Parasites in the human bodyappear completely unexpectedly. The reason for this is usually direct contact with the source of infection, for example, with an infected person or object. There are many types of parasites that can settle in the human body: they can be lamblia, pinworms, alveococci, trichinella, schistosomes, etc.
Parasites in the human body
The human body has a fairly complex structure, which is susceptible to various diseases and infections, infections, viruses and parasites. The parasites that settle in the human body are microorganisms that lead a parasitic lifestyle, trying to survive by feeding on other organisms, microorganisms, cells, etc.
Parasites that live in the human body are microorganisms that lead a parasitic lifestyle, trying to survive by feeding on other organisms, microorganisms, cells, etc.
Parasites that find fertile ground for life and reproduction in the human body, cause very serious, sometimes irreparable damage to its health, destroy the body from the inside, eat it and sometimes cause deathof a person, or they stop the work of individual organs, which also worsens the quality of life of a person, depresses and, in the end, shortens his life.
There are millions of species of parasitic worms in nature. Of these, there are those that parasitize only a representative of the animal world. But in nature there are also species that can exist in the body of various species of animals. What parasites live in the human body is a question that many people ask themselves.
A wide variety of helminth species can live in the human body. Some of them are very rare, while others are very frequently installed indoors and can lead a parasitic lifestyle for several decades.
Parasitism varieties
There are the following types of parasitism: ectoparasitism: parasites that lead a superficial lifestyle on the human body. This category includes lice, insects, ticks; endoparasitism: parasites that affect a person's internal organs. They, in turn, are divided into two large groups of protozoa and helminths.
Types of parasitic protozoa: lamblia, toxoplasma, trichoionada. These types of protozoan parasites are most often found in the human body.
The classification of parasites related to helminths implies their division into three large groups: nematodes; trematodes; cestodes.
Types of parasites in the human body
Roundworms
Pinworms are the best-known parasites in the intestines. The disease caused by pinworms is called enterobiasis. Not only people suffer from it, but also great apes. Children are at increased risk for pinworm infection. According to various sources, the level of participation in enterobiasis in preschool age ranges between 25 and 90%. Pinworms are spread from one person to another. The infection occurs through a handshake, clothing and any object touched by a sick person, provided that after contact they have not washed their hands and have entered the mouth of pinworm eggs (this occurs especially during a meal).
Flies and cockroaches can carry the eggs of these nematode worms by seeding their food. Pinworms live in the small intestine, in the cecum, in the colon. They mate in the ileum, after which the female exits the anus through the rectum and lays eggs in the anus.
The symptoms of enterobiasis are itching in the anal area, intoxication of the body (allergic reactions, exhaustion, fatigue), anemia, increased level of eosinophils in the blood, insomnia and abdominal pain.
To get rid of enterobiasis, anthelmintic drugs are used. The dose and course of treatment are selected by the doctor. To avoid reinfection, it is important to keep your hands clean, wash them after visiting any public place, after using the bathroom, before eating, etc.
Nails must be trimmed, bed and underwear must be thoroughly disinfected, and the apartment must be cleaned daily.
Toksokara
Toxocara is a parasite of the group of nematodes. The disease caused by toxocara is called "toxocariasis. "This invasion in humans can be larval (ocular and visceral), as well as intestinal. The disease is widespread throughout the world. Toxocara infection occurs when the worm's eggs enter the human digestive tract. This is most commonly seen when food or water contaminated with dog feces is ingested. Contact with sick animals is no less dangerous.
The natural carriers of Toxocara are cats and dogs, foxes and wolves. Once in the human body, the larvae of the worm migrate through the blood vessels and can settle in any organ. The symptoms of the disease will depend on this. Most often, toxocariasis manifests itself in the form of allergic reactions (Quincke's edema, skin rash, bronchial asthma). During an exacerbation of the disease, the body temperature can rise up to 38 degrees, but the symptoms of intoxication of the body are weakly expressed.
Toxocariasis can be suspected by enlarged lymph nodes: the visceral form of toxocariasis is the most common, it occurs with damage to internal organs (intestines, respiratory system, heart valves).
