Helminths are subcutaneous parasites that live in the human body. They feed on host cells and release toxic substances. Parasitic infection can lead to serious illness, in the worst case, death. Depending on the type of worms, the places of their dislocation differ. Some reproduce in organs, some live under human skin, causing the development of dermatoses.
Varieties of subcutaneous parasites and methods of infection.
Parasitic skin diseases are not common types of pathologies. Despite this, cases of illness have been reported. They are more likely to occur after visiting Asian regions and countries with hot climates. Parasites in the human body provoke an allergic reaction, accompanied by excruciating itching.
In medicine, worms are divided into two types:
- Subcutaneous. Helminths are difficult to diagnose. After infection and maturation stage, parasites move through the human body. The most common types of subcutaneous helminths are: iron, scabies mites, filariae, rishta.
- Dermal. After contact with human skin, the parasites migrate to different parts of the body. As a result of infection with parasites of the skin, inflammation of the pancreas, development of squamous lichen, eczematosis and diabetes mellitus occur.
Common cases include infection with a tick located in the sebaceous glands. It is distinguished by an outlet to the surface of the epidermis during the day to feed the secretions of the skin ducts.
Filariasis
Filariasis is the defeat of a person by parasites of the nematodosis type. It is found in the countries of the Asian region, as well as in places with a tropical climate. The most likely form of infection is when visiting tourist areas. The main danger from parasites is the long incubation period. Without showing symptoms, the worms can live under the skin for 5 to 7 years. Pests are distinguished by excessive vital activity, which causes symptoms of intoxication in the patient.
In the early stages, the disease shows signs of hives. As the worms grow and multiply, there is loss of vision, formation of mobile seals, and fever. In the later stages, the location of the worms is determined with the naked eye.
Dracunculiasis
Dracunculiasis is a disease caused by subcutaneous helminth infection. They can live in open water. Human infestation occurs while traveling, by drinking raw water from unverified sources. In an infected person, the larvae are located under the upper layer of the epidermis. The presence of even one parasite without proper treatment leads to death. In world practice, adult helminths with a length of 100 centimeters have been recorded. They can occupy the entire space of the stomach, liver or block the airways.
Most often, helminths are localized on the lower extremities of a person.
The main symptoms of an injury include:
- rashes on the legs;
- the formation of fluid-filled blisters;
- intolerable itching;
- the appearance of bumps;
- purulent formations.
The main treatment is to surgically remove the helminths from the body.
Schistosomiasis
The disease causes several types of helminths that are found in bodies of water. The infection occurs when swimming in the rivers and lakes of the African and Asian region. Another form of infection is untested drinking water. It is the source of the spread of parasite eggs and larvae. Initially, the helminths are located under the epidermis. An allergic rash forms on the skin, accompanied by itching. As the disease develops, the larvae penetrate deep into the body. The kidneys and liver of the patient are severely affected. The disease is accompanied by night fevers, profuse sweating. An enlarged liver and misshapen kidneys can help diagnose an infection.
Cysticercosis
Cysticercosis is a disease associated with human infection with swine tapeworms. The parasite belongs to the category of tenacious, it lives in Asian countries. For the development of an adult in the human body, the penetration of 1 larva or part of a worm is sufficient. Parasites are highly regenerative, which complicates the treatment process.
The main signs of damage include hives, itching, general weakness, pain. Worms are often found under the skin, in muscles, eyes, internal organs, and the brain. During adult development, a tuber or induration forms under the skin. Over time, it can increase, it brings inconvenience. The main breeding sites for the pig tapeworm are the shoulder, chest, arm, and palm area.
Dirofilaria
The main method of worm infestation is penetration of the larvae through insect bites or contact with animals. Temporary larval carriers are cats and dogs, mosquitoes act as carriers. The female worm is 30 centimeters long, the male 10 centimeters long.
The development of parasites occurs under the upper layer of the epidermis.
The eggs remain on human skin with the bite of a mosquito. The hatched larva penetrates deep into the skin through the injured area of the skin. There it goes through all stages of growth. The disease is accompanied by excruciating itching. Seals are noticeable in worm locating areas. The patient feels the movement of the adults under the skin. Vision loss is possible if you are affected by helminths.
Treatment of worms is done by a surgical method. After the operation, patients are shown drugs that restore the affected skin and organs.
Scabies
Scabies is an infection of a person with a scabies mite. The disease gets its name from the severe and excruciating itching throughout the body. In places where ticks are found, people develop redness and spots.
Tick infestation occurs through bodily contact with an infected person or their personal belongings. Diagnosis is made by visual examination of the skin and laboratory tests.
At home, diagnoses can be done with iodine. When it comes into contact with the affected skin, a cobweb is noticeable - the trajectory of tick movement under the skin of an infected person.
The main symptoms of scabies include:
- itching and redness of the skin;
- the formation of fluid-filled blisters when scratching the skin;
- location of hand and joint injuries.
Treatment of the disease is long and laborious. It is almost impossible to completely eliminate parasites.
