In modern conditions, over 300 parasitic infections are known. Microorganisms that excite them and helminths penetrate the human body to use its resources, as well as mites and lice that live on the skin and hair.
Sometimes parasitic diseases are almost asymptomatic. 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 transmitted by malarial mosquitoes, kills more than 600, 000 people each year.
In our country, 1 to 2 million cases of parasitic diseases are registered every year, but, according to doctors' estimates, in reality the number of people infected with these infections 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. Countries with a warm climate, as well as regions with a low level of hygiene and a lack of drinking water, contribute the most to this sad statistic. Residents of these places face dangerous diseases such as malaria and schistosomiasis. A disease caused by parasitic worms. Symptoms occur in the tropics and subtropics. In case of complications, they affect the liver, kidneys, bladder fibrosis and infertility. Filariasis. An infection caused by parasites transmitted by the bite of tropical insects. It leads to the destruction of the lymphatic system. In our country, as in countries with a moderate climate, the problem of parasitic infections is not so acute: here there are usually 18-20 parasitoses, which are easily treated and have a favorable prognosis.
Types of parasitic diseases
Diseases caused by protozoan microorganisms are divided into three main categories: infections caused by amoebas, trichomonas and leishmania.
Also, depending on the stage of the disease, acute and chronic parasitic infections are distinguished, as well as by localization - intestinal and extraintestinal, when parasites penetrate and reproduce in different tissues and organs: lungs, muscles, liver, kidneys, but not in the intestines.
Let's see which diseases are most common in our country.
Diseases caused by protozoan microorganisms
Giardiasis
The body is infected by intestinal lamblia (Giardia intestinalis, Giardia lamblia), which are transmitted by contact with contaminated fruits and vegetables, water or everyday food. They adhere to the walls of the small intestine, feeding on leftover food. Symptoms of giardiasis include abdominal pain, diarrhea and constipation, nausea, vomiting, general weakness and insomnia.
Amebiasis (amoebic dysentery)
The most common cause of this disease is the dysenteric 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. Typically, amebiasis manifests as severe diarrhea (often mixed with blood and mucus), nausea and low-grade fever. If the microorganisms enter the bloodstream and spread to the liver, lungs and brain, it can lead to 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 that occurs is ascariasis - it accounts for up to 70% of all cases of parasitic infections. Almost every inhabitant of our country has encountered this at least once in his life. Ascariasis is caused by roundworms - roundworms. Ascaris eggs can enter the body through dirty hands, they stay for a long time on food and various objects with which an infected person came into contact. These parasites cause nausea, abdominal pain, sleep disturbance, and the person often feels itching in the anus.
Ascariasis
Worm infection is caused by roundworms (Ascaris lumbricoides). Their larvae enter the body through vegetables and fruits, as well as by interacting 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 with the patency of the intestines or bile ducts may arise, disrupting the digestion process and the outflow of bile.
An adult roundworm can reach a length of 25-30 cm
Toxocarosis
The causative agent of the 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 disrupt their normal functioning. As a result, a person may experience unreasonable coughing and shortness of breath if the respiratory system is damaged, neurological disorders if the brain is damaged, allergic reactions and anemia. In extreme cases, the infection can lead to deterioration of vision or complete loss of vision.
Echinococcosis
Echinococcosis is caused by the parasitic worm Echinococcus, which lives in the body of some animals and is transmitted from them to humans. Inside the human body, worm larvae form cysts in the liver, kidneys, lungs, and even the brain. This can lead to severe complications - anaphylactic shock, increased intracranial pressure, development of abscesses, pathological changes in organs and tissues - and lead to premature death.
Opisthorchiasis
If you eat lightly fried or lightly salted fish from the carp family, you can get opisthorchiasis. These fish are often infested with larvae of flatworms from the genus Opisthorchis, which damage the bile ducts in the liver, pancreas and gall bladder. Symptoms of the disease are excessive sweating, allergic rash, fever, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and inflammation of the upper respiratory tract.
Fish delicacies can become a source of parasites
Diseases caused by arthropods
Scabies
One of the most common skin diseases is head lice, caused by microscopic mites Sarcoptes scabiei var hominis. These mites are transmitted by contact with an infected person, burrow into the skin, migrate and lay eggs, resulting in itching and rashes. Pediculosis can lead to serious complications associated with the occurrence of secondary infection.
Scabies
Terrible tortures on the skin and hair, an infection that often arises from lice (Pediculus humanus capitis). This parasite attacks the host by sucking blood. Salivary louse, which enters the bite wound, causes severe itching. Pediculosis leads to the appearance of eczema and conjunctivitis: by scratching the bite sites (yes, they can also be in the area of the eyebrows, eyelash lines), a person can transfer pathogenic bacteria to the resulting wounds, which lead to infectious complications. Also, lice are carriers of an extremely dangerous infection - typhus.
Normal hygiene is not an infallible guarantee against head lice infection: they successfully live in both healthy and dirty hair.
