In modern conditions, more than 300 parasitic infections are known. Microorganisms that stimulate them and helminth worms penetrate the human body to use its resources, as well as scabies mites and lice that live on the skin and hair.
Sometimes parasitic diseases are almost without symptoms. However, many infections can have serious consequences: parasites disrupt metabolism, poison the body, and destroy tissues and organs. Some parasites pose a deadly threat. For example, malaria, an infection spread by malaria mosquitoes, kills more than 600 thousand people every year.
In our country, from 1 to 2 million cases of parasitic diseases are registered every year, but, according to doctors, in reality the number of people infected with this infection is several times higher.
According to the World Health Organization, 4. 5 billion people suffer from parasitic infections - that is more than half of the entire world population. The main contributors to these sad statistics come from countries with hot climates, as well as areas with low levels of sanitation and lack of drinking water. Residents of these places face dangerous diseases such as malaria and schistosomiasis. Diseases caused by parasitic worms. Symptoms appear in tropical and subtropical regions. In case of complications, it affects the liver, kidneys, bladder fibrosis, and infertility. Filariasis. An infection caused by a parasite that is spread through the bite of a tropical insect. Leads to the destruction of the lymphatic system. In our country, as in countries with a temperate climate, the problem of parasitic infections is not so acute: here the most common are 18-20 parasitoses, which are easy to treat and have a favorable prognosis.
Types of parasitic diseases
Diseases caused by protozoan microorganisms are divided into three main categories: infections caused by amoeba, trichomonas and leishmania.
Also, depending on the stage of the disease, acute and chronic parasitic infections are distinguished, as well as according to location - intestinal and extraintestinal, when the parasite penetrates and multiplies in various tissues and organs: lungs, muscles, liver, kidneys, but not in the intestines.
Let's look at the most common diseases in our country.
Diseases caused by protozoan microorganisms
Giardiasis
The body is infected with intestinal lamblia (Giardia intestinalis, Giardia lamblia), which is spread through contact with contaminated fruits and vegetables, water or everyday items. They attach to the wall of the small intestine, eating leftover food. Symptoms of giardiasis include abdominal pain, diarrhea and constipation, nausea, vomiting, general weakness and insomnia.
Amebiasis (amoebic dysentery)
The most common causative agent of this disease is the dysentery amoeba Entamoeba histolytica. Infection occurs through the fecal-oral route. Microorganisms can survive for a long time on various surfaces, in water, on vegetables, fruits, and meat. Usually, amoebiasis manifests itself as severe diarrhea (often mixed with blood and mucus), nausea, and low-grade fever. If the microorganism enters the bloodstream and spreads to the liver, lungs, and brain, it can cause the formation of a liver abscess (the formation of a cavity filled with pus), respiratory failure, and symptoms of encephalitis.
Diseases caused by helminths
Enterobiasis
The most common disease is ascariasis - it accounts for up to 70% of all cases of parasitic infection. Almost every resident of our country has experienced this at least once in their life. Ascariasis is caused by roundworms. Ascaris eggs can enter the body through dirty hands; it survives for a long time on food and various objects that have come into contact with an infected person. This parasite causes nausea, stomach pain, sleep disturbances, and a person often experiences itching in the anus.
Ascariasis
Worm infections are caused by roundworms (Ascaris lumbricoides). Their larvae enter the body through vegetables and fruits, as well as through interaction with contaminated soil. A person infected with ascoriasis loses his appetite, his stomach hurts, and nausea appears. With a large number of these parasites, problems may arise with the patency of the intestines or bile ducts, disrupting the digestive process and the outflow of bile.
Adult roundworms can reach a length of 25-30 cm
Toxocariasis
The cause of this disease is the roundworm Toxocara canis, which is transmitted to humans through the fecal-oral route. In most cases, the infection occurs without symptoms, because Toxocara canis larvae do not grow into adults in the human body. However, moving through organs and tissues, they can interfere with their normal functions. As a result, a person may experience unreasonable coughing and breathing difficulties if the respiratory system is damaged, nervous disorders if the brain is damaged, allergic reactions and anemia. In severe cases, the infection can cause vision impairment or complete vision loss.
