What are roundworms, what methods exist for the prevention and treatment of helminthic infestation - in an article by a practicing physician

Essence of the disease

What are roundworms? Before starting to answer this question, it is advisable to understand the very essence of the pathological process.

Ascariasis is a nematode helminthic disease accompanied by the migration of larvae throughout the body. Its outcome is considered to be the settling of parasites in the intestines, where favorable conditions are created for their development. The incidence is approximately 100 million cases annually. Ascariasis is recognized as the most common disease of helminth etiology on the entire planet. Most often, the pathology is diagnosed in countries with a humid and warm climate.

General characteristics of the helminth

Roundworms (Ascaris lumbricoides) are a helminth pathogenic for humans, belonging to the type Roundworms.
The parasite has a spindle-shaped shape, and in cross section it is relatively round. Nematodes are dioecious, a mature female reaches a length of up to 40 cm, and a male reaches up to 20 cm, and has a twisted rear end. Reproduction is sexual, a fertilized egg develops in a kind of uterus of the female, however, the larvae are formed in the external environment with access to oxygen. Ascariasis is an anthroponotic helminthiasis, which means that roundworms can only parasitize humans. It is most common in countries with warm and hot climates and sufficient humidity. The reservoir and the only source of the parasite is humans. The transmission mechanism is fecal-oral (parasitism occurs in the intestines, excretion with feces, urine, vomit); transmission routes – nutritional (food), water, contact (use of contaminated objects). In addition, this infection is geohelminthiasis - the development of larvae from a fertilized egg occurs in the soil.

What is a parasite?

The human roundworm is a parasitic worm that lives in the intestines. There it moves freely and is not attached to the walls of the organ. Therefore, traces of roundworms do not remain in the stool after defecation, which significantly complicates the process of primary diagnosis.

In appearance, the parasites resemble earthworms, only the body is distinguished by a white and pink color. The length of the female can reach 20-40 cm, and the male - no more than 25 cm. The mouth, which is surrounded by peculiar lips, is located at one end of the body. The helminth also has a cylindrical esophagus and an intestinal tube ending in the anus.

Adults live only in the small intestine and feed on its contents. Every day the female lays more than 200 thousand eggs. Among them there are both unfertilized and fertilized specimens. The latter have a spherical shape and a yellowish body.

Under favorable conditions (humidity, temperature above 25 degrees, presence of oxygen), the larva develops within two weeks. If the temperature drops to -30 degrees, the roundworm eggs die immediately. In other cases, they remain viable for up to 2 years thanks to the five-layer shell. Parasites can be destroyed only with ether, alcohol or gasoline.

Ascaris

Ascaris is a parasite known to mankind since ancient times and causing ascariasis. Ascariasis is a fairly common helminthiasis in countries with temperate, warm and hot climates. In zones with dry and cold air, this disease is very rare.

Etiology of roundworms

The roundworm is a large, spindle-shaped parasite. The male grows up to 15 - 25 cm, the female - 24 - 40 cm. The living helminth is reddish-yellow in color, after death it turns white. These parasites do not have attachment devices, and they are able to move towards food masses. The intestine has the shape of a tube, the absorption process takes place in the midgut.

The parasite's sensory organs are represented by tactile tubercles located around the mouth opening. The female has 2 ovaries, the male has one testis. The posterior end of the male's body is characteristically curved towards the side of the peritoneum.

Epidemiology of ascariasis

The source of infection is an infected person. Mature individuals live in the small intestine, where the female lays more than 200 thousand fertilized and unfertilized eggs during the day. Interestingly, unfertilized eggs of the parasite are not invasive.

Immature eggs, along with the patient’s feces, are released and reach their maturity in conditions favorable to them (from 13 to 30 degrees). The larvae take 9 to 42 days to mature, after which they become invasive. It should be noted that if the air temperature is below 12 degrees, the viability of the larvae remains, but development does not occur.

Human infection with roundworm occurs when mature eggs are swallowed along with water or foods (berries, vegetables) that contain soil particles.

Pathogenesis of ascariasis

The roundworm larva emerges from a mature egg that enters the human intestine along with food. At the same time, it drills through the wall of the small intestine, then penetrates the intestinal veins. The pathogen reaches the heart with venous blood, and from there it is carried through the bloodstream into the lungs. There the larva penetrates the pulmonary alveoli and reaches the oral cavity through the respiratory tract. Only after this, swallowed along with saliva and again entering the small intestine, the larva develops into an adult roundworm.

The time elapsed from the moment of ingestion of a mature helminth egg until the eggs appear in the patient’s feces is 10–15 weeks. Adult parasites live in the human intestine for about 12 months, and their number can vary from one to several hundred individuals. After the death of the parasite, it is excreted in the feces. If ascariasis is detected in a person over several years, re-infection is diagnosed.

Symptoms and course of ascariasis

Sometimes ascariasis is asymptomatic, but there are cases when the movement of larvae through the bloodstream causes damage to the respiratory tract (bronchitis and pneumonia). Allergic reactions such as urticaria or small papular rashes on the toes and hands also occur.

During the growth and maturation of helminths, loss of appetite occurs, stool disorders, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, etc. appear.

Adult roundworms, parasitic in the intestines, secrete toxic substances that have a detrimental effect on the central nervous system. In this case, symptoms of roundworms such as frequent headaches, fainting, increased nervousness and irritability, apathy, and sleep disturbances are observed. If there are a large number of parasites in the intestines, they gather in balls, which leads to spasms and intestinal obstruction.

When adult roundworms migrate to other organs, purulent complications develop (pancreatitis, cholangitis, abscesses). In rare cases, large mature roundworms penetrate from the intestines into the stomach, esophagus and pharynx, from where they come out along with vomiting, to the horror of the patient and everyone around. If the parasite penetrates the larynx and trachea, death from suffocation may occur.

Diagnosis of ascariasis

In the migratory stage of a parasitic infection, hematological, immunological and radiological studies are prescribed. In the early migratory phase, roundworm larvae are found in sputum. Eosinophilia is observed in the blood, and volatile eosinophilic infiltrates are observed in the lungs.

Often the diagnosis is made based on the detection of helminth eggs in the patient’s stool. If eggs are detected in the duodenal contents, the presence of parasites in the pancreatic and bile ducts is determined.

During X-ray examination, same-sex roundworms appear on the picture in the form of stripes of clearing (0.4 - 0.6 cm).

A very reliable method for diagnosing ascariasis, as well as other helminthic infestations, is vegetative resonance testing (ART - diagnostics). With its help, you can determine not only the type and location of the parasite, but also its stage of development.

Treatment of ascariasis

Ascariasis is a completely curable parasitic infection. In this case, it is necessary to treat not only the patient, but also all members of his family. Preparations such as decaris have proven themselves well. Wormil, Vermox. It must be remembered that a day after taking the drug, it is necessary to perform an expulsion procedure so that the dead roundworms are not digested, but come out. There is a course of treatment for roundworms using a herbal remedy such as “Troichatka Elavar”. There are also a large number of treatment methods using traditional recipes.

Traditional methods of treating ascariasis

Excellent anthelmintics for the treatment of ascariasis are St. John's wort, wild rosemary, strawberry, elecampane and lovage. A collection is prepared from these plants, then a tablespoon of herbs is poured with a glass of boiling water and boiled for 20 minutes over low heat. An adult should take half a glass of this decoction in the morning and evening. For children, the amount should be reduced.

Garlic, pomegranate juice, walnuts, onions and pumpkin seeds fight well against roundworms.

After anthelmintic procedures, you need to take a laxative or give a cleansing enema.

Prevention of ascariasis

In addition to maintaining personal hygiene and traditional thorough hand washing, it is necessary to thoroughly wash and scald greens, vegetables and fruits with boiling water. It is recommended to wash chicken eggs with soap or baking soda. Meat and fish must be cooked for 40 minutes or more.

To prevent helminthiases, experts recommend taking herbal preparations such as chamomile and tansy, garlic infusions and pumpkin seeds once a week.

Photo of roundworm

Routes of infection

Ascariasis is a parasitic disease that is widespread throughout the globe. However, areas with a hot tropical climate are considered the most comfortable conditions for the life of worms. In such countries, the optimal soil temperature and air humidity necessary for the survival of roundworms are maintained for a long time.

Mature individuals parasitize only humans. Therefore, the only source of infection with the disease is the people themselves. Once in a favorable environment for the development of eggs with feces, there is a danger of their further spread to food and household items. Mechanical carriers are various insects (flies or cockroaches).

The transmission mechanism of roundworms is fecal-oral. Infection occurs due to ingestion of helminth eggs. This is possible after eating dirty fruits and vegetables, berries and herbs. They ultimately enter the oral cavity, where they quickly penetrate the gastrointestinal tract and find a permanent home for growth and reproduction. Infection of children is usually observed after playing in garden plots or in sandboxes.

