Dwarf tapeworm is a parasite from the class of tapeworms. It lives inside the gastrointestinal tract of humans or small rodents. Its life cycle takes place in the body of a single host. Infection with this worm leads to a serious disease - hymenolepiasis. Pathologies are especially susceptible to children aged 4 to 14 years. The infection is highly contagious and can be easily spread from person to person. Damage to the intestines by this type of parasite is accompanied by dyspeptic symptoms and intoxication of the body.
Description of the parasite
Dwarf tapeworm is one of the smallest representatives of tapeworms. Its length is only 1 - 5 cm. The helminth consists of a head, neck and body.
On the head of the worm there are suction cups and hooks with which it is attached to the intestines. The body has the shape of a ribbon and consists of segments. They contain the reproductive organs of the parasite. taildepartments eggs are formed. A photo of the dwarf tapeworm can be seen below.
Helminth eggs are covered with a double layer of shells with filaments. They have a round or oval shape, inside there is an oncosphere with special hooks. Filled with eggs, the tail segments are separated from the body and can independently move through the intestines.
Life cycle
The life cycle of the pygmy tapeworm takes place in the body of one host. An infected person excretes eggs in faeces. Thus, they find themselves in the external environment. When swallowed, the eggs of the pygmy tapeworm penetrate into the stomach, and then into the small intestine. In this section of the gastrointestinal tract, the oncosphere leaves the membranes and is introduced into the mucosa. After 6-8 days, an embryo (cysticercoid) is formed. It is attached with hooks to the walls of the intestine and after 2 weeks turns into an adult worm.
Eggs can get into the external environment with the feces of infected small rodents (mice, rats, hamsters). In this case, oncospheres can also become a source of human invasion.
The parasite can also develop in the body of insects. In this case, they become intermediate hosts of the helminth. Flour beetles are especially susceptible to invasion. These insects can get into bakery products and become a source of human infection. Heat treatment does not always kill parasite eggs.
Routes of infection
The only route of infection is fecal-oral. Eggs enter the body through dirty hands, contaminated objects and water, unwashed fruits and vegetables. They can also be spread by flies. Eggs can survive for a long time in soil, water, and spread with dust.
A sick person is a source of infection for others. If the rules of personal hygiene are not observed, hymenolepiasis is very easily and quickly transmitted.
Prevalence of invasion
Infestation with pygmy tapeworm is more typical for the southern regions. Hymenolepiasis is common in Latin America, North Africa and Asia. In Russia, cases of the disease are noted in the North Caucasus, as well as in the Amur and Tomsk regions. In the Middle lane, only cases of imported invasion take place.
Symptoms of disease
The first signs of the disease develop 2 weeks after the pygmy tapeworm enters the body. Symptoms and treatment of hymenolepiasis depend on the degree of invasion. There are subclinical forms of the disease that occur without pronounced manifestations. In this case, the parasite can be detected only in the analysis.
With a small degree of infection, the following signs are noted:
- pain in the lower abdomen;
- nausea and vomiting;
- diarrhea;
- lack of appetite;
- asthenic manifestations;
- headache.
These manifestations of the disease are nonspecific, and often a person takes them for signs of food poisoning or gastrointestinal pathologies.
When a strong invasion appearmore severe symptoms. Dwarf tapeworm takes away all useful substances from the body, which leads to beriberi and anemia. In this form, hymenolepiasis often occurs in children. The patient rapidly loses body weight. There are severe cramping pains in the abdominal cavity, convulsive seizures, and fainting. The patient has a fever. Often there are allergic reactions to the waste products of worms: swelling of the face, skin rashes, rhinitis.
Diagnosis
Stool examination helps to identify hymenolepiasis. An analysis for dwarf tapeworm is taken three times with a break of 5 days. This coincides with the developmental cycle of the parasite in the intestine. The diagnosis is considered confirmed if eggs and segments of the worm are found in the feces. This analysis is considered the only specific method for detecting the parasite.
Serological blood tests for this type of helminthiasis are usually not required. Fecal analysis reveals hymenolepiasis with a high degree of certainty.
In addition, a general blood test is prescribed. This helps to determine the degree of damage to the body. Patients show a decrease in hemoglobin, erythrocytes and leukocytes, as well as an increase in ESR.
Steps of therapy
After the detection of eggs and segments of the pygmy tapeworm in the analysis, the treatment of hymenolepiasis is carried out in a hospital. Deworming drugs often have side effects, so it is necessary to monitor the patient's well-being. In addition, when parasites die, toxins are formed, which can also negativelyaffect the patient's condition. Getting rid of the dwarf tapeworm is sometimes difficult. Often, due to poor hygiene, a person is re-infected from himself. Hymenolepiasis therapy is carried out in several stages:
- First, they prepare for treatment. The patient is prescribed a special diet and intake of enterosorbents.
