Overview of human parasitic diseases

Parasites are microorganisms that invade the human body, affect internal organs and systems, and lead to various clinical manifestations.Parasitic disease is not the only disease.This term refers to a separate group of pathologies caused by unicellular and multicellular pathogenic microorganisms.Unpleasant "neighborhood" can be temporary or permanent.The life cycle of worms has certain characteristics;in certain situations, three masters must be changed to develop a full-fledged individuality.

Symptoms and pathogens of parasitic diseases

The main causative agents of parasitic pathologies include worms, which lead to helminthiasis infection.Depending on the type of worm, helminthiasis can be classified as follows:

• Trematodes.This group of diseases includes fungal infection.For example, damage to internal organs is lung flu, liver flu, cat flu, etc.by;
• Roundworms are a parasitic infection caused by round helminths.The source of infection is a sick person.Pathogens include roundworms, roundworms, toxocara, trichinella, whipworms;
• Cestodoses develop as a result of parasitism caused by tapeworms.Among them, the most common worms are cattle and pig tapeworms, dwarf tapeworms, broad tapeworms, alveococcus and echinococcus.

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

For your information: the clinical picture of parasitic infection is often vague - in most cases there are no symptoms, or they appear acutely and violently, which indicates severe poisoning.

Human parasitic diseases have the following symptoms:

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

3. Lymphadenitis is a common symptom of human parasitic diseases.This condition manifests itself in the enlargement and inflammation of the lymph nodes.They can ignite individually or simultaneously.In addition, the patient experiences headache, decreased appetite and general malaise.In most cases, the lymph nodes that are closest to the site of invasion become inflamed.
4. Muscle and joint pain is an echo of the human body's immunological reactions.The immune system perceives helminth larvae as foreign objects and attacks them.Muscle and joint pains develop due to tissue damage caused by intestinal worm suckers.
5. Pulmonary syndrome manifests as a non-productive cough.The patient complains of shortness of breath due to lack of physical activity, pain in the chest area.Ascariasis often occurs with sputum mixed with blood.
6. The swelling can be localized or spread throughout the body.Angioedema is particularly dangerous.In the absence of medical care, the probability of death is high.
7. Abdominal syndrome infected with helminths is often observed.This symptom means the alternation of constipation and diarrhea, increased gas formation, bloating and disturbance of the digestive system.
8. Different types of painful sensations in the abdomen.Some patients complain of constant pain, others 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, poisoning occurs, which is accompanied by severe weakness, a significant deterioration in general health, frequent respiratory and colds, and sharp weight loss.

The clinical picture of parasitic disease is always different.The symptoms are based on the localization of the helminths, the specific type of pathogen and the patient's age.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 can be divided into protozoa - malaria, giardiasis, toxoplasmosis, amoebiasis, balantidiasis - the most common;for the treatment of helminthiasis, acarosis (scabies) and dermatosis.Helminthic infections are most often encountered in medical practice.

Parasitic infections:

• African trypanosomiasis.The infection occurs due to the penetration of Trypanosoma brucei bacteria.Mode of transmission: tsetse fly bite.The main clinical manifestations include fever, headache, myalgia;
• Amebiasis develops because the parasites enter the human body with food and water.Pathogens: amoeba or dysenteric amoeba;
• Ascariasis.Parasites - roundworms.Infection is caused by eating contaminated food;
• Babesiosis is caused by helminths living in the bloodstream.Infection occurs due to tick bites;
• Chagas disease (transmitted through bites of blood-sucking insects);
• Trichinosis is an acute or chronic parasitic disease caused by nematodes;
• To Teniarin, a parasite of the cattle tapeworm.The invasive parasite primarily affects the gastrointestinal tract.Symptoms: severe abdominal pain, allergic reactions, headache, general malaise.The incubation period varies between 2 and more years;
• Taeniasis.The causative agent is the pig tapeworm.Parasitic infection is associated with many complications due to the passage of helminth segments, up to irreversible brain damage;
• Opisthorchiasis (helminth - cat fluke).The worm "lives" in the liver, bile ducts, pancreas and gall bladder.Infection occurs due to consumption of raw or undercooked fish;
• Clonorchiasis.The reason for this is the reproduction of the Chinese fluke in the body.In addition to humans, helminths also affect cats, dogs and pigs;
• Enterobiasis.The causative agent is pinworms.Parasitic disease is often diagnosed in childhood.Treatment has its own difficulties, as secondary self-infection occurs in 99% of cases.

Worth knowing: pathologies caused by ectoparasites - pediculosis, scabies, cochliomiasis, demodicosis, etc.

In fact, the list of parasitic diseases can be continued for a very long time, since many parasites can infect the human body.We have given the most common diseases as examples.

Why are parasites dangerous?

In most clinical pictures, residents of large cities are infected with common helminths, round and tapeworms.Pathogenic microorganisms lead to a decrease in immunity and absorb nutrients from their host.But "banal" roundworms and dumplings are not as scary as they might seem at first glance.

People living in tropical countries and tourists who go on vacation to South America, Australia or Africa face truly "terrible" helminths.

The most dangerous parasites are:

1. The filaria leads to blockage of the blood vessels, as a result of which the coordination of movements deteriorates and the internal organs may fail.
2. Schistosomes are special worms that live in human blood.It leads to severe damage to the functioning of the liver, gastrointestinal tract and bladder.

These parasites are found in countries with tropical climates;in our reality, 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 disruption of the liver, cirrhosis develops;
• Trichomonas can cause cancer, heart attack, diabetes, 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 convulsions;
• Toxoplasma during pregnancy disrupts the development of the child in the womb, up to the point of mental retardation.

Important: anyone without exception can become infected;hundreds of thousands of worm larvae lurk on every person: in water, soil, tree leaves, public transport, clinics, shops, food, etc.Therefore, all hygiene measures should be observed and children should be informed as early as possible about the importance of following basic hygiene rules.

The parasite larvae enter the body unnoticed.In the early stages of infection, there are no symptoms;when the disease becomes chronic, the symptoms are more pronounced.If you notice characteristic signs, you need to treat it - otherwise there is a high probability of serious complications that you will have to deal with throughout your life.