Ascaris human: structure, development cycle, symptoms and prevention

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Published: 12.11.2019

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Ascaris human is a parasitic helminth in the human body. Belongs to the class of Nematodes, which is characterized by a spindle-shaped body structure of worms and heterosexual individuals. These worms are widespread on the ground, inhabiting the soil and fresh water bodies. Representatives of this class are not found only in polar regions and desert zones.

Ascaris is a round parasite whose body is covered with cuticles and has a dirty pink color. Such a coating saves the worm from being digested in the host's body and protects it from other mechanical influences.

The size of the helminth differs depending on the gender. Males are 15-25 cm in size, and 3 mm wide, females can reach a length of up to 44 cm, their average width is 5 mm.

The worms have a pointed body, at the head end there is an oral cavity, which is surrounded by several protruding lips, in the male, the tail is rounded towards the peritoneum.

The eggs of females are covered with a rough, dense shell in several layers: an outer tuberous protein shell, a three-layer glossy and lipoid fibrous shell, the size of the eggs is about 0.05 mm.

Inside, the individual has:

• muscle cells (longitudinal muscles only);
• intestines;
• anal opening;
• female reproductive system (in females);
• male reproductive system (in the male);
• a cavity filled with a liquid substance.

In parasitic worms, nutrients in the body are carried by the fluid in their body cavity. The products of excretion first enter this substance, then into the excretory system and are removed through the posterior opening to the outside.

Ascaris structure diagram

Trofimova Irina

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The nervous and digestive system in roundworms and other parasites belonging to Nematodes is more differentiated than in representatives of other helminthic groups. But the senses with the nervous system are still rather poorly represented.

Symptoms and signs of ascaris in the body

Roundworms in the intestines are actively developing for 2.5 months. During this time, the human body can react to "foreign" parasitic life. Symptoms of ascariasis in adults are manifested as:

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

Ascariasis in adults can go away without noticeable symptoms. Less commonly, additional signs appear. Ascaris symptoms in adults are also manifested in the form of: headache, nervousness, surges in heart pressure, sleep disturbances, internal bleeding, as well as a sharp weight loss.

Symptoms of ascaris, parasitizing in the body of children, have a similar clinical picture. But the diseases that manifest themselves in babies are very dangerous. 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 of the body with harmful toxins, affects the functioning of all its organs.

Infection routes

Ascariasis is a disease of dirty hands. Neglect of personal hygiene rules greatly increases the risk of contracting roundworms. The eggs of these parasites persist in the soil for a long period.

Ascariasis - a disease of "dirty hands"

The most common causes of infection:

• drinking water from questionable reservoirs;
• inadequate cleansing of fruits and vegetables;
• reception of insufficiently thermally processed certain foods;
• work in unsanitary conditions;
• non-compliance with hygiene rules.
• children's sandbox games.

The risk group includes those who are fond of gardening and are constantly in contact with the soil. To prevent parasitic infection, you should wash your hands as often as possible.

Diagnosis of ascariasis

An effective diagnosis of ascariasis is the first step to recovery. But it is at this stage that some difficulties may arise. And they are associated with different stages of the parasite's development. Ascariasis, the diagnosis of which is reduced to a complex of laboratory tests, also requires careful monitoring by a doctor. The patient needs to visit a parasitologist for 2-3 weeks to compare the symptoms of the disease and its complications, especially during periods when the human body is weakened.

Treatment of ascariasis in adults is prescribed only based on the results of the following studies:

• blood test for roundworm;
• a blood test for antibodies to parasites;
• sputum analysis;
• analysis of feces for roundworms;
• Analysis of urine;
• ultrasound examination of internal organs.

It is also important to take into account the patient's anthropometry. This is especially true for children. Measurements are taken from the patient:

• growth;
• weight;
• head circumference;
• chest circumference.

If a helminthic invasion is suspected, the recorded data is the main point for a long-term study of the physical development of the child. With mild types of ascariasis (when less than 20 helminths parasitize in the body), anthropometric data, after a certain time, will not differ from the indicators of a healthy child. But with a massive infection with roundworms, the changes will be more noticeable.

Blood test for roundworm

The results of biochemical analysis can show the "migration" of ascaris larvae. The level of leukocytes and eosinophils is responsible for this phenomenon. So, an increase in the number of those indicates the saturation of the liver and lungs with parasites. And the higher the eosinophil count, the more acute the situation with parasitic worms.