Complications of ascariasis

Most often, worms do not interfere with a person’s life and development. Symptoms of parasitic action are rare. And even less often, roundworms expose the body to diseases, which are called complications of ascariasis. According to statistics, they occur in less than 1% of all patients with helminthic infestation. The list of possible complications includes:

1. Intestinal obstruction. Its cause is the entangling of roundworms into a ball. This prevents the free movement of feces, accompanied by an increased concentration of waste products of roundworms. The main symptoms are abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.
2. Jaundice. It is caused mechanically, when roundworms “migrate” through the bile ducts. A blockage occurs, resulting in an increase in the level of bilirubin in the blood. There is an accumulation of these pigments in the tissues, which leads to a change in skin color.
3. Pancreatitis. Occurs when helminths enter the pancreatic ducts. At this time, the person experiences severe pain in the abdominal cavity, radiating to the back. Vomiting is also possible.
4. Liver abscess. When roundworms enter the liver, they become most dangerous. The production of toxins by parasites leads to inflammation. This includes an abscess.
5. Pneumonia. When roundworms enter the bronchi and the parasites stay there for 5 to 10 days, the inflammatory process begins. Favorable conditions are created for infection of healthy bronchi and alveoli by pathogenic bacteria, which leads to pneumonia.
6. Asphyxia. A rare but dangerous complication caused by the “migration” of roundworm larvae into the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract. One of the reflex symptoms may be triggered - muscle spasm, leading to respiratory arrest.

Complications also include: cholangitis, peritonitis and inflammation of the appendix. Each of these diseases has its own symptoms. With complications of ascariasis, a person feels severe attacks of pain in the intestinal or abdominal cavity. If they appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.

This danger is due to the large size of helminths and their excessive active activity. That is, if a person feels symptoms of the disease, he should immediately consult a doctor. If ascariasis appears in adults, symptoms and treatment are interrelated. And only qualified specialists can identify the risk of certain complications and prescribe effective treatment.

Life cycle of parasite development

What roundworms are is described just above. Now we need to understand what life cycle this parasite goes through. This information allows you to better understand the prescribed treatment methods.

After entering the body in the small intestine, larvae begin to be released from the eggs. Over the next week, they penetrate into the blood, where they continue to circulate, feeding primarily on serum and red blood cells. Together with the bloodstream, they spread to the liver, gallbladder and heart, and then head to the lungs. The grown larvae remain there for 4 to 14 days.

Over time, the most active individuals penetrate the bronchial secretions through the alveoli. When it is coughed up and re-swallowed, parasites from the oral cavity again enter the gastrointestinal tract and move to the small intestine. Here they transform into sexually mature individuals in just 2-3 weeks, distinguished by their ability to lay eggs. The entire development cycle takes about three months.

Roundworms usually parasitize the body for no more than one year. They then die and are excreted in the feces. Therefore, the disease can go away on its own, but provided there is no re-infection. However, this does not mean at all that the treatment of roundworms can be neglected and the disease can be left to take its course.

How to distinguish pinworms from roundworms

Toxoplasmosis, helminthiasis, dermatomycosis, trichomoniasis are diseases caused by various parasites of animal origin. Parasitic diseases have a long incubation period and symptoms appear late. Helminths are different, there are 3 types of worms, 2 are almost entirely parasitic.

According to health officials, the most common pinworms and roundworms are roundworms. The diseases they cause are not fatal, but are detrimental to health and well-being.

Characteristics of pinworms

The worms that cause enterobiasis are called pinworms. They are off-white in color, vesicles that serve to attach to the intestinal mucosa. Females reach a length of 12 mm, males - 5 mm. Pinworms parasitize in the small, blind, ileum. They feed on blood and intestinal contents.

Pinworm eggs enter the human body with dirty hands, water, food and are localized in the intestines. Pinworms soon become larvae that attach to the intestinal mucosa. 15–30 days pass, the larvae become adult, sexually mature pinworms capable of fertilization and laying eggs. After fertilization, the female moves through the intestines to the anus, laying eggs around the anus.

Pinworms usually do this during sleep, when the muscles are relaxed and are not disturbed by intestinal contractions. During one oviposition, the female is capable of laying 13,000 eggs; having completed her mission, she dies.

5–6 hours is enough time for the larvae to hatch from the eggs. Pinworms cause itching when they move, so the patient scratches the area around the anus. And thus, again with dirty hands, the larvae enter the oral cavity and intestines.

Enterobiasis is different in that the parasites that cause it can actively move inside the intestine and go beyond it, for example, to lay eggs. Helminths can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact with a sick person through a handshake. Therefore, the disease is equally common in adults and children.

Characteristics of roundworms

The helminths that cause ascariasis are called roundworms. Roundworms are white. One of the main differences from pinworms is the size of the worms. Female roundworms reach a length of 40 cm, males - 25.

Roundworms can parasitize any organ, feeding on digested food or red blood cells, which makes their treatment difficult.

Development is happening much faster. The shell of helminth eggs instantly dissolves in gastric juice, roundworms quickly hatch. The larvae enter the capillaries of the intestinal walls, moving into the blood vessels. They spread through the bloodstream to the brain, lungs, and heart. They reproduce very quickly; one female can lay 200,000 viable eggs per day.

The larvae hatch instantly, instantly spreading to the entire body. This worm can live in the intestines for a year. An organism infected with roundworms excretes some of the eggs along with the feces. Then, with the help of water, dirty hands or food, they re-enter the body.

Roundworms and pinworms parasitize the intestines, but roundworms often spread to other organs. The next thing that distinguishes worms is their size; roundworms are 30 times longer than pinworms; they can damage the intestinal walls and cause obstruction by gathering into a ball. The difference lies in the speed of development and life expectancy. Roundworms reproduce much faster, their life span reaches 1 year.

Prevention of helminthiasis

Prevention of the disease follows from the routes of infection. And in this, roundworms will not differ from pinworms. They appear in the human body mainly due to non-compliance with hygiene rules. You can also become infected with pinworms from physical contact with a person suffering from helminthiasis - what is the difference from roundworms. Worm eggs can be carried by insects. They can also enter the body through food or inhaled dust.

Prevention consists of observing the rules of personal hygiene, which should become life companions. Treatment is much more difficult than preventing the disease. Recently, control over the sanitary situation in enterprises and the quality of products has weakened; you will have to take care of yourself.

The following recommendations must be followed:

• Wash your hands regularly before eating, after eating, going to the toilet, or going outside. The more often you wash your hands, the lower the risk of helminths;
• Drink only boiled or filtered water. Water from a tap or natural reservoir may contain worm eggs;
• vegetables and fruits must be washed thoroughly - it is better to pour boiling water over them and wash them with a specially designated sponge or washcloth;
• minimize the time spent in unsanitary conditions - this means complete order in the house and avoidance of dirty places;
• subject food to deep heat treatment - prolonged exposure to high temperatures kills parasite eggs;
• do not have contact with stray dogs or cats, have your own animals examined by a veterinarian;
• maintain personal hygiene - this means not only washing your hands, but also regularly washing and ironing clothes, caring for your nails, etc.

Ascariasis and enterobiasis have similar routes of infection, so preventive methods are the same. However, perfect adherence to the rules does not guarantee safety from these diseases. Infection from insects or air cannot be ruled out; it is impossible to protect yourself from this.

Symptoms and treatment of helminthiasis

Enterobiasis and ascariasis are caused by different parasites; their symptoms, course of the disease and treatment differ. Roundworms cause bright, rapid symptoms by rapid reproduction and poisoning of the body with toxins. The patient has:

• pale skin;
• loss of appetite, weight loss;
• constipation or diarrhea;
• general weakness;
• irritability, insomnia;
• pain in the lower abdomen;

The disease with roundworms is characterized by a rapid onset of symptoms, because, unlike pinworms, they multiply more slowly and only affect the intestines, and in advanced cases, the genitals. Therefore, the symptoms of enterobiasis appear slowly. Among them are itching in the anal area, repeating every 2-3 weeks, mucous inclusions in the stool, and stool disorders.

Treatment can only be carried out by the doctor who made the diagnosis. At home, it is impossible to accurately determine the disease. Anthelmintic drugs are the strongest antibiotics that kill living organisms of a fairly large size, so they are toxic and should not be taken without medical supervision. Treatment at home is acceptable, but after agreeing with a specialist on the course, dosage and type of treatment.

Ascariasis, which differs from enterobiasis in being more dangerous. These helminths are larger than pinworms, reproduce faster, and have a long life span. The ways in which diseases spread are the same, and they are prevented in the same ways. Symptoms, medications used in treatment and the course of the disease are different.

Symptoms of the disease in adults

The clinical picture is largely determined by the phase of the pathological process, as well as the massiveness of the helminthic infestation. The disease is classified into two stages:

• early (migration);
• late (intestinal).

At the initial stage, the body of any person reacts to the invasion of pathogens with allergies. It occurs as a result of the disintegration of larvae and the subsequent release of metabolic products. The patient may complain of frequent attacks of nausea, drowsiness, and headache. When it comes to mass invasion, the clinical picture is supplemented by mechanical damage. During the life of helminths, the mucous membranes of the intestines, liver, lungs and various blood vessels are injured.

Then comes the intestinal stage. Symptoms of roundworms in adults in this case may vary. As a rule, this stage of the pathological process is characterized by a persistent lack of nutrients. We are talking about retinol, ascorbic acid and pyridoxine. The immune system is suppressed. Therefore, a person begins to get colds more often. Dyspeptic disorders are typical for the intestinal stage. Patients may complain of both constipation and diarrhea.

Symptoms and signs of roundworms in the body

Roundworms actively develop in the intestines for 2.5 months. During this time, the human body can react to “foreign” parasitic life. Symptoms of ascariasis in adults appear as:

• weaknesses;
• chronic fatigue;
• pain in the intestines;
• severe cough (especially at night);
• anemia;
• digestive disorders.

Ascariasis in adults can occur without noticeable symptoms. Less commonly, additional symptoms appear. Roundworm symptoms in adults also manifest themselves in the form of: headache, nervousness, surges in heart pressure, sleep disturbances, internal bleeding, and sudden weight loss.

