Many diseases and disorders are caused by parasites in the human body;symptoms may not appear for years, so most people do not realize that they are carriers of certain harmful organisms.There are many types of parasitic worms for which the human body is a natural habitat.
Parasites get their name from their feeding habits.Unlike bacteria involved in the digestive process and in symbiosis with humans, parasites do not benefit the host.They steal nutrients and also cause some diseases during their life process.
The main types of parasites found in humans
There are many types of parasites that can live and multiply in the human body, and they can enter the body in many ways.Many people believe that they wash their hands and food enough to avoid acquiring such "freeloaders", but, as practice shows, even the most extreme measures cannot protect a person completely.
Statistics show that more than 95% of the world's population is infected with one or another type of parasite.
The diversity of human endoparasites is so great that not all possible invasions have been studied at this time.More than 250 species of parasitic worms alone are currently known, and they can live not only in the intestine, but also in other organs, including the brain, heart, lungs, liver, muscle fibers, hair and nails.In fact, any organ of the human body can easily become a home for various types of parasites.There are several parasites that are often found in humans.
- Ringworm.According to statistics, about 100 million people are infected with this parasite every year.As a rule, damage occurs due to the consumption of unwashed vegetables, as well as through contaminated objects.Roundworms attack brain tissue, intestines, eyes, heart, lungs and liver.These organisms feed on red blood cells and nutrients.Can be spread not only by humans, but also by animals
- pinworms.Common parasites in children.Infection, as a rule, occurs through dirty hands, contaminated household items, soft toys, etc.Pinworms live in the large and small intestines.Pinworm eggs mature quickly.Adults rarely reach a size larger than 1 cm.
- tapeworm.Tapeworms include a large group of parasites, including cattle, pork, dogs, dwarf tapeworms, and broad tapeworms.These organisms do not have their own digestive system, so they suck nutrients from the body.These organisms especially like vitamin B12 and folic acid, so patients with such parasites have a significant deficiency of these elements.
- Toxocara.A parasite that usually attacks dogs, but can be transmitted to humans through close contact with animals.The length of an adult individual can be 30 cm.Almost all organs and tissues can be affected, but the prognosis is very poor if the eyeball is affected, as this option requires surgery to remove the affected eye.
- Alveococcus and Echinococcus.These microorganisms usually enter the human body through contact with infected animal carriers or their feces.Often the carrier is a fox.In the human body, these parasites can enter any organ, but they especially like the liver and lungs.They then form cysts that contain entire colonies of these organisms.Cyst rupture can trigger an acute allergic reaction and anaphylactic shock.
- Hook worm.The parasite looks very similar to a roundworm.Infection usually occurs through the skin when walking barefoot and through unwashed vegetables and fruits.
- Ringworm.The entire group of parasites that can reach 40 cm in length.Can affect almost all organs and tissues.In the process of their life, they release toxic waste into the bloodstream.A roundworm representative, Trichinella, is the causative agent of trichinosis.This disease is very dangerous and has a severe course, therefore in 30% of cases it leads to the death of the patient.
- whipworm.This parasite is the causative agent of trichocephalosis.Damage occurs when consuming food and water contaminated with pathogenic eggs.In addition, infection can occur through household items.Whipworm larvae feed on blood and lymph, which they suck from the intestinal capillary walls.The lifespan of the parasite is about 5 years.
- Trematodes.This is a common type of flatworm that can parasitize lung tissue, blood vessels, intestines and liver.As a rule, infection with this parasite occurs through the consumption of insufficiently processed fish or crab meat.
Symptoms of parasite infestation
Parasites, to live normally in the human body, are attached to the walls of organs using chitinous plastic, hooks, hard hairs, suction cups, which irritate the tissue, causing an inflammatory process.In addition, these organisms steal nutrients, suppress the immune system, poison the body with waste products, and under certain conditions can eat healthy tissue, causing widespread damage.
Parasites can exist in the body for a long time without causing obvious manifestations, but in cases of frequent overwork, hypothermia, weak immunity and other unfavorable conditions, they can reveal their presence.There are several symptoms that are common in people with parasitic infestations, including:
- general weakness and chronic fatigue;
- sudden weight loss or, conversely, weight gain;
- constant hunger;
- problems with stool;
- headaches and migraines;
- muscle pain;
- joint pain;
- various skin manifestations;
- insomnia;
- decreased immune system;
- allergic reactions;
- increased anxiety;
- performance declines.
The level of intensity of the manifestation of parasites in the body depends not only on the type of parasite, but also on the degree of damage to certain tissues by them.For example, if there are parasites in the liver, symptoms of liver failure may occur.When these organisms damage the lungs, a severe cough and even signs of shortness of breath may occur.In the case of parasitic damage to the brain, the manifestations can be very diverse, including seizures, convulsions, etc.Signs of the presence of parasites in the human body may not show obvious symptoms for a long time, therefore, to accurately determine the presence of parasites, preventive diagnostics should be carried out from time to time.
Principles of treatment of parasitic infestation
To effectively treat parasite infestation, it is first necessary to determine the type of parasite.Often used to identify parasites:
- blood test for the presence of parasite eggs;
- histology program;
- hemoscanning;
- serological studies.
All medical anthelmintic drugs can be divided into those containing chemical synthesis substances and herbal drugs.The treatment of parasite infestation is often a very difficult task, because chemicals, although effective in most cases, are still very toxic and therefore dangerous not only for the parasite, but also for the human body.An antiparasitic drug regimen should be prescribed by a doctor after identifying the type of parasite.Herbal preparations are safer because they contain natural poisons that cannot be tolerated by parasites, but are harmless to humans.However, the disadvantages of such agents include the fact that they are not effective against all types of parasitic infestations.
Methods to prevent parasite infestation
In fact, it is very difficult to completely protect yourself from parasitic infections, because their eggs are very resilient and can remain without a host for a long time.At the same time, there are some rules that can significantly reduce the risk of infection.First of all, you need to take care of your hygiene and wash your hands thoroughly before eating.
In addition, you should always carry antibacterial wipes with you, which will be very useful in cases where it is not possible to wash your hands or disinfect surfaces.
Products can only be purchased in specialized stores that have all the certificates confirming their safety.All vegetables, including leafy ones, and fruits should be rinsed with boiling water before eating.Beef, pork and chicken, as well as fish and crustacean meat, must be cooked properly.If boiling or frying is intended, it is very important not to taste raw meat.Inadequately salted fish meat can cause parasitic infections, so you should not eat such a dish if it has not been kept in a salt solution for a sufficient period of time.
If there are pets in the house, they should be given preventive vaccinations that will protect the animal and its owner from the spread of parasites.Preventive tests to detect the presence of parasites help avoid dangerous complications.