- The patient then takes anthelmintic drugs. They have a detrimental effect on parasites and contribute to their elimination.
- After 1 - 2 weeks, deworming is repeated. It is not always possible to remove parasites the first time. Antiparasitic drugs affect only mature worms, but do not destroy eggs, oncospheres and embryos.
- Repeated tests for the presence of worms. In the absence of eggs and segments in the feces, we can talk about a complete recovery.
- At the final stage, it is necessary to eliminate the consequences of helminthiasis. It is necessary to restore the normal state of the gastrointestinal tract and microflora.
Medicated treatment
How to completely remove the pygmy tapeworm from the body? Treatment with drugs takes a long time. During the period of therapy, it is very important to observe the rules of personal hygiene in order to exclude self-infection. The following anthelmintic drugs are prescribed:
- "Biltricid". This remedy causes paralysis and death of the pygmy tapeworm. The drug acts quickly and effectively.
- "Fenasal". This tool affects the muscles of the parasite, as a result, the worm cannot stick to the intestines and is deprived of nutrition. After takingmedicines need to cleanse the intestines with laxatives.
- "Mepakrin". This antimalarial is also effective against intestinal parasites. It suppresses the activity of worms. However, taking this drug is difficult and requires preparation. During the day before deworming, you must follow a diet with a restriction of s alty, fried and fatty foods. S alt laxatives and cleansing enemas are also required.
In addition to anthelmintic drugs, the patient is advised to take antihistamines to reduce the allergic reaction. Assign a course of vitamin therapy and probiotics. This helps to eliminate the effects of helminthiasis.
2 weeks after antiparasitic therapy, the patient will have a stool test. Such examinations should be repeated every month for six months. If eggs or segments of the worm are found in the biomaterial, the treatment is repeated.
How to prevent self-infection
During the treatment period, it is necessary to follow the rules of personal hygiene so that the patient does not infect himself and others. This will significantly increase the effectiveness of therapy. It is necessary to wash the anus area daily in the morning and after each bowel movement. This procedure will help remove the eggs and segments. Toilet, baby potty and patient care items are disinfected.
The patient's underwear should be washed and ironed daily. The patient's nails should be cut short to prevent parasite eggs from accumulating underneath. After eachwash hands thoroughly with soap and water when visiting the toilet and performing hygiene procedures.
Folk remedies
Folk remedies for the parasite are not as effective as medicines. Therefore, their use cannot replace the use of pharmaceuticals. However, they can serve as a good addition to the main treatment. Please consult your doctor before using home remedies.
The following recipes are recommended:
- Means of garlic. This vegetable can be eaten raw. It promotes the elimination of tapeworms. You can also prepare a medicinal composition. To do this, take 3-4 chopped garlic cloves and 1 teaspoon of honey per glass of milk. All ingredients are mixed. This composition must be divided into equal parts and taken one of them 2-3 times a day.
- Pomegranate peel. Peel off one fruit and pour 300 ml of cold water. The composition is put on fire, brought to a boil, and then insisted for 1 - 2 hours. The resulting remedy is taken 50 ml every 3 hours.
- Pumpkin seeds. They are taken in pure form, as well as in the form of infusion. To prepare a home remedy, you need to take 200 mg of seeds and place them in 1 liter of boiled water. The composition is insisted for half an hour and taken 100 ml every 3 hours.
- Troychatka (composition of tansy, wormwood and cloves). In pharmacy chains, you can buy powders of these plants. Take 3 g of tansy, 0.75 g of wormwood and 1.5 g of cloves per day as a mixture half an hour before meals.
Prevention
To preventinfection, it is necessary to carefully observe the rules of personal hygiene. Wash your hands regularly after using the toilet and before preparing food. It is important to clean the room in a timely manner, as helminth eggs can spread with dust. Fruits and vegetables should be washed thoroughly.
It is important to clean the room from flies, these insects can be carriers of worm eggs. If rodents (rats, mice) are found in the dwelling, it is necessary to carry out deratization. These animals often become a source of invasion; their feces may contain parasite eggs. If rodent droppings are found in the room, then you should not touch it with your hands. The contaminated place must be carefully treated with disinfectants.
Caution is also required when caring for rodents kept as pets. Gloves should be worn before cleaning their cages and hands should be washed thoroughly after contact with animals.
We should not forget that in rare cases the invasion can be transmitted through flour beetles. Buy only high quality baked goods and pastries.
Periodically, you should take a stool test for eggs of parasites. This will help to identify the disease in time and, if necessary, carry out treatment.
