Parasitism as a form of existence rose to Earth for a very long time, ranging from ancient protozoa and single -celled microorganisms.Humanity has faced various parasites since the beginning of its existence, but during the millennia of coexistence, the parasites have not become "smarter" and perfect for their ancestors.Parasites can cause irreparable damage to health, until the development of severe disability or death.But mentioning the word "parasites", everyone essentially thinks of worms, though this term is much wider.We will discuss the parasites in detail.
Parasites: Who are they?
Parasites are single -celled or multicellular organisms living in the body of their owner or inside it (in body cavities or cells).They are usually much smaller than predatory fauna representatives, have the ability to multiply quickly and survive in severe conditions.They eat at the expense of their owner while they cause damage.With this, they differ from the symbols - the organisms living within their owner and benefit from it.
Many of the parasites, in addition to their own damage, are also able to transmit dangerous diseases.Examples are mosquitoes that hold malaria and ticks that keep encephalitis born with ticks and borreliosis.
Parasites sizes differ significantly - from microscopic, which can only be seen in the microscope, to worms, reaching a length of up to 10 m or more.Parasites use different sources of the owner - these are carbohydrates or proteins, fats, as well as minerals or vitamins to grow and develop.In the human body, the parasite can pass one or all stages of the life cycle - intermediate or final.The manifestations of the infected will depend on this.
Most parasites are microscopic sizes, they are difficult to detect.But some types of parasitic worms can form cysts in size on the baby's head or reach a length of several meters.
Varieties of parasitism
Some types of parasitism are distinguished.They depend on the parasite habitat in the human body:
Endoparasites.They live inside the body of the owners, typical representatives are helminths (or worms).They can live in the intestines, body cavities.Intercellular or intercellular parasites affect certain tissues of the body respectively.These include bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa.
Special conditions, and sometimes carriers are needed to spread endoparasites.Organisms that bring them to their constant habitats.For example, for malaria a carrier will be a mosquito.
Exoparasites.These organisms live on the surface of the owner's body, eating his biological media for bites.Typical representatives are lice, fleas, mosquitoes, ticks.
Epiparasis.They parasitize in other parasites forming super parasitism.So the fleas that feed on the blood of animals or humans have protozoa in the intestines - parasites already living in the body of insects themselves.
Types of human parasites
Although viruses, fungi and bacteria also damage a person in his body, they are considered separately as pathogens of infectious diseases.People's true parasites include:
Protozoa.These are single -celled organisms that can only share owners within the body.Examples are an amoeba of dysentery, plasmodium malaria or chlamydia.
Helminths.These are parasitic worms of different types - flat, tape, round and more.
Parasite insects.This group includes lice, fleas, ticks, mosquitoes.
How is a parasitic infection manifested?
One of the unpleasant facts is that not all parasitic infections have typical symptoms.So if insect bites and lice are relatively simple, then it is not always possible to determine the presence of worms or protozoa without special analysis.Sometimes manifestations resemble bronchitis or pneumonia, hormonal imbalance, allergies or food poisoning.Some parasites, lined with upholstered in the gut or abdominal cavity, provoke abdominal pain, hypovitaminosis or cholecystitis.Among the most typical symptoms, experts distinguish:
- Redness on the skin, stains, bubbles, itching or bruising.
- Increasing appetite or suppressing it, losing weight.
- Diarrhea and vomiting, different types of abdominal pain.
- Anemia (decrease in the level of hemoglobin or red blood cells).
- Disordishes sleep disorders - insomnia or severe drowsiness.
- Grief of joints, muscles, skin.
- Allergic reactions that did not exist before.
- General mistreatment, weakness, irritability.
- Periodic temperatures up to high number or continuous sub -phase fever.
However, these same manifestations are typical of many other, non -parasitic diseases, therefore, the diagnosis can confirm the detection of the parasite itself, its eggs or antibodies in it in the blood.
Important!Often there are no symptoms for a long time, they can occur after stress or infection, with the spread of "critical mass" parasites.Meanwhile, many parasitic diseases are infectious, and a person, without suspecting it, infects others.This is especially possible if you neglect the elementary rules of hygiene.
How do the parasites spread?
