Parasites are organisms that exist at the expense of the host. Their vital activity in the human body can be asymptomatic. Therefore, helminthic infection is one of the rarest pathologies diagnosed.
Parasitic diseases lead to serious consequences. According to the World Health Organization, they cause the death of 16 million people worldwide. In order to immediately detect the parasite 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 a person. Some varieties are not dangerous, while others pose a serious threat to life. 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 in time, because the neglected condition can be fatal.
The consequences of parasitic infection vary 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 lower immunity, which makes a person more susceptible to infectious diseases.
The most dangerous parasites:
Brain amoeba (stripe tape) . Lives in the brain, lifespan up to 20 years. As the tapeworm grows, it tends to kill its owner. Mortality occurs in 97% of cases. The worm causes swelling of the brain and infection can be caused by eating contaminated meat or water.Roundworms . Ringworms, which are often found in a 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 diseases of the heart and intestines.the Australian tick . It causes 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, skin itching, rash, fever and bronchial asthma attacks.
General symptoms of parasitosis in the body:
- nausea, vomiting;
- stomach ache;
- bowel dysfunction (diarrhea or constipation);
- itching in the anus;
- teeth grinding in sleep;
- loss of appetite;
- headache;
- weakness, fatigue;
- avitaminosis;
- decreased immunity;
- anemia;
- cough;
- joint or muscle pain;
- a sharp 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, interrupting its functioning.
What parasites live in the human body? There are more than 250 species that can live outside humans. Their sizes vary from microscopic to a meter long and their number can also vary.
The main types of parasites in humans can be distinguished:
- ectoparasites;
- helminths;
- protozoa (protozoa).
Ectoparasites
This species lives in the skin. Representatives of ectoparasites:
- head, pubic and body lice - pediculosis;
- the insect - is a carrier of infectious diseases such as hepatitis, tuberculosis, typhoid fever;
- demodex - demodicosis;
- scabies mites - scabies;
- cochlioma – cochliomiasis.
Infection with parasites occurs through contact and family contact. They are transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, through personal hygiene items and clothing. Cochliomiasis occurs when infected by flies, which are common in North and Central America.
Protozoan parasites
These include the following parasites:
- in the intestines - amoeba, lamblia, leishmania, blastocyst, balanditia;
- 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, during their life activity, disrupt the functioning of internal organs and metabolism. Worms can be only a few centimeters long or reach 7-10 m.
During the primary infection, they settle in the intestines, and during 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 helminth parasites:
Ascariasis . The larvae pass through the digestive tract and settle in the intestines. An adult reaches 25-30 cm.Opisthorchiasis . Adults infect the bile ducts and enter the human body together with infected fish.Cestodosis . Infection caused by tapeworms occurs in humans through meat and fish, affecting the intestines.Schistosomiasis . Caused by flukes or flatworms. Infection occurs when water contaminated with freshwater snails comes into contact with the skin.
This species includes a large number of subspecies. In total, more than 300 species of helminths have been recorded.
They can be grouped into 3 groups:
- nematodes - roundworms;
- trematodes - flukes;
- Cestodes are tapeworms.
nematodes
The most prominent representatives of roundworms:
- breast worms;
- roundworms;
- whipworms.
The main routes of infection with helminths are the consumption of contaminated food or 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 rash;
- indigestion;
- chronic fatigue.
When the population is large, the parasites leave the body naturally. In this case, nematodes can be found in the feces.
Trematodes
Lead to the emergence of dangerous infectious diseases. These parasites, depending on their habitat, can be divided into the following groups:
- blood flow - schistosomes;
- liver flukes – liver flukes;
- bowel movements;
- pancreatic parasites;
- pulmonary strokes.
Symptoms of infection depend on the affected organ. This can be weakness, dizziness, loss of appetite, nausea, abnormal bowel movements, pale skin, irritability or apathy.
The main source of infection is the release of feces 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 worm, which can migrate into the bloodstream, 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 is up to 10 m. Common diseases caused by cestodes are avitellinosis and echinococcosis.
Common representatives of cestodes:
- tape;
- beef and pork strip;
- sheep brain;
- echinococcus.
Which doctor should I contact if I suspect parasites?
Parasitic diseases are treated by parasitologists. They should be contacted if infection is suspected. A dermatologist can also detect parasites on the skin.
Diagnosing
The diagnosis of parasitic worms is carried out using laboratory examination of stool. To identify worms, you will need to be tested three times.
Parasites of needles are identified by scratching, which is done with adhesive tape. Organs not involved in digestion can be checked for parasites using a blood test or biopsy.
Treatment
You can cleanse the human body of parasites with the help of medications 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 anthelmintics. They are toxic, so they cannot be used without a confirmed diagnosis.
Symptoms of helminthiasis can be alleviated with symptomatic treatment. Vitamin preparations, choleretic agents, hepatoprotectors, laxatives, antiallergic drugs, antibiotics and probiotics are used.
For severe allergic reactions, corticosteroids are prescribed.
Traditional treatment of parasites
You can get rid of parasites in the human body by 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. l. cranberry juice and 1 tbsp. l. salt. Do the procedure 2 times a day.Garlic enema . This way you can get rid of intestinal parasites - 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 the same time along with a laxative.Onion infusion . Cut a large onion into pieces, pour boiling water and leave for 12 hours. Drink 100 g 3-4 times a day.
To remove parasites from the stomach and intestines, you should eat spicy food. By consuming garlic, onions, hot spices and herbs, you can easily get rid of pinworms, for example.
Complications
Parasites negatively affect the human body. If helminthiasis is not treated, serious complications appear:
- 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 vital activity of parasites in the stomach leads to peritonitis, in the lungs - to pneumonia. Roundworms block the airways and bile ducts, causing choking or intestinal obstruction.
Preventing
Preventive measures against parasite infection:
- wash your hands before eating and after going out;
- 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 hygiene products;
- perform deworming of pets.
Although worms pose a threat to human health and life, cleaning the body from them should be done only after the parasites are detected 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, stomach upset, 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 can parasites in the human body be treated?
Treatment for parasites in the human body may include taking antiparasitic medications under medical supervision, as well as hygienic and preventive measures to prevent re-infection.
Useful tips
Tip #1
Pay attention to symptoms such as constant fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, changes in weight, allergic reactions - these can be signs of the presence of parasites in the body.
Tip #2
Carry out a special examination with a doctor to identify parasites. This may include stool, blood, urine tests, ultrasound and other diagnostic methods.
Tip #3
When treating parasites, consult your doctor for appropriate medications and diet and lifestyle recommendations.