The symptoms of roundworms that parasitize the body of children have a similar clinical picture. But diseases that appear in children carry a great danger. And the younger the child, the more complicated the situation with his treatment. The characteristics of the signs of ascariasis are complemented by a lag in physical and mental development. Ascaris whose life cycle is associated with parasitism, poisoning the body with harmful toxins, affecting the functioning of all its organs.

Ascariasis in children

In childhood, the disease has its own characteristics. By parasitizing the intestines, worms absorb nutrients, and at the same time they produce toxic waste products. Therefore, children with ascariasis are significantly behind their peers in their physical development. At the same time, the disease also affects the mental state. Somatic ailments and general problems that affect school performance often arise.

Roundworms in children provoke the formation of dysbacteriosis. At an early stage of the disease, obstructive jaundice often develops against the background of liver damage. The first signs of a pathological process cannot be ignored. You should immediately seek medical help. Otherwise, quite dangerous complications may arise.

When infected with roundworms in children, symptoms appear in the following order:

1. Decreased appetite.
2. Weight loss.
3. Diarrhea, nausea.
4. Temperature increase.
5. Abdominal pain.
6. Sleep disorder.

In rare cases, ascariasis contributes to the occurrence of pathologies such as peritonitis, cholecystitis, and meningeal syndrome.

Symptoms of ascariasis and phases of the disease

Migration phase

It may be asymptomatic, or a person, having become infected, simply does not attach much importance to the change in his condition, attributing everything to fatigue after work and stress.

The main complaints during this period are:

• general weakness;
• increased fatigue;
• in rare cases - an increase in temperature (up to 38⁰С);
• there may be headaches.

These signs are not specific to ascariasis, so they can easily be mistaken for a cold. Suspicion of nematodes begins with the appearance of a rash similar to urticaria (pink blisters with a whitish tint, rising above the surface of the skin; accompanied by severe itching; after stopping the process disappears without a trace), small blisters with clear liquid on the hands and feet.

With massive infection, the lungs are involved in the process. Chest pain, shortness of breath, dry and moist wheezing, cough with sputum appear. When capillaries are damaged, streaks of blood appear in the sputum. Attacks of bronchial asthma may occur. In addition, roundworm larvae can cause the development of bronchitis and pneumonia. In this case, the clinical picture is united by the name Loeffler's syndrome. It is characterized by a pronounced increase in the content of eosinophils in the peripheral blood, the presence of eosinophilic infiltrates in the lungs, and the symptoms described above. May be accompanied by the formation of effusion in the pleural cavities and pericardium.

The clinic may be supplemented by disorders of the heart (rapid heartbeat, decreased blood pressure), liver (enlargement of the organ, abdominal pain).

Intestinal phase

The clinic is diverse. May be asymptomatic. The predominance of certain symptoms depends on the location of the parasites.

More often it manifests itself as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, excessive salivation, constipation and diarrhea. Children become capricious and restless.

The course of the disease may resemble enteritis (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, rumbling, pain, fever, weakness).

With severe pain syndrome, the symptoms resemble those of acute abdominal pathology (acute appendicitis, exacerbation of chronic cholecystitis).

Tangles of roundworms in the intestines can cause obstructive intestinal obstruction (bloating, pain, failure to pass gas or stool, repeated vomiting, severe impairment of general condition, visible peristalsis). Vomit may contain roundworms themselves - an indication for surgical treatment. Inspection and palpation can help detect the presence of tumor-like formations in the abdomen. X-rays of the abdominal organs do not reveal the presence of parasites.

When the bile ducts are blocked, obstructive jaundice develops. First, the sclera, mucous membranes, and then the skin acquire a yellowish tint. Intense pain appears in the right hypochondrium, skin itching, the liver increases in size, urine darkens, feces become discolored. When infection occurs, cholangitis and liver abscesses develop.

When parasitizing in the intestine, roundworms can perforate its wall with the development of peritonitis. The patient's condition sharply worsens, blood pressure drops, heart rate increases, and severe electrolyte disturbances develop. Only surgical treatment and intensive conservative therapy can save the patient’s life.

Through the esophagus, helminths can reach the pharynx and enter the respiratory tract through the larynx.

Changes in the nervous system may be observed. The main manifestations are fatigue, irritability, decreased memory, intelligence, and attacks of hysteria. Children may experience epileptic seizures and meningeal symptoms.

Being in the intestines, roundworms can lead to vitamin deficiency in the body. Symptoms of vitamin deficiency appear (fatigue, decreased performance, hair loss, brittle nails, frequent colds, loss of appetite, pain in the limbs, bruising due to minor injury).

The main clinical picture may be supplemented by symptoms depending on the location of the parasite and the formation of abscesses.

Immunity to re-infection with roundworms lasts only for several months, so personal hygiene should always be observed.

Course of the disease during pregnancy

Symptoms of roundworms in pregnant women have practically no distinctive features. However, this disease is quite dangerous during pregnancy. Parasites can enter the uterus and then into the body of the unborn baby. With this development of events, the baby will be born with helminthiasis. Subsequently, due to the immaturity of the immune system, the pathology can provoke pneumonia, allergic reactions and other health problems.

Roundworms also negatively affect the well-being of the pregnant woman herself, increasing the manifestations of toxicosis. Women with this disease often complain of abdominal discomfort, severe nausea, insomnia, and rhinitis.

There is no need to delay treatment of the disease. However, most of the drugs used in the fight against parasites are dangerous due to their toxicity for the expectant mother. Therefore, the doctor should select therapy after assessing the degree of infection with ascariasis. As a rule, women are prescribed Dekaris or Piperazine according to an individual regimen. Additionally, oxygen therapy and medications may be required to normalize the intestinal microflora.

Medications for ascariasis

Pharmacological drugs are most often prescribed for the instant destruction of helminths. After the first use of the remedies described below, roundworm worms die and cease to disturb the body. However, even after using the strongest drug, a control course of treatment should be carried out. This is due to larvae, which are difficult to destroy by any means. If the treatment course was interrupted or at least one larva survived, then ascariasis will begin to develop again, spread and disrupt the natural processes occurring in the human body. Let's look at what drugs are used to expel parasitic worms:

Alben (Albendazole)

These drugs lead to the destruction of carbons present in the cells of roundworms, as a result of which the helminths are killed. These medications have the fewest contraindications compared to their analogues, and therefore are most often prescribed for the treatment of helminthic infestations.

Piperazine

Piperazine is the most affordable anthelmintic drug, so even low-income families can afford it. It is highly effective in the fight against helminths, a class of nematodes. To use this particular drug for medicinal purposes, medical consultation is necessary, because if a dosage exceeds 4 milligrams, the patient will experience an overdose, accompanied by side effects.

A specialist will advise taking these tablets in the evening, when parasites are most active. The dosage is calculated based on the age, weight of the infected person, as well as the scale of helminth infestation.

Pirantel

Pyrantel is a low-toxic drug approved for the treatment of ascariasis in adults and children. The product is available in 2 forms:

• Tableted.
• Suspension.

In addition, Pirantel will destroy not only roundworms, but also other types of parasites, because it is a broad-spectrum drug. However, Pirantel has a large list of side effects, which requires careful use and timely consultation with a doctor (if they occur). The medication has a detrimental effect exclusively on adult helminths. Their larvae are not affected, so a person will need to be treated until laboratory tests show the absence of helminth eggs in the stool.

Diagnostic methods

If typical signs and symptoms of roundworm are detected, treatment should begin immediately. However, only a doctor can prescribe therapy, but before that he must conduct a complete diagnosis. There are several methods for identifying parasites in the body:

1. General blood analysis. Ascariasis is indicated by a decrease in red blood cells and an increase in eosinophils.
2. X-ray of the gastrointestinal tract using a contrast agent.
3. Sputum analysis.
4. Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity to determine the stage of the disease.
5. Coprological analysis for roundworms.

Once the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment begins. In most cases, it is performed on an outpatient basis. If there are surgical complications, the patient must be hospitalized. All therapy comes down to taking medications. Sometimes they are supplemented with traditional medicine recipes and a special diet.

Diagnosis of ascariasis

The most common and simplest way to diagnose ascariasis is to check the stool for worm eggs. Eggs in the stool appear in the intestinal phase, and their absence does not exclude the diagnosis of ascariasis. A urine test is used to identify metabolic products of roundworms. In addition, there are special immunological tests to determine nematode antigens.

A sputum examination is carried out to detect roundworm larvae.

A general blood test may suggest a helminthic infestation. The main indicator of allergies and helminthiasis in the general analysis are eosinophils. There is an increase in the number of eosinophils, leukocytes, acceleration of ESR, and sometimes moderate hypochromic anemia.

Use of medications

You can overcome roundworms in children and adults with the help of anthelmintic medications. Their main action is aimed at suppressing the life cycle of parasites, paralyzing their neuromuscular system, followed by removal from the body. Self-medication in this case is undesirable; it is better to seek help from a doctor.

At the initial stage of development of the disease, the following drugs have proven their effectiveness: “Dekaris”, “Mebendazole” and its analogues (“Vermox”, “Vormil”). At a later stage, Pirantel is usually prescribed. Albendazole and Santofin are considered universal remedies.

The dosage of any of the drugs listed above is determined by the doctor. An incorrectly selected treatment regimen in most cases only intensifies the intoxication process. A parasitologist treats roundworms in adults. When this specialist is not available, you need to see a therapist. In children's hospitals, this issue is usually dealt with by a pediatrician.

