Dangerous human parasites: Don’t let yourself be destroyed

Many people don't understand why they are asked to take a "worm egg" test when applying for a job. More commonly, patients admitted to the hospital with severe symptoms (vomiting, abdominal, heart, or lung pain, constipation, allergies, or headaches) are surprised by a diagnosis of worm infection. It turns out that parasites are far from safe for humans, and the above symptoms are just the beginning. Let’s get to know them better, shall we?

Parasites are everywhere: external and internal

The word "parasite" comes from the Greek word parasites, meaning parasite. These organisms survive and multiply in the host's organs and tissues, causing severe illness and even death. This infection is called an invasion. Parasites are divided into several categories based on their structure and "habitat", and they are all very dangerous.

ectoparasites

This group includes parasitic organisms that live on or in the skin. They can cause itching, dermatitis, allergies, and carry dangerous infections.

• Head, body and pubic lice use their mouthparts to pierce the host's skin and suck blood. Their infection is called pediculosis. Insects carry dangerous diseases - typhus and relapsing fever.
• Demodex mites (mites) are the causative agent of demodicosis. The length of the parasite is 0. 48 mm, making it invisible to the naked eye. Mites live in human hair follicles and cause inflammation (folliculitis) and dermatitis. Damage to eyebrows and eyelashes can also lead to eye infections.
• As the name suggests, scabies mites cause scabies. Female parasites are 0. 25-0. 38 mm long and bite through the epidermis (skin layer) to lay eggs. Scabies develops in the thickness of the skin. Parasitism can cause itching, rashes and allergic reactions. Affected: armpits, groin area, abdomen, interdigital spaces. The disease spreads quickly because the female lays 3-4 eggs per day and the larvae hatch from the eggs after 2-3 days.

internal parasites

Internal parasites live in the host organs (intestines, kidneys, liver) and blood, causing infection (invasion). There are over 25 species of internal parasites. 15-16 million people die every year through no fault of their own.Internal parasites include worms (helminths) and protozoa. The number of infections has increased in recent years. Hidden forms of parasitism predominate; in 80% of cases, the owner is unaware that the uninvited guest has settled in his body. Deaths from parasitic diseases have also become more frequent. The development of tourism and visits to exotic countries have led to infections with tropical parasites, which under our conditions are difficult to identify and eliminate.

worm

The most common of these parasites are:

• Roundworms are roundworms up to 40 cm long that live in the small intestine. Females lay up to 200, 000 eggs per day. Worms can weaken the body, causing anemia and digestive disorders. When the worms gather into balls, they can clog the intestinal lumen and cause obstruction. Sometimes, huge, tangled balls of roundworms are removed from patients during surgery.
• Tapeworms (Tapeworm) are tapeworms that do not show symptoms for a long time once they enter the body. The growth of worms can cause bloating, anemia, gastrointestinal damage, and intestinal obstruction. People get tapeworms from eating poorly processed fish.
• Pork and cattle tapeworms enter the body when undercooked meat containing worm cysts (larvae) is eaten. The parasite reproduces rapidly, multiplying inside the host's body. Describes the case of a human being infected by 104 pork tapeworms, with a total length of 128 meters. Sometimes, tapeworm larvae begin "walking" throughout the body, causing tissue swelling, high fever, and muscle pain.
• Pinworms are small worms that live in the intestines. They are not as harmless as they seem. The infection causes an allergic reaction; the worms crawl into the appendix, causing inflammation.
• Nematodes are a group of roundworms that live in the intestines. Worms can irritate the intestinal wall and block bile ducts. The human body is home to 45 species of nematodes. The most common are intestinal eels and whipworms.

Some worms live outside the gastrointestinal tract and cause extraintestinal helminthiasis (trematodes, Echinococcus, solium tapeworm cysts). They can cause damage to the nervous system, brain and internal organs. The patient developed symptoms such as fever, swelling, and blood in the urine. Dirofilariasis is dangerous and the parasite lives in the heart. The pain caused by this parasite is similar to the manifestations of ischemic heart disease.

protozoa

In recent years, protozoan parasites have become widespread, affecting a variety of organs and tissues:

• Giardia is an organism that affects the small intestine and causes peristalsis disorders. The disease is usually asymptomatic.
• Trichomonas and Chlamydia are protozoa that cause inflammation of the genitourinary system.
• Blastocystis are intestinal parasites that irritate mucous membranes and reduce immunity.
• Amoeba dysenteriae is the protozoal parasite that causes long-term ulcerative colitis. A person will experience abdominal pain, loose stools, and fever. This disease is dangerous due to intestinal perforation.