Depending on the type of parasite, the paths of its spread may vary.The simplest transmission, which lives in one person's intestines, to another person, as a rule, occurs in fecal-oral routes (for example, through infected nutrition or water), with narrow contacts from people to a person.The simplest, which lives in the blood or tissues of humans, are transmitted to other people through insects (for example, through a bite of mosquitoes or sandy flies).
Many helminths in adulthood cannot multiply in humans.People can be final masters - adults live in them, or intermediate ones - the larvae live in them.Eggs or larvae are transmitted by dirty hands, infected food or water, dust particles raised in the air.In addition, parasites can fall with infected fish, meat and a bird where the larvae spread.
Ectoparasites - lice and scabies, transmitted by contact with communication and close contact with infected children or adults.Arthropods are important not only as provocateurs of diseases in themselves, but even more important as carriers of serious diseases - malaria, redness typhoid, encephalitis born of ticks, etc.
Parasitic infections cause a large number of diseases in both tropics and subtropics, as well as in a more moderate climate.Of all parasitic diseases, malaria is the cause of most deaths in the world.About 660,000 people die every year from malaria, most of whom are young children.
How to identify parasites?
Of course, if these are pubic lice or head, scabies or pinworms that parents find in the baby's pot - the diagnosis is already clear, you just need to be treated.But most parasites must first be identified, determine exactly who it is, and only then to choose a treatment that will be effective and safe.
Different types of laboratory tests are available today for the diagnosis of parasitic diseases.The type of study that will be prescribed by the attending physician depends on your symptoms and complaints, any other disease you may have and your history of travel abroad or across the country.The diagnosis can be complicated, so the doctor can prescribe not only tests but also additional procedures.A list of several tests often used that a doctor may be prescribed when diagnosing parasites:
Studying feces for the detection of their parasites or eggs.The analysis is used to identify the parasites that cause diarrhea, liquid or diluted stool, stomach cramps, dish and other abdominal cavity diseases.It is recommended to explore three or more stool samples collected in a few days.
Blood tests for antibodies to parasites, urine tests, blood crops and some other tests depending on the claimed diagnosis.Some, but not all, parasitic infections can be found when analyzing your blood.However, in this case, blood will be examined for a specific parasitic infection;There is no blood test that will determine all parasitic infections.The doctor may prescribe two main types of blood tests:
SerologyThis test is used to seek antibodies or antigens of parasites that are produced when the body is infected with parasites, and the immune system tries to fight the invaders.
Stain blood.This test is used to identify the parasites found in the blood.Seeing a blood stain under a microscope, it is possible to diagnose parasitic diseases, such as friliatosis, malaria or babusiosis.This test is performed by placing blood drops in the glass of a microscope.Then the object glass is painted and examined under a microscope.
In addition to the tests, the doctor can prescribe other studies.Endoscopy is used to detect parasites that cause diarrhea, liquid or watery stool, abdominal pain, flames and other symptoms from the abdominal cavity.It is used when the excrement study does not reveal the cause of your diarrhea.During the procedure in the mouth (endoscopy) or rectum (colonoscopy), a tube with a camera and rear light is presented so that the doctor can examine the intestines.This test is seeking parasites or other abnormalities that can cause unpleasant symptoms.
X -ray pictures, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images, calculated axis (floor).These tests are used to search for some parasitic diseases that can cause organs.
How to handle?
When the correct diagnosis is known, it is already easier to choose treatment.Almost all parasitic diseases cure today.However, the treatment of helminthiasis is with many scenes and will take time from the patient.
In the first phase, the body should be prepared and cleaned of accumulated toxins.The patient is prescribed sorbent.Cleaning the body of toxins lasts at least five days.
In the second phase, anthelmintic agents are prescribed to the patient.It is better if the medicine is selected individually for a certain type of parasite.Treatment is performed in two courses.The first course will kill adults of helminths in the human body.After 10-14 days, adult worms will be replaced by new ones that will open from the layered eggs.The second course will kill new individuals.
In the third stage, the digestive tract, liver and immune system are reset.The patient is prescribed a course of sorbents, and after taking medicines that help in the digestive tract.Polyvitamins are added at the same time.
Sometimes the disease can begin or has a special form, which requires surgical intervention.Thus, for example, in the presence of ecinococcal cysts in the liver, kidney or lung, only removing them will help.
The entire course of treatment, medicines and other procedures is chosen by the doctor, based on the diagnosis, age and weight of the patient.