Parasites are organisms that exist thanks to their host. Their vital activity in the human body can be asymptomatic. Therefore, helminth infections are one of the most rarely diagnosed diseases.
Parasitic diseases lead to serious consequences. According to the World Health Organization, they cause the deaths of 16 million people worldwide. To promptly detect parasites and prevent complications, you should know about possible routes of infection and symptoms.
How dangerous are parasites?
Parasites can live both on the body and inside humans. Some breeds are not dangerous, while others pose a serious threat to life. The waste products of helminths have toxic effects. When accumulated in large amounts, the body becomes poisoned.
Symptoms of parasitic poisoning:
- vomiting;
- weak;
- loss of appetite;
- high body temperature;
- fever;
- convulsion.
Treatment must be started on time, as a neglected condition can be fatal.
The consequences of parasitic infection vary depending on the location of the parasite. Worms can cause allergies, blindness, paralysis, destroy the liver, lungs, brain and affect the functioning of other organs. They reduce immunity, making people more susceptible to infectious diseases.
The most dangerous parasites:
- Brain amoeba (tapeworm). Living in the brain, lifespan up to 20 years. As the tapeworm grows, it tends to kill its owner. Mortality occurs in 97% of cases. Worms cause swelling of the brain and infection can be caused by ingestion of contaminated meat or water.
- Roundworm. Roundworms, commonly found in children's bodies. Adults are up to 30 cm long. Symptoms of general intoxication appear and you can become infected with dirty hands.
- Onchocercavolvulus. A type of worm that causes river blindness (onchocercosis).
- Tryponasoma. Causes chronic heart and intestinal diseases.
- Australian ticks. Causes severe allergic reactions, leading to respiratory failure.
General symptoms
The most common signs of the presence of parasites are allergic manifestations in the form of hives, itchy skin, rash, fever and bronchial asthma attacks.
General symptoms of parasites in the body:
- nausea and vomiting;
- stomach-ache;
- bowel dysfunction (diarrhea or constipation);
- itching in the anus;
- teeth grinding while sleeping;
- loss of appetite;
- headache;
- weakness, fatigue;
- vitamin deficiency;
- reduced immunity;
- anemia;
- cough;
- joint or muscle pain;
- Body weight decreases or increases sharply.
Symptoms may not appear immediately. For example, clinical signs of pinworm infection appear after 2-3 days, and with roundworms - after 3 months.
Types of parasites
Parasites can live anywhere in the human body. They are commonly found in the intestines and liver, but they can infect the lungs, muscle tissue, blood, blood vessels, and brain. If the larva enters the bloodstream, it can attach to any internal organ, disrupting that organ's functioning.
What parasites live in the human body? There are more than 250 species that can live on humans. Their size varies from microscopic to meters long, and their number can also vary.
The main types of human parasites can be distinguished:
- parasites;
- helminths;
- protozoans.
Parasites
This species lives on the skin. Representatives of parasites:
- lice on the head, pubic area and body - lice;
- Bedbugs – are carriers of infectious diseases such as hepatitis, tuberculosis, and typhoid fever;
- demodex - demodicosis;
- scabies scabies - scabies;
- cochlioma – cochliomyasis.
Parasitic infections occur through contact and household contact. They are transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, personal hygiene items and clothing. Cochlear disease occurs when infected with flies, which are common in North and Central America.
Single-celled parasite
These include the following parasites:
- in the intestine - amoeba, lamblia, leishmania, blastocystis, 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, drinking water, and sexual contact (in the case of Trichomonas infection).
Helminths
These are worms that, during their life activities, disrupt the functioning of internal organs and metabolic processes. Worms can be just a few centimeters long or reach 7-10 m.
During primary infection, they settle in the intestines, and during repeated infections, they can affect other organs and muscles. The most common types of 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. Adult fish infect the bile duct and enter the human body along with the infected fish.
- cestodosis. Tapeworm infections occur in humans through meat and fish, affecting the intestinal tract.
- Schistosomiasis. Caused by trematodes 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 types of helminths have been registered.
They can be grouped into 3 groups:
- nematodes – roundworms;
- trematode - trematode;
- cestodes are tapeworms.
Nematode
The most prominent representatives of roundworms:
- pinworm;
- roundworms;
- roundworm.
The main routes of helminth infection are consumption of dirty food or contaminated water, unwashed hands and insect bites. Nematodes settle in the digestive tract, less commonly in the liver, lungs and heart.
The main symptoms of the presence of parasites in the human intestine:
- nausea and vomiting;
- itching in the anus;
- dermatitis;
- undigested;
- chronic fatigue.