Anti-parasite antibody test

Such a study gives more accurate indicators of the presence of parasites in the human body. These tests are of the serological type. They are carried out in several ways. Human immunity perceives the parasite as a direct threat to health. Therefore, the production of antibodies begins.

The internal structure of roundworm is a complex biological mechanism that produces enzymes that have a negative effect on human health. And if, according to the results of the study, antibodies to these toxins are detected, then there is only one conclusion - the person suffers from ascariasis.

Serological research methods include:

• immunofluorescence study;
• erythrocyte sedimentation reaction;
• agglutination reaction with carmine;
• ring precipitation reaction;
• precipitation reaction;
• bentonite-flocculation reaction.

These studies, as well as a description of the picture of the disease with their help, doctors consider effective only in the early stages of ascariasis.

Sputum analysis for roundworm

If the attending physician suspects that roundworms have entered the respiratory organs, then he directs the patient to a sputum examination. The main condition is a "wet" cough. The meaning of such research lies in microscopy.With multiple magnification, helminth larvae can be seen in the sputum.

There is also an option for those patients in whom sputum does not come off on its own. In such cases, lavage is done - washing the bronchi during an unpleasant procedure for the patient - bronchoscopy. But this method of research is rarely used.

Analysis of feces for roundworm

This study is one of the cheapest and most common methods for detecting parasites. Roundworm eggs are found in feces, in large quantities. And it is not difficult to identify them, especially with microscopic examination. It is also possible to identify those eggs that are fertilized. The shape of those is elongated, elliptical. Diameter - 30-60 microns. There are two shells. The outer is uneven, and the inner is colorless and transparent.

Research results are positive or negative. But even this does not guarantee that there are no parasites in the body. This is common when roundworms are in the larval stage. Another option is unisexuality of parasites. One way or another, doctors recommend carrying out fecal examinations 2 times, with an interval of 2-3 weeks.

Urine analysis for roundworm

Such a study is an analysis of the volatility of fatty acids contained in urine. Their concentration and level completely depend on the vital activity of the parasites. And the more helminths there are, the higher the acid level will be. But there is also a drawback. Acid levels can also rise in connection with other medical conditions. Therefore, the result of such a study is not reliable.

X-ray and ultrasound

Radiography is effective when helminths parasitize not only in the intestines, but also in the lungs. Accordingly, such a procedure is done in two variations - chest and abdominal cavity. Ultrasound examination is effective only when helminths have large body sizes.

Development scheme

Adult helminths live in the small intestine. Throughout their life, they are able to quite strongly affect the digestive tract and other organs.

The scheme of development and further "life path" of ascaris:

Analysis of feces for worm eggs

• stage of invasion - maturation of eggs;
• penetration of an egg into the human body;
• release of the larva from the shell;
• the release of the larva into the blood;
• their migration to all organs;
• secondary penetration of the larva into the stomach and intestines.

As a result, the formation of an adult sexually mature individual occurs.

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 a complication of ascariasis. According to statistics, they occur in less than 1% of all patients with helminthic invasion. The list of possible complications includes:

1. Intestinal obstruction. It is caused by the tangling of roundworms. This prevents the free movement of feces, accompanied by an increased concentration of ascaris waste products. The main symptoms are abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.
2. Jaundice. It is caused mechanically, when ascaris "migrates" through the bile ducts. There is a blockage, as a result of which the level of bilirubin in the blood rises. 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 abdominal pain 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. These include an abscess.
5. Pneumonia. When ascaris enters the bronchi and the parasites stay there for 5 to 10 days, the inflammatory process begins. Favorable conditions are created for the infection of healthy bronchi and alveoli with pathogenic bacteria, which leads to pneumonia.
6. Asphyxia.A rare but dangerous complication caused by the "migration" of ascaris larvae into the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract. One of the reflex symptoms can "work" - muscle spasm, leading to respiratory arrest.

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

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

How does reproduction take place?

Fertilization is provided through direct contact between two individuals: the male attaches to the female. The number of eggs in one clutch is several hundred thousand. Among them are both fertilized and unfertilized. Together with the feces, the offspring comes out after 2-3 months.

Ripening of eggs

Suitable conditions for development: +24 degrees. However, the temperature can vary from +12 to +36 degrees. With a cold snap, development slows down or stops for a while. At the same time, the offspring is viable, which allows the eggs to survive for up to 15 years. They die at -30 degrees. Important conditions: humidity level no more than 8%, oxygen access.

