The most ancient parasites of mankind, perfectly inhabited 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’s hard to imagine where they come from when parasites appear in the human body and how easily they adapt in human bodies. They are most easily 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 most favorable. Parasitic organisms are present in both adults and children. The reasons for their appearance are different.
Classification Types
During the years of development of microorganisms, their structure is simplified, the genital organs are fixed, internal respiration is formed. Thanks to this, they can live and develop without oxygen. The parasitic organisms that cause the 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: ears, ticks.
- Worms.The group includes such parasitic creatures: earthworms, earthworms, echinococcus, opisthorchis and many others.
By distribution location
There are parasites:
- Found everywhere (ubiquitous).
- Located in a specific climate zone (tropical).
How they appear in the body
- Geohelminthiasis.The group includes helminths that live in the human body. Gradually, for later life, they move to an inanimate environment.
- Biohelminthiasis.The peculiarity of the group lies in the fact that the worm develops outside the human body, but the person is the ultimate host of the parasitic individual.
- Contact helminthiasis.They develop in the human body, excrete mature individuals, infecting other people.
Concentration in the body
- Roof windows.Cavity parasitic worms live in the intestines or other luminal organs.
- Fabric.This group includes parasitic beings that live on the human body.
By localization on the body
- External parasitic individuals (ticks, lice).
- Internal helminths:
- roundworms (pinworms, roundworms);
- flatworms:
- flukes (opisthorchis, schistosomes);
- tapeworms (tapeworms, tapeworms);
- Bacteria that cause bacteriosis.
- The simplest parasites.
- Fungus.
Parasites in children and adults and natural defenses
Parasitic infestations in a child's body are more common than in an adult. The localization of parasites in the child's body is especially dangerous. It is difficult to identify parasites in the initial stage. Children's immune defenses are severely weakened. Weak immunity increases the speed of helminth development, developing parasitic diseases. The amount of waste products is growing, which causes intoxication.
The defense of the adult organism against parasites is stronger. The first obstacle to their detoxification are 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. These forms of protection are not enough for a sick person and a baby.
Symptoms of the presence of parasites in the human body
What signs of parasites in the body should you pay attention to? Symptoms of the presence of parasites in the body are closely related to the site of their localization, differing in variability. But the processes of their influence are always the same and interconnected:
- toxic effect;
- allergic reaction;
- lack of protein and energy;
- vitamin deficiency;
- decreased immunity.
Parasitic diseases caused by parasitic worms go through several stages of development. The nature of the stage determines which first signs of the parasite will appear in the body:
- Sharp.It is characterized by general intoxication, as a result, allergies. The allergic reaction is more pronounced in children. The following symptoms also follow:
- increased body temperature;
- muscle aches;
- 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). Diseases of the parasite turn into a chronic form, characterized by a violation of the functionality of the organs:
- Defeat of the intestine leads to intestinal obstruction, colitis.
- Signs of hepatitis, cholecystitis predominate when they are localized in the biliary tract (often the concepts of heartburn and parasites become inseparable).
- There are parasitic worms like trichinosis, which can affect the cardiovascular system.
The appearance of a person is a major indicator of a violation of the proper functioning of internal organs.
What is the effect on the human body?
Parasitic invasion in the human body is the cause of disorders of vital functions and deterioration of health. The risk group includes babies and the elderly. The amount, the place of concentration, the time period from the moment of infection and the general condition of the patient affect what kind of damage it will cause to a person.
Mechanical violations
Having small suction cups on the body, parasites in humans can attach 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 clump. This leads to the formation of obstruction in the organ. When parasitic creatures are large, this situation is doubly dangerous.
Nutrient reduction
Once in human organs, worms reduce the protective function of human immunity. They feed on vitamins and nutrients that are essential for human health. Being in a favorable environment for their existence, they increase in size and quantity. They need more and more vitamins and nutrients for life. A person loses weight, during the examination may be detected vitamin deficiency.
Toxic damage from parasites
Parasitic beings not only live in organs, but also secrete waste products. These are dangerous toxins that poison the body. Organic parasites can disrupt the regulation of protein metabolism. And this substance is an important structural component of cells and tissues. Traces of parasites in humans are immediately manifested by allergic reactions, decreased immune defenses and nervous breakdowns.
Diagnostic Methods
A well-known diagnostic method - stool analysis - is ineffective. Worm eggs are viewed under a microscope. They are hard to find because they are delayed after a certain amount of time, not every day. To find out about their presence, the feces must be taken for analysis for 3 weeks, several times. This is inconvenient, which is why modern medicine has improved diagnostic methods:
- Immunological test.The efficiency of the method is about 90%. It is based on the ability of antibodies to change color. With the help of analysis, it is possible to identify the type, quantity, and monitor the course of the development of parasite diseases.
- Hemoscanning.Invasion detection is done by a fairly new method. A blood test is performed immediately after taking a finger sample.
- 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 parasitic localization.
Characteristics of therapy
It is not difficult to understand which doctor treats helminth infections. The number of parasitic protozoa and worms is quite large, and there are enough treatment methods and therapy specialists. Treatment of parasites is carried out by therapists, parasitologists. Worm control involves a series of measures, carried out according to the scheme, taking into account the individual factors of the patient. Which drugs are more commonly used and for which types of parasites?
Drug treatment
First, the body needs to be prepared for treatment against parasites. Special agents bind all harmful secretions of parasitic organisms and remove them naturally. Then they start antiparasitic therapy. As a rule, every drug from the public domain is offered in a pharmacy. Medicines are more often produced in the form of tablets, but there are suspensions, creams, suppositories.
It is not recommended to be treated. The drug is selected by a specialist based on test results and other factors.
After the course of treatment with the drug, the patient must undergo repeated tests.
Therapy with folk remedies
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 remedy is taken on an empty stomach, in small portions.
- Onions and boiled water. Insist 10 hours, drink 100 ml for 4 days.
- Horseradish and garlic. In equal amounts, the plants are poured with vodka, insist for 10 days. Drink 1 tbsp. l per day.
How to avoid infection?
Fighting parasites is difficult. Parasite treatment does not always work the first time. Adherence to the basic rules will help avoid parasite infection, prevent all diseases:
- Mandatory hand washing before meals, after going to the toilet.
- Thorough processing of fish and meat.
- Adherence to the rules of personal hygiene (especially for girls).
It should be understood that it is quite difficult to avoid parasites by staying in public places. Therefore, once a year, not forgetting every hygiene rule, it is important to take an antiparasitic medicine for prevention. Only an expert can name it. Remember, self-medication is dangerous. This can turn prevention into a big problem.