Pinworms are very common parasites that can live in the human intestine. In most cases, children of preschool and primary school age suffer from such helminthiases. However, adult patients are also not immune from such a problem. What symptoms can be suspected of having pinworms in adults? Signs can be different, because parasites not only affect the functioning of the digestive tract - their activity affects the functioning of the whole organism.
Of course, many people are interested in additional information about the disease. How does the pathogen enter the human digestive tract? What are the symptoms of the disease in adults? How to get rid of pinworms? The answers to these questions are worth reading.
Pathogen information
What are the main signs of pinworms in adults? The answers to these questions are of interest to many. But first, it is worth learning more about the nature and characteristics of the pathogen itself.
Pinworms are small nematodes. Their body has a very characteristic spindle shape and a grayish color. Female pinworms reach a length of about 10-12 mm - their body is straight. But the males are smaller (3-5 mm) and the back end of their body twists into a small spiral.
In the human body, only one representative of this group of worms parasitizes - Enterobius vermicularis. Helminths live in the human caecum - here they are attached to the mucous membrane with the help of the mouth opening. In order to lay eggs, the female leaves her usual place and migrates to the rectum. Egg laying occurs in the anus.
Eggs of pinworms are small, oval, transparent practices. Only those eggs remain viable that did not get into the feces, but remained on the skin around the anus - it takes 4-6 hours for them to fully mature.
How does infection occur? Risk Factors
Unfortunately, in modern medical practice, pinworms are often found in adults. Symptoms and treatment of helminthiasis are important information, but first you need to understand the transmission routes.
As mentioned, pinworm eggs mature on the skin around the anus. Then they get on underwear, human hands, and from the patient's skin - on toys, towels, clothes, household items, food, etc.
Helminth eggs enter the digestive tractthrough the oral cavity. For example, if a person does not wash their hands after scratching the anus or going to the toilet, then re-infection occurs (the patient touches the lips, food, etc.).
You can catch the parasite during close contact or shaking hands with a carrier of helminths. In addition, pathogens are transmitted through clothing, toys, door handles (eggs remain viable for three weeks). Pinworm eggs can be carried by flies, cockroaches and other insects - this is how they get on food, for example. Together with dust, eggs often end up on pet hair.
What symptoms should I look out for?
So, how do you know that adults have pinworms? Signs, as mentioned, can be different - here much depends on the degree of invasion, the individual characteristics of the patient's body. As a rule, the first symptoms appear 10-15 days after infection.
- The main symptom of helminthiasis is itching in the anus. Unpleasant sensations, as a rule, appear at night - at this time the female crawls out through the anus and lays eggs. As the disease develops, itching bothers a person in the daytime.
- If there is a pronounced invasion, then the itching spreads to the entire perineal area. Women also complain of discomfort in the genital area.
- Periodically a person suffers from abdominal pain. A change in stool is possible - mucus clots are sometimes present in the stool.
- Womenhelminthiasis is often accompanied by the appearance of secretions from the genital tract. Some patients complain of pain during intercourse.
These are the signs of pinworms in adults. Having noticed such violations, it is important to quickly consult a doctor and take tests.
Features of the clinical picture during re-infection. Systemic disorders on the background of helminthiasis
If we are talking about constant re-infection (for example, when combing the anus, helminth eggs fall on the skin of the hands, and then along with food into the oral cavity), various systemic lesions are possible. The following symptoms are distinguished:
- increased body temperature, muscle aches, joint pain;
- headaches, weakness;
- irritability, sleep problems;
- periodically appearing dizziness (very rarely fainting occurs against the background of helminthiasis);
- concentration problems, memory impairment;
- stool disorders (diarrhea is replaced by constipation and vice versa);
- permanent bloating;
- abdominal pain, which is usually localized in the right side (often the pain is so intense that the patient is taken to the hospital with suspected acute appendicitis);
- may develop dermatitis in the area around the anus;
- sometimes itching and pain in the anus becomes simply unbearable.
It is also worth noting that strong scratching of the anus leads to the appearance of wounds and scratches onskin. Such tissue damage becomes a gateway for a secondary bacterial infection (sometimes abscesses, phlegmon appear in this area).
Are pinworms dangerous? Consequences in adult patients
We have already figured out the ways of transmission of the infection and the main symptoms of the disease. Why are pinworms dangerous? In adults, if untreated, the activity of these parasites can lead to very serious consequences. That is why it is so important to contact a specialist in time.
Worms attach to the intestinal mucosa, but sometimes parasites penetrate the muscle layer, which affects the functioning of the walls of the digestive tract: peristalsis is disturbed, the processes of digestion slow down. Sometimes there is an increase in acidity in the cavity of the stomach and intestines. If we are talking about a protracted form of the disease, then there is the formation of pinpoint hemorrhages and erosive areas on the walls of the digestive tract.
The vital activity of parasites is accompanied by intoxication, because worms secrete products of their own metabolism into the human blood. Helminthiasis can lead to the development of leukocytosis, an increase in the sensitivity of the immune system (there is an increase in cases of allergic reactions). The disease affects the nervous system and leads to a gradual depletion of the body.