A person may experience pain in the abdomen, in the right hypochondrium, dyspeptic disorders, nausea; if the respiratory system is damaged, a person has shortness of breath, a dry cough, attacks of suffocation; if toxocars are deposited on the heart valves, the patient has weakness, blue fingers and nasolabial triangle, shortness of breath; the shape of the skin is characterized by itching, a sensation of movement under the skin, inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes; In the neurological form, the parasite causes the development of inflammation of the meninges and the brain tissues themselves.
It manifests itself in headaches, nausea and vomiting, seizures, and other neurological disorders. For the treatment of toxocariasis, anthelmintic drugs are used, as well as pathogenetic and symptomatic therapy.
Human Ascaris
The human Ascaris is a roundworm that parasitizes the small intestine. The disease caused by these parasites is called ascariasis. The owner of the roundworm and the source of infection is a sick person. Along with their feces, the eggs of the worms enter the soil, where they mature into larvae. Then this earth is transferred to food or human hands, and if the rules of personal hygiene are not observed and if fruits, vegetables and berries are poorly processed, it is transferred to the digestive tract.
Children and rural residents are more susceptible to infection. Ascariasis manifests itself at different stages of its development in different ways. In the phase of migration of the larvae through the body, an increase in body temperature occurs, a dry cough appears, wheezing in the lungs, and the lymph nodes increase in size. Children suffer from ascariasis more seriously than adults.
Allergic skin reactions are a characteristic symptom of ascariasis. During parasitism in the intestines, the patient develops dyspeptic disorders, loose stools are replaced by constipation, frequent abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting occur. Hysterical convulsions, insomnia, mental fatigue and headaches are observed on the part of the nervous system.
For the treatment of ascariasis in the larval migration stage, patients are prescribed some anthelmintic drugs, while parasitizing worms in the intestines - others.
Hookworm and nekator
Hookworm and nekator are two types of roundworms that belong to the Ancylostomatidae family and cause a disease called hookworm. There are two ways to infect the human body with these parasites: fecal-oral (drinking contaminated water, fruits, vegetables) and percutaneous in contact with the ground (penetration occurs through the skin).
Clinical symptoms of hookworm: papular vesicular rash, shortness of breath and cough, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, loose stools, iron deficiency anemia. Treatment is reduced to taking anthelmintics and eliminating anemia with iron preparations.
Wide ribbon
Broad tapeworm refers to tapeworms of the order Pseudophyilidea. These parasites live in the small intestines of humans and mammals that eat fish. Tapeworm infection causes the development of a disease such as diphyllobothriasis.
There are 12 types of tapeworms that can parasitize the human body, however, the widest tapeworm is the most common. The infection occurs from eating lightly salted raw and thermally unprocessed fish or caviar, which contains worm eggs. Symptoms of the presence of the parasite in the intestines: nausea, abdominal pain, anemia.
In severe cases, a bowel obstruction develops. To get rid of the parasite, patients are prescribed antiparasitic drugs. After the completion of the therapeutic course, a second study is mandatory for the presence of a worm in the body. If necessary, the use of anthelmintic drugs is repeated.
Bull tapeworm
The bull tapeworm is a tapeworm that belongs to the teniid family. In the larval stage, it affects cattle, and in the tapeworm stage it lives in the human body (in its intestines). Tapeworm causes a disease called teniarinhoz, as a rule, a parasite is present in the patient's body. Human infection occurs via food after ingesting poorly heat-treated meat (veal).
Clinically, the disease is manifested by nausea, excessive appetite, pain in the abdomen, unstable stools, and urticarial-like allergic reactions. To remove the bovine tapeworm from the body, an anthelmintic agent is prescribed. In parallel, the patient should follow a slag-free diet, put on cleansing enemas, take laxatives. After using an anthelmintic agent, the worm dies and leaves the human body naturally. Sometimes its length can reach 12 m.
