Parasites are constantly present in the human body.These can be pathogenic worms and amoebas, and protozoa that do not cause disease and sometimes help to deal with bacterial flora.A threat to health is represented by parasites that feed on the host, injure internal organs and disrupt the functions of vital systems.
Classification of human parasites
Human parasites can be of several types.Protozoa, arthropods and helminths live mainly inside the body and on its surface.Some organisms are constant companions of humans, others use them as a temporary reservoir for the transition to the next stage of development.
True parasites cannot live without a host and die in a free environment.Fakes can feel the same on the human body, soil, water and surrounding objects.There are also hyperparasites that settle inside similar creatures and live off them.Depending on the location, parasites are divided into:
- Internal.They are endoparasites that feed on intestinal juices, organ tissues, blood and lymph.
- External.They are called ectoparasites, they live on the body, in the hair and in the folds of the skin.
- Tissue.Its habitat is internal organs (liver, heart, lungs, gallbladder, brain).
- Cavity.These parasites live, feed and reproduce in the intestines and stomach.
- Intracellular or blood.They are usually microscopic in size and are found in biological fluids.
Observation!
In addition to the general classification, there is an individual division of all types of parasites into species and classes.Protozoa can be represented by ciliates, sarcodes and amoebas.Worms are divided into flukes, tapeworms and roundworms.Arthropods include insects, arachnids, and bloodsuckers.
What parasites do humans have?
People are equally infected with protozoa and helminths.Bugs are mainly diagnosed in socially disadvantaged individuals.Adults, unlike children, can be infected with all known parasites.This is due to the variety of diets and the opportunity to travel.Many are deceived by the misleading belief that parasitic diseases are mainly diagnosed in childhood.In fact, they are detected more often at an early age, but adults get sick just as often as children;its clinical signs of invasion can simply be erased.
Protozoa and their location
These single-celled parasites have lived in the bodies of adults for decades;they are studied by the science of protozoology.They can cause specific infections and general illnesses.Active individuals are called trophozoites and generally have flagella for locomotion.To continue the life cycle, protozoa have the ability to enclose themselves in capsules (cysts).These forms are immobile and persist for a long time in the external environment and in unfavorable conditions.
Many flagellate species parasitize adults.They have microscopic sizes and different locations:
- Trichomonas affects the genitourinary system, oral cavity and prostate in men;
- intestinal balantidia live in the lumen of the large intestine;
- Giardia parasitizes the liver, bile ducts and intestines;
- malaria plasmodia destroy blood cells;
- toxoplasma spreads through the bloodstream to all organs, including the brain;
- trypanosomes attack the brain and cause “sleeping sickness”;
- Leishmania settles in the lymph nodes, spleen, liver and bone marrow;
- Dysenteric amoebae live in the large intestine.
All species of protozoan parasites have a similar life cycle, which occurs by changing from the vegetative stage to the cyst stage.Reproduction in unicellular organisms occurs both sexually and asexually.
Observation!
Protozoa are true parasites and in the trophozoite phase they cannot exist without a permanent or intermediate host.
Diseases caused by parasites of the worm class
The presence of round and flat worms is often detected in the body of adults.They differ in size, functional characteristics and degree of negative impact on organs and systems.
Nematodes
There can be several types of these parasites in humans.They belong to the roundworm class and have a spindle-like appearance.Worms feel free in the host's body and in an open environment.Among the common nematode pathogens:
- Ascaris.It lives in the small intestine, measures 20 to 40 cm in length and reproduces sexually.
- Pinworm.A small worm, no more than 12 mm long.It affects the intestines and can deposit up to 15,000 eggs per day.The male dies after mating, the female after deposition of the larvae.
- Hookworm.It lives in the jejunum and duodenum.This parasite inside a person can suck up to 0.3 ml of blood per day, damaging the intestinal wall with sharp teeth.
- Whipworm.The worm, up to 5 cm long, lives in the intestine and, thanks to its unique body structure, sucks juices from the thickness of its walls.
- Trichinella.This is an intramuscular parasite up to 4 mm in size that causes the dangerous disease trichinosis in humans.Trichinella looks like a spiral and is a viviparous helminth.
- Guinea worm.This parasite in the human body reaches 1 meter in length and looks like a thin white thread.The location of Guinea worm can be in the subcutaneous layer of the legs, back or lower abdomen.
- Filaria.They enter the body through bites from infected mosquitoes, mosquitoes and flies.The habitat of filariae is the entire circulatory and lymphatic system.They block the blood vessels of the heart, lungs and other organs, causing obstruction.
