Many people do not understand why when applying for a job they are asked to take a "worm egg" test. Even more often, patients admitted to the hospital with severe symptoms - vomiting, abdominal, heart or lung pain, constipation, allergies or headaches - are surprised to be diagnosed with helminth infections. It turns out that parasites are not safe for humans and the above symptoms are just the beginning. Let's get to know them better?
Parasites are everywhere: outside and inside
The word "parasite" comes from the Greek word parasite, meaning parasite. These organisms live and multiply in the host's organs and tissues, causing severe illness and even death. Such an infection is called an invasion. Parasites are divided into several groups, depending on their structure and "habitat", and they are all very dangerous.
Parasites
This group includes parasitic organisms that live on or inside the skin. They cause itching, dermatitis, allergies and dangerous infections.
- Head, body, and pubic lice use their mouthparts to penetrate their host's skin and suck blood. Infection with them is called pediculosis. Insects carry dangerous diseases - typhus and relapsing fever.
- Demodex mite (mite) is the causative agent of a disease called demodicosis. The length of the parasite is 0. 48 mm so it cannot be seen with the naked eye. The mites live in human hair follicles, causing inflammation (folliculitis) and dermatitis. Damage to the eyebrows and eyelashes also leads to eye infections.
- Scabies causes scabies as its name suggests. The female parasite is 0. 25–0. 38 mm long, gnawing through the epidermis (layer of skin) to lay eggs. Scabies is formed in the thickness of the skin. Parasites cause itching, rashes, and allergic reactions. Affected: armpits, groin area, abdomen, interstitial spaces. The disease spreads quickly because the female lays 3-4 eggs per day, from which the larvae hatch after 2-3 days.
Endoparasites
Endoparasites live in the host's organs (intestines, kidneys, liver) and blood, causing infection (invasion). There are more than 25 species of endoparasites. Every year, 15-16 million people die because of their own fault.
Endoparasites include worms (worms) and protozoa. In recent years, the number of infections has increased. Latent parasitic forms prevail; in 80% of cases, the owner does not know that "uninvited guests" have settled in his body. Deaths from parasitic diseases also became more frequent. The development of tourism along with visits to foreign countries has led to infection with tropical parasites, which in our country are very difficult to identify and destroy.
Helminths
The most common of these parasites are:
- Roundworms are roundworms up to 40 cm long that live in the small intestine. Females lay up to 200 thousand eggs per day. Worms weaken the body, causing anemia and digestive disorders. Worms gather into a ball, clogging the intestinal lumen and causing an obstruction. Sometimes giant balls of roundworms are removed from people during surgery.
- Tapeworms (broad tapeworms) are tapeworms that, when entering the human body, will not show symptoms for a long time. Helminth growth causes flatulence, anemia, gastrointestinal disorders and intestinal obstruction. People become infected with tapeworms by eating poorly prepared fish.
- Pork and beef tapeworms enter the body when eating undercooked meat containing cysts (larvae) of worms. Parasites multiply rapidly and reside in the host's body. Describes a case of a person infected with 104 parasitic pork tapeworms, with a total length of 128 meters. Sometimes tapeworm larvae begin to "travel" throughout the body, causing tissue swelling, high fever and muscle pain.
- Pinworms are small worms that live in the intestines. They are not as harmless as they seem. Infections cause allergic reactions; Helminths crawl into the appendix, causing inflammation.
- Nematodes are a group of parasitic roundworms in the intestinal tract. Worms cause irritation of the intestinal wall and blockage of the bile duct. 45 species of nematodes live in the human body. The most common are intestinal eels and whipworms.
Some types of worms that live outside the digestive tract cause extraintestinal helminths (trematodes, echinococcus, pork tapeworm cysts). They cause damage to the nervous system, brain and internal organs. The patient has fever, swelling and blood in the urine. Dangerous filariasis, in which parasites are found in the heart. Parasites cause pain similar to the manifestations of ischemic heart disease.
Protozoa
In recent years, protozoan parasites have become widespread, affecting various organs and tissues:
- Giardia is an organism that affects the small intestine and leads to intestinal motility disorders. The disease often has no symptoms.
- Trichomonas and chlamydia are protozoa that cause inflammation of the genitourinary system.
- Blastocysts are intestinal parasites that irritate mucous membranes and reduce immunity.
- Dysentery amoebiasis is a protozoa that causes a persistent form of ulcerative colitis. One person had abdominal pain, loose stools, and fever. Dangerous disease due to intestinal perforation.
