Helminthiasis is a large group of parasitic diseases caused by certain types of parasitic worms - worms.Most helminthiasis have similar clinical manifestations and treatment approaches.
Parasites: from antiquity to the present day
Common helminthiasis such as enterobiasis and ascariasis have been known for a long time.Human invasions of bovine tapeworms and roundworms are mentioned as early as the sixteenth century BC in the ancient Egyptian medical treatise – the Ebers Papyrus.Hippocrates himself paid a lot of attention to helminths.They introduced concepts such as "helminthiasis" and "ascariasis".
At the beginning of the eighteenth century, the German microbiologist Karl Rudolphi collected a whole collection of parasitic worms during the examination of a large number of animals.Soon the science of parasitic worms appeared - helminthology.
In 1884, a famous scientist and doctor established a cause-and-effect relationship between tapeworms in the human body and the patient's anemia.
An outstanding scientist and academician greatly contributed to the development and creation of helminthology, who organized the first parasitology department and opened special institutions for the study of helminths.On his initiative, more than three hundred parasitological expeditions were carried out, in which he directly participated.
Parasitologists have described more than five hundred species of parasitic worms that were previously unknown to science.The doctor himself discovered and described more than two hundred new species of worms and published more than seven hundred scientific papers.
By the way, it is well known that parasite infection worsens the course of concomitant diseases, especially chronic, decompensated diseases.Helminth infections have a negative effect on growth and work capacity, and have a depressing effect on the human immune system and nervous system.
Parasitic infection: types of worms
There are three large groups of intestinal worms: tapeworms (cestodes), roundworms (nematodes), and worms (trematodes).Nematodes are roundworms, while tapeworms and flukes are flatworms.A person can act as an intermediate or definitive host of parasites.
The causative agents of helminthiasis, such as ascariasis, enterobiasis, trichinosis, hookworm disease, trichuriasis and strongyloidiasis, are nematodes.Cestodes echinococcosis, alveococcosis, diphyllobothriasis, taeniasis, teniarynchiasis, hymenolepiasis, etc.
Depending on where the parasites are in the body, there are:
- Luminal helminthiasis.
- Tissue helminthiasis.
- Hepatobiliary helminthiases.In this case, the parasitic infection affects the liver, gall bladder and bile ducts (opisthorchiasis, clonorchiasis).
- Pulmonary helminthiasis.
The following types of helminthiasis are distinguished:
- Geohelminthiasis.In this case, the parasite develops with the participation of a non-living substrate (water, soil).
- Infectious helminthiasis.Worms develop inside a microorganism, for example in enterobiasis.
- Biohelminthiasis is the development of helminths with the participation of intermediate hosts.A typical example of this is the broad tapeworm, which has a complex development cycle with a change of host.
By the way, it has been established that intestinal parasites promote the release of Th2 cytokines in the body, which suppress the Th1 cytokine.In this regard, people with helminthic infections are at greater risk of contracting a particular disease, such as tuberculosis.
Parasites in the body: main syndromes
The main clinical syndromes of helminth infections are:
Malnutrition syndrome
It is known that the parasite consumes nutrients from its host while staying in the human body, which can cause protein-energy deficiency, hypovitaminosis and anemia.This often occurs when the body is damaged by intestinal tapeworms and roundworms.
Immunosuppressive syndrome
If they remain in the body for a long time, helminths exert an immunosuppressive effect, reducing resistance to various microbial and viral infections.
Toxic-allergic organ damage
This is the entire spectrum of diseases - the heart (myocarditis), the liver (hepatitis), the lungs (pneumonia), the brain (encephalopathy).Until hemorrhagic necrotic damage of the internal organs.
Local damage to organ tissue
Most often, it dominates in the chronic phase and is determined by the localization of the helminth.Thus, hookworms and cestodes have a traumatic effect on the intestinal mucosa, opisthorchids on the biliary tract, and schistosomes on the mucosa of the large intestine and urinary tract.
However, it has been proven that helminth infections reduce the effectiveness of vaccination.Some helminths, for example, schistosomes, opisthorchid, Chinese flukes, can trigger the development of carcinogenesis.This is proven by the so-called parasite theory of cancer.Long-lasting chronic opisthorchiasis, which can ultimately lead to biliary tract cancer, is a particular danger.
When should you see a doctor?
The following may indicate that a person has parasites in their body:
- Various types of allergic reactions, including unspecified, recurring urticaria, which do not go away even with the use of hormonal and desensitizing drugs.
- Decreased or, conversely, increased appetite.
- Exhaustion of the body.
- Itching in the anal area - especially in the evening or at night.
- Dyspeptic phenomena.
- Unstable stools - diarrhea or constipation.
- Prolonged dry cough (usually at night), in children - prolonged "barking" cough.
- An increase in the level of eosinophils in the blood is eosinophilia.
- Anemia, especially B12 deficiency.
- Asthenic syndrome - general weakness, fatigue, malaise.Of course, such symptoms can be attributed to various diseases.However, if the child's tiredness or bad mood, bad night's sleep or nervousness increases beyond comprehension, it is advisable to perform a parasite test.
If any of the above signs are present, this is a reason to consult a parasitologist or an infectious disease specialist.