Pork tapeworm
The pig tapeworm is a parasitic tapeworm that infects mammals. The intermediate carriers can be pigs, dogs, rabbits, camels, but the final owner is always a man.
If an adult parasite is found in a person's body, then it is a disease such as taeniasis. When the parasite is in the patient's body in the larval stage, the disease is called "cysticercosis. "
Pork tapeworm infection occurs when thermally unprocessed pork is consumed. Sometimes the sources of cysticercini are sown hands or water. A patient with taeniasis represents an epidemiological danger both for himself (larval infection of the brain, skin, eyes or skeletal muscles) and for others.
Symptoms of taeniasis: abdominal pain, loss of appetite, stools, headaches, frequent dizziness, fainting (taeniasis of the brain and eyes is extremely dangerous). For the treatment of taeniasis, the patient is admitted to a hospital. Under the supervision of doctors, anthelmintic drugs are prescribed, after which, after 2 hours, the patient takes a saline laxative, which allows him to get rid of the segments and eggs of the worm. For the treatment of cysticercosis of the eyes and brain, surgical intervention is necessary.
Echinococcus
Echinococcus is a tapeworm of the order Cyclophyllidae. Adults parasitize in the intestines of dogs and cats, and are found in jackals and wolves. For humans, parasite larvae are dangerous and can cause a serious disease - echinococcosis. The larvae can infect a person's internal organs and form echinococcal cysts in them. In the case of echinococci, humans act as intermediate hosts.
The infection is carried out by contact (in the process of cutting carcasses, when interacting with a sick animal), or food (by ingesting contaminated food or water). People who raise animals or have constant contact with animals are at risk. Symptoms may not appear for many years.
When the asymptomatic stage ends, pain, itching of the skin and hives appear at the site of invasion of the larvae. In addition, it suffers the functioning of the organ within which the echinococcus larvae parasitize. An increase in body temperature and fever are observed during suppuration of the cyst.
A complete cure for echinococcosis is only possible through surgery. The cyst is peeled off, taking care not to damage its membrane. If the bladder is very large, it is perforated and the contents are suctioned out. Before and after the operation, the patient is prescribed antiparasitic drugs. In the case of radical removal of the cyst, the prognosis for recovery is favorable.
Alveococcus
The alveococcus is a helminth of the group of cestodes. The worm screams a life-threatening alveococcosis disease, characterized by the formation of a primary focus in the liver with the subsequent spread of metastases to other organs. The infection occurs when the oncospheres of the parasite enter the mouth.
This can happen while hunting, cutting wild animal carcasses, in contact with domestic animals, or eating raw forest berries and herbs. The symptoms of alveococcosis are reduced to pain in the right hypochondrium, belching, nausea. Often there are itching, allergic reactions. The suppuration of a tumor with a parasite and its penetration into the abdominal or pleural cavity is not excluded.
Alveococcal metastases can be found in the brain and lungs. Treatment of the disease is rapid, but must be supplemented with the intake of antiparasitic drugs.
Giardia
Giardia (another name for Giardia) are flagellate parasites belonging to the order Diplomonadid. Giardia causes a disease called "giardiasis" and parasitizes in the small intestine of humans, as well as many other mammals and even birds.
Giardia infection occurs by the fecal-oral route: food, water, and household methods of contact. Of greater importance in terms of transmission of infection is the use of raw water, contaminated food, the use of public items seeded with lamblia cysts. The main symptoms of giardiasis are nausea, painful sensations in the abdomen, abnormal stools, and excessive gas.
In addition, patients suffer from allergic reactions, intoxication, and neurotic disorders. Giardiasis therapy is carried out with the help of antiprotozoal drugs, as well as with the inclusion of enzymes, choleretic and enterosorbent agents in the treatment regimen.
Histological amoeba
The histological amoeba is a protozoan parasite that causes a disease called amebiasis. The disease manifests itself by the formation of ulcers in the large intestine, followed by damage to other internal organs. Amoeba infection occurs by the fecal-oral route, after mature cysts from water or food enter the human gastrointestinal tract. Possible transmission of parasites by contact through unwashed hands. Flies can be carriers of amoebae.