Prevention of ascariasis

The prevalence of helminthiasis is quite high, and its course can seriously affect human health, so quite a lot of attention is paid to the prevention of infection and its spread. Prevention of ascariasis is a very pressing issue, since children are at greatest risk of infection.

The basics of prevention come down to observing the rules of personal hygiene, preventing soil contamination with feces and intensive identification and treatment of patients with ascariasis among the population.

Remember, washing your hands with soap before eating, handling, and peeling vegetables and fruits is, on the one hand, simple, and on the other, an important basis for preventing infection.

All people employed in the field of food, water supply and working in children's institutions are subject to mandatory examination for the release of worm eggs.

The rest of the population is recommended to undergo a similar analysis annually.

Particular attention is paid to soil contamination in village toilets. Every two years the log house must be moved and the old cesspool must be buried. Impenetrable cesspools can be used, but they must be constantly cleaned and excrement disinfected.

Improvement of sewerage, installation of dry toilets, use of disinfectants in cleaning.

For persons living in such conditions, especially those with pets, preventive treatment (Dekaris) is recommended.

To deinfest the soil, you can use special chemicals: carbolineum, creolin, thiozone, alkaline phenol solution, sulfur-phenol mixture, etc.

Oxygen treatment

Today, oxygen therapy is used to treat roundworms in children. The essence of this method comes down to changing the physical and chemical conditions of the parasites’ habitat. It is absolutely non-toxic.

For one week, the small patient is given oxygen into the stomach in small portions in the morning on an empty stomach. A thin catheter is used for this purpose. The procedure itself is painless, but after it you need to avoid activity for 1-2 hours. Then you can have breakfast, drink an oxygen cocktail and begin your daily activities.

A week before the start of therapy, doctors recommend preparing the body. They advise their patients to drink a herbal decoction of tansy, buckthorn, wormwood and oak bark. To prepare it, you will need to mix all the ingredients in equal proportions (for example, one teaspoon each). Then the dry mixture needs to be poured with 0.5 liters of boiling water. You can take the infusion 50 g twice a day before meals.

After completing the course of treatment, you should be tested again and make sure that all the worms (roundworms) have died. They do not perceive the action of oxygen. Therefore, they die and are removed from the human body along with feces.

Roundworm worms: symptoms and treatment in adults and children

Roundworms are one of the most common helminths in the world; about 1 billion people are infected with them. The most favorable climate for their spread is with high humidity and above average temperatures.

You will be surprised how many parasites will come out if you drink a glass of regular...

Parasites will leave the body in 3 days! You just need to drink on an empty stomach...

Roundworm worms can cause significant damage to the human body, and in the absence of antiparasitic therapy, can cause death.

Roundworms: features of parasites

Infection with parasites occurs through the fecal-oral route. Eggs can get onto the surface of your hands and food from soil that contains feces from animals with ascariasis.

The development cycle of this type of parasite consists of several stages, which involve the migration of eggs, larvae and adult helminths to different organs of the human body. Eggs that enter the intestine through the mouth are destroyed, and the emerging larvae penetrate through the walls into the vessels and are carried through the bloodstream into the portal vein, the right atrium, and from there into the small capillary network of the lungs. Then they move to the alveoli, bronchi, and trachea. The movement of the larvae along the trachea causes a cough, as a result of which they enter the oral cavity and are then swallowed again into the digestive organs.

Roundworms and worms: is there a difference?

Ascariasis is a helminthic infestation caused by nematodes of the species Ascaris lumbricoides. There are more than 280 types of helminths, but since these parasites are among the most common, roundworms are often called any worms in everyday life. From a medical point of view, this definition is not correct; these nematodes differ significantly, like other species, from each other.

Determining the causative agent of the invasion is crucial when choosing therapeutic measures - parasites can be removed with certain medications that do not act equally effectively on all types.

Roundworms are a type of helminth, and not the name of parasites in general.

Diagnosis and symptoms of ascariasis

Symptoms of helminthic infestation depend on the stage of development of roundworms in the human body.

During the migration of larvae through organs, the following signs are characteristic:

1. Weakness, general malaise.
2. Hyperthermia (body temperature up to 38.5 degrees).
3. Enlarged lymph nodes, spleen, liver.
4. Staying in the organs of the respiratory system can cause various inflammations in the lungs and bronchi.
5. Irritation of the trachea is not expressed by a deep cough, sometimes with sputum.
6. Chest pain.
7. Cyanosis (blue discoloration).
8. Choking, dry wheezing in the chest.
9. Migration of larvae through the circulatory system and their presence in the heart can cause cardiovascular pathologies.
10. Allergic reactions on the skin (urticaria) are typical. Red rashes cause itching and irritation and interfere with sleep.

After the roundworm larvae enter the intestines again, the symptoms will be different:

1. Constipation. Failure to remove toxins from the body in a timely manner aggravates other symptoms. The accumulation of roundworms in the intestinal lumen forms a plug, due to which the function of excreting feces is practically blocked.
2. Decreased immunity. Malfunctions in the body's defense system can be noticed by frequent acute respiratory viral infections and exacerbation of chronic pathologies.
3. Convulsions of an epileptic nature (caused by toxins).
4. Decreased appetite.
5. Nausea, vomiting.
6. Chronic fatigue.
7. Pain in the epigastrium, right iliac region, around the navel.
8. Headache and dizziness.
9. Sleep disturbance and, as a result, irritability.

Symptoms in adults may be mild. This is especially true at the stage when the eggs have just entered the human body - at this time it is rarely possible to suspect an invasion based on signs noticeable to the patient.

Complications of ascariasis do not occur often. In the absence of treatment and the rapid development of roundworms and an increase in their number, serious health problems can arise.

Symptoms of a large number of roundworms in the body:

1. Intestinal obstruction - the accumulation of worms paralyzes the functioning of the intestines.
2. Migration of adult individuals is facilitated by vomiting and antiperistalsis; large-scale invasion may be accompanied by the crawling of parasites through the nose, mouth, and respiratory tract, which can cause asphyxia.
3. The entry of roundworms into the pancretobiliary system is fraught with pancreatitis, purulent cholangitis, obstructive jaundice, and multiple liver abscesses.
4. Roundworms can injure the intestines to the point of perforation; when worms enter the peritoneum, peritonitis develops.

To diagnose ascariasis, various research methods are used, their effectiveness depends on the stage of development of helminths in the patient’s body.

Types of research:

1. X-ray. The study should be carried out 2-3 times with an interval of several days. During the procedure, you can see the presence of perforation, and also notice a change in the placement of infiltrates.
2. Blood analysis. Laboratory testing is aimed at determining the level of eosinophils and leukocytes. An elevated level indicates invasion.
3. Laboratory examination of sputum (detection of nematode eggs).
4. Analysis of stool for worm eggs (adult parasites may also be visible).

To confirm ascariasis, it is important to conduct a series of studies; this is the only way to ensure the correctness of the diagnosis.

Methods for treating roundworm worms

You can get rid of helminthic infestations using medications prescribed by a doctor, or using traditional medicine methods.

Medication therapy

To destroy roundworms, medications based on the following drugs are used:

1. Mebendazole. Children over 2 years old and adults: 100 mg 2 times a day. Course - 3 days.
2. Pyrantel pamoate. Children over 12 years of age and adults weighing up to 75 kg - 750 mg, those weighing more than 75 kg - 1000 mg once.
3. Medamin. Adults weighing up to 60 kg: 10 mg/1 kg of weight; over 60 kg: 600 mg. Divide the daily dose into 3 doses, take the tablets after meals.
4. Piperazine adipate. Daily dose up to 4 mg, taken before bedtime.
5. Albendazole. Adults: 400 mg once, repeat after 2 weeks.

The dosage and duration of treatment can be adjusted by the attending physician depending on the patient’s condition and how successfully the pathology is treated.

ethnoscience

Non-traditional methods can also be effective in combating worms at home. Traditional medicine recipes against roundworms:

1. Finely chop the onion and pour into the bowl so that it is half full. Fill the remaining space up to the neck with alcohol. Leave for 10 days. Take 1-2 tbsp. l 2 times a day. Children can use water instead of alcohol.
2. Grind green walnuts (4 tbsp), add salted boiled water (200 ml). Leave for 30 minutes, then strain. Drink throughout the day. 2 hours after the last dose of the infusion, take a laxative.
3. Boil peeled garlic cloves (1 large head) in 250 ml of milk. Boil for 10 minutes, cool and strain. Before going to bed, do an enema with this liquid. Can be used for children, but take 100 ml of the drug. Repeat 7 days in a row.
4. Mix 200 ml of baked milk with 10 cloves of chopped garlic. Drink at one time, wait 2 hours, and then take a laxative.
5. Take 500 g of peeled raw pumpkin seeds and pass through a meat grinder. Add 50 ml of drinking water, 1 tbsp. l honey, mix thoroughly. Take 1 tbsp. l every 10 minutes. 2 hours after the last dose, drink a laxative.
6. Mix the following herbs in equal parts: wormwood, chamomile (flowers), tansy (flowers). For 200 ml of boiling water use 1 tbsp. l herbs. Leave for 15 minutes, drink 2 times a day. The course of treatment is 3 days.
7. Take equal parts of wormwood leaves and raw pumpkin seeds, chop, add alcohol (2/3 alcohol to 1/3 raw materials). Infuse away from sunlight in a closed container for 7 days. Take 2 times a day, 1 tbsp. l 30 minutes before meals.
8. Pour the peel of one pomegranate with water (750 ml). Leave for a day, strain. Drink 250 ml 3 times a day. On the day of treatment, do not eat, drink a laxative 2 hours after the last dose of the medicine.
9. Grind fresh roots and celandine grass. Take 1 tbsp. l mixture, pour 1 glass of hot drinking water. Cool, strain, divide into 2 doses, drink in the morning and evening for 3 days.
10. Enema liquid: 30 ml of freshly squeezed carrot juice and 100 ml of warm water. Use for 7 days
11. Mix chopped horseradish and garlic, pour 50 g of the mixture with 500 ml of vodka. Leave for 10 days, shaking occasionally. Strain, drink 1 tbsp. l twice a day 30 minutes before meals.
12. Eat 50 g of raw, peeled pumpkin seeds daily.