If, for one reason or another, helminths enter the abdominal cavity, then there is a high probability of developing peritonitis. In addition, pinworms can penetrate the tissues of the female genital organs - patients sometimes face such a problem as inflammation of the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
Diagnostic measures
We have already reviewed information about the dangers of worms (pinworms). Treatment for adult patients is prescribed taking into account the degree of damage to the body, the presence of certain symptoms. That is why timely diagnosis is very important.
It is not so difficult to determine the presence of these parasites in the patient's body. To begin with, a stool is analyzed for the presence of worm eggs. In addition, a scraping from the anus is performed (a cotton swab or a special adhesive tape is used to take materials).
It is worth noting that at the initial stages, tests can give a false negative result - this is observed if the helminths have not yet spread throughout the body. That is why research is repeated several times.
Sometimes additional serodiagnosis is performed. The procedure involves drawing blood from a vein. Subsequently, the samples are checked for the presence of specific antibodies that are produced by the body exclusively during helminthic invasion.
After receiving the test results, the doctor will be able to make a final diagnosis and draw up an effective treatment regimen.
Drug therapy
Many people wonder if there are inexpensive and effective pills for pinworms in adult patients.
In fact, there are a huge number of antiparasitic drugs. For example, Pirantel is an effective remedy for pinworms in adults and children. Effective drugs also include Vermox tablets,"Nemozol", "Vormil" (also available in powder form for suspension).
The above drugs cause the death of both worms and eggs. First, patients take sorbents (most often, doctors recommend Smecta, Enterosgel, White Coal). After about 1.5-2 hours, you can take an antiparasitic medicine. And at night, experts prescribe a laxative - this will help speed up the process of bowel cleansing.
The medication is repeated after two weeks (for prevention). By the way, during therapy it is very important to exclude foods that cause constipation from the diet.
In addition, you need to adhere to some rules in order to prevent re-infection. For example, it is very important to perform daily hygiene procedures, change bed linen, towels (they, like underwear, must be washed at a high temperature). Underwear should preferably be ironed before putting on.
If pustules appear on the skin around the anus, the doctor may prescribe additional use of Levomekol or Oflokain ointments - they have antibacterial properties. Therapy is sometimes supplemented with antihistamines ("Tavegil", "Zodak", "Fenistil") - they relieve itching and discomfort, prevent the development of allergic reactions.
Effective suppositories for helminthiases
How to get rid of pinworms for adult patients? Sometimes taking pills is supplemented or completely replaced by the use of rectal suppositories. The drugs in this form act directly inintestines, and therefore more gentle on the patient's body.
In modern medical practice, different candles are used from pinworms in adults. In most cases, these preparations contain herbal ingredients. The following tools are considered the most effective today:
- "Gelmavitol" - candles created on the basis of extract of garlic, buckthorn and milk thistle.
- "Prostada" - suppositories containing sea buckthorn oil, propolis, echinacea extract.
- "Confetane" - contains tea tree oil, as well as cocoa, sea buckthorn oil and tansy extract.
- "Nigella Sativa" - contains black cumin oil.
It is worth noting that these drugs do not have toxic properties - they can be used even by women during pregnancy.
Pinworms in adults: treatment with folk remedies
Can something be done at home? Of course, traditional medicine offers a lot of recipes. But, of course, you should not refuse the help of doctors and drug therapy - any means can be used only with the permission of a specialist.
- It is believed that garlic for pinworms in adults is very effective. The recipe for the medicine is simple: a glass of milk should be slightly warmed up and a clove of garlic should be added to it (pre-grind). The mixture is put on fire, heated and boiled for a minute. After the solution has cooled, it can be strained and drunk.
- Pumpkin seeds are considered very effective. To combat helminths, it is enough to eat about 200-150 g of peeled, raw pumpkin seeds daily. Therapy should last at least 2-3 weeks.
- Chamomile decoction also has useful properties - it is used as an aid. Two tablespoons of dried flowers of the plant (sold in a pharmacy) are poured into a glass of water, heated and boiled for fifteen minutes. Once the broth has cooled, it can be cooled and strained. This medicine has anti-inflammatory and tonic properties, accelerates the healing process of microdamages on the intestinal mucosa.
Prevention measures: how to avoid infection?
Quite often in modern medical practice, pinworms are detected in adults. We have already considered the symptoms and treatment of such helminthiases. But it is much easier to prevent the development of the disease than to worry about therapy later.
Prevention is really simple. Of course, first of all, contact with infected people should be avoided. It is important to wash your hands after using the toilet and before eating, it is advisable to cut your nails short. Effective prevention is the observance of the rules of intimate hygiene. Underwear should be changed every day. We recommend washing bed linen and towels at high temperatures.
Remember that vegetables and fruits must be washed before eating. It is important to disinfect toilets. Periodically, it is recommended to take stool samples for analysis for helminth eggs. And, of course, whenWhen the first symptoms appear, it is important to consult a specialist. The sooner treatment is started, the lower the likelihood of developing various complications.
