Parasites are organisms that exist at the expense of the host. Their vital activity in the human body can be asymptomatic. Therefore, helminthic invasion is one of the most rarely diagnosed pathologies.
Parasitic diseases lead to serious consequences. According to the World Health Organization, they cause the death of 16 million people worldwide. In order to detect the parasite in time and prevent complications, you need to know about the possible routes of infection and the symptoms.
How dangerous are parasites?
Parasites can live both in the body and inside the person. Some varieties are not dangerous, while others pose a serious threat to life. The waste products of helminths have a toxic effect. When there is a large accumulation, the body becomes poisoned.
Symptoms of parasite intoxication:
- vomiting;
- weakness;
- loss of appetite;
- high body temperature;
- fever;
- convulsions.
Treatment must be started on time, as the neglected condition can be fatal.
The consequences of parasite infection differ depending on the location of the parasite. Worms can cause an allergic reaction, blindness, paralysis, destroy the liver, lungs, brain and affect the functioning of other organs. They reduce immunity, which makes a person more susceptible to infectious diseases.
The most dangerous parasites:
Brain amoeba (tapeworm) . Lives in the brain, life expectancy up to 20 years. As the tapeworm grows, it seeks to kill its owner. Mortality occurs in 97% of cases. The worm causes swelling of the brain and infection can be caused by eating infected meat or water.Roundworms . Ringworms, which are often found in the child's body. Adults grow up to 30 cm in length. Symptoms of general intoxication appear and you can get infected through dirty hands.Onchocercavolvulus . A worm that causes river blindness (onchocerciasis).Tryponasome . It causes chronic heart and intestinal diseases.Australian tick . Provokes a severe allergic reaction leading to respiratory failure.
General symptoms
The most common signs of the presence of parasites are allergic manifestations in the form of urticaria, itching of the skin, rashes, fever and attacks of bronchial asthma.
General symptoms of parasitosis in the body:
- nausea, vomiting;
- stomach ache;
- bowel dysfunction (diarrhea or constipation);
- itching in the anus;
- grinding teeth in sleep;
- loss of appetite;
- headache;
- weakness, fatigue;
- avitaminosis;
- lowered immunity;
- anemia;
- cough;
- joint or muscle pain;
- sudden decrease or increase in body weight.
Symptoms may not appear immediately. For example, clinical signs of infection with pinworms appear after 2-3 days, and with roundworms - after 3 months.
Types of parasites
Parasites can live anywhere in the human body. They are usually found in the intestines and liver, but can parasitize the lungs, muscle tissue, blood, blood vessels, and brain. If the larva enters the bloodstream, it can attach itself to any internal organ, disrupting its functioning.
What parasites live in the human body? There are more than 250 species that can live off humans. Their sizes range from microscopic to meters, and their number can also vary.
The main types of parasites in humans can be distinguished:
- ectoparasites;
- helminths;
- protozoa (protozoa).
Ectoparasites
This species lives on the skin. Representatives of ectoparasites:
- head, pubic and body louse - pediculosis;
- bed bug - is a carrier of infectious diseases such as hepatitis, tuberculosis, typhoid;
- demodex - demodicosis;
- scabies mite - scabies;
- cochlioma - cochliomiasis.
Infection with parasites occurs through contact and household contacts. They are transmitted by skin-to-skin contact, through personal hygiene items and clothing. Cochleiomyiasis occurs when infected by flies, which are common in North and Central America.
Protozoan parasites
These include the following parasites:
- in the intestine - amoebae, lamblia, leishmania, blastocysts, haltithia;
- in the blood - trypanosomes, babesia;
- in the genitourinary system - Trichomonas;
- in internal organs (heart, lungs, liver, brain) - toxoplasma, trypanosomes, acanthamoeba.
Infection occurs through food, water, sexual contact (in the case of trichomonas).
Helminths
These are worms that, in the course of their vital activity, disrupt the work of internal organs and metabolism. Worms can be only a few centimeters long or reach 7-10 m.
In the case of primary infection, they settle in the intestines, and in case of repeated infection, they can affect other organs and muscles. The most common worms are those that live in the rectum, liver, bile ducts and lungs.
The most common diseases caused by helminths:
ascariasis . The larvae pass through the digestive tract and settle in the intestines. An adult reaches 25-30 cm.opisthorchosis . Adults infect the bile ducts and enter the human body along with infected fish.Cestodosis . The infection caused by tapeworm occurs in humans through meat and fish, affecting the intestines.Schistosomiasis . It is caused by flukes or flatworms. Infection occurs when water infested with freshwater snails comes into contact with the skin.
This species includes a large number of subspecies. In total, more than 300 varieties of helminths have been registered.
They can be grouped into 3 groups:
- nematodes - roundworms;
- trematodes - flukes;
- cestodes are tapeworms.
Nematodes
The most prominent representatives of roundworms:
- sedges;
- roundworms;
- whipworms.
The main routes of infection with helminths are the consumption of dirty food or contaminated water, unwashed hands and insect bites. Nematodes settle in the gastrointestinal tract, less often in the liver, lungs and heart.
The main symptoms of the presence of parasites in the human intestine:
- nausea, vomiting;
- itching in the anus;
- skin rashes;
- indigestion;
- chronic fatigue.