High temperatures adversely affect ascaris eggs. At + 50 ° С eggs quickly lose their viability, and at 100 ° С they die instantly.

Interesting video: The development cycle of the human roundworm

Treatment of ascariasis

There are several options for how to get rid of worms. The first is the treatment of ascariasis with traditional medicine methods, and the second is with the help of folk recipes. But if acute symptoms appear, it is better to go to the hospital. After all, these can lead to serious illnesses.

A parasitologist will help to remove roundworms in adults. If children have roundworms, the pediatrician will tell you how to treat. In particularly difficult and difficult cases, the pediatrician will refer the patient to a specialist of a narrower profile. A patient with ascariasis is rarely hospitalized. They are treated with home treatment. Only in "special" cases, when the sick person has acute symptoms, he can be left in the hospital.

Stop kidding yourself

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Drugs used for ascariasis

The following anthelmintic drugs will relieve the patient from ascaris:

• Albendazole;
• Dekaris;
• Vermox;
• Helmintox;
• Nourished.

Treatment in adults and children is different, more often due to the excessive toxicity of the drug components. Children are most often prescribed decaris, pyrantel and vormil.

Bancroft thread (filiaria), or Bancroft string (Wuchereria bancrofti)

Appearance. White filamentous nematode, females 10 cm long, males 4 cm (Fig. 12).

Fig. 12. Filaria Bancroft

Spread. Tropics, subtropics of Asia, Africa, Central and South America.

Life cycle. Adults are usually found in the lymph glands and blood vessels, obstructing lymph drainage and causing persistent edema. Females produce larvae - nocturnal microfillaria, which appear in the peripheral blood at night, and in the daytime go deep into the body (into the pulmonary vessels and kidneys). This is due to the fact that the intermediate host is mosquitoes, which usually suck blood in the evening and at night. The larvae enter the stomach of the mosquito, then into the body cavity, where they grow up, after which they accumulate near the proboscis, from which they are transmitted to humans by sucking blood. Bancroft's filaments cause elephenthiasis, or elephantiasis, or elephantiasis. It is worth noting that other nematodes can also cause this disease.

Clinical picture and treatment of elephantiasis. There is an increase in any part of the body (Fig. 13) due to hyperplasia (painful proliferation) of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, which is caused by an inflammatory thickening of the walls of the lymphatic vessels and lymph congestion, which occurs due to clogging of the lymphatic vessels by adults of Bancroft filamentous membranes. The skin on the diseased part of the body becomes covered with ulcers.

Treatment for elephantiasis is aimed at improving fluid outflow. The use of anthelmintic drugs such as avermectin is effective. In advanced stages, surgery may be required.

Fig. 13. A patient suffering from elephantiasis (according to Brunt)

Treatment of ascariasis with folk remedies

You can consult a parasitologist about how to get rid of roundworms or use the methods that our ancestors tested on their own health. Traditional medicine recipes quickly remove parasites from the body, and also help stimulate immunity.

How to remove roundworms? This question is relevant for everyone who wants to get rid of helminths. Recipes can help with this:

• infusion of garlic and horseradish;
• infusion of wormwood;
• onion infusion;
• garlic solution in milk.
• decoction of tansy.

There are many options for how to get rid of roundworm. Garlic is the most effective in the fight against helminths. The recipe for the "garlic solution in milk" is simple. One head of garlic is cooked in a glass of milk for 5 minutes. After that, they take it out, grind it and put it back. The resulting product is used for an enema - 1 time per day before bedtime.

Treatment for roundworm is also effective with the use of infusion with pumpkin seeds and wormwood. The components are taken in equal parts and poured 1: 3 with vodka. After that, the mixture is settled for 7 days. Ascaris does not tolerate this treatment, and when taken in 50 grams half an hour before each meal, it dies and leaves the body.

What is the parasite and where does it live

Roundworms are the largest parasites among roundworms. These worms are dioecious, the female can grow up to half a meter in length and lay up to 200 thousand eggs per day, the male is almost half the size. In appearance, adult roundworms resemble ordinary earthworms. Their long body has a cylindrical shape and pointed ends, there are no suction cups on it, and the outer shell reliably protects against digestion in the human gastrointestinal tract.

Roundworms are extremely common in nature, most of all in rural areas and summer cottages, where people fertilize vegetable gardens with feces and do not monitor the sanitary condition of cesspools and household buildings.

