Parasites are creatures whose existence is directly related to their host. In other words, parasitic organisms live at the expense of the host, exploit it in their own interests and, at the same time, influence it negatively. These creatures are extremely resistant and reproduce at high speed, so fighting them is a very difficult task. This type of living beings includes: viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa. In especially serious cases, parasites take all the juice from their owner, poison him with the products of his vital activity and cause serious damage to his health. How to identify parasites in the human body?
Who are parasites
Parasites are organisms that exist exclusively thanks to the host organism and at the same time negatively affect it. This includes several types of bacteria, fungi, protozoa and worms. Bacteria have the smallest size. Despite this, they can be agents that cause very serious diseases, including:
- Prague
- typhus
- tuberculosis
- tetanus
- meningitis, etc.
Fungal parasites are the next most developed organisms of this type. There are up to a hundred species of pathogenic fungi. They are slightly larger than bacteria and, unlike them, have excellent protection against environmental factors, as well as being endowed with good adaptation to changes in environmental conditions. They are divided into two groups: filamentous fungi and yeasts. The most prominent representative of this type of parasite is the Candida fungus. They affect the host's skin, nails and mucous membranes and are the causative agent of candidiasis.
The most popular parasites are helminths. They include many species that live in different host systems. The roundworm, trichina, causes a disease called trichinosis. This disease can affect humans and pigs. Tapeworms, which belong to the flatworm class, are intestinal parasites. They live in the digestive system of the host organism and feed at its expense.
Most often, their hosts are vertebrates: humans, cats, dogs, fish. Tapeworms have special suction cups with which they attach themselves to the intestinal walls. They absorb nutrients throughout the body, as their primitive structure does not provide a digestive tract or sense organs.
There are many tapeworms. The length of these parasites varies from a tenth of a centimeter to nine meters. The structure of their body is also varied: they can be a whole organism or consist of segments connected together in a chain. Flatworms are hermaphrodites - each representative of this species is male and female at the same time.
An equally common type of parasitic roundworm is the nematode. The most famous among them: roundworms, pinworms, trichinella. Unlike tapeworms, they have an oral cavity, through which they feed on nutrients stolen from the host. Most of them are heterosexual, but just like tapeworms, among them are hermaphrodites - organisms that have sexual characteristics of both sexes.
Parasites are organisms that live exclusively at the expense of their host. Unlike other organisms that live in symbiosis with the human body, they cause constant damage to it as a result of their vital activity. Parasites include: protozoa, bacteria, fungi, helminths.
Ways of parasite infection
There are many ways in which parasites can enter the human body, the main ones are:
- nutritional– through contaminated food and water;
- home contact– infection occurs through contact with contaminated objects, family members, pets;
- transmissible– infection that occurs through insects that feed on blood;
- active– the parasite enters the human body during interaction with contaminated soil or when swimming in a lake.
Nutritional
Among helminths transmitted through food, it is necessary to separately highlight those that are transmitted through meat products. The most dangerous of them are pork and bovine tapeworms. The bovine tapeworm can live in the human body for up to ten years, reaching three to ten meters in length. The pork tapeworm, settling in the intestine and beginning to multiply, infects the entire human body with the help of its cysticercus larvae.
Additionally, the meat of some animals may be contaminated with Trichinella. A few days after trichinella enters the human body, it develops a serious illness - trichinosis. It often ends in death. When buying meat, you should always pay attention to the seller. As he is a person directly linked to food, his responsibilities include regular medical examinations and strict compliance with health standards. Unfortunately, in our time few people monitor this, which is why such foci of the disease appear.
In addition, from the point of view of helminth infection, freshwater fish is a dangerous product. For example, cyprinids can cause a disease such as opisthorchiasis. The eggs of this parasite enter the fish through river molluscs and have practically no effect on the fish itself - it simply serves as a carrier of the parasite.
Dried, smoked or dried fish poses a serious danger. Raw pike caviar, for example, can be infected by tapeworm. Diphyllobothriasis is a disease caused by this worm. The large tapeworm can reach up to ten meters in length and parasitize the small intestine for decades.
Contact and family
The best-known helminths that spread in this way are pinworms and roundworms. Violation of hygiene rules is the main cause of enterobiasis and ascariasis. A child infected with pinworms scratches his anus during sleep, because the female pinworm comes out to lay eggs, after which various household items and clothes become infected.
If the infection is not detected quickly, all family members may suffer from the disease. Giardiasis can be contracted by drinking contaminated water. This parasite can survive even in chlorinated water. Also, household items: toys, dishes can serve as a source of infection with these parasites.
Transmissible route of infection
Filariasis is a type of helminthiasis that can be transmitted through certain species of mosquitoes common in tropical and subtropical climates. Malaria, or yellow fever, is a deadly disease that is also transmitted by mosquitoes. Filaria can live in the blood and lymph, causing several negative reactions in the host.
Active route of infection
In this case, the parasites infect a person through direct contact with contaminated water or soil. For example, hookworm is a parasite that can be contracted simply by walking barefoot on contaminated soil.
There are many ways of parasite infection, among which there are four main ones. To somehow protect yourself from infections, you must carefully follow the rules of personal hygiene and try not to eat suspicious foods, especially meat.
How to identify parasites in the body
Symptoms when the body is infected with parasites can be very different. Parasites can be identified when the following signs appear:
- Cold. Due to their size and large number, some types of worms can cause blockage of various body systems: the bile duct, intestines. These blockages lead to a certain type of disease and, in especially severe cases, require surgical intervention.
- Diarrhea. Parasites, which as a result of their vital activity produce substances similar to prostaglandin, cause frequent and loose stools in the host.
- Swelling. Throughout life, worms can often cause inflammation in the intestines. These inflammatory processes cause excessive gas formation, which leads to bloating.
- Allergy. The damaged lining of the gastrointestinal tract can cause undigested food molecules to enter the blood. In this case, the immune system comes into action and, as a result of its reaction, a large number of eosinophils, cells that cause inflammation, are released into the blood, indicating an allergic reaction in the body.
- Bad skin. Many different skin diseases can be caused by organisms that parasitize the skin.
- Weight Problems. Deviations in weight from the norm, both up and down, can serve as a sign of the presence of parasites in the body. Weight loss occurs due to indigestion and loss of appetite. Some helminths reduce blood sugar levels, causing the host to feel an uncontrollable feeling of hunger, which leads to obesity.
- Chronic fatigue. Weakness, flu-like conditions, apathy, lack of concentration and memory are signs that often occur with poor nutrition. In the case of helminth infection, the functionality of the digestive system is impaired and, therefore, the absorption of various nutrients is impaired, which leads to chronic fatigue.
- Airway inflammation. Some types of worms move throughout the human body, including the respiratory system. In some cases, they cause disturbances in the lungs, causing cough and fever. Roundworms can even cause illnesses like pneumonia.
- Nervousness. The human nervous system can be seriously damaged as a result of exposure to helminth waste. Various nervous disorders are a sign of helminth poisoning in the body.
Identifying parasites in the human body is not entirely easy. Although the signs of its presence in the body are quite obvious, they can be incorrectly interpreted and attributed to a completely different disease. Therefore, the best way to detect parasites in the body is to consult a doctor and undergo the necessary tests.
Parasites are various organisms that live by parasitizing other living beings. As a result of their vital activity, the host's viability significantly decreases. There are many ways to become infected with parasites: they literally surround a person. The symptoms of the infection are quite varied and if you suspect a parasite infection, you should see a doctor and get tested.