Another way to spread amebiasis is through the sexual route (anal intercourse). Symptoms of amebiasis: profuse mucous stools, abdominal pain, blood in stools, weight loss, anemia. In addition, extraintestinal amebiasis is characterized by the formation of abscesses in those organs affected by parasites (lungs, brain, liver, etc. ).
Antiprotozoal medications are prescribed to treat intestinal ambiasis.
The duration of therapy is determined by the severity of the amebiasis.
A disease called gnathostomosis is caused by sexually mature larvae and nematodes Gnathostoma spinigerum. Infection occurs from eating raw fish, frog or poultry meat, as well as drinking non-boiled and uncontaminated water. Symptoms of the disease are manifested in cough and pain at the site of penetration of the larva under the skin, in local inflammation and increase in body temperature.
Severe edema and itching are typical. As a general rule, after a week from the beginning of the symptoms, these disappear, but they recur over the years. Dangerous damage to the eyeball and brain, often fatal. Treatment involves taking anthelmintic drugs and surgery. During the operation, parasites are shed under the skin.
Trichinella
Trichinella are round parasitic worms that in the larval stage live in the muscles (common ocular motor muscle, masticatory, diaphragmatic) and in adulthood, in the lumen of the small intestine. The disease caused by trichinella is called "trichinosis. "It is mortal.
Human infection is caused by the consumption of raw or poorly processed meat from wild and domestic animals. Symptoms include loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. In the future, muscle aches, eyelid swelling, and skin rashes join. Treatment of parasitic infestation is carried out with the help of anthelmintic drugs. At the same time, antihistamines and corticosteroids are prescribed as needed.
Schistosomes
Schistosomes are parasitic worms of the genus Trematodes. They cause a disease called schistosomiasis. Human infection occurs during bathing, in the process of washing clothes or watering the soil with water with larvae of schistosomes.
They can penetrate the human body even through intact skin and mucous membranes. Symptoms in the acute stage of the disease are manifested in a rise in temperature to high levels, itchy skin and the appearance of papules all over the body.
Once the disease becomes chronic, the infected person may show signs of colitis, prostatitis, colitis, ascites, hydronephrosis, etc. Anthelmintic drugs are used to treat the disease. Surgical intervention is required for complications of genitourinary schistosomiasis.
There are many parasites that can harm the human body. Most of them enter their owner's body through the gastrointestinal tract if safe food preparation technology is not followed and basic hygiene procedures are not followed.
Parasites in the body: adaptive properties
- long life expectancy (helminths live in the human body for years and sometimes as long as the host of the parasite lives);
- the ability to suppress or modify the immune response of the host organism (a state of immunodeficiency arises, conditions are created for the penetration of pathogens from the outside, as well as for the "disinhibition" of internal sources of infection);
- many types of helminths, entering the digestive tract, release anti-enzymes, saving them from death; the digestion process is interrupted, toxic allergic reactions of varying severity appear: urticaria, bronchial asthma, atopic dermatitis;
- stages of development (egg, larva, change of owner);
- the ability of eggs to survive for years in the external environment;
- sexual reproduction, in which the exchange of genetic information takes place, and this is already the highest stage of development, leading to an increase in the heterogeneous population, that is, the parasites become less vulnerable;
- lack of immunization methods, as the immune response is weak and unstable;
- widespread helminths, many habitats (water, soil, air, plants and animals).
Prevention of parasites in the body
Preventive measures to prevent parasite infestation should be comprehensive. First of all, it is necessary to follow the basic rules of personal hygiene, eat only washed fruits and vegetables, as well as heat-treated fish and meat, drink only clean water.
Most experts advocate the pharmacological prevention of helminthiasis using pharmaceutical antiparasitic drugs - a parasitologist will help you choose the necessary drug and correctly calculate its dose.
You can complement this therapy with folk remedies that have an anthelmintic effect; for example, eat more onions, garlic, various spices, regularly eat pumpkin seeds.