Parasites are organisms that exist at the expense of their host. Their vital activity in the human body can be asymptomatic. Helminthic infestation is therefore one of the most rarely diagnosed pathologies.
Parasitic diseases have serious consequences. According to the World Health Organization, they cause the death of 16 million people worldwide. In order to quickly detect the parasite and prevent complications, you need to know the possible routes of infection and symptoms.
How dangerous are parasites?
Parasites can live both on the body and inside a person. Some varieties are not dangerous, while others pose a serious threat to life. Helminth waste has a toxic effect. When there is a significant buildup, the body is poisoned.
Symptoms of parasite poisoning:
- to vomit;
- weakness;
- loss of appetite;
- high body temperature;
- fever;
- convulsions.
Treatment should be started on time, because a neglected disease can be fatal.
The consequences of a parasitic 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, making a person more vulnerable to infectious diseases.
The most dangerous parasites:
- Cerebral amoeba (tapeworm). Lives in the brain, life expectancy 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. Ringed worms, which are often found in a child's body. Adults measure up to 30 cm in length. Symptoms of general intoxication appear, and you can become infected from dirty hands.
- Onchocercavulus. A worm that causes river blindness (onchocerciasis).
- Tryponasome. Causes chronic heart and intestinal diseases.
- Australian tick. 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 hives, itchy skin, rashes, fever and attacks of bronchial asthma.
General symptoms of parasitosis in the body:
- nausea Vomiting;
- abdominal pain;
- intestinal dysfunction (diarrhea or constipation);
- itching in the anus;
- grinding your teeth during sleep;
- loss of appetite;
- headache;
- weakness, fatigue;
- vitamin deficiency;
- 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 they can parasitize the lungs, muscle tissue, blood, blood vessels and the brain. If the larva enters the bloodstream, it can attach to any internal organ, thereby disrupting its functioning.
What parasites live in the human body? There are more than 250 species that can survive thanks to humans. Their sizes vary from microscopic to a meter long, and their number can vary as well.
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 lice - pediculosis;
- bedbug – carries infectious diseases such as hepatitis, tuberculosis, typhoid fever;
- demodex - demodicosis;
- scabies mite - scabies;
- cochlioma – cochliomyasis.
Infection with parasites occurs through contact and household contact. They are transmitted by skin-to-skin contact, through personal hygiene items and clothing. Cochliomyasis occurs when infected by flies, common in North and Central America.
Protozoan parasites
These include the following parasites:
- in the intestines - amoebae, lamblia, leishmania, blastocysts, balanditia;
- in 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 vital activity, disrupt the functioning of internal organs and metabolism. Worms can be just a few centimeters long or reach 7 to 10 m.
During a primary infection, they settle in the intestines and during repeated infections, 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 parasitic helminths:
- 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 along with infected fish.
- Cestodose. 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 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:
- pinworms;
- roundworms;
- whipworms.
The main routes of infection with helminths are 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;
- Rashes;
- indigestion;
- chronic fatigue.
When the population is large, the parasites naturally leave the body. In this case, nematodes may be found in the stool.
Trematodes
Lead to the emergence 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;
- pulmonary flukes.
The symptoms of infection depend on the affected organ. This may be weakness, dizziness, loss of appetite, nausea, abnormal stools, pale skin, irritability or listlessness.
The main source of infection is the discharge of animal feces or sick people into water and soil.
Cestodes
Tapeworms live in the intestines. They enter the human body when eating insufficiently heat-treated meat and fish. The greatest danger comes from the pork tapeworm, which can migrate into the bloodstream, muscle tissue and the brain.
Cestodes can parasitize the body for a long time without obvious signs and reach impressive sizes. The length of an adult can reach 10 m. Common diseases caused by cestodes are avitellinus and echinococcosis.
Common representatives of cestodes:
- tapeworm;
- bovine and porcine tapeworm;
- sheep brain;
- echinococcus.
Which doctor should I contact if I suspect parasites?
Parasitic diseases are treated by parasitologists. They should be contacted if an infection is suspected. A dermatologist can also detect parasites on the skin.
Diagnostic
Diagnosis of parasitic worms is made using a laboratory examination of the stool. To identify worms, you will need to be tested three times.
Pinworm parasites are identified by scraping, carried out with adhesive tape. Organs that are not involved in digestion can be checked for parasites using a blood test or biopsy.
Treatment
You can cleanse the human body of parasites using medicines and folk remedies. The duration of treatment depends on the degree of infection and intoxication of the body.
Drug treatment of parasites
Treatment of helminthiasis involves the use of anthelmintics. They are toxic and therefore cannot be used without a confirmed diagnosis.
Symptoms of helminthiasis can be relieved by symptomatic treatment. Vitamin preparations, choleretic agents, hepatoprotectors, laxatives, antiallergic drugs, antibiotics and probiotics are used.
In case of severe allergic reactions, corticosteroids are prescribed.
Traditional treatment of parasites
You can get rid of parasites in the human body using the following traditional medicine:
- Cranberry juice enema. This helps get rid of helminths and protozoa. For 2 liters of water you need to take 2 tbsp. L. cranberry juice and 1 tbsp. L. 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 do 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 with a laxative.
- Onion infusion. Cut a large onion into pieces, pour boiling water over it and leave for 12 hours. Drink 100 g 3 to 4 times a day.
To eliminate parasites from the stomach and intestines, you need to eat spicy foods. 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 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 vital activity of parasites in the stomach leads to peritonitis, in the lungs – to pneumonia. Roundworms obstruct the respiratory and biliary tract, causing suffocation or intestinal obstruction.
Prevention
Preventive measures against parasitic infections:
- wash your hands before eating and after going out;
- consume only washed vegetables and fruits, boiled water;
- store food in compliance with health 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;
- carry out deworming of pets.
Although worms pose a threat to human health and life, their cleansing from the body should be carried out only after detection of parasites and under the supervision of a doctor. Timely diagnosis of helminthiasis will help avoid serious complications. It is important to take preventive measures, especially in children.
FAQs
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 may include the presence of parasites in stool, blood tests, and symptoms of specific parasitic infections such as malaria, trichinosis, and others.
How to treat parasites present in the human body?
Treatment of parasites in the human body may include taking antiparasitic medications under medical supervision, as well as hygiene and prevention measures to avoid reinfection.
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
Carry out a special examination with a doctor to identify parasites. This may include stool, blood, urine tests, ultrasounds and other diagnostic methods.
Tip #3
When treating parasites, consult your doctor for appropriate medications and diet and lifestyle recommendations.