Parasites are microorganisms that penetrate the human body, affect internal organs and systems, and lead to various clinical manifestations.Parasitic disease is not the only disease.This phrase implies a separate group of pathologies that are provoked by unicellular and multicellular pathogenic microorganisms.An unpleasant "neighborhood" can be temporary or permanent.The life cycle of worms has certain characteristics;in some situations, in order to form a full-fledged individual, it is necessary to change three hosts.
Symptoms and pathogens of parasitic diseases
The main causative agents of parasitic pathologies include worms, leading to infection with helminthiases.Helminthiases, depending on the type of helminth, are classified as follows:
- Trematodes.This group of diseases involves infection with flukes.For example, damage to internal organs by pulmonary fluke, liver fluke, cat fluke, etc.;
- Nematodes are a parasitic infection caused by round helminths.The source of infection is a sick person.Pathogens include roundworm, pinworm, Toxocara, Trichinella, whipworm;
- Cestodoses develop as a result of parasitism by tapeworms.Among them, the most common helminths include bovine and pork tapeworms, dwarf tapeworms, broad tapeworms, alveococci and echinococci.
In addition to helminthiasis, parasitic diseases can be protozoal - infection with protozoan parasites - malaria, toxoplasma, Giardia, the causative agent of trichomonas.Also ectoparasites - these include lice (body lice, head and pubic), bedbugs and ticks.Dermatoses occur due to the parasitic activity of certain insects.
For your information, the clinical picture against the background of parasitic infection is often blurred - in most cases there are no symptoms or they appear acutely and violently, which indicates severe intoxication.
Parasitic diseases in humans are manifested by the following symptoms:
- Allergic manifestations are caused by the multiplication of parasites in the body, when their waste products and toxic substances enter the human circulatory system, which causes intoxication.Symptoms: red spots on the skin, urticaria, itching, rash, lichen-like plaques, etc.
- Increase in body temperature.In some patients, fever is observed against the background of severe helminthic infestation.Usually the temperature ranges from 38 to 40 degrees, sometimes it remains within subfebrile values for a long time.An increase in temperature indicates the acute stage of the disease.
- Lymphadenitis is a common symptom of human parasitic diseases.This condition is manifested by the enlargement and inflammation of the lymph nodes.They can be inflamed one by one or suddenly.In addition, the patient experiences headache, loss of appetite and general malaise.In most cases, the lymph nodes closest to the site of invasion become inflamed.
- Pain in muscles and joints is an echo of immunological reactions in the human body.The immune system perceives helminth larvae as foreign objects and begins to attack them.Muscle and joint pains develop due to tissue damage by helminth suckers.
- Pulmonary syndrome manifests itself as a non-productive cough.The patient complains of shortness of breath and chest pain due to lack of physical activity.Ascariasis often occurs with sputum mixed with blood.
- Swelling can be localized or spread throughout the body.Angioedema is especially dangerous.In the absence of medical assistance, the probability of death is high.
- Abdominal syndrome is often detected when infected with helminths.This symptom includes changes in constipation and diarrhea, increased gas formation, bloating and digestive system disorders.
- Painful sensations of various kinds in the abdomen.Some patients complain of constant pain, while others complain of intermittent pain.For some, the pain is pronounced and severe, while others describe it as a dull pain syndrome.
- In the chronic course of helminthosis, intoxication occurs, accompanied by severe weakness, significant deterioration of general health, frequent shortness of breath and colds, and sharp weight loss.
The clinical picture of parasitic disease is always different.Symptoms are based on the localization of helminths, the specific type of pathogen and the age of the patient.As well as the state of the immune system, the degree of internal organ dysfunction and other aspects.
List of parasitic diseases
Parasitic diseases are divided into protozoa - malaria, giardiasis, toxoplasmosis, amebiasis, balantidosis - the most common;for helminthoses, acarosis (scabies) and dermatoses.Helminthic infections are the most common in medical practice.
Parasitic infections:
- African trypanosomiasis.Infection occurs due to the penetration of Trypanosoma brucei bacteria.Route of infection: tsetse fly bite.The main clinical manifestations include fever, headaches, myalgia;
- Amebiasis develops due to the entry of parasites into the human body along with food and water.Pathogens: amoeba or dysenteric amoeba;
- ascariasis.Parasites - roundworms.Infection occurs as a result of the use of contaminated food products;
- Babesiosis is caused by helminths living in the bloodstream.Infection occurs due to tick bites;
- Chagas disease (transmitted by bites of blood-sucking insects);
- Trichinosis is an acute or chronic parasitic disease caused by nematodes;
- Teniarhynchosis is a parasitism of bovine tapeworms.The invasive parasite primarily affects the gastrointestinal tract.Symptoms: severe abdominal pain, allergic reactions, headaches, general malaise.The incubation period varies from 2 to several years;
- Taeniasis.The causative agent of the disease is pork tapeworm.Parasitic infection is fraught with numerous complications due to the passage of helminth segments, up to irreversible brain damage;
- Opisthorchosis (helminths - cats).The worm "lives" in the liver, bile ducts, pancreas and gall bladder.Infection occurs due to consumption of raw or undercooked fish;
- Clonorchosis.The reason is the growth of Chinese hair on the body.In addition to humans, helminths affect cats, dogs and pigs;
- Enterobiosis.The causative agent of the disease is pinworms.Parasitic disease is often diagnosed in childhood.Treatment has its own difficulties, because 99% of secondary self-infection occurs.
It is worth knowing: pathologies caused by ectoparasites - pediculosis, scabies, cochliomiasis, demodicosis, etc.
In fact, the list of parasitic diseases can be continued for a very long time, because there are many parasites that can infect the human body.The most common diseases are shown as examples.
Why are parasites dangerous?
In most clinical pictures, residents of big cities are infected with common helminths, round and tape parasites.Pathogenic microorganisms cause a decrease in immunity and absorb nutrients from the host.But "banal" roundworms and pinworms are not as scary as they seem at first glance.
People living in tropical countries and tourists going on vacation to South America, Australia or Africa encounter truly "terrible" helminths.
The most dangerous parasites:
- Filaria leads to blockage of blood vessels, as a result of which the coordination of movements is disturbed and internal organs may fail.
- Schistosomes are a special type of helminth that lives in human blood.It leads to a serious violation of the functionality of the liver, gastrointestinal tract and bladder.
These parasites are found in countries with a tropical climate;in our realities, pathologies are rarely diagnosed.Science knows more than 200 types of parasites that can cause the development of acute and chronic pathologies:
- Chronic giardiasis leads to liver damage, cirrhosis develops;
- Trichomonas can cause cancer, myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis;
- With long-term parasitism, roundworms significantly worsen the condition of the gastrointestinal tract and affect the lungs;
- Trichinella.The development of parasites causes severe pain and convulsions;
- During pregnancy, toxoplasma disrupts the intrauterine development of the child to the point of mental retardation.
Important: everyone without exception can be infected;hundreds of thousands of helminth larvae lie in wait for every person: in water, soil, tree leaves, public transport, clinic, store, food, etc.Therefore, it is necessary to tell children as soon as possible the importance of observing all hygiene measures and following basic hygiene rules.
The penetration of parasite larvae into the body occurs without being observed.In the early stage of infection, there are no symptoms;When the disease becomes chronic, the symptoms are more pronounced.If characteristic symptoms are detected, they should be treated - otherwise there is a high probability of serious complications that you will have to face throughout your life.