How to get infected with helminths: raw water, unfamiliar cuisine and unwashed hands
No need to think that parasites live only in people who do not take care of themselves and lead an antisocial lifestyle. Anyone can become infected, because a person cannot avoid communicating with sick people and "parasite carriers". "Uninvited guests" enter the body through food and water from pets, through dirty hands and insect bites.
Contamination is encouraged by people buying homemade lard, raw meat, dried and smoked fish at illegal markets. You can get infected in a canteen or cafe if the sanitary conditions there are not guaranteed. Undercooked meat and fish dishes are dangerous.
The parasites also benefit from the passion for Japanese cuisine, where unheated fish is added to dishes. Not all sushi bar chefs follow proper hygiene measures. As a result, a person becomes infected with helminths.
How to suspect parasitic infection
In the presence of external parasites (lice, scabies, demodex), skin itching occurs, which is worse at night. Areas of irritation, redness, blisters and pustules appear on the skin. Sometimes allergies occur and the temperature may rise.
When infected with helminths, the clinical picture is different, but in all cases there are digestive problems (diarrhea or constipation), anemia and weakness. People lose weight even when appetite increases, some people's taste preferences change - a person craves fat, saltiness, etc. v. This is how the body tries to replenish the vitamins and trace elements lost by parasitic worms.
Helminth infection is accompanied by abdominal bloating, pain in different parts, itching around the anus, sometimes when having bowel movements, the worms fall out of the anus or are excreted in the stool. In severe worm infections, vomiting occurs as the helminths are released. In patients, the liver and spleen are enlarged, pain occurs in the right or left lower quadrant.
With helminths, neurological manifestations due to poisoning by parasitic organism waste are common: insomnia, irritability, constant fatigue, bruxism (teeth grinding while sleeping).
Parasites weaken the body, weaken the immune system and cause allergies. Symptoms of bronchial asthma are often associated with the presence of helminths (pinworms, whipworms, echinococci).
How to recognize dangerous parasites
It is impossible to identify and deal with dangerous residents on your own, especially since they can exist in a complex and by eliminating some, you will only make room for others. Each clinic has a parasitologist, it is he who treats infections. If there is no such specialist, you can make an appointment with a therapist.
Your doctor will prescribe a number of tests:
- Blood for clinical analysis. With helminthiasis, there is an increase in ESR, a decrease in hemoglobin and an increase in the number of eosinophils.
- Blood biochemical tests ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, thymol, amylase tests. An increase in these indicators is typical for nematode infection.
- Analyze bile, mucus, sputum, muscle tissue.
Worm infections are often disguised as other diseases. People undergo surgeries in which a corroded pancreas or liver is found. It is not always possible to cure a patient in a severe form, so you should not hope for a miracle - you need to carry out a similar test for "worm eggs" in a timely manner. For diagnosis, endoscopy of the intestines and stomach is indicated.
Diseases caused by parasitic protozoa are very difficult to detect. The infection occurs silently and destroys the body until the patient has serious changes in the organs.
Treatment of helminths
To cure the patient, he eliminates parasites and their metabolic products. For treatment, antihelminthic drugs are used, which are selected taking into account the type of parasite and the patient's condition. This must be done by a doctor as all deworming tablets contain dangerous substances.
To expel large worms, the patient is prescribed a siphon enema. At the same time, make sure the helminth head is not left in the body, otherwise the parasite will grow again. To prevent reinfection, treatment with anthelmintics is carried out in several courses.
After removing the worms, drip infusion of solutions, restorative drugs and vitamins. Restores the function of organs affected by parasites.
Toenail disease is treated with special sprays and mercury ointments. If lice are found, shave the groin area.
Sulfur ointment, benzyl benzonate and some other medications are used to treat scabies. Demodicosis is treated with complex external agents, which include mercury, tar, zinc and sulfur.
Prevent parasitic infections
To avoid "catching" ectoparasites and endoparasites, you need to:
- Wash your hands and vegetables and fruits thoroughly before eating;
- remove dirt under the nails;
- Do not use other people's combs, shoes, or household items;
- Do not walk barefoot on the floor in public places and wear a cap when swimming in the pool;
- Do not buy food at "spontaneous" markets and do not eat at questionable food service establishments;
- boil or fry meat or fish;
- Monitor the health status of pets by deworming on time;
- When traveling, use insect repellant;
- Coming from a foreign country, undergo a full examination and take a test.
The parasite quickly infects humans, so when detected, people living with the patient will be tested and, if necessary, treated.
At a modern clinic, you can be tested for the presence of worms and consulted with a general practitioner for a quick parasite cure.