Parasitic infections – this is a large group of diseases caused by pathogens which are the microorganisms of the class protozoa and helminths (worms). Today there are more than 200 types of parasites, of which 70 species are found on the territory of the european countries and Russia.
The parasites penetrated into the human organism, develop, and are there due to "exploitation" of the resources of his body, instead of poisoning his products, his life, and causing many dysfunctions of organs and systems.
In the first phase of the development of infestation by helminth diagnosis of the disease is practically feasible, because the man does not feel the presence of parasites and her health is satisfactory.
Even some time after, the man still does not feels discomfort from the presence of parasites in the body, only sometimes you can look at the individual smaller problems in the functioning of organs and systems. In this case, the important factor is the attention to their health. Because even a slight discomfort may be the first alarm bell on the development of incipient disease.
Often the infection are diagnosed accidentally, as a result of a physical examination and routine, or when a person is already facing a doctor, as a result of the dynamics of the descendant of the general.
Classification parasites
All of the parasites are divided into:
- simple micro-organisms (giardia, toxoplasma gondii, entamoeba histolytica);
- helminths (ossiuri, ascaris, Toxocara)
Helminths – a very heterogeneous group of parasites, which is characterized by different life cycles, biological characteristics, distribution within the body, and specific development in it. So evaluate helminths according to different principles: its structure, life cycle, depending on the location of parasites and the duration of interaction with the host organism.
Biological principles are:
- Bio-helminths (bovine and pork tapeworm, echinococcus, opisthorchis). Life-cycle of these parasites must be carried out in two or even three intermediate hosts, or in other living organisms.
- Geo-helminths (Ascaris, trichuris trichuris, hookworms). In the course of its development does not require the change of master, are excreted with the feces to the masses in the environment and are localized in the soil, and at a certain temperature and humidity in the eggs develop to larvae. The eggs, which are animated larvae penetrate into the body and what happens is the next stage of their development.
- Contact helminth (pinworm, dwarf tapeworm) parasites are highlighted in the environment with the feces to the masses, and in the case of non-observance of personal hygiene, you become infected via the faecal-oral route through, that is, the eggs of these parasites man swallows. The main source of infection is dirty hands.
To structure the helminths are divided into:
- the nematode or nematodes (ossiuri, roundworms,tricocefalo);
- flukes or flukes (shistosoma, opisthorchis, the siberian cat and plaice);
- cestody or tapeworms (echinococcus, beef, and pork tapeworm).
For location in the body, they are distinguished in:
- intestinal helminths (ossiuri, roundworms, beef, and pork tapeworm);
- out-of-intestinal (alveolar, opisthorchiasis, trichinellosis).
The route of infection parasites
There are various ways to infect the worms:
- Eat meat-based dishes, which were not of high quality of heat treatment, meat can be pests, which are firmly fixed in the muscles, large and small cattle, eating the meat, humans become infected swine and bovine tapeworm, Echinococcus.
- Eat salted, smoked, a little solo and raw fish. In the raw fish are opisthorchis and a tapeworm, because the life cycle of these parasites involves the exchange of a few owners, one of which is the fish.
- The consumption of raw water from unknown sources, wash the dishes, fruits and vegetables in water, for example on holiday.
- When you work in the garden without protective gloves geo-helminths can get at hand, and through the hands in the mouth. In addition, it is possible to be infected by this type of parasites through soil, vegetables, herbs, and berries.
- Through contact with a pet. Dogs and cats are carriers and disseminators of many pests. Above all, you must not let the animal sleep in the same bed with people or allow them to lick the face and hands of a man.
- The source of the infection can become a man infected with an acute form of the helminth.
The symptoms of adult worms
Signs of worms in humans manifest themselves already in an advanced stage of development of the infection. Of course, some of the signals the body emits at the beginning of the disease, especially, in time to pay attention to them and interpret correctly. On the first stages of the penetration of parasites in the body of a person may experience minor symptoms that you may take as a result of other diseases:
- fatigue;
- frequent headaches;
- the increasing weakness;
- irritability;
- sleep disorders;
- the reduction of weight for no apparent reason;
- apathy and depression.
The next phase of development and infestation by helminths, there is a general awareness of the body. On the skin in the beings patient appear to be a different type of precipitation, and the clinical studies of the blood shows an increase of eosinophils, bear witness to the development of an allergic reaction.
When the parasite develops in the adult human and localized in a particular organ, symptoms, specific to the area of the presence of parasites. Often helminths are located in the small or large intestine, so if you experience specific symptoms for the diseases of the gastro – intestinal tract in the form of dyspeptic disorders (fermentation and putrefaction of the phenomena):
- pain in the navel area;
- the loss or deterioration of appetite;
- in some cases, increased appetite;
- flatulence; rumbling and gurgling abdominal;
- constipation and diarrhea;
- vomiting and diarrhea;
- the swelling.
