Worms are the oldest parasites of mankind, perfectly placed in the body. Symptoms of parasites in the human body are not always visible in the early stages of infection. Sometimes they are similar to the clinical manifestations of other diseases. These are important factors that every adult should keep in mind.
General information
When parasites appear in the human body, it is difficult to imagine where they come from and how easily they adapt in the human body. It is found in the simplest hands, skin and organs. Each chooses that part of the body for the vital activity in which the conditions are most favorable. Parasitic organisms are present in both adults and children. And the reasons for their appearance are different.
Classification types
During the years of development of microorganisms, their structure was simplified, fixation and genitals, internal respiration appeared. Thanks to this, they can live and thrive without oxygen. Parasitic organisms that cause pathological conditions are divided into three main groups:
- The simplest.The group includes a large number of living, but widespread: lamblia, Trichomonas, toxoplasmosis.
- Ectoparasites.Live on the surface of the human body: lice, ticks.
- Worms.The group includes such parasitic creatures: roundworms, pinworms, echinococcus, opisthorchis and others.
By distribution location
There are parasites:
- It's everywhere (everywhere).
- Found in a special climate zone (tropical).
How they look in the body
- Geohelminthiasis.The group includes helminths that live in the human body. Gradually, they move to a non-residential environment for later life.
- Biohelminthiasis.The peculiarity of the group is that the worm develops outside the human body, but the human is the final owner of the parasitic individual.
- contact helminthiasis.It develops in the human body, is secreted by adults, and infects other people.
According to the concentration in the body
- Skylights.Space parasitic worms live in the gut or other light organ.
- Piece.This group includes parasitic creatures living in the human body.
By localization of the body
- External parasitic species (ticks, lice).
- Internal Helminths:
- roundworms (pinworms, roundworms);
- flatworms:
- liver (opisthorchis, schistosomes);
- tapeworms (tapeworms, tapeworm);
- Bacteria that cause bacteriosis.
- The simplest parasites.
- mushrooms.
Parasites and natural defenses in children and adults
Parasitic infections are more common in children than in adults. Localization of parasites in the child's body is especially dangerous. It is difficult to identify parasites at an early stage. Children's immune defenses are severely weakened. Weak immunity increases the rate of development of helminths that develop parasitic diseases. The amount of waste increases, causing intoxication.
The protection of the adult organism from parasites is stronger. The first barrier to neutralizing them is the enzymes in the oral cavity in adults. The next test is stomach acid. Intestinal immunity is able to completely destroy any parasite in the body. These forms of protection are not enough for a sick person and a baby.
Symptoms of parasite presence in the human body
What are the signs of parasites in the body? Symptoms of the presence of parasites in the body are closely related to the location, differing in variability. However, their duration of action is always the same and interrelated:
- 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 how the first signs of parasites appear in the body:
- Sharp.General intoxication is characterized by allergies. Allergic reactions are more common in children. The following symptoms are also combined:
- increased body temperature;
- muscle pain;
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- digestive disorders;
- nervousness;
- inflammatory processes in the respiratory tract;
- weight loss;
- damage to the nervous system (depression, nervousness).
- Chronic(associated with organ damage). Diseases caused by parasites become a chronic form characterized by dysfunction of organs:
- Defeat of the intestines causes intestinal obstruction, colitis.
- Symptoms of hepatitis and cholecystitis predominate when localized in the bile ducts (often the concepts of heartburn and parasites are inseparable).
- There are parasitic worms such as trichinosis that can affect the cardiovascular system.
Appearance of a person is the main indicator of dysfunction of internal organs.
What is the effect on the human body?
Parasitic invasion of the human body leads to disruption of vital functions and deterioration of health. The risk group includes infants and the elderly. The amount, the location of the concentration, the time from the moment of infection and the general condition of the patient affect how much harm a person can do.
Mechanical violations
The presence of small suction cups on their bodies, parasites in humans can stick to the walls of any organ. This leads to tissue damage. In addition, pathogens actively grow, multiply and accumulate in a group, forming a whole tumor. This causes obstruction in the body. This situation is doubly dangerous when the parasitic creatures are large.
Food Reduction
In human organs, worms reduce the protective function of human immunity. They are fed with vitamins and nutrients that are important for human health. By finding themselves in an environment conducive to their existence, they increase in size and quantity. They need more and more vitamins and nutrients for life. If a person loses weight, an examination may reveal a vitamin deficiency.
Toxic damage from parasites
In addition to living in organisms, parasitic organisms 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 part of cells and tissues. In humans, parasite traces are immediately manifested by allergic reactions, immune defenses, and nervous breakdowns.
Diagnostic methods
Known diagnostic method - stool analysis is ineffective. Worm eggs are examined under a microscope. They are difficult to find because they are postponed after a certain time, not every day. To determine their presence, feces should be taken for analysis several times over a period of 3 weeks. This is inconvenient, so modern medicine has improved diagnostic methods:
- Immunoassay.The efficiency of the method is about 90%. Based on the ability of antibodies to change color. With the help of analysis, you can recognize the type and amount of the disease, and track the development of the disease with parasites.
- Hemoscanning.Heat detection is carried out in a very new way. A blood test is performed immediately after the fingerprint sample is taken.
- Computer diagnostics.Exposure to electromagnetic waves helps to detect the presence of worms and possible parasitic diseases in the organs.
- MRI of the abdominal cavity.Allows you to determine the foci of parasitic localization.
Features of therapy
It is not difficult to understand which doctor treats helminthic infestations. The number of parasitic protozoa and worms is very large, and there are enough treatments and specialists for therapy. Treatment of parasites is carried out by therapists, parasitologists. The control of worms involves a number of measures carried out in accordance with the scheme, taking into account the individual factors of the patient. Which drugs are most commonly used and for what types of parasites?
Drug Treatment
First, the body needs to be prepared for parasitic treatment. Special agents bind all the harmful secretions of parasitic organisms and clean them naturally. Then they start antiparasitic treatment. As a rule, every drug in a public place is offered in a pharmacy. The drugs are mostly produced in tablet form, but there are suspensions, creams, suppositories.
Treating yourself is not recommended. The drug is selected by a specialist based on test results and other factors.
After a course of drug treatment, the patient must be re-tested.
Treatment with folk remedies
Drug treatment of parasites is toxic. A reliable way to combat raids at home is treatment with folk remedies. You can restore at home with the help of the following.
- Pumpkin seeds, honey and jam. The agent is taken on an empty stomach, in small portions.
- Onion and boiled water. Insist 10 hours, for 100 ml for 4 days.
- Horseradish and garlic. In equal amounts, the plants are poured vodka, insist 10 days. Drink 1 tbsp. l per day.
How to prevent infection?
Parasites are difficult to control. Parasite treatment does not always work the first time. Adherence to the basic rules will help to avoid infection with parasites and prevent all diseases:
- Mandatory hand washing before eating and after going to the toilet.
- Comprehensive processing of fish and meat.
- Compliance with personal hygiene rules (especially for girls).
It is important to understand that it is very difficult to avoid parasites by being in public places all the time. Therefore, it is important to take an antiparasitic drug once a year, without forgetting the rules of hygiene. Only a specialist can appoint. Remember, self-medication is dangerous. Prevention can be a big problem.