You need to choose a prescription for treatment based on individual tolerance. Many products consist of allergenic products - honey, milk - this must be taken into account if there is a tendency to an atypical reaction of the immune system.

Alcohol-based products are prohibited for therapy in children and pregnant women.

Features of treatment of ascariasis in children

In pediatrics, it is important to correctly determine the dosage for the age and weight category of the child.

The drugs are highly toxic, so an incorrect dose can cause an overdose and increase the risk of side effects.

Roundworms in children are expelled with the following medications:

1. Pirantel. For children from 6 months to 2 years old, the recommended dose is 125 mg, 2–6 years old — 250 mg, 6–12 years old — 500 mg.
2. Mebendazole. Children over 2 years old: 100 mg twice a day for 3 days.
3. Piperazine adipate. 1.5-2 g is given to adolescents 13-15 years old; 1-2 g - at 9-12 years; 0.75-1.5 g - for ages 6-8 years; 0.5-1 g - at 4-5 years; 0.3-0.6 g - at 2-3 years; 0.2-0.4 g - for children under 12 months.

You can also use products prepared according to traditional medicine recipes that do not contain alcohol components.

Caution when treating pregnant and lactating women

Before taking any medications during pregnancy and lactation, you should consult a physician; anthelmintics are no exception.

The most commonly used drugs are piperazine adipate. The drug is highly targeted, does not affect the baby in the womb and does not have a negative effect through breast milk. Dosage 1.5-2 g (maximum 3-4 g). Drink in 2 doses an hour before meals for 2 days in a row.

It is possible to prescribe products based on pyrantel pamoate: it is practically not absorbed into the blood and milk, is quickly eliminated from the body, and does not have a negative effect on the child. Dosage: up to 60 kg - 750 mg, after 60 kg - 1000 mg.

Treatment with albendazole-based drugs for pregnant and lactating women is strictly prohibited.

Contraindications

Antihelminthics have a number of contraindications. This must be taken into account when prescribing, replacing the medicine with one that is no less effective, but acceptable to the patient.

Contraindications to antiparasitic drugs:

1. Albendazole-based products are prohibited: during lactation, pregnancy, children under 2 years of age and in case of individual intolerance.
2. The active ingredient mebendazole is prohibited during: pregnancy, breastfeeding, acute liver and kidney failure, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, for children under 2 years of age.
3. Contraindications to the use of piperazine: organic damage to the central nervous system, hypersensitivity, chronic renal failure.
4. Mebendazole is not recommended: during pregnancy in the 1st trimester, during lactation, and prescribed with caution for diabetes.

The most gentle products are those based on piperazine and pyrantel, but you need to focus on the individual tolerance of the substance and the auxiliary components of the drug.

If detected early, ascariasis can be quickly cured. You need to remember about hygiene during treatment and in everyday life - mandatory washing of hands before eating and food before preparing will help avoid not only infection with roundworms, but also other worms.

Changing food

With ascariasis, many patients are prescribed a special diet. It is aimed at improving the digestion process and replenishing the deficiency of microelements that arose as a result of the vital activity of helminths.

First of all, doctors recommend adding so-called antiparasitic products to the diet. For example, ginger, garlic and onions, chanterelles, pumpkin seeds. This approach is especially effective if the infection is recent. Helminths cannot feed on the listed foods, so they die and leave the intestinal tract naturally.

The disease always provokes weight loss. Regardless of the chosen method of treating roundworms, it is necessary to increase the calorie content of the diet. For this purpose, doctors recommend eating more protein foods, nuts and dried fruits. On the contrary, you need to exclude alcoholic drinks and everything fried and fatty from your diet. Such products irritate the intestinal mucosa and increase the negative effect on the liver.

Preventive measures

How to treat ascariasis in adults and children? This question is becoming increasingly relevant. According to the Ministry of Health, a quarter of the world's population is already susceptible to such helminthiasis. And it is most advisable for a healthy person to pay attention not to “how to treat.” It is better to try to prevent ascariasis. It's not difficult to do this. The main thing is to follow the following rules:

1. Wash your hands thoroughly before eating, after contact with animals and after walking outside.
2. Systematically take stool and urine tests, as well as visit a doctor. Early detection of the disease is the first step towards a quick cure.
3. Wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly before eating (it is better to scald them with boiling water).
4. Drink only purified boiled water.
5. Fight insects. They are carriers of helminth eggs.

But if it was not possible to protect yourself from helminthic infestation, you must urgently contact infectious disease doctors who will provide qualified assistance in the treatment of ascariasis. Self-medication is dangerous, especially when the patient exhibits symptoms of the toxic effects of helminths.

Help from traditional therapy

What roundworms are was known many centuries ago. For a long time, people have used the recipes of traditional healers to combat parasites. However, such treatment is still relevant today, since most prescribed medications are highly toxic.

When choosing alternative therapy, you need to remember that ascariasis can provoke various kinds of complications. Therefore, you should first consult with your doctor and clarify possible methods of influencing parasites. The most effective recipes of traditional healers against helminths are listed below.

1. Pomegranate decoction. Symptoms of roundworms quickly disappear if you drink this healing drink for several days. To prepare it, you need to pour a glass of boiling water over several dried pomegranate peels and cool. It is recommended to drink the resulting infusion in 3 doses throughout the day. The procedure can be repeated up to 4 times with a mandatory break of two days.
2. Pumpkin seeds. Raw pumpkin seeds need to be peeled. It is recommended to consume 1-2 teaspoons on an empty stomach. This product has some contraindications, so prior consultation with a doctor is required.
3. Infusion of wormwood. About a teaspoon of dry herb will require 2 cups of boiling water. The infusion must be cooled and filtered. After this, you need to take 2 tablespoons of the healing drink twice a day.

Folk recipes are most often based on the use of various herbs, onions and garlic, and the alcohol component. It is believed that such mixtures perfectly paralyze the activity of roundworms. These parasites look unattractive in the photo. Therefore, most patients resort to the help of not only medications, but also alternative medicine to overcome parasites. As for the last option for influencing helminths, it has no scientific basis.

Treatment of ascariasis

The main drugs are Albendazole, Mebendazole, Piperazine, Pyrantel. Treatment is carried out with one of these medications. If one is ineffective, switch to another drug.

Albendazole is taken orally at a dose of 400 mg once with food. After three weeks, this procedure is repeated. The drug is contraindicated during pregnancy or planning it, breastfeeding, children under two years of age, and with individual intolerance. The main side effects are observed on the part of the digestive system (decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating).

Mebendazole is taken orally, 1 tablet (100 mg) 2 times a day for three days. The contraindications are the same.

Pyrantel is taken once at a rate of 10 mg/kg (maximum 1 g). Before swallowing the tablet, chew it thoroughly. The contraindications are the same.

Piperazine citrate is taken orally 1 hour before or an hour after meals 2 times a day for two days in a row. A single dose for adults is 1.5 – 2 g. The contraindications are the same.

Levamisole (Decaris) is a more aggressive drug. Take 1 tablet (150 mg) orally once. The contraindications are the same.

In parallel with specific anthelmintic therapy in severe cases, concomitant disorders are corrected.

Remember, you should not get carried away with taking these drugs, attributing your condition to helminthiasis. Only a doctor can correctly assess all the symptoms, objective signs, data from laboratory and instrumental examination methods and make a differential diagnosis.

Most drugs should be used with caution in patients with renal failure. In addition, some of them are contraindicated in case of organic lesions of the central nervous system.

Is self-healing possible?

Self-healing for this disease is possible. The lifespan of the parasite in rare cases reaches 15 months. After death, it leaves the human body and recovery occurs. The person who has been ill may not even be aware of what happened.

After self-healing, immunity from ascariasis persists for 6 months. Special antibodies prevent the migration of larvae. However, even such protection should not be considered reliable. If the larvae enter the body, the disease may recur.

What is ascariasis

Ascariasis is a parasitic disease caused by roundworms (roundworms). Adult individuals (reach a length of 40 cm) parasitize in the human small intestine, but in some cases they can penetrate its walls and migrate to other organs, for example, the bile ducts, esophagus, trachea, etc.

The larvae from the intestines penetrate the blood vessels and move with the blood throughout the body of an infected person (migratory stage), affecting the liver, heart, lungs and bronchi.

According to the World Health Organization, ascariasis is the second most common helminthiasis on our planet. It affects about 1.3 billion people.

The widespread spread of the disease is facilitated by the fact that the disease is sometimes almost asymptomatic and without proper treatment becomes chronic.

Prevention methods

What are roundworms, what symptoms accompany their activity? Many people know this first-hand. Is it possible to prevent these parasites from entering the body?