This is followed by the development of anaemia and hypovolaemia, since the man is experiencing a shortage of nutrients, which intercept the pests. In this case, the person feels:
- chronic fatigue;
- dizziness;
- the increasing weakness;
- the headaches.
In severe cases, it was observed the development of serious diseases that require urgent treatment:
- of myocarditis;
- meningoencephalitis;
- pneumonia;
- hepatitis or violation of hemostasis;
- hematuria (blood in the urine);
- reduction in body's defenses (immune system malfunction);
- the violation of the endocrine system;
- the defeat of the lymph nodes.
Reduction in body's defenses increases the likelihood of developing viral and bacterial infections. And parasites cause a delay in physical growth and mental development. The symptoms of worms in human have in common the forecast, however, different types of parasites and their location in the body promotes the development of characteristic symptoms from the affected organs.
The clinical picture with different types of pest infestation
Depending on the elminto, living in the body, the symptoms can be very different.
For example, for the enterobiosi the main symptoms are:
- itching in the anus;
- the pain in the abdominal area;
- wolverina the girls, in case of contact with parasites on the vaginal mucosa.
The initial phase of ascariasis, which is called migration, is manifested in the form of:
- pulmonary diseases: bronchitis, laryngitis, or tracheitis.
When the intestinal form of ascariasis observed:
- nausea and vomiting;
- abdominal pain;
- decreased appetite;
- eruptions on the skin;
- the increase in eosinophils in the blood.
In serious cases can be observed:
- violation of the integrity of the intestinal wall;
- with the subsequent development of peritonitis and appendicitis (in case of contact with ascaris in the appendix);
- liver;
- intestinal obstruction (occlusion of lumen of the intestine).
When infected with a cestode (tape worms) in the defecation process along with feces masses stand out part of the parasite. In this case, you experience the following symptoms:
- nausea and vomiting;
- the increasing weakness;
- dizziness and headaches;
- constipation and diarrhea;
- abdominal pain;
- the reduction of body weight.
With the progression of the disease is observed the development of severe anemia, which is called a deficiency Of vitamin b 12 and iron.
Opisthorchis their presence in the body can result in severe defeat of the bile ducts of the liver, gallbladder and pancreatic ducts. Since the presence of parasites in these organs creates an obstacle to the flow of bile, develops cholecystitis; dyskinesia of the biliary tract, pancreatitis. Inflammatory processes in these organs is accompanied by an increase in temperature indicators, the weight in the right hypochondrium, pain in the area of the gall bladder (biliary colic), nausea and vomiting, and diarrhea. The presence of trichinella in the body causes a heavy defeat muscles: the intercostal, chewing, the muscles of the tongue, throat, eyes, of the diaphragm.
Hookworm, tricocefalo, shistosoma, a tapeworm cause in the body, anemia, intestinal dysbiosis, beri-beri, a disease that is metabolic. And when the urine-sexual schistosomiasis appears to be a symptom, as the urination with blood.
When alveococcosis, echinococcosis, cysticercosis and the initial phase is virtually asymptomatic, however, during the acute stage occurs in the development fester and the gap of small cysts with parasites, which leads to very serious consequences:
- peritonitis;
- pleurisy;
- an anaphylactic shock;
- damage to the blood vessels and chronic hemorrhage (hookworms feed on blood);
- shock the central nervous system.
The nematodes Strongyloides cause the development of allergic reactions, disorders of the biliary tract and violation of the work GASTROINTESTINAL tract.
The test with which it is possible to determine the presence of parasites in the body
With this test it is possible to detect the presence of parasites in the body. For this we need only answer the following questions:
- You look at if you have itching in the anus?
- There are rashes?
- Feel if the nausea?
- Sometimes the vomiting?
- If the insomnia?
- If there is a bitter taste in the mouth? And how often?
- Increased if the lymph nodes?
- How often you experience muscle pain? What is their intensity?
- It is observed whether the loss of body mass?
- It is observed whether the loss of appetite?
- If these symptoms, such as fatigue, tiredness, lack of concentration and integrity?
If you received 10 affirmative answers, then we can assume the presence of helminth infection with a high degree of probability. All of these symptoms occur in the acute stage of the development of the disease. Because in this period the helminths are the most active and significantly affect the body.
Prevention of anti-parasitic infestations
Prevention of helminth first of all, it reduces to the observance of rules of personal hygiene:
- wash your hands often;
- the frequent change of body linen and bed;
- timely and high-quality cleaning of the premises;
- the use of different everyday objects: towels, dishes, etc;
- timely worming animals;
- high quality of heat treatment of meat products and fish;
- the rejection of the consumption of raw fish, delicately take the food salted, dried, smoked, and a little solo of the fish;
- all of the gardening work exercise protective gloves;
- use only clean water for drinking;
- do not swim in unknown waters;
- exercise pharmacological prevention of helminth twice a year: in spring and in autumn.