Many diseases and disorders are caused by parasites in the human body;symptoms may not appear for many years, so most people do not even realize they are carriers of some 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 a number of diseases during their life processes.
The main types of parasites found in humans
There are many types of parasites that can live and reproduce in the human body and can enter the body in different ways.Many people believe that they wash their hands and food enough to avoid getting "free loaders", but, as practice shows, even the most extreme measures are not able to fully protect a person.
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 at the moment not all possible invasions have been studied.Currently, only more than 250 species of parasitic worms are known, which can live not only in the intestines, 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 many types of parasites.There are quite a few parasites that are commonly found in humans.
- Roundworms.According to statistics, approximately 100 million people are infected with this parasite every year.As a rule, damage occurs due to the ingestion of unwashed vegetables, as well as through contaminated objects.Roundworms attack tissues of the brain, intestines, eyes, heart, lungs and liver.These organisms feed on red blood cells and nutrients.It can spread not only from humans, but also from animals
- Red worms.A common parasite in children's groups.Infection, as a rule, occurs through dirty hands, contaminated household items, soft toys, etc.Pinworms live in the large and small intestines.Worm eggs mature quickly.Adults rarely reach sizes greater than 1 cm.
- Tapeworms.Tapeworms include a large group of parasites, including bovine, porcine, dog, dwarf tapeworms, and broad tapeworms.These organisms do not have their own digestive system, so they absorb nutrients from the body.These organisms especially love vitamin B12 and folic acid, so patients with such parasites have a significant deficiency of these elements.
- Toxocara.A parasite that usually affects dogs, but can be transmitted to humans through close contact with an animal.The length of an adult individual can be 30 cm.Almost all organs and tissues can be affected, but the prognosis is particularly bad if the eyeballs are affected, as this option requires surgical removal of the affected eye.
- Alveococcus and Echinococcus.These microorganisms usually enter the human body through contact with an infected animal carrier or its feces.Often the carriers are foxes.In the human body, these parasites can enter any organ, but they especially love the liver and lungs.They then form cysts that contain entire colonies of these organisms.Rupture of the cyst can provoke an acute allergic reaction and anaphylactic shock.
- Breast worm.The parasite looks a lot like a roundworm.Infection usually occurs through the skin when walking barefoot and through unwashed vegetables and fruits.
- Roundworms.A whole group of parasites that can reach 40 cm in length.It can affect almost all organs and tissues.In the process of their life, they release toxic waste into the bloodstream.A representative of roundworms, Trichinella, is the causative agent of trichinosis.This disease is extremely dangerous and has a severe course, therefore in 30% of cases it leads to the death of the patient.
- The whipworm.This parasite is the cause of trichocephalosis.Damage occurs when you consume food and water contaminated with eggs of the pathogen.In addition, infection can occur through household items.Whipworm larvae feed on blood and lymph, which they absorb from the capillary wall of the intestine.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 these parasites occurs through the consumption of insufficiently processed fish or crab meat.
Symptoms of parasitic infection
Parasites, in order to live normally in the human body, stick to the walls of the organs using chitinous plastic, hooks, strong hairs, nipples, which irritate the tissues, causing inflammatory processes.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 extensive damage.
Parasites can exist in the body for a long time without causing visible manifestations, but in case of frequent overwork, hypothermia, weakened immunity and other unfavorable conditions, they can reveal their presence.There are several symptoms that are common in people suffering from parasitic infections, including:
- general weakness and chronic fatigue;
- sudden weight loss or, conversely, weight gain;
- constant feeling of hunger;
- stool problems;
- headaches and migraines;
- muscle pain;
- joint pain;
- various skin manifestations;
- insomnia;
- reduction of the immune system;
- allergic reactions;
- increased nervousness;
- decreased performance.
The degree of intensity of the appearance of parasites in the body depends not only on the type of parasites, 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 appear.When these organisms damage the lungs, severe coughing and even signs of suffocation may occur.In case of damage to the brain by parasites, the manifestations can be very different, including convulsions, convulsions, etc.Signs of the presence of parasites in the human body may not show visible symptoms for a long time, therefore, in order to accurately determine the presence of parasites, preventive diagnostics should be performed from time to time.
Principles of treatment of parasitic infections
To effectively treat parasitic infections, it is first necessary to determine the type of parasite.It is most often used to identify the parasite:
- blood test for the presence of parasite eggs;
- the histological program;
- hemoscan;
- serological study.
All medical anthelmintic drugs can be divided into those containing chemically synthesized substances and herbal drugs.Treating parasitic infestation is often an extremely difficult task, as chemicals, although effective in most cases, are still very toxic and therefore dangerous not only for the parasites, but also for the human body.A regimen of antiparasitic drugs should be prescribed by the doctor after identifying the type of parasite.Plant-based preparations are safer because they contain natural poisons that are not tolerated by parasites, but are not dangerous for humans.However, the disadvantages of such agents include the fact that they are not effective against all types of parasitic infections.
Methods for preventing parasitic infections
In fact, it is extremely difficult to completely protect against infestation by parasites, as their eggs are extremely resilient and can remain without a host for a long time.At the same time, there are a number of rules that can significantly reduce the risk of infection.First of all, you should take care of your hygiene and wash your hands well 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 the surface.
Products should be purchased only in specialized stores that have all the certificates confirming their safety.All vegetables, including leafy ones, and fruits should be washed in boiling water before eating.Beef, pork and poultry, as well as fish and crustacean meat, should be cooked properly.If boiling or frying is intended, it is very important not to taste the meat raw.Insufficiently salted fish meat can cause parasite infection, so you should not eat such foods unless they have been kept in a salt solution for a sufficient time.
If there are pets at home, they should be given preventive vaccinations that will protect the animal and its owners from the spread of parasites.Preventive tests to detect the presence of parasites help to avoid dangerous complications.