Parasites in the human body: symptoms and treatments

2023 Author: Alfred Shackley | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 13:14

According to statistics, one of the most common ailments is helminthiasis, caused by the presence of a parasite in the human body. There are over 250 types of these malicious creatures. Our body cannot cope with pests on its own, and thanks to this, uninvited guests can parasitize for many years.

It is important to identify the symptoms in time and diagnose the presence of helminths so that your health does not suffer serious damage.

Consider the most common types of parasites, as well as how to detect their presence at home.

Pinworm

When infected, there are: itching of the anus, grinding teeth in a dream, poor appetite and fatigue. In general, pinworms do not pose a serious health hazard.

But it should be borne in mind that female pinworms can migrate from the large intestine to the bile ducts or to the liver, causing their inflammation. An unpleasant fact for females is the migration of female pinworms to the vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, urinary tract and kidneys, causing severe burning and unpleasant discharge.

Pinworm is a worm of the small or large intestine that is often diagnosed in children.

Transmission to a person occurs through dirty hands, toys, as well as through linen and dishes. To remove parasites, Albendazole, Mebendazole, Pirantel and Pamoat are prescribed. Treatment is prescribed to all family members, regardless of the symptoms of the disease. For prevention purposes, you need to wash your hands with soap, wash out the dirt under your nails and often change your underwear.

Toxocars

The symptomatology of the invasion is different depending on the location of the toxocara. A low temperature is recorded, with a serious course of the disease up to 39 ° C and above, sometimes with chills. Rashes, itching, and sometimes Quincke's edema appear on the skin. With an acute course of the disease, bronchitis, pneumonia and asthma attacks are observed. When larvae move to the brain, migraines, spasms and paralysis are observed. In children, the disease is accompanied by symptoms such as weakness, mild irritability and sleep disturbance.

Larvae can inhabit tissues, liver, lungs, kidneys, muscles, thyroid gland, and brain. The invasion can lead to damage to organs and tissues, inflammation and even one-sided blindness. Their natural hosts - cats and dogs, mistakenly get to humans through contact with soil or sand, on which the animal has secreted toxocar eggs.

Depending on the course of the disease, both anti-inflammatory and anthelmintic drugs can be prescribed: Mebendazole, Albendazole and Diethylcarbamazine.

To avoid infection, try to use gloves and wash your hands when handling the ground. Fruits and vegetables must be thoroughly peeled before eating. If possible, prohibit walking dogs in playgrounds, as well as regularly remove helminths from pets.

Ascaris

Observed symptoms: gastrointestinal disturbances, allergic reactions, fever, general malaise and weight loss.

Ascaris human can get into the mucous membrane of the large intestine, capillaries, liver, brain, eyes and lungs. As the consequences of ascaris invasion, one can single out frequent disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract, bronchial asthma, purulent processes, intestinal obstruction, cholecystitis, acute appendicitis, pancreatitis and obstructive jaundice. Like many other parasitic diseases, ascaris eggs enter the body if hygiene is not followed, the use of unwashed vegetables, fruits, berries and the use of water from an unfamiliar source.

Treatment should be accompanied by strict adherence to a special diet and taking antiparasitic drugs: "Dekaris", "Vermox", "Nemozol" and "Pirantel". In addition, enzymatic, antihistamines and probiotics are prescribed at the same time.

The main preventive measures are strict adherence to the rules of personal hygiene: washing hands before eating food, after visiting the toilet and outside, thoroughly washing berries, vegetables and fruits.

Hookworm

Penetrates into the human body both through the mouth and through the skin. The main signs of a parasite are a rash on the lower extremities and a burning sensation of the skin. When localized in internal organs, symptoms similar to ascaris are observed.

The trapped larvae through the venous vessels spread to the internal organs: to the lungs, heart and liver.

In all organs where the hookworm parasitized, certain damage remains. Starting from the formation of intestinal ulcers and ending with cholesterol plaques in the blood vessels.

To pick up a helminth is enough for a few minutes, for example, walking barefoot or eating unwashed vegetables and fruits.

Treatment involves taking Levamisole, Combantrin or Naftamon. To avoid acquaintance with ankistola, follow the rules of sanitation and personal hygiene.

Wide tapeworm

The first signs of helminthiasis can appear after 20-60 days: nausea, vomiting, discomfort, severe pain in the abdominal cavity, impaired stool and appetite. The place of dislocation is the small intestine. By their vital activity, they contribute to the manifestation of anemia and disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system. May cause intestinal obstruction. You can get it if you eat poorly processed or raw fish.

To destroy the worm, use "Niclosamide", "Biltricid" and various folk remedies. It is necessary to thoroughly heat the fish and observe personal hygiene (washing hands, using clean dishes).

Bovine and pork tapeworm

The presence of worms can cause various symptoms. Most often, the infected person feels the movement of the tapeworm in the anus. There are abdominal pains reminiscent of an attack of appendicitis, as well as nausea and vomiting, feeling of weakness, increased or loss of appetite, upset stools, dizziness, and headaches.

Helminth is attached to the mucous membrane more often than the duodenum. The pathogenic effect on humans is a violation of the secretory and motor functions of the gastrointestinal tract, intestinal obstruction or inflammation, an allergic reaction. They enter the human body together with raw meat or meat products that have not undergone sufficient heat treatment.

The main drugs prescribed are Biltricid and Fenasal. At the discretion, phytopreparations based on pumpkin seeds and male fern rhizomes are also used. An obvious means of prevention is the consumption of meat that has passed veterinary control and is carefully thermally processed.

Lamblia

The main symptoms of giardiasis:

• Pain in the abdomen;
• Enlarged liver;
• Stool disorder;
• Loss of weight and appetite;
• Dysbacteriosis.

Giardia live in the intestines, most often in children. Giardiasis can cause damage to the small and sometimes large intestines. The disease can cause allergic reactions and the development of appendicitis.

They are transmitted to humans along with unwashed food, water, due to non-compliance with simple hygiene rules.

The course of treatment consists of 3 stages. At the first stage, it is required to limit the intake of carbohydrates, take enzymes, enterosorbents and antihistamines. In the second stage, antiparasitic agents are added to the existing treatment: "Flagil", "Ofor" and "Tiberal".

At the third stage, it is necessary to follow a strict diet that improves the body's resistance and the contraction of the large intestine.

Taking probiotics is helpful. There is no specific prophylaxis against giardiasis. There are general rules to prevent any bowel disease: intake of clean, boiled water; carefully washed berries, vegetables and fruits; refusal to eat on the street.

Alveococcus

Signs of invasion do not appear immediately. Gradually, the first symptoms of liver dysfunction are felt: aching pain in the right side, a feeling of heaviness, loss of appetite, upset stool. Alveococcus parasitizes in the liver. You should be aware of the severe consequences of the disease and the complexity of drug treatment. Alveococcosis is dangerous by the formation of cysts in the liver and the ability to spread certain metastases with a tendency to chronic course, high mortality. Sources: sick animals, water, berries or vegetables with soil.

In case of timely treatment of the patient, surgical treatment is carried out, after the operation and in the absence of the possibility of surgical treatment, the drug "Albendazole" is prescribed. Compliance with the rules of hygiene, lack of close contact with dogs, and eating carefully washed vegetables, herbs and berries will help protect yourself from infection.

This is not a complete list of parasites that infect the human body. Since helminthiasis is a very common phenomenon, it is important to pass the necessary tests on time and start treatment. After all, the vital activity of some types of helminths can significantly worsen human health.