Parasitic infections are a large group of diseases, pathogens, which are microorganisms of the class protozoa and helminths (worms). Up to now, there are more than 200 species of parasites, of which 70 species are found in European countries and in Russia.
Parasites penetrated into the human body, develops and exists due to the "exploitation" of the resources of the body instead of poisoning it with their waste products and causing the defacement of numerous organs and systems.
In the first phase of the development of helminth infection disease diagnosis is not feasible, because one still does not feel the presence of parasites and his condition is satisfactory.
Also after some time, people still have the pain due to the presence of parasites in the body, only sometimes you may encounter some minor problems in certain organs and organic systems. In this case, the important factor is attention to your health. Even a slight illness may be the first alarming signal about the development of the disease starts.
It is most commonly the infection is diagnosed by accident, the result of a routine medical examination or when the person has already sought medical care due to the rapid deterioration of the General condition.
The classification of the 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 cycles, biological properties, distribution in the body and the specific development in him. So klassificeret worms on different principles: structure, life cycle, depending on the location of parasites and the duration of interactions with the host organism.
Biological principles, which are divided in:
- Bio-helminths (beef and pork tapeworm, Echinococcus, opisthorchis). The life cycle of these parasites should be carried out in two or even three intermediate hosts, i.e. other living organisms.
- Geo-helminths (Ascaris, whipworm, Ancylostoma). In the course of its development does not require changes to the owner, they are excreted along with feces in the environment and are localized in the ground, and at a certain temperature and humidity in eggs and development of larvae. Eggs containing live larvae enter the body and are the next step in their development.
- Pin worms (pinworm, dwarf tapeworm) these parasites who stand out in the environment together with the feces, and lack of personal hygiene, an infection is the oral-fecal route, it is the eggs of these parasites a person who swallows. The main source of infection is dirty hands.
The structure of the helminths are divided into:
- nematode 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).
At the location in the organism are distinguished:
- intestinal worms (pinworms, roundworm, beef and pork tapeworm);
- non-intestinal (alveolar, opisthorchiasis, species of Trichinella).
Methods of infection with parasites
There are different ways of contracting worms:
- The eating of meat dishes, which is not subjected to quality heat treatment, meat can contain parasites, which are strictly determined in the muscles of large and small cattle, eating the meat of infected people, swine, and cattle tapeworm, Echinococcus.
- Consumption of salted, smoked, a little solo and raw fish. In raw fish are opisthorchis and tapeworm, as it is the life cycle of these parasites, which involves 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 holiday.
- At work in the garden without protective gloves geo-helminths can get on the hands, arms and mouth. You can also get infected with this type of parasites through the dirty vegetables, herbs and berries.
- After contact with the animal. Domestic dogs and cats are carriers of many parasites. Especially do not allow Pets to sleep in the same bed with people, or allow them to lick the hands and face of the person.
- The source of infection people can become infected with the acute form of helminthiasis.
Symptoms of worms in adult education
Signs of worms in humans occur already in the late stage of infection. Of course, some of the signals your body gives at the very beginning of the disease, it is time to pay attention to them and interpreted correctly. At the first stages of the penetration of parasites in the human body, you may experience small symptoms, which can be taken as a result of other diseases:
- fatigue;
- frequent headaches;
- increase the nausea;
- irritability;
- sleep disorders;
- weight loss for no apparent reason;
- apathy and depression.
In the next phase of development of the helminth infection, there is a General Allergy of the body. On the skin of the patient appear different types of eruptions, and clinical blood tests reveal an increase of eosinophils, which indicates the development of allergic reactions.
When the parasite develops into an adult and is localized in a particular organ, symptoms appear, characteristic for the presence of parasites. Most often, the worms are placed in a thin or large intestine, therefore, a problem specific to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in the form of dyspepsia (fermentative and putrefactive phenomena):
- pain in the navel;
- loss or loss of appetite;
- in some cases, increased appetite;
- flatulence; rumbling and gurgling in the abdomen;
- constipation and diarrhea;
- vomiting and diarrhea;
- bloating.
In addition, the development of anemia and vitamin a deficiency, because the person does not have the nutrients that the interception of parasites. In this case, the person feels:
- chronic fatigue;
- dizziness;
- increase the nausea;
- headaches.
