Enterobiosis is a disease caused by helminths and characterized by intestinal lesions. In turn, helminths are parasitic worms that provoke parasitic diseases in humans and animals. More than 400 species of helminths are recorded in humans, and the most common are just pinworms that cause enterobiasis.
The causes of enterobiasis
Pinworms are primary-worms, which are the most frequently parasitic worms on humans, especially in developed countries. These worms are more often parasitic on children, in children's groups, which is due not always to satisfactory hygiene and immature immunity in children.
The method of transmission of infection is fecal-oral. The source is invasive people. Eggs of pinworms fall into the hands, then into the mouth and invasion occurs. The disease is characterized by frequent repeated infections. Once in the human body, pinworms are fertilized and crawl out of the intestine to lay eggs on the human skin. In this case, one of the symptoms of enterobiosis arises - a strong itch in the rectum and a person combing the skin, transfers the eggs of the worms to the hands, and then to surrounding objects, bed, etc. Only a few hours it is necessary to spend eggs in a suitable microclimate in order to ripen and start the whole cycle anew.
Symptoms of enterobiasis in adults and children
The most characteristic symptom of enterobiasis is anal itching. Symptoms intensify in the evening and at night and can be very intense. Often the symptoms are so strong that the child can not fall asleep, becomes restless and hyperactive. Girls can develop vulvitis and vaginitis. Other symptoms are:
- abdominal pain and bloating;
- frequent stools and urination;
- discomfort in the intestines;
- deterioration of appetite;
- disturbed digestion;
- Increase in allergic reactions or their appearance;
- headaches and dizziness;
- impaired concentration of attention;
- decreased immunity.
In adults, the same symptoms are observed, but their intensity is less pronounced, sometimes even possibly asymptomatic. There is enterobiosis in pregnancy, which often significantly worsens the woman's well-being, leads to the development or intensification of toxicosis, puffiness of the lower limbs and hypoxia of the fetus.
Diagnosis of enterobiasis
When an appropriate symptomatology is assigned to the study of scraping on enterobiosis as the most reliable method of examination. With enterobiosis, stool studies do not provide reliable information. In feces no eggs of worms are found , since the female does not lay them inside the intestine, but only outside, on the skin and in the anal folds.
Many people care how they take scraping for enterobiasis, whether it is painful or not too uncomfortable. The procedure itself takes literally a couple of seconds of time. A cotton swab on the match is moistened in a 1% solution of soda or a 50% solution of glycerin and a perianal rectal scraping is taken.
Treatment and prevention of enterobiasis
The disease is treated with anthelmintic drugs, which are selected according to the scheme, depending on the age and weight of the patient. Treatment-and-prophylactic measures include:
- nail care;
- regular hand washing;
- Regular change of linen (linen needs to be picked up with dense elastic bands, this prevents scattering of eggs of worms on the bed);
- daily bathing in the morning and in the evening;
- frequent change of bed linen;
- soda enema at night in the presence of itching.