- Toxocara.The worm larvae migrate throughout the body and infect the heart, lungs, liver and brain.The size of adult helminths reaches 18 cm.
- Intestinal eel.The causative agent of strongyloidiasis lives in the intestines in the mature phase.Eel larvae can spread throughout the human body through the bloodstream.
Important!
The negative impact on the body of roundworms is due to their mechanical and toxic effects.
Trematodes
They are parasites that live in humans and have their second name by chance.There are several types of these flatworms.They cause different diseases but have similar structure.All worms have a leaf-shaped body with two suckers.Trematodes do not have an anus;the digested food is thrown out through the mouth.
Trematode parasites affect the body depending on location.Liver, lanceolate, and cat flukes affect the liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts.Lungworm lives in the lungs, bloodworm lives in blood vessels.
Observation!
Worms always have an intermediate host in the form of a variety of molluscs.
Cestodes
This type includes helminths from the tapeworm or tapeworm class.They have a special structure and look like a chain of their individual fragments (strobiles).Cestodes parasitize the intestines and release large amounts of toxins into the body.
Among the worms of this class common in adults are:
- Wide ribbon.The largest parasite, up to 15 meters long, absorbs nutrients throughout the body and poisons the body with its toxins.
- Pork tapeworm.It is the causative agent of taeniasis, reaches 3 meters in length and is “armed” with several hooks.
- The bull tapeworm consists of more than a thousand segments and grows up to 10 meters.
- Dwarf tapeworm.The size of the worm does not exceed 5 cm;lives in the human body for about 2 months and then dies.
- Echinococci and alveococci.Helminths cause liver and lung disease and can form larval blisters on internal organs.
Observation!
Cestodes are particularly dangerous due to their ability to parasitize in the form of cysticerci.They are encapsulated larvae that are transported to all organs through the bloodstream, causing mass invasion.
External parasites
The most common ectoparasite that lives in the human body is the louse.It lives on the scalp, armpits, groin, beard and even eyelashes and eyebrows.The disease caused by parasites is called pediculosis.Depending on the location, body, pubic and head lice are distinguished.You can get rid of insects using external means in the form of shampoos, ointments and solutions.
Important!
The danger of lice lies in their ability to transmit typhus, which is a serious infectious disease, through saliva.
Symptoms of parasites in the human body
With external insects like lice and fleas, everything is clear;They manifest as local itching and the formation of wounds at the bite sites.Internal parasites cause a more varied clinical picture.It depends on the location of the foreign organisms, their size and the scale of the invasion.
Hundreds of worms and protozoa of the same or different species can parasitize humans simultaneously.The parasites can live in humans unnoticed for several years and cause no specific symptoms.Common signs of infestation often include:
- nausea;
- vomiting;
- constipation or diarrhea;
- weakness;
- headache;
- changes in appetite in the direction of its increase or decrease;
- anemia for no apparent reason;
- increased nervousness;
- sleep disorders;
- stomach pain;
- taste perversion.
With liver damage, the clinical picture is complemented by pain in the right hypochondrium, yellowing of the skin and bitterness in the mouth.Filariasis is manifested by signs of heart and respiratory failure, toxoplasmosis is accompanied by disturbances in the functioning of the central nervous system.In trichinosis, the muscles are affected.
When the genitourinary system is affected by protozoa, signs of infection in women are manifested by frequent urination, vaginal and urethral discharge, and itching.In intestinal infestations, symptoms of infection in adults may take years to appear, during which time the parasites multiply and weaken the human immune system, which contributes to the development of chronic and systemic diseases.
Symptoms of the presence of protozoa in the body usually include fever, headaches and allergic reactions.Often, one of the first signs of parasites in the body is a rash on the body and itchy skin.This is due to the human body's response to foreign proteins.
Important!
The general signs of the presence of parasites in the body in the early stages may be similar to intestinal infections, dermatitis and digestive disorders.
Why are parasites dangerous?
In humans, infection by parasites can cause various reactions and complications.If the invasion is caused by small helminths, the risk of complications is very small.When infected with large species of worms or highly pathogenic protozoa, the damage to health can be unpredictable.
In addition to specific diseases, which sometimes have a serious course, strange individuals cause serious dysfunctions in vital systems.The toxins that parasites release into the blood affect the central nervous system and poison the body.Large helminths have a negative mechanical effect on organs.Many doctors believe that these tissue injuries lead to oncology and tumors.In addition, parasites cause ulcerative lesions in the intestines and stomach, bronchitis and pneumonia, cystitis and pancreatitis, cholecystitis and colitis.
Important!
