Enterobiosis is a disease related to nematodes. That is, to those that are caused by the ingestion of roundworms into the human body. In this case, pinworms, the most common parasites that live, develop and multiply in the intestines.
How does infection occur? What is the reason for this? What symptoms indicate enterobiasis? How is the diagnosis done? What drugs and methods contribute to the treatment? Well, now it is worth trying to answer all these questions.
Infection
Pinworm is a small white worm 5 to 10 mm long. At the anterior end of the body of each individual there is a formation with which the parasites are attached to the intestinal wall. The microflora of the gastrointestinal tract is an excellent habitat for them. Parasites feed on the contents of the intestine, swallow blood. They can also live in the appendix and caecum.
Then, when they hit puberty, the worms lay their eggs. This happens at the time of the infected person's sleep or before that. In general, when a person is as relaxed as possible. The worms get out through the rectal passage andlay eggs on the skin. That is why a person experiences severe itching and begins to itch. In no case should this be done, because as a result of this, the eggs get under the nails and on the hands, and then transferred to things, other people and even into the mouth.
They ripen in 4-6 hours. After 2-4 weeks, the larvae become adults. And the cycle repeats. Dirty hands and poor hygiene play a major role in pinworm infection. So at risk are small children, who most often become infected with pinworms.
Symptoms
Before proceeding to the study of the treatment of enterobiasis, it is necessary to list the signs indicating its presence. Clinical manifestations are different - the symptoms always depend on the intensity of infection, the frequency of reinvasion (repeated disease) and the individual characteristics of the person. But to summarize, the picture will look like this:
- After infection with enterobiasis, primary invasion occurs. It lasts 2 days.
- Then there is an acute phase, which usually lasts 5-7 days.
- After its completion, an incubation period begins, lasting from 35 to 70 days.
As for the symptoms, the fact that the infection of the "disease of dirty hands" has occurred can be recognized by the presence of such manifestations:
- Intolerable itching, especially at night, felt in the region of the rectal passage. Increases with movement.
- Permanent desire to scratch the affected area.
- Deterioration of appetite.
- Exhaustion. It occurs not only due to refusal of food and indigestion, but also due to poisoning, which occurs due to the waste products of helminths.
- Pain in the stomach. Manifestations are non-localized, but over time there may be pain in the iliac region on the right side.
- Intestinal discomfort.
- Increased stool. Four times a day is becoming the norm.
- The subsequent appearance of itching in other parts of the body. This is due to the fact that the eggs, due to scratching, fall on the hands, and then on the places they touched.
- Combs appear. This is dangerous, as they can be supplemented by symptoms in the form of secondary infections that provoke paraproctitis, dermatitis, vulvovaginitis and sphincteritis.
- Increases allergic reaction.
These signs indicate the presence of enterobiasis in children and adults. Symptoms do not differ much by age.
Disease development
It should also be noted that over time, other manifestations of the disease make themselves known, such as:
- Bloating.
- Liquid quick stools.
- Painful urge to defecate.
- Increased itching and above symptoms.
- Loss of sleep due to constant itchiness.
- Headaches and dizziness.
- Memory deterioration, trouble concentrating.
If we talk about the symptoms of enterobiasis in children, then the latter, for obvious reasons, become more whiny, restless and capricious.
Illness among children
It's still worth talking about it separately. It is not so easy to quickly detect this disease in a child, because he himself may not understand what he feels. But parents should be wary and take the baby to be tested for enterobiasis, if any of the following occurs:
- Child often reaches out to scratch the perineum and anus.
- There are scratches on his skin.
- The child became very restless and nervous.
- Baby has trouble sleeping and falling asleep.
- Almost completely lost my appetite.
- There were complaints of abdominal pain.
- The stool has lost its former consistency and become liquid.
- An allergic rash appeared.
- If the baby is a girl, her vaginal opening may become inflamed.
If there are 2-3 symptoms, it is urgent to take the baby to the diagnosis of enterobiasis. The sooner treatment begins, the sooner you can get rid of the parasites.
Quarantine
It is important to mention that every person infected with pinworms must isolate themselves from contact with other people. For someone else to "pick up" parasites, just one touch is enough.
The seriousness of this disease is out of the question. It is dangerous, and that is why in some cases a person is required to provide a certificate for enterobiosis (for a pool, recreation in a sanitary resort complex, etc.). When to present this documentrequired:
- When entering an educational institution or kindergarten.
- When applying for a job that requires a he alth book.
- If planned hospitalization is needed.
- When going on holiday to he alth resorts.
- Before surgery.
- For contact with people already infected with parasites.
- When entering the pool.
For help with enterobiasis, you need to undergo tests, which will be discussed below. It will be valid for 6 months.
Diagnosis
It does not present any particular difficulties and is carried out in several stages. First of all, the doctor conducts a survey, during which it turns out:
- What exactly worries the patient, what are his main complaints.
- When the first signs appeared.
- Does anyone in the family have similar symptoms.
- Does the person observe personal hygiene.
The next stage is the delivery and testing of feces for enterobiasis. In addition, a microscopic examination of scrapings (contents) around the anus is performed. They are collected by applying a polyethylene oilcloth to the skin (test for enterobiasis according to the Rabinovich method). If there are helminth eggs, they will definitely remain on it.
Also, testing for enterobiasis involves donating blood. If a person is infected, the following changes will indicate this:
- Eosinophilia. Manifested in an increase in the number of certainblood cells (eosinophils). The normal rate is 0-5%. Eosinophils neutralize biologically active substances (including histamine) formed as a result of parasites entering the body and their influence.
- Anemia. This is called a decrease in the concentration of red blood cells and hemoglobin in the blood. Anemia occurs only in the most severe cases of infection and with an infectious and inflammatory process that develops simultaneously.