Echinococcosis
Echinococcosis is caused by the parasitic worm Echinococcus, which lives in the body of some animals and is transmitted from them to humans. In the human body, worm larvae form cysts in the liver, kidneys, lungs and even in the brain. This can lead to severe complications - anaphylactic shock, increased intracranial pressure, the development of abscesses, pathological changes in organs and tissues - and lead to premature death.
Opisthorchiasis
If you eat badly fried fish or lightly salted fish from the carp family, you can get opisthorchiasis. This fish is often attacked by the larvae of the Opisthorchis genus flatworm, which damages the bile ducts in the liver, pancreas and gall bladder. Symptoms of the disease include excessive sweating, allergic rashes, fever, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and inflammation of the upper respiratory tract.
Fish delicacies can be a source of parasites
Diseases caused by arthropods
scabies
One of the most common skin diseases is ringworm, caused by the microscopic mite Sarcoptes scabiei var hominis. The mite is spread through contact with an infected person, penetrates the skin, migrates and lays eggs, resulting in itching and rashes. Pediculosis can lead to serious complications related to the appearance of secondary infections.
scabies
Bad torment on the skin and hair, an infection that often arises from head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis). The parasite attacks the host by sucking blood. Flea saliva, entering the wound from the bite, causes extreme itching. Pediculosis leads to the occurrence of eczema and conjunctivitis: by scratching the bite eyes (yes, they can also be in the eyebrow area, eyelash line), one can transfer pathogenic bacteria into the resulting wound, those that lead to infectious complications. Also, ticks are carriers of a very dangerous infection - typhus.
Regular hygiene is not a perfect guarantee against lice infestation: they manage to live in both healthy and dirty hair.
Signs of parasite infestation
Often, parasitic infections, which are widespread in our country, most often show themselves with minimal symptoms or similar signs as in intestinal infections and poisoning. A person infected with the parasite has a worsening appetite, abdominal pain, occasional bouts of nausea and vomiting, unexplained weight loss, and a general deterioration in health and weakness. An increase in temperature, the appearance of rashes and other allergic reactions, iron deficiency anemia, and minor disturbances of the nervous system (increased excitement, sleep problems) are also possible.
Parasitic diseases are often confused with poisoning, intestinal infections, and acute respiratory viral infections.
Often the signs either increase or decrease, making diagnosis difficult. In most cases, parasitic infections are discovered accidentally during preventive examinations or during the diagnosis of other diseases.
Complications due to parasites
Typically, common parasitic infections in our country rarely lead to serious complications. However, with a large number of parasites in the body, over time, a person's health can seriously deteriorate.
The most common complications of parasitic infections:
- obstructions in the intestines and bile ducts,
- internal organ abscess,
- sepsis,
- peritonitis,
- intestinal inflammation,
- inflammation of the upper respiratory tract,
- anaphylactic shock.
Parasitic diseases in children
70-90% of cases of parasitic infections affect children and adolescents. This is because children tend to be less hygienic and more active in exploring the world around them. Children are often diagnosed with polyinfestations, when the child is infected with several types of parasites, for example, enterobiasis in combination with ascariasis or giardiasis. If a child is infected with one type of worm or protozoa, their immunity is weakened, making them more susceptible to other types of parasites and infections.
Parasitic infections cause serious damage to the child's body: its protective functions are disturbed, the child feels unwell, his mood changes often, and his academic performance decreases. Therefore, it is recommended to regularly take tests for parasitosis to prevent the most common infections.
Which specialist treats parasitic diseases?
Signs of a parasitic infection may be confused with symptoms of a cold, allergies, or intestinal infection. If you suspect presense parasites, it is important to contact your general practitioner, who can assess your symptoms, order the necessary tests and, if necessary, refer you to a parasitologist or an infectious disease specialist.
It is very important for children to undergo regular tests for parasitic diseases to avoid possible complications.
If the parasite has existed in the body for a long time and has seriously affected health, consultation with specialists in other medical fields may be necessary. For example, with echinococcosis, it is often necessary to consult a surgeon to surgically remove cysts formed by helminths.
Perform laboratory tests to diagnose parasitic diseases
Most parasitic infections can be successfully detected through testing. By studying the composition of the blood, one can identify the presence of antibodies produced by the body in response to the invasion of foreign parasites. Stool and smear examination helps detect parasite eggs and larvae.
However, it must be taken into account that parasites have their own development cycle (from egg to adult), and in the early stages of infection, the test may not detect the presence of parasites. To ensure reliable results, some tests are recommended to be performed twice with an interval of 7-10 days.