To prevent infection with helminthic infestations, doctors recommend:

1. Observe personal hygiene rules (carefully wash food and hands before eating).
2. When the initial symptoms of ascariasis appear, you should immediately seek medical help and, if necessary, undergo a course of treatment.
3. Persons living in a focus of helminthiasis require regular drug prophylaxis. The medicine Piperazine is suitable for these purposes. It is taken once, but the dosage may vary depending on the person's age.

Ascariasis is a serious disease, the initial symptoms of which cannot be ignored. If they appear, you need to consult a doctor and undergo a course of therapy. Otherwise, the risk of complications increases, among which the most dangerous are liver abscess and asphyxia of the respiratory system.

What roundworms look like in the feces of a child and an adult

During defecation, dead males are excreted from the body along with feces and die after mating with the female. Dead individuals may be dark in color and difficult to see in feces due to their immobile state.

At the chronic stage of infection, large accumulations of roundworms are excreted along with the feces - dead, living individuals, and their eggs. Roundworm larvae usually migrate throughout the body, so it is extremely rare to find them in feces.

A living specimen is easy to see even without special equipment, since it is large in size and will move. The features of its appearance are no different from worms living in the body.

To reduce the likelihood of infection, you need to adhere to personal hygiene rules. If your health worsens, you should consult a doctor to determine the exact cause of your ailments.

Symptoms of roundworm infection may be similar to those of other diseases. Self-medication can significantly worsen the condition and lead to irreparable consequences.

Procedures

One of the fastest methods of treatment is to expose the parasites to a flow of oxygen. In this case, gastric intubation is performed on an empty stomach or 4 hours after breakfast. To destroy absolutely all helminths, the procedure is carried out over 3 days. People who have inflammation inside the abdominal cavity should refrain from oxygen therapy.

Diagnostics

Loeffler's infiltrates on an x-ray
Due to the polymorphism of symptoms, recognizing ascariasis clinically in the early phase is almost impossible.

When detecting high blood eosinophilia of unknown etiology, especially if it is combined with clinical manifestations of the lungs, one should remember the possibility of the presence of a migratory stage of ascariasis, which is confirmed by the identification of Loeffler infiltrates on x-ray. In addition, smears of freshly isolated sputum are examined, in which eosinophilic cells, red blood cells, Charcot-Leyden crystals, and sometimes roundworm larvae are often found.

Good results are obtained by methods of immunological diagnosis of this stage of ascariasis. Many immunological reactions have been proposed. However, in many cases the early phase of ascariasis remains unrecognized.

The diagnosis of the intestinal stage of ascariasis can be made with complete confidence only after the detection of ascaris eggs during coproovoscopy or the isolation of adult parasites by patients. To make a laboratory diagnosis of intestinal ascariasis, conventional unified coprooscopic methods are used. In addition, ovulation may temporarily stop under the influence of certain medications or nutrients. Therefore, to identify ascariasis in these situations, our country has proposed methods for the biochemical determination of fatty acids in urine, which are the end product of carbohydrate metabolism in roundworms and are excreted in the patient’s urine.

Clinical manifestations of liver ascariasis

During the migration stage, symptoms most often manifest themselves in the respiratory system and intestines. Parasites affect the tissues of the gastrointestinal tract and lungs, leading to an allergic reaction. The time of clinical manifestation is determined by the number of larvae that have entered the body.

At the migration stage, the patient is bothered by a cough, moderate pain in the chest, and shortness of breath due to physical activity. The body temperature rises, stops at the level of low-grade fever, and persists. If a child or an elderly person is sick, blood pressure decreases and the heart beats faster.

The allergic reaction depends on the sensitivity of the patients. Some people experience a rash, itching and burning, redness of the skin, while others have no or mild allergic symptoms.

With intestinal and hepatic ascariasis, the general symptoms are:

• Disruption of the digestive tract - prolonged constipation is replaced by diarrhea.
• Itching in the anus.
• Deterioration or loss of appetite.
• Emotional instability.
• Sleep disturbance.
• Pain in the area of ​​the liver projection.
• Nausea, vomiting.

Ascariasis poses a serious threat to pregnant women, as it leads to intrauterine growth retardation and disruption of labor.

Symptoms of hepatic ascariasis

Clinical manifestations are similar to those of cholelithiasis. The difference lies in the duration of pain attacks - against the background of a parasitic disease, they last longer and are more pronounced.

With hepatic ascariasis, the predominant symptoms are:

1. Severe, unremitting pain in the right hypochondrium (80% of patients complain).
2. Nausea, repeated vomiting, which brings virtually no relief.
3. Yellowness of the skin, visible mucous membranes, whites of the eyes (in 70% of cases, if roundworms were localized inside the bile ducts). If roundworms have settled in the common bile duct, jaundice does not occur.

Hepatic ascariasis develops rarely, since the parasites predominantly settle in the intestines of adults and children. Often the patient is hospitalized, assuming the development of hepatitis, liver abscess, cholangitis. Ascaris abscesses are similar to purulent abscesses of another etiology.

Often, hepatic ascariasis is diagnosed directly during surgery, when the parasitic abscess is opened into the abdominal cavity. Roundworms rarely settle in the hepatic ducts because they are narrow.

Possible complications

When the localization of helminthiasis is the intestines, the disease does not pose a serious threat to life.

When the liver is damaged, many complications develop that can lead to disability and death.

Helminths in the human body can simultaneously affect several organs - settle in the intestines, liver, pancreas.

Possible complications:

• The acute form of pancreatitis develops when the larvae find themselves in the pancreas.
• Obstructive jaundice is a consequence of the activity of helminths in the bile duct. They can completely clog the channels, which prevents the full flow of bile. Stagnation leads to an increase in the concentration of bilirubin in the body, yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes.
• When worms penetrate the cecum, appendicitis develops. Symptoms: abdominal pain on the right side, pain radiating to the navel, nausea and vomiting. In such a clinic, immediate medical attention is required.
• Abscess in the liver. Parasites mechanically disrupt the mucous membrane of the gland, pathogenic microorganisms penetrate through the damage, which leads to an abscess.
• The purulent form of cholangitis develops when parasites damage the mucous membrane of the bile ducts, and a secondary infection occurs. The main symptoms include a temperature of 39 degrees, fever, severe pain in the area of ​​​​the liver projection.

The likelihood of complications increases against the background of secondary infection, which is due to the peculiarities of the development of helminths.

Symptoms

The sooner roundworms are detected in the human body, the less harm they will be able to cause, since through the bloodstream these parasites can penetrate the heart, liver, and brain, which leads to serious complications.

The signs of ascariasis are quite specific, but they are well disguised as other diseases. Therefore, people begin to suspect that they have an illness only when serious health problems begin. Ascariasis will manifest itself with certain symptoms depending on what stage of the disease the person is at.

Itching in the anus is the first sign of ascariasis.

During the invasive and migratory stages, patients experience the following symptoms of ascariasis:

• skin rash;
• itching;
• redness of the skin;
• weakness;
• headache;
• swelling of the eyelids;
• wet cough with sputum coming out;
• a slight rise in temperature is possible.

Patients often mistake such symptoms for signs of allergies and begin taking antihistamines. After a few days, everything disappears and, thinking that the cause of the allergy has gone away, patients move on with peace of mind, unaware of what insidious parasite has settled in their body.

The intestinal form of ascariasis has slightly different symptoms, which is associated with the parasitism of adult human roundworm in the intestines and its active life:

• mild nausea, in rare cases vomiting;
• bloating;
• in the presence of roundworm balls, intestinal obstruction and frequent constipation are possible;
• anemia, pale skin;
• lack of vitamins and microelements is accompanied by a deterioration in the condition of hair and nails;
• decreased or increased appetite;
• irritability, which is often caused by insomnia;
• decreased performance.

Most often, patients seek help when the human roundworm is already ripe for laying eggs and reproducing and when the first intestinal symptoms have already begun to appear. Any sign from the list above individually does not cause cause for concern, but when there are at least three of them, then you should think about possible ascariasis and rush for examination.

What are roundworms in humans and ascariasis?

Visually, the pathogen looks like a white roundworm parasitizing the intestines. The disease of the same name, caused by roundworms, has characteristic symptoms. Advanced ascariasis can lead to death. For example, in 2010, 2,700 deaths were recorded from infestation by worms of this species. People tend to perceive ascariasis as a daily nuisance and delay treatment. This may result in a worsening of the condition.

• Treatment of ascariasis in adults with drugs. Folk remedies for the treatment of ascariasis
• How to remove worms from a person quickly at home
• Worms in human eyes: symptoms and treatment

Life cycle of human roundworm development

1. Once in the body, the parasite begins to “shed.” Ascaris eggs, releasing special enzymes, dissolve the shell cover. The structural features of the roundworm allow it to penetrate the bloodstream after invasion. The veins behind the walls of the small intestine are only the initial stage. Wandering through the bloodstream, roundworms partially invade other organs. When inhaled, parasites can cause coughing. When the sputum is swallowed, the human roundworm worms return to the intestines. Here parasites live, grow up and lay eggs. The stage cycle lasts from 8 to 15 days.
2. Having settled in the intestines, the human roundworm feeds on oxygen-rich blood cells and continues to develop. If the parasite does not have enough oxygen, then it sets off in search of food throughout the body. This is due to roundworm infection of other organs with cells saturated with oxygen.
3. After 75-100 days, individuals enter sexual maturity. The length of the roundworm reaches: male - 20 cm, female - 40 cm. Adult representatives of different sexes mate. A female roundworm is capable of laying a clutch of 250 thousand eggs daily.