The life of the human roundworm lasts about a year, it is a geohelminth, so its eggs must mature to the invasive stage in moist warm soil with oxygen access, this process lasts about 2 weeks. Ascaris eggs can lie in the ground for up to 10 years before they enter the human body and cause disease. Infection usually occurs in the following ways:

• when eating unwashed fruits, berries, herbs from the garden;
• when drinking raw water from questionable sources;
• through fly-infested food;
• through hands contaminated with earth or sand.

The high incidence among children is explained by high mobility, curiosity, immaturity of immunity, lack of personal hygiene skills and control by parents. The greatest activity of the helminth is observed in the warm season, which is associated with the features that the human roundworm development cycle has, in contrast to other parasites.

Preventive measures

How to treat ascariasis in adults and children? This question is becoming more and more 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 to something other than "what to treat". It is better to try to prevent ascariasis. This is not difficult to do. The main thing is to follow the following rules:

1. Wash hands thoroughly before eating, after contact with animals and after walking outside.
2. Systematically take tests of feces and urine, as well as visit a doctor. Early detection of the disease is the first step to a quick cure.
3. Thoroughly wash vegetables and fruits before use (it is better to scald 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 invasion, it is necessary to urgently contact infectious disease doctors who will provide qualified assistance in the treatment of ascariasis. Self-medication is dangerous, especially when the patient shows symptoms of the toxic effect of helminths.

Prophylaxis

In order to prevent a parasitic infection, it is important to adhere to certain recommendations:

• wash and scald fruits and vegetables with boiling water;
• wash your hands before eating and after visiting public places;
• monitor the cleanliness of the hands of a child who plays in the sandbox and comes into contact with pets and street pets;
• use antibacterial gels, if it is not possible to wash your hands with soap and water.
• subject meat and fish to full heat treatment.

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Outside structure

The structure of the parasite is a round, unsegmented body of white-yellow color with narrowed ends on both sides. The surface layer is lined with a special protective epithelium in the form of the so-called cuticle, which is resistant to human digestive enzymes. Due to this protective function, the worm is not digested with food.

Under the antienzyme cover, the helminth has longitudinal ribbons of one layer that perform the functions of muscles; together with the epithelium, they form the walls of the body. Due to this structural feature of the roundworm, it is able to move through the intestines.

Ascaris - the structure of the helminth

At one end of the body, the worm has an oral cavity, like a pump, which swallows food, after which it enters the intestines.

What is human roundworm

Ascaris human - a parasite of considerable size. The male reaches more than 15 cm in length, but not more than 20 cm. But the female roundworm is always larger, at least 35 cm in adulthood.

Ascaris - a parasitic roundworm that causes the disease ascariasis

These parasites have a pale translucent color. As a rule, they are pale pink, have a white or gray tint. Due to the translucency of the body of the worm, it is not always possible to detect it in the feces. But seeing ascaris, it is simply impossible to confuse it with other parasites. Individuals outwardly differ not only in body size, but also in its structure. The tail end of the male is bent towards the abdomen.

In all nematode worms, the mouth is surrounded by three lips. In the female, the tubes of the reproductive system can be seen through the thin skin. The live worm is very active.

Danger of helminthic invasion

Roundworms lead not only to a decrease in immunity, but also threaten the emergence of serious diseases.Poisoning the body from the inside, they cause intoxication in a person. First of all, the digestive system suffers, which fails. A person may experience dyspepsia, as well as irritable bowel syndrome.

The greatest danger is posed by the larvae of the parasite, which can migrate through the lymphatic system to any organ. So, having settled in the liver or pancreas, they can cause appendicitis, peritonitis, pancreatitis, etc.

The larvae trapped in the brain cause terrible headaches in humans, and can also provoke encephalopathy. In the absence of timely diagnosis, such a condition threatens a person with death.

When the larvae settle in the myocardium, a person develops ischemic disease, leading to myocardial infarction.

Reproductive system

Nematodes are dioecious individuals. The reproductive organs are presented in the form of hollow convoluted tubes. In males, there is one testis that continues into the vas deferens into the hindgut. After mating, the death of the male occurs.

The female representatives have two ovaries, continuing into the oviducts and passing into the uterus. Then they form an unpaired vagina, which opens with an opening in the abdominal side. The female lays eggs released into the environment.

Human roundworm - this is a very dangerous representative in its class, which has adapted well to existence in the internal environment of a person.

Morphological, physiological features of the structure allow to prevent its digestion by the host intestinal enzymes, actively use nutrients from the environment, carry out anaerobic metabolism by glycolysis, which does not depend on