Helminthiasis is a large group of parasitic diseases caused by certain types of parasitic worms - helminths.Most helminthiasis have similar clinical manifestations and treatment approaches.
Parasites: From Antiquity to the Present
Common helminthiasis, such as enterobiosis and ascariasis, have long been known.Invasions of humans by bovine worms and roundworms were recorded as early as the 16th century BC in an ancient Egyptian medical treatise - the Ebers papyrus.Hippocrates himself paid great attention to helminths.It was they who introduced such concepts as "helminthiasis" and "ascariasis".
At the beginning of the 18th century, the German microbiologist Carl Rudolph collected a whole collection of parasitic worms during the study of a large number of animals.Soon the science of parasitic worms was born - helminthology.
In 1884, a famous scientist and doctor established a cause-and-effect relationship between tapeworm parasitism in the human body and anemia in the patient.
An outstanding scientist and academician made great contributions to the development and creation of the science of helminthology, organized the first department of parasitology, and opened specialized institutions for the study of helminths.On his initiative, more than three hundred parasitological expeditions were carried out in which he directly participated.
Parasitologists have described more than five hundred species of parasitic worms previously unknown to science.The doctor himself discovered and described more than two hundred new species of helminths, and also published more than seven hundred scientific articles.
By the way, it is known that parasitic infection worsens the course of concomitant diseases, especially chronic, decompensated diseases.Helminth infections have a negative effect on growth, work ability, and also have a depressing effect on the human immune system and nervous system.
Parasitic infection: types of worms
There are three large classes of helminths - tapeworms (cestodes), roundworms (nematodes), flukes (trematodes).Nematodes are classified as roundworms, while tapeworms and flukes are classified as flatworms.A person can act as an intermediate or definitive host of parasites.
Nematodes are the causative agents of helminthosis such as ascariasis, enterobiosis, trichinosis, ankiliosis, trichuriosis, strongyloidosis.Cestodes echinococcosis, alveococcosis, diphyllobothriasis, taeniasis, teniarynchiasis, hymenolepiasis, etc.causes.Trematodes cause, among other things, opisthorchosis, clonorchiasis, paragonimiasis, metagonimiasis, and fascioliasis.
Depending on the location of parasites in the body, the following are distinguished:
- Luminal helminthoses.
- Helminthosis of tissues.
- Hepatobiliary helminthoses.At this time, the parasitic infection affects the liver, gall bladder and bile ducts (opisthorchosis, clonorchiasis).
- Pulmonary helminthiasis.
The following types of helminthosis are distinguished:
- Geohelminthoses.At this time, the parasite develops in the presence of a non-living substrate (water, soil).
- Infectious helminths.The development of worms occurs within a microorganism, for example, in enterobiosis.
- Biohelminthiasis is the development of helminths with the participation of intermediate hosts.A typical example is the broad tapeworm, which has a complex development cycle with host changes.
By the way, it has been found that intestinal parasites in the body promote the release of Th2 cytokines, which suppress Th1 cytokines.In this regard, people with helminthic infestations have a higher risk of contracting a certain disease, for example, tuberculosis.
Parasites in the body: main syndromes
The main clinical syndromes of helminth infections include:
Nutritional syndrome
It is known that the parasite consumes the host's nutrients while in the human body, which can cause protein-energy deficiency, hypovitaminosis and anemia in the latter.This often happens when the body is damaged by intestinal parasitic tapeworms and roundworms.
Immunosuppressive syndrome
When staying in the body for a long time, helminths can have an immunosuppressive effect, reducing resistance to various microbial and viral infections.
Toxic-allergic organ damage
This is a spectrum of all diseases - heart (myocarditis), liver (hepatitis), lungs (pneumonia), brain (encephalopathy).Until hemorrhagic necrotic damage of internal organs.
Local damage to organ tissue
It often prevails in the chronic stage and is determined by the localization of the helminth.Thus, corn worms and cestodes have a traumatic effect on the mucous membrane of the intestine, opisthorchids damage the bile ducts, and schistosomes damage the mucous membrane of the large intestine and urinary tract.
By the way, it has been proven that helminth infections reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine.Some helminths, for example, schistosomes, opisthorchids, Chinese flukes, can cause the development of carcinogenesis.This is also proved by the parasitic theory of cancer.A special danger is long-term chronic opisthorchosis, which can eventually lead to cancer of the biliary tract.
When should you see a doctor?
The following may indicate the presence of parasites in a person's body:
- Various types of allergic reactions, including hormonal and desensitizing drugs that do not go away even with indefinite recurrent urticaria.
- Loss of appetite or vice versa, increase.
- Exhaustion of the body.
- Itching in the anal area - especially in the evening or at night.
- Dyspeptic events.
- Irregular stools - diarrhea or constipation.
- Long-term dry cough (usually at night), in children - long-lasting "barking" cough.
- An increase in the level of eosinophils in the blood is eosinophilia.
- Anemia, especially B12 deficiency.
- Asthenic syndrome - general weakness, fatigue, malaise.Of course, such symptoms can be attributed to various diseases.However, if the child has fatigue or an incomprehensible increase in mood, poor night sleep or irritability, it makes sense to conduct a test for parasites.
If you have any of the above symptoms, this is a reason to consult a parasitologist or an infectious disease specialist.