A common cause of poor health, sleep disorders, and digestive problems are helminths.Infection of a child or adult with parasites causes a set of different, seemingly unrelated symptoms, and to prevent this, you need to know how worms are transmitted from person to person.Parasitic diseases caused by worms can usually be treated, but such treatment involves the use of toxic drugs, so it is better to avoid infection with larvae.
What are worms
There are many types of helminths, which are divided into two categories - nematodes (roundworms) and flatworms.Worms are parasitic organisms that live in the body of an animal or a person, affecting various organs and tissues, causing specific symptoms and general health problems.Worms vary in size: from a couple of millimeters to tens of meters.Helminths are contagious and their presence in the body is indicated by symptoms identical to those of other diseases (intestines, liver, pancreas, etc.).
Where do parasites come from?The occurrence of helminths in the body is often associated with insufficient hand hygiene, but this is not the only way of their transmission.Different types of parasites pass from one person to another in all sorts of ways.Pathologies that are caused by worms spreading between people are called contact helminthiasis.
Today, several dozen causative agents of parasitic diseases are known, however, despite this, the process of infection with them is approximately the same.Eggs and larvae of parasites can enter the body along with food, water, sexual intercourse, etc. Another common method of infection is the ingestion of mature individuals or fragments of the body of the worm.After entering the body, helminths begin to develop and some of them multiply.Certain types of parasites remain at the larval stage and are covered with a protective capsule.
Any type of helminthiasis is characterized by active progression, and the lack of adequate treatment will lead to a deterioration in the patient’s health.In addition, without suitable therapy, a person becomes a source of the spread of helminthiasis.The most commonly diagnosed helminthic infestations are ascariasis and enterobiasis.Roundworms and pinworms have effective protection - a sticky shell, thanks to which they are firmly fixed in the organs.
Are worms transmitted from person to person?
With the strictest observance of all hygiene rules, it is impossible to protect yourself 100% from helminth infection.However, this reduces the risk of parasites entering the body by approximately 60%.Are parasites transmitted from person to person?Despite popular opinion, animals do not pose the greatest risk of becoming infected with helminths.The route of infection by parasites through contact between people is the most common, in addition, some types of worms are transmitted only this way.
The risk group includes preschool children and children who go to primary school.This is explained by the still fragile immune system, the child’s daily presence in public places, the characteristics of the child’s body, and the common habit of biting nails.Parents should know how helminthiasis is transmitted - this will prevent infection of the baby.
How are worms transmitted?
There are several main ways parasites spread.How does helminth infection occur?Worms are transmitted in the following ways:
- By airborne droplets.In this case, a person, as a rule, swallows eggs, fragments or larvae of worms by eating dirty vegetables/fruits (it is extremely important to thoroughly wash the products before consumption), drinking, swimming in contaminated water, eating meat or fish that carried the parasite.
- For household contacts.The worms lay still immature eggs, which, leaving the host, remain harmless to others for a couple of weeks.However, the larvae can remain under the nails for a long time and can be transmitted by shaking hands, other personal contact, or sharing hygiene items and underwear.
- Through saliva.Pinworms and other types of parasites are capable of moving from one host to another in this way, but this is extremely unlikely.
- Transmissible method of transmission of worms.It is possible to become infected with parasites when attacked by carriers of helminth larvae such as insects (fleas, mosquitoes, mosquitoes).As a rule, such a danger exists in countries with a tropical climate.
- Transplacental route.If the mother is a carrier, they can pass through the placenta to the baby.
Percutaneous path
With this method of infection with helminthiasis, the larvae/eggs of the pathogen penetrate the human body through the mucous membranes or skin.The percutaneous path involves an attack by larvae waiting in the soil on a person.At the same time, they penetrate inside the skin and migrate to the intestines.Another example is a person becoming infected with schistosomes while swimming in a pond.As a rule, such dangerous parasites live in places with hot weather conditions.
Are worms transmitted through kissing?
There is practically no chance that helminthiasis will become infected through saliva (during a kiss).Worms do not live in the mouth, and their eggs also do not linger in the initial part of the digestive tract.Saliva cannot contain parasite larvae; in addition, it acts as the first barrier against helminths entering the body, therefore, through a kiss, they can enter the human body only if specific requirements are met:
- one of the partners has just bitten, but not swallowed, a product contaminated with helminths;
- the woman kissed the palm of the child who had just been playing in the sandbox and immediately kissed her husband;
- immediately before the kiss, one of the partners touched his lips to an object on which there were worm eggs.
Is it possible to get parasites through bed?
The eggs of pinworms and some other helminths live outside the animal or human body for several months, and in everyday life they can be found on any surfaces touched by the carrier.You can become infected with parasites through bed, dishes, doors, furniture, etc. So, if one family member is infected, then after a short period of time the rest of the household becomes infected.Everyone should get tested and begin timely treatment so as not to continue the spread of helminthiasis among loved ones and those around them.
Infection with worms of mother and child
Doctors do not exclude the possibility of infection of the fetus with worms through placental tissue.In addition, if a woman, while pregnant, was infected with any helminthiasis pathogen, the risk that the child will get sick is very high.It is unlikely that parasites will enter the baby through mother's milk.Worms can enter the baby's body during childbirth, when the baby moves out through the birth canal.Helminthic infestation of mother and child requires complex treatment, while many medications are prohibited for use, so traditional medicine is often used.
Infection with worms through sexual contact
There is a risk of getting a helminthic disease during intimacy with a carrier of parasites, especially if we are talking about amoebiasis or giardiasis.Statistics show that infection through sexual contact is more common among people with gay sexual orientation.As a rule, Giardia and amoebas live in the intestines and organs of the genitourinary system, so protective measures such as contraceptives are not able to protect a healthy person from this disease.
Does infection with worms occur through dishes?
A common variant of parasite infection is through household contact.Often a person becomes ill with helminthiasis by eating from dishes containing worm larvae or eggs.The spread pattern looks like this: after visiting the toilet, a child or adult does not wash their hands well or at all, and then, while setting the table, touches cutlery, plates, and other items.
Due to insufficient hygiene, eggs end up on food and then directly into the digestive system.Infection through dishes can be facilitated by flies that first sat on excrement and then on the plates.When the first signs of helminthiasis appear, you should not self-medicate, but immediately visit a doctor to get tested and determine the type of parasite.A specialist will help you choose adequate therapy and prevent complications.
Measures to prevent infection by parasitic worms
There are many varieties of parasites, which cannot be protected against through vaccinations or other preventive measures.It is also impossible to ignore the likelihood of helminthiasis, since over the years it becomes a widespread problem and often leads to the development of severe concomitant pathologies.Despite the fact that new potent drugs against worms are constantly appearing, parasites adapt to toxic substances and are still transmitted from person to person.
Due to the spread of the problem, measures to prevent infection by parasitic worms are appropriate and mandatory:
- strictly observe the rules of hygiene;
- subject meat and fish to thorough processing before consumption;
- provide each family member with personal hygiene items (washcloth, toothbrush, towel, etc.);
- support the immune system with vitamins;
- drink exclusively clean water;
- eradicate bad habits;
- reduce the consumption of sweets (parasites love them);
- undergo an annual examination of the body for helminthic infestation.