Assessment of human parasitic diseases

Parasites are microorganisms that enter the human body, affect internal organs and systems and lead to various clinical manifestations.Parasitic diseases are not the only diseases.This phrase implies a separate group of pathologies caused by single-celled and multicellular pathogenic microorganisms.An unpleasant “neighborhood” can be temporary or permanent.The life cycle of worms has certain characteristics;in some situations, to form a full-fledged individual, it is necessary to change three hosts.

Symptoms and pathogens of parasitic diseases

The main agents responsible for parasitic pathologies are worms, leading to infection by helminthiasis.Helminthiasis, depending on the type of helminths, is classified as follows:

• Trematodes.This group of diseases involves infection with flukes.For example, damage to internal organs caused by lung fluke, liver fluke, cat fluke, etc. ;
• Nematodes are a parasitic infection caused by round helminths.The source of infection is a sick person.Pathogens include roundworms, pinworms, Toxocara, Trichinella, whipworms;
• Cestodoses develop as a result of tapeworm parasitism.Among them, the most common helminths include bovine and porcine tapeworms, dwarf tapeworms, broad tapeworms, alveococci and echinococci.

In addition to helminthiasis, parasitic diseases can be protozoan - infection with protozoan parasites - Giardia, the causative agent of malaria, toxoplasma, trichomonas.Also ectoparasites - these include lice (body, head and pubic lice), bedbugs and ticks.Dermatoses are due to the parasitic activity of certain insects.

For information, the clinical picture against the background of a parasitic infection is often unclear - in most cases there are no symptoms or they manifest themselves acutely and violently, which indicates severe poisoning.

Human parasitic diseases have the following symptoms:

1. Allergic manifestations are caused by the proliferation of parasites in the body, during which their waste products and toxic substances enter the human circulatory system, which leads to poisoning.Symptoms: red spots on the skin, hives, itching, rashes, lichen-like patches, etc.
2. Increased body temperature.In some patients, against the background of severe helminthic infestation, a febrile state is observed.Usually the temperature ranges from 38 to 40 degrees, sometimes it remains in subfebrile values for a long time.An increase in temperature indicates the acute phase of the disease.

3. Lymphadenitis is a common symptom of human parasitic diseases.This condition manifests itself as enlargement and inflammation of the lymph nodes.They can ignite one at a time or all at once.Additionally, the patient experiences headaches, decreased appetite and general malaise.In most cases, the lymph nodes closest to the site of invasion become inflamed.
4. Muscle and joint pain are an echo of the human body's immunological reactions.The immune system perceives helminth larvae as foreign objects and begins to attack them.Muscle and joint pain develop due to tissue damage caused by helminth suckers.
5. Pulmonary syndrome is manifested by a nonproductive cough.The patient complains of shortness of breath due to lack of physical activity, chest pain.Ascariasis often occurs with sputum mixed with blood.
6. The swelling may be localized or spread throughout the body.Quincke's edema is especially dangerous.Without medical attention, the risk of death is high.
7. When infected with helminths, abdominal syndrome is often detected.This symptom involves alternating constipation and diarrhea, increased gas formation, bloating, and dysfunction of the digestive tract.
8. Painful sensations in the abdomen of different types.Some patients complain of constant pain, others of intermittent pain.For some, the pain is pronounced and intense, while others describe it as a dull pain syndrome.
9. During the chronic course of helminthiasis, intoxication occurs, accompanied by severe weakness, a significant deterioration in general health, respiratory diseases and frequent colds, and severe weight loss.

The clinical picture of a parasitic disease is always different.Symptoms depend on the location of the helminths, the specific type of pathogen and the age of the patient.And also about the state of the immune system, the degree of dysfunction of internal organs and other aspects.

List of parasitic diseases

Parasitic diseases are divided into protozoa - malaria, giardiasis, toxoplasmosis, amoebiasis, balantidiasis - the most common;for helminthiasis, acarosis (scabies) and dermatoses.In medical practice, helminthic infestations are the most common.

Parasitic infections:

• African trypanosomiasis.Infection occurs due to the penetration of Trypanosoma brucei bacteria.Route of transmission: tsetse fly bite.The main clinical manifestations include fever, headache, myalgia;
• Amoebiasis develops due to the penetration of parasites into the human body with food and water.Pathogens: amoeba or dysenteric amoeba;
• Ascariasis.Parasites - roundworms.Infection is caused by eating contaminated food products;
• Babesiosis is caused by helminths that live in the blood.The infection is due to a tick bite;
• Chagas disease (transmitted by the bites of blood-sucking insects);
• Trichinosis is an acute or chronic parasitic disease caused by nematodes;
• Teniarinhoz is a parasitism of the bovine tapeworm.The invasive parasite mainly affects the gastrointestinal tract.Symptoms: severe abdominal pain, allergic reactions, headaches, general malaise.The incubation period varies from 2 to several years;
• Taeniasis.The causative agent is the pork tapeworm.A parasitic infection is fraught with numerous complications due to the passage of segments of helminths, which can lead to irreversible brain damage;
• Opisthorchiasis (helminths – cat fluke).The worm “lives” in the liver, bile ducts, pancreas and gallbladder.Infection is caused by eating raw or undercooked fish;
• Clonorchiasis.The reason is the reproduction of Chinese fluke in the body.Besides humans, helminths affect cats, dogs and pigs;
• Enterobiosis.The causative agent is pinworms.Parasitic diseases are often diagnosed in childhood.Treatment has its difficulties, because in 99% of cases secondary autoinfection occurs.

Namely: pathologies caused by ectoparasites - pediculosis, scabies, cochliomyasis, demodicosis, etc.

In fact, the list of parasitic diseases can be long, as many parasites can infect the human body.The most common diseases have been given as examples.

Why are parasites dangerous?

In most clinical pictures, residents of large cities are infected with common helminths, round and ribbon parasites.Pathogenic microorganisms cause a decrease in immunity and absorb nutrients from their host.But “banal” roundworms and pinworms are not as scary as they seem at first glance.

People living in tropical countries and tourists going on vacation to South America, Australia or Africa face truly “terrible” helminths.

The most dangerous parasites:

1. Wireworms lead to blockage of blood vessels, which leads to impaired coordination of movements and failure of internal organs.
2. Schistosomes are a special type of helminths that live in human blood.Lead to serious impairment of the functionality of the liver, gastrointestinal tract and bladder.

These parasites are found in countries with tropical climates;in our realities, pathologies are relatively rarely diagnosed.Science knows more than 200 types of parasites that can lead to the development of acute and chronic pathologies:

• Chronic giardiasis leads to liver disruption, cirrhosis develops;
• Trichomonas can cause cancer, myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis;
• Roundworms with prolonged parasitism significantly worsen the condition of the gastrointestinal tract and affect the lungs;
• Trichinella.The development of parasites leads to severe pain and seizures;
• Toxoplasma during pregnancy disrupts the intrauterine development of the child up to mental retardation.

Important: anyone without exception can be infected;Hundreds of thousands of helminth larvae lie in wait for every person: in water, on the ground, on the leaves of trees, in public transport, a clinic, a store, on food, etc.It is therefore necessary to respect all hygiene measures and to inform children as early as possible of the importance of respecting basic hygiene rules.

The penetration of parasite larvae into the body goes unnoticed.In the early stage of infection, there are no symptoms;when the disease becomes chronic, the symptoms are more pronounced.If characteristic signs are detected, you need to be treated - otherwise there is a high probability of serious complications that you will have to face throughout your life.