When the population is high, the parasites leave the body naturally. In this case, the nematodes can be found in the feces.
trematodes
They lead to the appearance of dangerous infectious diseases. These parasites, depending on their habitat, can be divided into the following groups:
- blood flukes - schistosomes;
- liver flukes - liver flukes;
- intestinal flukes;
- pancreatic parasites;
- lung flukes.
Symptoms of infection depend on the organ affected. This can be weakness, dizziness, loss of appetite, nausea, unusual bowel movements, pale skin, irritability or listlessness.
The main source of infection is the discharge of excrement from sick animals or people into water and soil.
Cestodes
Tapeworms live in the intestines. They enter the human body when consuming insufficiently thermally processed meat and fish. The greatest danger comes from the pig tapeworm, which can migrate into the blood, muscle tissue and brain.
Cestodes can parasitize the body for a long time without visible signs, growing to impressive sizes. The length of an adult specimen is up to 10 m. Common diseases caused by cestodes are avitelinosis and echinococcosis.
Common representatives of cestodes:
- tapeworm;
- beef and pork tapeworm;
- sheep brain;
- echinococcus.
Which doctor should I contact if I suspect parasites?
Parasitic diseases are treated by parasitologists. You should contact them if an infection is suspected. A dermatologist can also detect parasites on the skin.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of parasitic worms is made by laboratory examination of the feces. To identify worms, you will need to examine yourself three times.
Pinworm parasites are identified by scraping, which is done with duct tape. Organs that are not involved in digestion can be checked for parasites through a blood test or biopsy.
Treatment
You can clean the human body of parasites with the help of medicines and folk remedies. The duration of treatment depends on the degree of infection and intoxication of the body.
Medicinal treatment of parasites
Treatment of helminthiasis includes the use of anthelmintic drugs. They are toxic, so they cannot be used without a confirmed diagnosis.
Symptoms of helminthiasis can be alleviated by symptomatic treatment. Vitamin preparations, choleretics, hepatoprotectors, laxatives, anti-allergic drugs, antibiotics and probiotics are used.
Corticosteroids are prescribed for severe allergic reactions.
Traditional treatment of parasites
You can get rid of parasites in the human body using the following traditional medicine:
Enema with cranberry juice . It helps to get rid of helminths and protozoa. For 2 liters of water you need to take 2 tablespoons. tbsp cranberry juice and 1 tbsp salt. Do the procedure 2 times a day.Garlic enema . You can get rid of intestinal parasites in this way - boil 6 cloves of garlic in 1 liter of milk, cool and make an enema.Pumpkin seeds . Peeled seeds (300 g) should be crushed, add a small amount of water and add 100 g of honey. Eat at once with a laxative.Onion tincture . A large onion is finely chopped, poured with boiling water and left for 12 hours. Drink 100 g 3-4 times a day.
To remove parasites from the stomach and intestines, you must eat spicy food. By consuming garlic, onions, hot spices and herbs, you can easily get rid of sedges, for example.
Complications
Parasites negatively affect the human body. If helminthiasis is not treated, severe complications occur:
- frequent acute respiratory viral infections, enlarged adenoids and tonsils;
- appendicitis;
- enteritis, gastroenteritis, enterocolitis;
- cirrhosis;
- liver cancer;
- anemia;
- gastrointestinal bleeding;
- Pancreatitis;
- bronchitis;
- oncological diseases;
- cerebral edema;
- purulent-septic lesions.
The viability of the parasites in the stomach leads to peritonitis, in the lungs – to pneumonia. Roundworms block the respiratory and bile ducts, causing suffocation or intestinal obstruction.
Prevention
Preventive measures against parasite infection:
- wash your hands before eating and after going outside;
- consume only washed vegetables and fruits, boiled water;
- store food in accordance with sanitary standards, avoid contact with flies;
- eat meat and fish only after heat treatment;
- do not swim in polluted waters;
- do not use other people's personal care products;
- performs deworming of pets.
Although worms pose a threat to human health and life, cleansing the body of them should be done only after detection of the parasites and under the supervision of a doctor. Timely diagnosis of helminthiasis will help to avoid serious complications. It is important to take preventive measures, especially in children.
FAQ
What symptoms can indicate the presence of parasites in the human body?
Some common symptoms of parasitic infections may include fatigue, weakness, weight loss, abdominal pain, upset stomach, allergic reactions, and changes in appetite and sleep.
What signs can indicate the presence of parasites in the human body?
Signs of parasites in the body can include the presence of parasites in the stool, blood tests and symptoms of specific parasitic infections such as malaria, trichinosis and others.
How to treat parasites in the human body?
Treatment of parasites in the human body may include taking antiparasitic drugs under medical supervision, as well as hygienic and prophylactic measures to prevent re-infection.
Useful tips
Tip #1
Pay attention to symptoms such as constant fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, weight changes, allergic reactions - these may be signs of the presence of parasites in the body.
Tip #2
Have a special examination with a doctor to identify parasites. This may include stool, blood, urine, ultrasound and other diagnostic methods.
Tip #3
When treating parasites, consult your doctor for appropriate medications and dietary and lifestyle recommendations.