The most ancient parasites of humanity, perfectly settled in the body, are worms. Symptoms of parasites in the human body do not always appear in the initial stage of infection. Sometimes they are similar to the clinical manifestations of other diseases. These are important factors that every adult should remember.
General information
It is difficult to imagine where they come from when parasites appear in the human body and how easily they fit into the human body. The simplest are found on the hands, skin and inside the organs. Each of them chooses that part of the body for their vital activity, where the conditions are more favorable. Parasitic organisms are present in both adults and children. And the reasons for their appearance are various.
Types of classification
Over the years of development of microorganisms, their structure was simplified, the attachment and genital organs were formed, internal respiration. Thanks to this, they can live and develop without oxygen. Parasitic organisms that cause a pathological condition are divided into three main groups:
- The simplest.The group includes a large number of creatures, but common: lamblia, Trichomonas, toxoplasmosis.
- Ectoparasites.Lives on the surface of the human body: lice, ticks.
- Worm.The group includes such parasitic creatures: nematodes, pinworms, echinococcus, opisthorchis and many others.
According to the distribution position
There are parasites:
- Found everywhere (ubiquitous).
- Found in a specific (tropical) climatic zone.
How they appear in the body
- Geoelminthiasis.The group includes helminths that live in the human body. Gradually, for the next life, they move to a non-living environment.
- Biohelminthiasis.The peculiarity of the group is that the worm develops outside the human body, but man is the final host of the parasitic individual.
- Contact helminthiasis.They develop in the human body, are secreted by mature individuals, infecting other people.
By concentration in the body
- Skylights.Cavity parasitic worms live in the intestine or other luminal organs.
- Fabric.This group includes parasitic creatures that live on the human body.
Based on location on the body
- External parasitic individuals (ticks, lice).
- Internal helminths:
- nematodes (pinworms, nematodes);
- flatworms:
- trematodes (opisthorchis, schistosomes);
- tapeworms (tapeworms, tapeworms);
- Bacteria that cause bacteriosis.
- The simplest parasites.
- Fungal.
Parasites in children and adults and natural defenses
Parasitic infestations are more common in a child's body than in an adult. The localization of parasites in a child's body is especially dangerous. It is difficult to identify parasites early on. The immune defenses of children are severely weakened. Weak immunity increases the rate of development of helminths, developing parasitic diseases. The amount of waste products increases, causing intoxication.
The defense of an adult organism from parasites is stronger. The first barrier to neutralize them are the enzymes found in the oral cavity in adults. The next test is stomach acid. And intestinal immunity is able to completely destroy all parasites in the body. It is these forms of protection that are not enough for a sick person and a child.
Symptoms of the presence of parasites in the human body
What signs of parasites in the body should be paid attention to? Symptoms of the presence of parasites in the body are closely related to the place of their localization, they differ in variability. But the processes of their influence are always the same and interconnected:
- toxic effect;
- allergic reaction;
- protein-energy deficiency;
- vitamin deficiency;
- decreased immunity.
Parasitic diseases caused by parasitic worms go through several stages of development. The nature of the stage determines what the first signs of parasites in the body will be:
- Sharp.It is characterized by general intoxication, as a result, allergies. The allergic reaction is more pronounced in children. The following symptoms are also added:
- increase in body temperature;
- muscle pain;
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- digestive disorders;
- irritability;
- inflammatory processes in the respiratory tract;
- weight loss;
- damage to the nervous system (depression, irritability).
- Chronic(associated with organ damage). Parasitic diseases become chronic and are characterized by organ dysfunction:
- Damage to the intestine leads to intestinal obstruction, colitis.
- Signs of hepatitis, cholecystitis prevail when they are localized in the biliary tract (often the concepts of heartburn and parasites become inseparable).
- There are parasitic worms such as trichinosis, which can affect the cardiovascular system.
The appearance of a person is the main indicator of a violation of the proper functioning of internal organs.
What is the effect on the human body?