After examining feces for enterobiasis and obtaining the results of other tests, the doctor prescribes treatment. It is aimed at the destruction of parasites and the elimination of symptoms that disturb a person.
Treatment of enterobiasis
Now we can talk about him. Drugs that a person will have to use to destroy parasites and eliminate symptoms that bother him are prescribed only by a doctor and only after a diagnosis. It is not recommended to experiment with self-medication. But, as a rule, the following medications are taken in the treatment of enterobiasis:
"Pirantel". An effective anthelmintic agent. It provokes a neuromuscular blockade of parasites. The action applies to both larvae and mature individuals
- Mebendazole. A medicine that belongs to the category of essential and vital drugs. It has a wide spectrum of action, but it is most effective in the treatment of enterobiasis. Violates glucose utilization and depletes glycogen stores in helminths, as a result of which they die.
- Gelmodol-VM. This drug has an antiprotozoal and anthelmintic effect. Its main substance is albendazole, which slows down the process of glucose utilization, which leads to its deficiency and further to the death of pinworms.
- "Albendazole" (or "Farmox"). These tablets are most effective on pinworm larvae. They provoke changes that occur during biochemical processes and block the movement of secretory granules in parasite cells, which causes their death.
- Vermox. This anthelmintic drug has all the previously listed actions. But besides this, it also inhibits the synthesis of ATP and cellular tubulin.
- "Sanoxal". It has an antiprotozoal and anthelmintic effect, has a destructive effect on cytoplasmic microtubules.
- "Piperazine". It has a paralyzing effect on pinworms, disrupts the function of their nervous and muscular systems.
- "Helminthox". Another inexpensive and highly effective tool that helps to cope with enterobiasis in adults and children. Blocks the neuromuscular receptors of helminths, affects both young and mature individuals.
- "Nemozol". Destroys pinworms from the inside, most effective against larvae.
- "Levamisole". This tool not only destroys parasites, but also has an immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive effect.
There are still a lot of drugs that help to cope with the signs of enterobiasis and eliminate the disease. However, it is very important thattheir appointment was prescribed by a doctor. Each medication has contraindications and possible side effects, including hallucinations, speech disorders, loss of consciousness and many other dangerous phenomena.
Enemas
Many people decide to resort to them. Here are some cleansing enemas that have been found to be effective by those who have tried them:
- The peeled head of garlic must be boiled in milk (200 ml) to soften it. Then strain. Enter milk into a microclyster and carry out the procedure. Manipulations are done at night. The course is 7 days.
- In warm boiled water (300 ml), dilute soda (0.5 tsp), mix thoroughly. Use as in previous recipe.
- Chop three garlic cloves, grate the same amount of onion, mix. Pour boiled water (4 tablespoons), after 30 minutes, squeeze the mixture. Pour in 1 tsp. lemon juice. Dilute the resulting composition in water (1 l) and use.
- In water (200 ml), brew tansy (1 tbsp.). Let stand, strain and use.
- Citvar wormwood (2 tsp) Boil for 20 minutes over low heat. Let it brew for 1 hour, strain.
Recommended to change formulations regularly and avoid using those to which the person is allergic.
Phytotherapy
It cannot be said that folk remedies are close to medicinal ones in terms of effectiveness, but they can be used to prevent enterobiasis. Taking decoctions and infusions made from herbs whose natural bitterness and unique composition will make parasites leavebody, will also be a good supportive therapy.
Here are some recipes:
- Mix mint, elecampane, calamus and thyme (50 g each) with wormwood (10 g) and walnut leaves (25 g). Brew with boiling water (2.8 l). Let it brew. Then in the first week, drink 0.5 cups three times a day. Then for another 7 days, 0.5 cups once.
- Great clove florets in a coffee grinder. Add the resulting powder to food or dilute with a little water and drink. The course lasts 12 days.
- Dry tansy (20 g) pour boiled water (250 ml) and simmer over low heat for half an hour. Then strain. Drink 4 times a day for 1 tbsp. l.
- Oak bark and valerian seeds mixed in equal amounts. Then 4 tbsp. l. the resulting collection is placed in a small thermos (0.5 l) and pour boiling water. Then strain. The resulting infusion is taken in the morning on an empty stomach, 1 tbsp. l. Within an hour, it is also recommended to use 2 tbsp. l. sunflower oil. The therapy lasts 10 days.
- Wormwood (2 tsp) pour boiling water (250 ml). Let it brew for 20 minutes. Then strain and drink the resulting infusion in three doses, each time 20 minutes after eating.
- In equal proportions mix valerian root, tansy, peppermint and buckthorn bark. Every morning and evening, drink a glass of decoction instead of tea. For this you need to brew 1 tsp
This is a rather gentle way to prevent enterobiasis, however, even despite this, some herbs are contraindicated for use by pregnant women and children. So medical advicenecessary before use.
Prevention
This is worth talking about in the end. The most important thing in the prevention of this disease is careful observance of the rules of personal hygiene. The infected should be treated, and those who were close to them should be examined.
During the treatment period and in the next 3-4 days, the following measures should be taken:
- Daily carry out wet cleaning indoors. Everything needs to be rubbed in: light switches, doorknobs, cabinets, floors, furniture, dusty areas.
- Every day vacuum mattresses, blankets, pillows. It is advisable to shake them out first.
- Change bed linen and towels daily, followed by washing and hot ironing.
- Wash baby's rubber and hard toys with disinfectants.
- Vacuum soft toys, runners, carpets and furniture with UV germicidal disinfection.
- Before flushing faeces down the drain, they must be disinfected with disinfectants.
All of the above measures must be observed. Ignoring them can lead to self-infection and further spread of the disease.