In severe advanced cases, observed the development of serious illnesses, which require emergency treatment:
- allergic myocarditis;
- meningoencephalitis;
- pneumonia;
- hepatitis, or disorder of hemostasis;
- hematuria (blood in urine);
- the decrease in the protective forces of the body (failure of the immune system);
- disorders in the endocrine system;
- lymph nodes.
The reduction of protective forces of the body, increases the likelihood of, viral and bacterial infections. But in children, the parasites which cause delays in physical growth and mental development. Symptoms of worms in humans are common, but different types of parasites and their localization in the body contributes to the development of characteristic symptoms in the affected organs.
The clinical picture in invasion of various kinds of parasites
Depending on the helminth living within the body, the symptoms can be very diverse.
For example, when enterobiasis most important symptoms are:
- itching in the anus;
- pain in the abdomen;
- wolverina girls, who are in contact with parasites on the vaginal mucosa.
In the initial phase of ascariasis, which is called migration, which is manifested in the form of:
- pulmonary diseases: bronchitis, laryngitis, or tracheitis.
Intestinal form of ascariasis observed:
- nausea and vomiting;
- pain in the abdomen;
- reduction of appetite;
- damage to your skin;
- the increase in eosinophils in the blood.
In severe advanced cases, which is taken into account:
- violation of the integrity of the intestinal wall;
- with the further development of peritonitis and appendicitis (in contact with Ascaris in the Appendix);
- liver;
- obstruction of the bowel (the blockage in the lumen of the intestine).
During infection of the cestode (tapeworms) in the process of defecation along with stool stand out part of the parasite. In this case, the following issues may occur:
- nausea and vomiting;
- increase the nausea;
- dizziness and headache;
- constipation and diarrhea;
- pain in the abdomen;
- weight reduction.
With the progression of the disease is severe anemia caused by a lack of vitamin b 12 and iron.
Opisthorchis its presence in the body can cause serious damage to the bile ducts of the liver, gallbladder and ducts of the pancreas. Because the presence of parasites in these organs, creating an obstacle for the outflow of the bile, the development of cholecystitis, biliary dyskinesia, pancreatitis. The inflammatory processes in these organs, accompanied by a rise 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 causes severe damage to muscles: intercostal, chewing, the muscles of the tongue, the throat, the eyes, the diaphragm.
Hookworm, vlasoglavy, shistosoma, a tapeworm in the body cause anemia, intestinal dysbiosis, deficiency, metabolic disorders. And in the urine-sexual schistosomiasis appears this problem is urinating with blood.
When alveococcosis, echinococcosis, cysticercosis initial stage, is almost asymptomatic, but when the acute stage development going on to suppuration and rupture of small cysts with parasites, which leads to very serious consequences.
- in the peritonitis;
- pneumonia;
- anaphylactic shock;
- damage to the blood vessels and chronic bleeding from them (hookworm feed on blood);
- the Central nervous system.
Roundworms Strongyloides elicit the development of allergic reactions, pathology of the biliary tract and disorders in the digestive tract.
Test to determine the presence of parasites in the body
With this test, we can detect the presence of parasites in the body. For this you'll need to answer the following questions:
- You have itching in the anus?
- Are there any skin rash?
- Do you feel nausea?
- Is there vomiting?
- If the insomnia?
- Is there a bitter taste in your mouth? And how often?
- The enlarged lymph nodes?
- How often are the pain in the muscles? What is their intensity?
- Or is weight loss?
- Is there loss of appetite?
- If symptoms, such as tiredness, fatigue, reduced concentration and efficiency?
If the received 10 positive responses, we can conclude that the presence of helminth infection with a high degree of probability. All these symptoms observed in the acute stage of the disease. Because in this period the worms are most active and have a great impact on the body.
The prevention of anti-worm infestations
Prevention of helminthiasis in particular comes to personal hygiene:
- washing your hands often;
- frequent changes of linen and bedding;
- timely and high-quality cleaning of the premises;
- the use of individual household items: towels, accessories, etc;
- timely deworming of domestic animals;
- quality heat treatment of meat products and fish;
- the rejection of the use of raw fish, gently eat salted, dried, smoked, and little salt fish;
- all garden work protective gloves;
- use only clean water for drinking;
- do not swim in unfamiliar waters.
- for the implementation of the drug prevention of helminthiasis twice a year: in spring and autumn.