When the population is large, the parasites naturally leave the body. In this case, nematodes can be found in the stool.
fluke
Leading to the emergence of dangerous infectious diseases. These parasites, depending on their habitat, can be divided into the following groups:
- blood fluke - schistosomiasis;
- liver fluke – liver fluke;
- intestinal flukes;
- pancreatic parasites;
- lung flukes.
Symptoms of infection depend on the organ affected. This may be weakness, dizziness, loss of appetite, nausea, abnormal bowel movements, pale skin, irritability or lethargy.
The main source of infection is feces from sick animals or people discharged into water and soil.
Cestodes
Tapeworms live in the intestines. They enter the human body when consuming insufficient heat-processed meat and fish. The greatest danger comes from pork tapeworms, which can move into the blood, muscle tissue and brain.
Cestodes can parasitize the body for long periods of time without obvious signs, growing to impressive sizes. The length of an adult is up to 10 m. Common diseases caused by cestodes are avitellinosis and echinococcosis.
General representation of cestode:
- tapeworm;
- beef and pig tapeworms;
- 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. Dermatologists can also detect parasites on the skin.
Diagnose
Diagnosis of parasitic worms is made by examining the stool in the laboratory. To identify worms, you will need to test three times.
Pinworm parasites are identified by scraping, which is done with adhesive tape. Organs not related to digestion can be tested for parasites with a blood test or biopsy.
Treatment
You can clean the human body from parasites with drugs and folk remedies. The duration of treatment depends on the level of infection and intoxication of the body.
Medicines to treat parasites
Treatment of helminths involves the use of anthelmintic drugs. They are toxic, so they cannot be used without a confirmed diagnosis.
Symptoms of helminthiasis can be relieved by symptomatic treatment. Vitamin preparations, choleretics, hepatoprotectors, laxatives, antiallergic drugs, antibiotics and probiotics are used.
For severe allergic reactions, corticosteroids are prescribed.
Traditional parasite treatment
You can eliminate parasites in the human body using the following traditional medicine methods:
- Enema with cranberry juice. It helps eliminate helminths and protozoa. For 2 liters of water you need to take 2 tablespoons. I. cranberry juice and 1 tbsp. I. salt. Perform the procedure 2 times a day.
- Garlic enema. You can get rid of intestinal parasites this way - boil 6 cloves of garlic in 1 liter of milk, cool and make an enema.
- Pumpkin seeds. Peeled seeds (300 g) must be crushed, add a small amount of water, add 100 g of honey. Eat at the same time as laxatives.
- Onion infusion. Cut a large onion into pieces, pour boiling water and leave for 12 hours. Take 100 g 3-4 times a day.
To remove parasites from the stomach and intestines, you need to eat spicy food. For example, by consuming garlic, onions, spicy spices and herbs, you can easily get rid of pinworms.
symptoms
Parasites negatively affect the human body. If helminthiasis is not treated, serious complications arise:
- frequent acute respiratory viral infections, enlarged adenoids and tonsils;
- appendicitis;
- enteritis, gastroenteritis, enteritis;
- Cirrhosis;
- Liver Cancer;
- anemia;
- Stomach bleeding;
- pancreatitis;
- bronchitis;
- cancer;
- cerebral edema;
- purulent infected lesions.
The vital activity of the parasite in the stomach leads to peritonitis, in the lungs it leads to pneumonia. Roundworms block the respiratory tract and bile ducts, causing suffocation or intestinal obstruction.
Prevent
Measures to prevent parasitic infections:
- wash hands before eating and after going out;
- consume only washed vegetables and fruits, boiled water;
- Store food hygienically, 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;
- Carry out deworming for pets.
Although worms pose a threat to human health and life, cleansing the body of them should be done only after detecting parasites and under the supervision of a doctor. Timely diagnosis of helminths will help avoid serious complications. It is important to take preventative measures, especially in children.
Frequently asked questions
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 discomfort, 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 stools, blood tests, and symptoms of specific parasitic infections such as malaria, trichinosis, and others.
How can parasites in the human body be treated?
Treatment of parasites in the human body may include taking anti-parasitic drugs under medical supervision, as well as hygiene and preventative measures to prevent reinfection.
Helpful advice
Tip #1
Pay attention to symptoms such as constant fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, weight changes, allergic reactions - these can be signs of the presence of parasites in the body.
Tip number 2
Conduct a special examination with your doctor to identify parasites. This may include stool, blood, urine tests, ultrasound, and other diagnostic methods.
Tip number 3
When treating parasites, consult your doctor for the appropriate medication as well as dietary and lifestyle recommendations.