How to catch worms: Raw water, exotic food and unwashed hands

There is no need to think that parasites only live in people who cannot take care of themselves and live an anti-social lifestyle. Anyone can become infected, since a person cannot avoid communication with sick people and "parasite carriers". Uninvited guests enter the body through your pet's food, water, dirty hands and insect bites. Infections can be exacerbated by people buying homemade lard, raw meat, dried and smoked fish from unauthorized markets. If hygienic conditions in canteens or cafes are not good, you may become infected. Undercooked meat and fish dishes are dangerous.The parasites also benefit from enthusiasm for Japanese cuisine, in which unheated fish is added. Not all sushi restaurant chefs follow proper hygiene practices. As a result, a person becomes infected with worms.

How to Suspect a Parasitic Infection

When external parasites (lice, scabies, demodex) are present, itching of the skin occurs and worsens at night. Areas of irritation, redness, blisters, and pustules on the skin. Sometimes allergies occur and body temperature may rise.When infected with worms, the clinical picture varies, but in all cases digestive problems (diarrhea or constipation), anemia and weakness occur. Even if appetite increases, weight will decrease, and some people's taste preferences will change, such as liking greasy, salty, etc. This is the body's way of trying to replenish the vitamins and trace elements lost due to worm parasitism.Worm infection is accompanied by abdominal swelling, pain in various parts, and itching around the anus. Sometimes, worms fall out of the anus or come out with the stool during a bowel movement. In severe infections, vomiting may occur as the worms are released. The patient's liver and spleen will become enlarged, and there will be pain in the right or left ribs.With helminthiasis, neurological symptoms caused by poisoning with parasitic waste products are common: insomnia, irritability, persistent fatigue, bruxism (grinding of teeth while sleeping).Parasites can weaken the body, damage the immune system, and cause allergies. Manifestations of bronchial asthma are often associated with the presence of helminths (pinworms, whipworms, echinococcosis).

How to identify dangerous parasites

Identifying and treating dangerous residents alone is impossible, especially since they may exist within a complex and eliminating some will only make room for others. Each clinic has a parasitologist; he treats parasitic infections. If there is no such specialist, you can make an appointment with a therapist.The doctor will prescribe some tests:

• Blood for clinical analysis. With helminthiasis, increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, decreased hemoglobin, and increased eosinophil counts may be observed.
• Biochemical Blood Tests ALT, AST, Alkaline Phosphatase, Thymol Test, Amylase. Increases in these indicators are typical of nematode infection.
• Analyze bile, mucus, sputum, and muscle tissue.

Worm infections often disguise themselves as other illnesses. People undergo surgery and find that their pancreas or liver has been eaten. It is not always possible to cure late-stage patients, so you should not expect miracles - you need to perform the same tests on "worm eggs" in time. To make a diagnosis, an endoscopy of the intestines and stomach is required.Diseases caused by parasitic protozoa are difficult to detect. The infection progresses insidiously and destroys the body until the patient develops severe organ changes.

Treatment of helminthiasis

In order to cure the patient, he needs to get rid of the parasite and its metabolites. Anthelmintic drugs are used during treatment and are selected based on the type of parasite and the patient's condition. This should be done by a doctor, as all anti-helminth tablets contain dangerous substances.To expel large worms, the patient is given a siphon enema. Also make sure that the head of the parasite does not remain inside the body, otherwise the parasite will grow again. To prevent reinfection, anthelmintic treatment is given in several sessions.After expelling the worms, instill solutions, restoratives and vitamins. Restores the function of organs affected by parasites.Lice can be treated with special sprays and mercury ointments. If pubic lice are detected, shave the hair from the groin area.Sulfur ointment, benzyl benzoate, and many other medications are used to treat scabies. Demodicosis can be treated with complex topical medications that include mercury, tar, zinc, and sulfur.

Prevent parasitic infections

To avoid "catching" ectoparasites and endoparasites, you need to:

• Wash hands, vegetables and fruits thoroughly before eating;
• Remove dirt from under nails;
• Do not use other people’s combs, shoes, or household items;
• Do not walk barefoot on public floors and wear a hat when swimming in a swimming pool;
• Do not buy food at "self-service" markets or eat at questionable catering establishments;
• boil or fry meat or fish;
• Monitor the health status of pets and carry out deworming on time;
• When traveling, use insect repellent;
• Upon arrival from a foreign country, undergo a thorough inspection and take tests.

Parasites can quickly infect people, so when parasites are detected, people who live with the patient are tested and, if necessary, treated.In modern clinics you can be tested for worms and consult a general practitioner for quick treatment of parasites.