Demodecosis
Demodectic mange is a human infection with subcutaneous ticks. They are located in the sebaceous glands of the infected. In the initial stages, the disease can easily be mistaken for acne. As the mites multiply, the rash enlarges and spreads all over the face. The loss of eyelashes begins.
Diagnosis of demodicosis is straightforward. To do this, a visual examination is performed and a series of laboratory tests are carried out. Treatment of the disease is long-term. In some cases, it takes several years. Tick infection occurs through direct contact with the patient, the use of personal effects or cosmetic products of the infected. The successful reproduction of ticks is facilitated by an unstable hormonal background, a weakened immune system.
Symptoms of the disease
Modern medicine distinguishes several types of subcutaneous parasites. They cause the development of skin dermatitis and the alteration of internal organs. Depending on the pathogen in a person, the symptoms appear in a peculiar way. Despite this, there are a number of signs, when they appear, it is recommended to consult a specialist.
You can learn about worms in the body by several signs:
- General weakness;
- temperature rise to 39 ° C;
- itching of the skin of varying degrees of intensity;
- the appearance of skin rashes;
- discomfort of the gastrointestinal tract;
- the formation of seals on the skin.
It is important to note that an early visit to a doctor allows you to quickly remove from the body the parasites that live under the human skin.
Diagnostic features
Subcutaneous parasites in humans are difficult to diagnose. For this reason, at the first suspicion of an injury, it is necessary to consult a specialist. The complexity of the diagnosis is directly related to the latent course of the disease. Basically, the vivid symptoms appear only a few years after the defeat, which negatively affects health.
Several symptoms indicate helminthic invasion, but there is no general clinical picture of manifestation. It is necessary to exclude the defeat of the patient with helminths in case of redness of the skin areas, the appearance of constant itching, various seals on the skin.
A visit to several specialists allows you to make the correct diagnosis:
- dermatologist;
- neuropathologist;
- allergist
- infectious disease specialist;
- psychologist.
Consultation of a psychologist is carried out if no deviations in the direction of other specialists were found.
To clarify the diagnosis, patients are assigned laboratory tests:
- blood tests to detect antigens;
- examination of a skin sample;
- smear;
- secret investigation;
- scraping the affected area.
The results of laboratory tests can detect parasites under the skin. If in the last six months before the onset of symptoms there were trips to Asian countries or other tropical regions, this fact should be indicated to the doctor.
The diagnosis of subcutaneous parasites requires the appointment of a competent therapeutic regimen. In this situation, the use of drugs or traditional medicine methods not recommended by the treating physician is prohibited. Violation of the therapy regimen can lead to deterioration and poisoning of the body.
Effective treatments
In medical practice, there are two methods of therapy for parasites: drugs and surgical. Depending on the complexity of the injury, the doctor uses one method or both in combination. The choice of therapeutic methods of treatment depends on the risk to the health of the patient and the characteristics of the parasites.
The choice of the method of therapy is influenced by:
- the number of parasites in the patient's body;
- regenerative capacity of the worm;
- reproduction rate;
- location of parasites;
- allergic reactions of the patient;
- The severity of the disease;
- possible or existing complications.
Drug treatment involves taking a course of medications. The action of drugs involves exposure in several directions:
- Destruction of adult worms and larvae in the body, prevention of their reproduction. For this, anthelmintic drugs are used.
- Elimination of inflammation and destruction of infection foci. For this, a course of antibiotic therapy is carried out.
- Acceleration of the elimination of toxins and elimination of an allergic reaction. The patient is prescribed a course of antihistamines and glucocorticoids.
- Healing of the affected areas of the skin. To accelerate the regenerative function of the epidermis, creams and ointments are used.
Surgical treatment of subcutaneous parasites is recommended in cases where there are severe complications and a special location of the worm is present. The operation has shown high efficiency in cases where the body is known to be affected by a single individual. Most often, surgical intervention is used for guinea worm. The internal fluid of the worm contains toxic substances that can cause anaphylactic shock. In this case, a holistic extraction of the parasite is shown.
Prevention methods
Infection with skin parasites in humans requires prolonged therapy. The problem can be avoided by following a series of preventive measures:
- Compliance with hygiene standards. Hands should be washed under running water with soap or an antiseptic. Especially after contact with stray or unknown animals. Scratches, cuts, and other skin damage should be treated with an antiseptic.
- Product processing. Fresh vegetables and fruits should be rinsed well under running water before use. It is recommended to heat fish, poultry and meat. Avoid eating raw or undercooked meat.
- Use of proven water sources. Water from unknown sources must be treated. Open bodies of water and springs deserve special attention.
- Routine vaccination. Before traveling to tropical countries, it is necessary to be vaccinated against the main diseases.
- General use of makeup. Women should avoid sharing makeup, even with close friends.
- Swimming in open water. Swimming in contaminated or untested bodies of water is prohibited. During the hot season, preference should be given to water bodies that have been tested for water quality.
A responsible attitude to your own health and compliance with preventive measures help prevent parasitic skin diseases.