Sometimes symptoms of large worms in adults can manifest themselves in the form of acute abdomen.This happens when worms damage the intestinal lining and develop peritonitis.
Sources of possible infection and preventive measures
There are many ways to become infected with parasites.People are exposed to infection every day.When eating undercooked meat and fish, there is a risk of contracting helminths such as tapeworms and trichinella.If you don't wash your hands or fruits and vegetables well, you can introduce pinworm eggs, roundworms, toxocara and other worms into your mouth.When visiting exotic countries, you can become infected with rare parasites such as Guinea worm, malaria plasmodium and trypanosomes.
The carriers of the infection are domestic and wild animals, hematophagous animals, crustaceans and molluscs, as well as ants.Prevention consists of reducing the risk of infection by maintaining hand hygiene and appropriate heat treatment of meat and fish products.
Important!
Tourism lovers should first study the ways of infection by parasites living in a particular country.
Diagnosis
Sometimes it is possible to detect an invasion into the body simply by submitting biological fluids and feces for analysis, as well as studying the anamnesis.But not all parasites manifest clinical symptoms and form larvae.Therefore, PCR and ELISA are recognized as the best diagnostic methods.These are immunological tests that can detect DNA from parasites and antibodies against them in venous blood.
Computer diagnostics are also popular now, but they only help to establish the fact of infection, without identifying the specific pathogen.Hemoscanning of the blood is now also necessary, which is carried out by repeatedly enlarging the biological material.
Duodenal intubation helps to find out everything about the parasites in the liver.During the procedure, bile is collected followed by laboratory tests.In the case of echinococcosis in the phase of blister formation in the liver and lungs, the body is diagnosed using ultrasound, MRI and X-ray.Intestinal samples can be seen during colonoscopy.
Important!
Modern techniques make it possible to detect invasion already at the appearance of the first signs of infection, therefore, to prevent the development of complications, you should consult a doctor as early as possible.
Therapy methods
To combat invasions, they use medicinal treatment of parasites in the human body, a diet limiting flour, sweets, alcohol, as well as their own techniques.A collection with cloves, tansy and wormwood helps fight diseases.The method based on drinking sweet tea with brandy (1 tablespoon per glass) on an empty stomach, followed by the use of a laxative, has also proven itself.
Pharmaceutical medicines for parasites are available in the form of suspensions, tablets, suppositories and injectable solutions.For protozoa, adults are given antiprotozoal medications.
Parasites need to be treated for up to 5 days.
To remove worms such as roundworms with medication, a single use of anthelmintic tablets is sometimes sufficient.They destroy the worms from the inside, paralyzing their muscular system.It is more difficult to cure a person from worms, echinococci and alveococci.The course of treatment for the body sometimes lasts up to 6 months.
To get rid of parasites forever, you need to take medications according to the regimen prescribed by your doctor.
Important!
Self-medication with pharmaceutical medications is highly discouraged due to the possible worsening of the condition.Sometimes the first signs of parasite death are manifested by the release of toxins into the blood, which requires additional detoxification therapy.
Treatment with folk remedies
If parasites that cause specific infections, such as malaria, toxoplasmosis or trichomoniasis, appear in the body, treatment with home recipes is out of the question.In these cases, qualified medical assistance is required.
Observation!
Traditional medicine can be used for preventive purposes or as auxiliary therapy.
To get rid of infestations, natural remedies based on herbs, flowers and products with a high content of essential oils are used.
You may be treated for parasites:
- wormwood infusion (one tablespoon per liter of boiling water);
- tansy decoction (20 grams of herb per 500 ml of boiling water);
- garlic milk (one head of garlic per 250 ml of hot milk);
- onion porridge (chop two onions and mix with vegetable oil);
- pumpkin seed dessert (mix a glass of kernels with half a glass of honey);
- pumpkin puree (steam 1 kg of pulp in the oven for an hour and blend).
Natural remedies should be consumed for at least 10 days, one tablespoon before each full meal.
Reviews about parasite treatment
- "I feed my whole family with pumpkin seeds. I dry them at room temperature, mix them with any jam, condensed milk or honey and serve them with tea. This way, no one suffers from parasites."
- "My husband had a stomach ache near his navel for a whole year, he had nausea, he did a lot of tests and found nothing. Recently, a doctor from a paid clinic prescribed a broad-spectrum anthelmintic, my husband took a pill and after a week the pain stopped."
- "For prevention purposes, every autumn I take an anthelmintic, as at the dacha I sometimes eat greens straight from the bush. The suspension is cheap, has a good taste and is well tolerated."