Parasitic invasion into the human body causes disturbances in vital functions and deterioration of health. The risk group includes infants and the elderly. The amount, the place of their concentration, the period of time from the moment of infection and the general condition of the patient affect the type of damage caused to a person.
Mechanical violations
Having small suckers on the body, parasites in humans can stick to the walls of any organ. This leads to tissue damage. In addition, pathogens actively grow, multiply and gather in a group, forming a whole lump. This leads to the formation of an obstruction in the organ. When parasitic creatures are large, this situation is doubly dangerous.
Decrease in nutrients
Once in human organs, worms reduce the protective function of human immunity. They feed on vitamins and nutrients essential for human health. Finding themselves in an environment favorable to their existence, they increase in size and quantity. They need more and more vitamins and nutrients for life. A person is losing weight, a vitamin deficiency may be detected during the examination.
Toxic damage from parasites
Parasitic creatures not only live in organs, but also secrete waste products. These are dangerous poisons that poison the body. Organismic parasites can disrupt the regulation of protein metabolism. And this substance is an important structural component of cells and tissues. The traces of parasites in humans manifest themselves immediately with allergic reactions, decreased immune defenses and nervous breakdowns.
Diagnostic methods
The known diagnostic method, stool analysis, is ineffective. The eggs of the worms are observed under a microscope. It is difficult to find them, as they are postponed after a certain time, not every day. To find out their presence, the feces must be taken for analysis within 3 weeks, several times. This is inconvenient, which is why more advanced diagnostic methods have appeared in modern medicine:
- Immunoassay.The efficiency of the method is about 90%. It is based on the ability of antibodies to change color. With the help of the analysis, it is possible to recognize the type, quantity, trace the course of the development of the disease with parasites.
- Hemoscanning.The detection of the invasion is done by a fairly new method. A blood test is performed immediately after taking a sample from the fingertip.
- Computer diagnostics. Exposure to electromagnetic waves helps identify the presence of worms in organs and possible parasitic diseases.
- MRI of the abdomen.Allows you to identify foci of parasite localization.
Characteristics of therapy
It is not difficult to understand which doctor treats helminth infestations. The number of protozoa and parasitic worms is quite large, there are also enough methods of treatment and specialists for therapy. Treatment for parasites is carried out by therapists, parasitologists. The fight against worms includes a number of measures, carried out according to the scheme, taking into account the individual factors of the patient. What drugs are used most often and for what types of parasites?
Drug treatment
First, the body must be prepared for the parasite treatment. Special products bind all harmful secretions of parasitic organisms and remove them naturally. Then they start the anti-parasite therapy. As a rule, any medicine in the public domain is offered in pharmacies. Medicines are most often produced in the form of tablets, but there are suspensions, creams, suppositories.
Self-treatment is not recommended. The drug is selected by a specialist, based on the test results and other factors.
After a course of drug treatment, the patient should undergo repeated testing.
Folk remedy therapy
Treatment of parasites with drugs is toxic. A safe way to deal with invasions at home is treatment with folk remedies. You can recover at home with the help of:
- Pumpkin seeds, honey and jam. The agent is taken on an empty stomach, in small portions.
- Onions and boiled water. Insist for 10 hours, drink 100 ml for 4 days.
- Horseradish and garlic. In equal quantities, the plants are poured with vodka, insisting for 10 days. Drink 1 tbsp. l per day.
How to avoid infection?
Fighting parasites is difficult. Parasite treatment doesn't always work the first time. Observance of elementary rules will help to avoid pest infection, prevent all diseases:
- It is mandatory to wash your hands before eating, after going to the bathroom.
- Careful processing of fish and meat.
- Respect for the rules of personal hygiene (especially among girls).
It should be understood that it is quite difficult to avoid parasites by being constantly in public places. Therefore, once a year, without forgetting every rule of hygiene, it is important to drink an antiparasitic drug for prevention. Only a specialist can appoint him. Remember, self-medication is dangerous. It can turn prevention into a big deal.