Symptoms and signs of ascariasis in adults and children

Initial stage:

• general malaise as a consequence of the presence of roundworms in the body;
• increased body temperature (but not more than 38 degrees);
• cough with discharge containing roundworms;
• wheezing is heard in the lungs;
• roundworm waste contributes to the appearance of urticaria and allergic dermatoses;
• headache;
• Human roundworm worms in a child with mass infestation cause fever, enlarged liver and spleen, and acute allergic reactions.

Signs of worms in humans at the intestinal stage (if ascariasis is chronic):

• constipation, flatulence, itching of the anus;
• a characteristic sign of ascariasis in children is slight grinding of teeth at night;
• immunodeficiency and, as a result, frequent acute respiratory viral infections;
• intoxication with waste from roundworms roundworms causes nausea;
• loss of appetite up to;
• roundworms cause fatigue, hysterics, nightmares, insomnia;
• headache;
• If roundworms take root in the respiratory system, bronchial asthma and pneumonia develop. Suffocation may occur.

Diagnostics

If ascariasis is suspected, the following is prescribed:

1. General blood analysis. Deviations from the norm of red blood cells, hemoglobin, eosinophils are considered
2. X-rays of light. The presence of manifestations of inflammation caused by roundworms is considered.
3. Stool analysis. It is carried out repeatedly (2-3 times). It is being investigated whether roundworm eggs, larvae or worms themselves are found in fecal matter.
4. Endoscopy. It is prescribed to examine the duodenum and detect roundworm worms there.

What do roundworms look like?

A large round worm with a non-segmented body, narrowed at the ends, covered with a cuticle. There are tactile papillae on both sides of the parasite. Worms have a triangular, slit-shaped mouth surrounded by “lips” with small teeth on the inside. The color of viable roundworm worms is light pink or yellowish. After death, the parasite acquires a whitish tint.

• How to remove worms from a dog: means for treatment and prevention
• Toxocariasis in children - symptoms and treatment: diagnosis and tests for toxocariasis
• Helminthic infestations - prevention of infection in children and adults

Complications

If ascariasis is not treated promptly, it can lead to serious consequences. Complications of ascariasis are dangerous for humans and sometimes lead the patient to the surgical table.

Such complications include:

• dysbacteriosis;
• anemia;
• intestinal obstruction;
• ascariasis of the liver (hepatitis) and biliary tract;
• peritonitis;
• appendicitis.

To prevent this, it is necessary not to neglect prevention methods and seek medical help in a timely manner, and not put it off until later, because then it may be too late and even the best surgeons will not be able to resist the consequences of ascariasis.

Video

Mechanism of infection

An infected person transmits parasites to others through the fecal-oral route.
Ascariasis is a disease with a fecal-oral transmission mechanism, that is, ascaris eggs enter the human body through the mouth. When eggs leave a person’s intestines along with feces and immediately land on household items (door handles, soap dishes, food), then relatives or surrounding households cannot become infected, since these eggs have not yet matured and they need time (about a month) to to become a larva.

But when such larvae enter the body from soil contaminated with roundworm eggs (along with vegetables and fruits, through dirty hands, water), then infection with roundworms occurs, which will lead to illness.

Video: surgical removal of roundworms from the intestines

But this is not all, to cause the disease, it is not enough to swallow the larva, it must turn into a sexually mature individual. Therefore, the development cycle of roundworms in the human body has several stages.

How roundworms enter the human body

Once in the soil, the worm eggs develop and turn into larvae, but cannot grow and reproduce until they find themselves in the human body. Most often, they enter the host’s body through poorly washed fruits, berries of plants that may be exposed to contaminated soil, dirty hands, as well as through unboiled water contaminated with parasite eggs.

For this reason, the disease ascariasis is most widespread in rural areas and among young children who do not always carefully observe hygiene standards.

In Russia, the likelihood of developing this type of parasitic infestation increases during the warm season.

Once in the human intestine, mature eggs shed their protective shells, penetrate the bloodstream and go through the migration stage, moving throughout the body. Once again in the intestines, roundworms enter the so-called intestinal stage and begin to grow and multiply, laying new eggs.

The life cycle of one individual is only a year, and if during this period a person can avoid becoming infected again, the disease will stop on its own. It takes approximately three months from penetration into the human body to the development of a sexually mature individual.

Symptoms of the disease

The initial stage of ascariasis is difficult to determine, since it passes without any symptoms, but nevertheless, characteristic signs of the disease occur and are accompanied by:

• General malaise, weakness of the body;
• Headaches;
• Fatigue;
• Increased body temperature;
• The appearance of skin rashes;
• Chest pain, asthmatic cough.

During X-ray examination, eosinophilic infiltrates are detected in the lungs. In a general blood test, eosinophils rise by almost 50-60%. This increase in eosinophils indicates the presence of a foreign protein, which is produced from the remains of parasites.

Human roundworm lives on blood elements, red blood cells and other nutrients

body. In addition to the fact that the roundworm lives in the intestines, its wandering larvae, which cause inflammation in the body, rupture the capillaries, which leads to extensive hemorrhage and acute lung diseases (pneumonia and bronchitis). In an infected body, the cardiovascular system and liver are destroyed.

An infected person experiences a lack of appetite, diarrhea, constipation, and increased salivation. The gastrointestinal tract malfunctions, which leads to colic and bloating. In children with ascariasis, the nervous system suffers, this manifests itself in the form of apathy, irritation, and restless sleep. Adult worms, parasitizing a child's body, cause diseases of the intestines, liver and pancreas.

How are roundworms detected in a child?

Diagnosis of ascariasis is carried out by research and instrumental methods.

General blood analysis. The level of leukocytes determines the presence of inflammatory processes.

X-rays of light. At the migration stage, it is used to detect infiltrates formed during the passage of larvae through the lungs. The procedure is carried out repeatedly at intervals of several days, which makes it possible to determine the stage of development of the parasites by the nature of the areas of inflammation. At a later stage, lung x-rays are used to detect adults.

Examination of sputum from the lungs under a microscope allows you to see the larvae of parasites.

Late stage stool analysis. Both larvae and adult roundworms can be seen in feces.

X-ray of the intestines using a contrast agent. Using this method, you can determine the presence of adult parasites, their size and location.

Endoscopy of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, large intestine. Using an optical device on a flexible hose, you can see the roundworms themselves, as well as assess the condition of the mucous membrane.

ELISA is a blood test (enzyme immunosorbent assay) for antibodies to parasites.

Traditional methods for fighting worms

It’s unpleasant when foreign bodies live in the human body, and even such ones. Worms are very unpleasant in appearance and their body structure resembles small snakes. Ascariasis in adults can be transmitted to other family members, so it is urgent to get rid of it, and as soon as possible.

If a person has allergic reactions to certain drugs, roundworms can be removed using traditional medicine recipes. The products used are safe and accessible to anyone.

They are recommended to be used as a preventive measure. This is very important and can cure the disease when there are no obvious signs of ascariasis. At the same time, a person does not exclude possible routes of infection.

For the treatment of ascariasis, traditional medicine preparations

Herbal infusions

Herbal decoctions are good for helminthiasis. It could be chamomile, tansy or wormwood. It is very easy to prepare this product. Dried herbs are poured with boiling water and infused for several hours. Use on an empty stomach.

Garlic

Garlic will help get rid of roundworms. The most common recipe is milk-garlic broth. Add a chopped head of garlic to one glass of milk and boil for 25 minutes over low heat. After complete cooling, use as an enema.

Pumpkin seeds

Another folk remedy that helps cure ascariasis. Pumpkin seeds are used in two types:

• in the form of a decoction;
• entirely.

To prepare a decoction, the peeled seeds are crushed, water is added and everything is boiled together for 35 minutes. After cooling, drink 20 minutes before meals, one glass twice a day. Treatment lasts no more than 3 days. You can repeat the course of treatment in a week.

Prevention measures

Since roundworms are spread through dirty hands and unwashed food, good hygiene is essential to prevent infection.

Basic preventive measures:

• wash your hands with soap after contact with the ground, before eating;
• Before eating fruits, vegetables, herbs, pour boiling water over them; if this is not possible, you must wash them thoroughly;
• prevent the penetration of fecal matter into the soil - this is a recommendation for land owners;
• don't bite your nails;
• use purified water.

Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap - the best prevention against worms

It is important to follow these rules for people who are at risk of infection with roundworms. These include children; everyone who works on land plots; flower growers; workers servicing sewer networks.

Ascariasis is a dangerous disease that entails serious complications. With timely and competent treatment, this parasitic disease can be completely eliminated. 1–2 months after completion of anthelmintic therapy, it is advisable to undergo diagnosis a second time. This is necessary to prevent re-infection.

Diet for ascariasis in adults

You should include the following products in your diet: mucous decoctions of cereals; wheat bread (dried only); marmalade; pureed porridge from buckwheat, semolina and rice; lean meats; low-fat broths; rosehip decoction; potatoes, ripe tomatoes, carrots and beets; soft berries and fruits.

Diet therapy is an important component of successful treatment of ascariasis. You need to eat 5 times a day. There should not be long intervals between meals.

The following products are excluded: fatty cabbage soup or soups; canned food; fatty meats; chocolate; cakes; cocoa; milk and cream; pearl barley, barley; pasta.