Signs of parasitic infestation
Parasitic infections, which are widespread in our country, are most often manifested by minimal symptoms or similar signs as intestinal infections and poisoning. A person infected with parasites has a loss of appetite, abdominal pain, occasional bouts of nausea and vomiting, unexplained weight loss, and general deterioration of health and weakness. A rise in temperature, the appearance of rashes and other allergic reactions, anemia due to iron deficiency, and minor disorders of the nervous system (increased irritability, 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 caused by parasites
Typically, parasitic infections common in our country rarely lead to serious complications. However, with a significant number of parasites in the body, a person's health can seriously deteriorate over time.
The most common complications of parasitic infections:
- obstruction in the intestines and bile ducts,
- abscesses of internal organs,
- 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 are 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, enterobiosis in combination with ascariasis or giardiasis. If a child is infected with one type of worm or protozoan, his or her immunity is weakened, making him or her more vulnerable 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 bad, his mood often changes, and academic success decreases. Therefore, regular parasite testing is recommended to prevent the most common infections.
Which specialist treats parasitic diseases?
Signs of parasitic infections can be mistaken for symptoms of a cold, allergy or intestinal infection. If you suspect the presence of parasites, it is important to consult your general practitioner who can assess your symptoms, order the necessary tests and, if necessary, refer you to a parasitologist or infectious disease specialist.
It is especially important that children are regularly tested for parasitic diseases in order to avoid possible complications.
If parasites have been present in the body for a long time and have seriously threatened health, consultation with specialists from other fields of medicine may be necessary. For example, in the case of echinococcosis, it is often necessary to consult a surgeon in order to surgically remove cysts caused by helminths.
Conducting laboratory tests to diagnose parasitic diseases
Most parasitic infections can be successfully detected by testing. By studying the composition of the blood, the presence of antibodies that the body produces in response to the invasion of foreign parasites can be determined. Examining feces and smears helps to 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, tests may not detect the presence of parasites. To ensure reliable results, some tests are recommended to be done twice 7-10 days apart.
Methods of treatment of parasitic diseases
Once the doctor confirms the diagnosis, he prescribes antiparasitic drugs, which are usually taken for several days to several weeks. Symptomatic treatment can also be prescribed - antipyretics for fever, medicines for diarrhea and absorbents for gastrointestinal disorders, immunomodulators to maintain immunity.
After completing the course of treatment, it is recommended to take the tests again to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment and complete recovery.
Measures for the prevention of parasitic diseases
The main reason parasites enter the human body are dirty hands, contaminated water and food. In order to avoid the development of infections, it is important to follow hygiene rules: wash your hands regularly, carry out wet cleaning in the house, handle fruits and vegetables carefully and wear protective gloves when working in the garden. Meat and fish should be boiled, fried or baked until cooked. Undercooked dishes, uncooked smoked or lightly salted delicacies can become a source of parasites.
To prevent parasitic infections, it is important to maintain good hygiene
Everyone, especially children and adolescents, should be regularly tested for the most common parasitic diseases in order to detect a possible disease early.
Before traveling to tropical countries, you should consult a doctor and familiarize yourself with the measures to prevent exotic parasitic infections, which are rarely found in our country. Treatment of such infections is usually more difficult, complications develop more often, and diagnosis is difficult due to the lack of experience of the doctor.
Home methods for getting rid of parasites
Parasites, these uninvited guests in our body, can cause many unpleasant diseases. They can cause allergic reactions, disrupt digestion, and even affect your mental state. Fortunately, there are effective ways to control pests in your home.
One of the most popular methods for getting rid of parasites is to use natural products such as garlic, ginger and nuts. Garlic, due to its antiparasitic properties, can help fight against parasites and strengthen the immune system. |
In addition, you can resort to the use of herbal decoctions and infusions. Plants such as tansy, yarrow and cloves are known for their anti-parasitic properties and can help cleanse the body of parasites. |
Do not forget about proper hygiene. Regular hand washing before eating, peeling vegetables and fruits before eating, and handling meat before cooking are basic precautions that help avoid parasite infection. |
Parasites as causes of allergic reactions
When exposed to parasites, the human body can begin to develop allergic reactions to these pathogens.
Protection against parasites while traveling is an important aspect of health, because the possibility of infection can lead not only to deterioration of general health, but also to the development of allergic reactions.
Protection against parasites when traveling
When we travel, especially to warm countries, it is important to remember the possible danger that parasites can pose. 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 monitoring 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 ticks.
When traveling to exotic countries, you must always consult a doctor and take malaria prophylaxis, as mosquitoes can transmit this dangerous disease. The use of insect repellants and disinfection of personal hygiene products is also recommended.
Harm of parasites on women's health
Parasites can seriously harm women's health, causing various problems and complications.
The fight against parasites in women requires special attention and an integrated approach to avoid serious health consequences.
Question and answer:
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 symptoms can occur with a parasitic infection?
Symptoms of parasitic infections may include gastrointestinal disturbances, weakness, fatigue, weight changes, allergic reactions, itching and skin irritation.
What precautions can you take to avoid parasitic infections?
In order to prevent parasitic infections, it is necessary to maintain hand hygiene, avoid eating raw or undercooked food, carefully monitor the cleanliness of the water and take measures to protect against insects.
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?
More than 300 types of parasitic infections caused by single-celled organisms, helminths, arthropods and other parasites are known today.
On which 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.