Methods of treatment for parasitic diseases
When the diagnosis is confirmed by the doctor, he prescribes anti-parasitic drugs, which are usually taken for several days to several weeks. Symptomatic treatment can also be prescribed - antipyretics for fever, drugs for diarrhea and absorbents for gastrointestinal disorders, immunomodulators to maintain immunity.
After completing the course of treatment, it is recommended to take the test again to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment and complete recovery.
Measures to prevent parasitic diseases
The main reason parasites enter the human body is dirty hands, contaminated water and food. To prevent the development of infection, it is important to observe hygiene rules: wash your hands regularly, do wet cleaning at home, carefully handle fruits and vegetables, and wear protective gloves when working in the garden. Meat and fish should be boiled, fried or baked until cooked. Undercooked dishes, undercooked smoked or salted delicacies can be a source of parasites.
To avoid parasitic infections, it is important to observe good hygiene
Everyone, especially children and teenagers, should be tested regularly for the most common parasitic diseases to help detect possible diseases early.
Before traveling to a tropical country, you should see a doctor and learn about measures to prevent exotic parasitic infections, which are rare in our country. Treatment of such infections is usually more difficult, complications develop more often, and diagnosis is difficult due to lack of experience among doctors.
Home remedies to get rid of parasites
Parasites, these uninvited guests in our body, can cause many unpleasant diseases. They can cause allergic reactions, interfere with digestion and even affect your mental state. Fortunately, there are effective ways to control pests in your home.
One of the most popular methods to get rid of parasites is to use natural products such as garlic, ginger and nuts. Garlic, due to its antiparasitic properties, can help fight parasites and strengthen the immune system. |
In addition, you can use herbal decoctions and infusions. Plants such as tansy, yarrow and cloves are known for their anti-parasitic properties and can help rid the body of parasites. |
Do not forget about proper hygiene. Washing hands frequently before eating, peeling vegetables and fruits before eating, and handling meat before cooking are basic precautions to help prevent parasite infestation. |
Parasites as a cause of allergic reactions
When exposed to parasites, the human body may begin to experience an allergic reaction to these pathogens.
Protection against parasites while traveling is an important aspect of health, because the possibility of infection can lead not only to the deterioration of general health, but also to the development of allergic reactions.
Protection against parasites while traveling
When we travel, especially to warm countries, it is important to remember the possible dangers that parasites can cause. The presence of parasites can negatively affect our health and cause various problems. Therefore, it is necessary to take measures to protect against them.
There are many ways to protect yourself from parasites while traveling. One of the main ones is to monitor the quality of drinking water and food, because parasitic infections are most often transmitted through them. It is also worth considering the location of the hotel and taking measures to prevent insects and fleas.
When traveling to exotic countries, you must always see a doctor and take prophylaxis against malaria, because mosquitoes can be carriers of this dangerous disease. It is also recommended to use insect repellent and disinfect personal hygiene items.
Harm of parasites to women's health
Parasites can seriously harm women's health, causing various problems and complications.
Fighting parasites in women requires special attention and an integrated approach to avoid serious health consequences.
Questions and answers:
What parasitic infections can occur in humans?
To date, more than 300 parasitic infections are known, which are caused by single-celled organisms, helminths, arthropods and other parasites.
How do parasites enter the human body?
Parasites can enter the human body through contaminated drinking water, food, insect bites, contact with infected animals or other people.
What are the possible symptoms of a parasitic infection?
Symptoms of parasitic infection may include gastrointestinal upset, weakness, fatigue, weight changes, allergic reactions, itching and skin irritation.
What precautions can you take to prevent parasitic infections?
To avoid parasitic infections, it is necessary to keep hands clean, avoid eating raw or undercooked food, carefully monitor the purity of water and take insect protection measures.
How are parasitic infections treated?
Treatment of parasitic infections depends on the type of parasite and may include taking antiparasitic drugs, antibiotics, symptomatic therapy and other methods prescribed by the doctor.
What types of parasitic infections can enter the human body?
Today, more than 300 types of parasitic infections are known, caused by unicellular organisms, helminths, arthropods and other parasites.
What organs and tissues of the human body can parasites live?
Parasites can live in the intestines, liver, lungs, blood and other organs and tissues of the human body, using them as a source of nutrition and resources for their survival.