Diagnostics – tests for ascariasis

The development of ascariasis can be assumed if the corresponding symptoms are present. Also, the diagnosis is not in doubt when roundworms are detected in the feces.

In other cases, the diagnosis will be helped to confirm or refute the appropriate diagnostic measures:

1. Examination of sputum - at an early stage of the development of the disease, allows one to identify worm larvae in sputum that appears when coughing. The effectiveness of this type of diagnosis is low, does not exceed 30–40%.
2. Blood test - detects antibodies to roundworms, which the body secretes at an early stage of the disease.
3. Coprological examination - such an analysis for roundworms will help detect helminths at the intestinal stage of parasitism. As a result of studying feces under a microscope, worm eggs, as well as fragments of sexually mature individuals, are discovered.

To carry out the analysis, the material must be collected in a sterile jar and delivered for study a maximum of 18 hours after sample collection. This test should be taken 4-5 times, maintaining an interval of several days.

It is important to consider that when only male helminths parasitize the body, scatological analysis is absolutely ineffective.

Additional diagnostic measures are ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, as well as X-ray of the intestine. These methods are quite effective, since the parasites are large in size and can be easily identified using these diagnostic methods.

How to treat roundworms in children?

If parents notice that their child:

• became restless
• he developed a rash
• drowsiness – you need to urgently visit a specialist.

Before you begin to treat a child, it is necessary to diagnose his condition in order to determine the presence of the disease and determine its severity:

• It is necessary to thoroughly question the child about his well-being and what, specifically, worries him.
• Get your stool tested for the presence of parasite eggs.
• Clinical blood test.
• Examine the lungs and intestines using x-rays.
• Submit sputum for analysis.
• Conduct serological studies.

After studying the test results, appropriate medications are prescribed.

Drug treatment of roundworms in children

Only a doctor can decide how to treat roundworms in children , taking into account his age and characteristics of the body.

If the disease has reached an acute phase, then you must use the following:

• Antihistamines are a must.
• In severe forms - ascorbic acid, calcium gluconate.
• To destroy larvae - Mintezol (use 25 mg per 1 kg of weight). Take after meals for 5 days.
• Glucocorticoids. Drink for 7 days.

With timely detection of the disease and quality therapy, the prognosis is favorable.

Together with the treatment, children are prescribed:

• multivitamins,
• preparations containing iron and enzymes.

Symptoms of roundworm infection

The development of an adult parasite from a larva occurs in a period of 4 to 9 weeks. After this, the following symptoms of infection may occur:

• cough and fever;
• excessive saliva production;
• nausea, vomiting, stool abnormalities in which worms can be seen;
• abdominal pain, headaches;
• appetite disorders and sudden weight loss;
• sleep problems: difficulty falling asleep, restlessness during sleep, etc.;
• frequent colds due to a disorder of the immune system;
• neurological problems: fatigue and migraines; nightmares and fears;
• tearfulness and cases of hysteria, memory loss and even seizures.

Important! There is a strong belief among people that a sure sign of a helminthic infestation in a child is teeth grinding in his sleep. So, it has long been established that these are signs of neurological problems, and not the presence of parasites.

How does a child become infected with roundworms?

The vast majority of helminthic infestations in humans occur through what doctors call the “oral-fecal route,” that is, from the feces of infected people and animals, worm eggs enter the soil. From it they are transferred to vegetables growing on and in the ground, to berries and mushrooms, to melons and herbs. With rain, worm eggs fall into water bodies, and from there into the water supply and into our drinking water. Flies are also active carriers of parasites.

Roundworm in children symptoms and treatment A photo in which a baby happily gnaws on a carrot just pulled out of the garden is just an example of the real possibility of infecting a child.

Important! Children become infected with roundworms more often than adults due to the fact that, due to their age, they neglect or do not know the general rules of hygiene.

What danger do roundworms pose to a child’s health?

Roundworms do not have organs for attachment to the intestinal walls; they move freely throughout it, causing enormous harm to the body:

1. Destroy the intestinal mucosa. This leads to irritation and damage to the wall, and perforation of the intestine may occur.
2. They take a lot of useful substances from food, which leads children to vitamin deficiency.
3. The body's immune defense weakens. The child becomes susceptible to infectious and viral diseases. They leak more heavily.
4. Bronchitis may occur.
5. Roundworms can enter the cecum and cause an acute attack of appendicitis.
6. The entry of worms into the bile ducts leads to the appearance of jaundice and toxic hepatitis.
7. As a result of the larvae entering the lungs, children develop pneumonia.
8. Contact with the eyes leads to conjunctivitis, inflammation of the tear ducts, and blurred vision.
9. Hearing may be impaired if parasites get into the ear canal.
10. Damage occurs to the central nervous system and brain.

Approximately 3 months after infection with roundworms, signs of anemia appear. If roundworms are detected in a child, there is no time to delay; he must be treated to prevent serious complications.

Video: What is the danger of ascariasis in children. How to treat

Signs of the early stage of ascariasis

At the stage of migration, helminths almost do not produce pronounced symptoms. The person may feel slightly unwell. In some cases, low-grade fever and cough with the discharge of a small amount of sputum are observed.

Ascariasis in a child with significant invasion can cause quite pronounced manifestations. The temperature rises to 38 degrees and above, symptoms of intoxication of the body, febrile symptoms, and severe headaches are observed. On examination, signs of hepatomegaly and splenomegaly are revealed.

In the initial stage of migration, ascaris can give symptoms of an allergic reaction. Itchy rashes appear, most often localized on the extremities.

When diagnosing at this stage, it is possible to detect the presence of infiltrates of various configurations in the lungs. Laboratory tests may reveal a slight increase in the leukocyte mass; the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, as a rule, does not increase.

Features of treatment of the disease

By using medications, you can quickly get rid of the presence of roundworms in the child’s body. The most correct method of treatment is taking antiparasitic medications.

These medications must be taken with extreme caution. That is why the choice of medication and its dose should be prescribed by the attending physician, based on the test results. We present to your attention a detailed article about roundworms, their symptoms and treatment here.

Features of the treatment of ascariasis:

• If weak-acting drugs are used, this will not lead to the release of roundworms naturally, as it should be, but they will rise to the top.
• During the treatment period, you should carefully monitor the child’s condition, because parasites can get out through the nose or mouth. If treatment is not carried out correctly, the airways may be blocked by roundworms, which can cause suffocation.
• When prescribing medications, you need to take into account the child's weight.
• Which particular remedy to use is determined by the location of the parasites and the extent of the lesion.
• With proper treatment and medication, the parasites come out naturally.
• To be completely sure that the child has been cured of parasites, it is necessary to take a second test. If the result is positive, it is necessary to continue treatment.

What do roundworm worms look like?

Roundworms belong to the group of nematodes and are the second most common roundworm (after pinworms). The helminth's habitat is the digestive system of mammals.

There are quite a few varieties of roundworm - these are not only human individuals, there are also worms that infect various animals. Humans are susceptible to infection by Ascaris lumbricoides, which is not capable of developing in animals.

This is a fairly large parasite - females grow up to 40 cm, males up to 25. Width - 5-6 mm. The parasite can live in the host's intestines for about two years. Ascaris is round in shape, pink, and light in color.

Ascaris

The body of the helminth has a curved shape with a cone-shaped tail. The surface of the body is covered with a protective cuticle. It protects it from aggressive external factors that are present in the human intestine.

This parasite does not have special hooks that allow it to attach to the intestinal walls, so they constantly move up the digestive system (in the chronic stages of infestation, this can be fatal).

Roundworms are extremely prolific - a female can lay more than 200 thousand eggs per day, which are excreted from the body along with feces. To mature into a sexually mature individual, the roundworm needs to go through a long life cycle.

Roundworm eggs are extremely small, so they cannot be seen in feces without special equipment. In addition, the appearance of eggs is possible only 2 months after the initial infection, if there are females in the intestines. Without males, they lay unfertilized eggs.

Treatment

The method of treating ascariasis should only be prescribed by a doctor. You can remove parasites yourself with the help of medications, but you cannot use them without control, as they are extremely toxic to the body. For the same reason, it is impossible to prevent ascariasis with medications.

Most often, doctors prescribe Vormil, Vermox, Albendazole for roundworms. However, these drugs have many side effects, and therefore their popularity in the treatment of ascariasis is declining, and they are being replaced by less toxic drugs.

Photo

Wormil

Albendazole

These include Intoxic, Helmifort, Baktefort; they do not have a negative effect on the human body, but they remove roundworms and their eggs from the intestines. Any remedy must be prescribed by a doctor in an individual dosage, since the treatment regimen will depend on what stage of development the roundworms are at.

Photo

Helmifort

Intoxic

Bactefort

It is not difficult to get rid of worms; it is difficult to eliminate the harm they cause to the human body. The drug acts instantly and after 3-7 days there will be no trace left of roundworms, but very little of their vital activity. You will have to fight anemia, take vitamin complexes, drugs that support the immune system, and drugs to restore the functions of the liver and heart. Therefore, it is necessary to cure ascariasis as quickly as possible in order to prevent the situation from getting worse.

Treatment with folk remedies is possible in consultation with a doctor. But you shouldn’t count on it, because the worms are becoming more and more immune and digest everything that is given to them.

Folk remedies such as onions, garlic with milk, walnuts, tincture of pumpkin and wormwood have a detrimental effect on ascaris, but this does not always allow you to completely get rid of the disease. So in order to recover, you need to strictly follow the doctor’s instructions, and not self-medicate.