Parasitic infections are a large group of diseases, pathogens, which are microorganisms of the class protozoa and helminths (worms). To date, there are more than 200 species of parasites, of which 70 species are found in European countries and Russia.
The parasite penetrated the human body, is to develop and exist, because of the "abuse" of the resources of the body instead of poisoning it and their waste products and cause a malfunction of several organs and systems.
In the first stage of development of helminth infection diagnosis of the disease is not possible, because still don't feel parasites and his condition is satisfactory.
Even for some time, people still experience discomfort parasites in the body, only can sometimes experience some minor problems with some organs and systems. In this case, the important factor is the careful attention to their health. Even a small trouble may be the first alarming signal about the development of the disease.
Most often the infection is diagnosed accidentally, the result of a routine physical examination or when a person has already applied for care as a result of rapidly deteriorating general condition.
Classification of parasites
All parasites are divided into:
- protozoa (Giardia, Toxoplasma gondii, Entamoeba histolytica);
- worms (pinworm, roundworm, Toxocara)
Helminths are a diverse group of parasites, which is characterized by different life cycle, biological characteristics, distribution in the body and particularly the development of him. So klassificeret worms different principles: structure, life cycle, depending on the location of the parasite and the duration of interaction with the host organism.
Biological principles are distinguished:
- Bio-helminths (beef and pork tapeworm, Echinococcus, opisthorchis). The life cycle of these parasites should be performed two or even three intermediate hosts, i.e. other living organisms.
- Geo-helminths (Ascaris, whipworm, Ancylostoma). During the course of its development does not require the change of the owner, they are excreted together with feces in the environment and are localized in the soil, and at a certain temperature and humidity of the eggs and larvae develop. Eggs containing live larvae on the body and take the next step in their development.
- Pin worms (pinworm, dwarf tapeworm) these parasites stand out in the environment together with the feces, and lack of personal hygiene, is an infection oral-fecal route, it is the eggs of these parasites a person swallows. The main source of infection is dirty hands.
The structure of the helminths are divided into:
- nematodes or round worms (pinworm, roundworm,vlasoglavy);
- trematodes or flukes (Schistosoma, opisthorchis, the cat and the Siberian Fluke);
- cestodes or tapeworms (Echinococcus, beef and pork tapeworm).
The location of the body are distinguished:
- intestinal worms (pinworms, roundworms, worm, beef and pork tapeworm);
- outside-intestinal (alveolar, opisthorchiasis, species of Trichinella).
Ways of infection of parasites
There are different ways of Developing worms:
- Eating meat dishes, which is not subjected to the quality, heat treatment, meat can contain parasites that are firmly attached to the muscles of the large and small cattle, eating the meat of infected people, swine, and beef tapeworm, Echinococcus.
- Consumption of salted, smoked, little-solo and raw fish. Raw fish are opisthorchis and tapeworm, because the life cycle of these parasites changing several owners, one of which is fish.
- The use of raw water from unknown sources, washing dishes, vegetables and fruits in water, for example, on vacation.
- When working in the garden without protective gloves geo-helminths can get your hands, and your hands in your mouth. You can also get infected by this type of parasite through the dirty vegetables, herbs and berries.
- Through contact with pets. Domestic dogs and cats are carriers of the parasite. In particular, do not let the Pet sleep in the same bed with people, or let them lick the hands and face of a person.
- The source of infection people can become infected with acute helminthiasis.
Symptoms of worms in adults
Signs of worms in humans occur as early as in the late stage of infection. Of course, some of the signals the body gives at the very beginning of the disease, it is time to pay attention to them and interpret correctly. The very early stages of the penetration of parasites in the human body may experience small symptoms, which can be taken as a result of other diseases:
- fatigue;
- frequent headaches;
- increasing weakness;
- irritability;
- sleep disorders;
- weight loss for no apparent reason;
- apathy and depression.
The next stage of development of helminth infection, is the most Common Allergy of the body. The skin of the patient occur in a variety of eruptions, and clinical blood tests reveal increased number of eosinophils, indicating the development of allergic reactions.
When the parasite develops in adults and is localized in a specific organ, the symptoms appear, characterized by the presence of the parasite. Most often, the worms are placed in a thin-or thick intestine, therefore, symptoms characteristic of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in the form of dyspepsia (fermentative and putrefactive phenomena):
- pain in the navel;
- loss of or poor appetite;
- in some cases, increased appetite;
- flatulence, rumbling and gurgling in the abdomen;
- constipation and diarrhea;
- vomiting and diarrhea;
- swelling.
