covered with clean as well as freshly washed clothes afterwards. All household textiles, including sofas or chairs, should be disinfected whenever possible. The diseases are highly contagious, so people from the close social environment should be informed. Depending on the disease present, various measures can be used to support the healing process. For example, the ingestion of onions or even garlic cloves has proven to be effective. These can be consumed raw or used more in the preparation of meals. Crushed pumpkin seeds mixed with honey can be eaten in the morning before taking the first food intake. About two hours after that, a natural laxative can be taken. Foods that contain vitamin A help fight worm eggs. Therefore, carrots should be eaten more throughout the day. Also helpful has been the consumption of coconuts or coconut oil. Both can be deliberately added to meals or consumed raw in small amounts. A natural laxative should also be taken a few hours afterwards.