Next is the development of anemia and vitamin a deficiency, because the person does not have the nutrients that intercept parasites. In this case, the person feels:
- chronic fatigue;
- dizziness;
- increasing weakness;
- headaches.
In severe, advanced cases, observed the development of serious diseases that require urgent treatment:
- allergic myocarditis;
- meningoencephalitis;
- pneumonia;
- hepatitis or disorders of hemostasis;
- hematuria (blood in the urine);
- decrease protective forces of the body (malfunction of the immune system);
- disorders of the endocrine system;
- of the lymph nodes.
Decrease protective forces of the body, increases the likelihood of developing viral and bacterial infections. But in children, the parasite causes delayed physical growth and mental development. Symptoms of worms in humans are common, however, is the variety of parasites and their localization in the body to promote the development of characteristic symptoms away from the affected organs.
The clinical picture attack various species of parasites
Depending on the helminth living within the body, the symptoms can be very different.
For example, when enterobiasis the main symptoms are:
- itching in the anus;
- pain in the abdomen;
- wolverin girls common parasite in the vaginal mucosa.
The initial stage of ascariasis, which is called migration, occurs in the form of:
- lung diseases: bronchitis, laryngitis, or tracheitis.
The intestinal form of ascariasis observed:
- nausea and vomiting;
- abdominal pain;
- decreased appetite;
- lesions on the skin;
- the growth in the number of eosinophils in the blood.
In severe, advanced cases, has pointed out:
- violation of the integrity of the intestinal wall;
- with the subsequent development of peritonitis and appendicitis (contact with Ascaris Annex);
- pay;
- bowel obstruction (blockage of the intestinal cavity).
During infection of cestoda (tapeworms) of the process of defecation along with stool stands out from the part of the parasite. In this situation, you experience the following symptoms:
- nausea and vomiting;
- increasing weakness;
- dizziness and headache;
- constipation and diarrhea;
- abdominal pain;
- a decrease in body mass.
With the progression of the disease is severe anemia, which is due to a lack of vitamin b-12 and iron.
Opisthorchis his presence in the body can cause serious damage to the bile ducts of the liver, gall bladder and the ducts of the pancreas. Because parasites in these organs, creating an obstacle to the outflow of bile, to develop cholecystitis, biliary dyskinesia, inflammation of the pancreas. Inflammation in these organs with increase in temperature, heaviness in the right hypochondrium, pain in the region of the gallbladder (biliary colic), nausea and vomiting and diarrhea. The presence of Trichinella in the body cause serious damage to the muscles: intercostal, chewing, muscles of the tongue, throat, eyes, film.
Hookworm, vlasoglavy, shistosoma, a tapeworm in the body causes anemia, intestinal dysbiosis, deficiency, metabolic disorders. And in the urine-sexual schistosomiasis appears this symptom is urinating blood.
When alveococcosis, echinococcosis, cysticercosis in the early stages is almost asymptomatic, but when the acute phase of development takes place with suppuration, and a small rupture of the cysts of the parasite, leading to very serious consequences:
- it peritonitis;
- pleurisy;
- anaphylactic shock;
- damage to the blood vessels and chronic bleeding (hookworm blood);
- the central nervous system.
Nematodes of the relationship to provoke the development of allergic reactions, pathology of the biliary tract and disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.
The test, which determines the parasite in the body
This test can detect parasites in the body. For this you just need to answer the following questions:
- Are you itching in the anus?
- Is there a rash?
- Do you feel nausea?
- Is there vomiting?
- If you have insomnia?
- Is bitter taste in the mouth? And how often?
- Enlarged lymph nodes?
- How often is muscle pain? What is their volume?
- Is a weight loss?
- Is there loss of appetite?
- If symptoms, such as fatigue, lethargy, impaired concentration and efficiency?
If the received 10 positive responses, we can assume the presence of helminth infection with high probability. All these symptoms observed in the acute stage of the disease. Because in this period the worms are most active and have a significant impact on the body.
Prevention of anti-worm infestations
Prevention of helminthiasis primarily boils down to personal hygiene:
- wash your hands often;
- frequent change of underwear and bed linen;
- timely and qualitative cleaning of premises;
- the use of individual household items: towels, dishes, etc.;
- timely deworming of domestic animals;
- quality heat treatment of meat products and fish;
- rejection of the use of raw fish, gently eat salted, dried, smoked and a little salt fish;
- all garden work gloves;
- use only clean drinking water;
- do not swim in unknown waters.
- to carry out the drug prevention of helminthiasis twice a year: in spring and autumn.