Review of parasitic diseases in humans

Parasites are microorganisms that invade the human body, affecting organs and internal systems and leading to various clinical manifestations.Parasitic diseases are not the only diseases.This phrase implies a distinct group of pathologies provoked by unicellular and multicellular pathogenic microorganisms.An unpleasant “neighborhood” can be temporary or permanent.The life cycle of worms has certain characteristics;In some cases, to form a full-fledged individual, it is necessary to change three hosts.

Symptoms and pathogens of parasitic diseases

The main pathogens of parasitic diseases include worms, which lead to helminth infections.Helminthiase, depending on the type of helminth, is classified as follows:

• Trematodes.This group of diseases is related to tapeworm infection.For example: internal organ damage caused by lung flukes, liver flukes, cat flukes, etc.;
• Nematodes is a parasitic infection caused by roundworms.The source of infection is the sick person.Pathogens include roundworms, pinworms, Toxocara, Trichinella, and roundworms;
• Cestodoses develop due to parasitism of tapeworms.Among them, the most common types of helminths include beef and pork tapeworms, dwarf tapeworms, broad tapeworms, alveoli, and echinococci.

In addition to helminths, parasitic diseases can be protozoal - infection with protozoan parasites - Giardia, the causative agent of malaria, toxoplasma, trichomonas.Also parasites - these include lice (body, head and pubic lice), bedbugs and mites.Dermatological diseases occur due to the parasitic activity of some insects.

Please note that the clinical picture against the background of parasitic infection is often blurred - in most cases there are no symptoms or clear and intense manifestations, which indicate severe intoxication.

Parasitic diseases in humans have the following symptoms:

1. Allergic manifestations are caused by the development of parasites in the body, in which their waste products and toxic substances enter the human circulatory system, leading to intoxication.Symptoms: red spots on the skin, hives, itching, rash, lichenoid plaques, etc.
2. Increased body temperature.In some patients, against the background of severe helminth infections, fever is observed.Usually the temperature ranges from 38 to 40 degrees, sometimes it remains at a below value for a long time.Increased temperature indicates an acute stage of the disease.

3. Lymphadenitis is a common symptom of parasitic diseases in humans.This condition is manifested by enlargement and inflammation of the lymph nodes.They can become inflamed one at a time or all at once.In addition, patients experience headaches, loss of appetite and general malaise.In most cases, the lymph nodes closest to the site of invasion will be inflamed.
4. Pain in muscles and joints is an echo of immune reactions in the human body.The immune system perceives helminth larvae as foreign objects and begins to attack them.Muscle and joint pain develops due to tissue damage caused by sucking helminths.
5. Pulmonary syndrome presents with a cough without phlegm.Patients complain of shortness of breath due to lack of physical activity, pain in the chest area.Ascariasis often occurs with bloody sputum.
6. Swelling can be local or widespread throughout the body.Angioedema is especially dangerous.In the absence of medical care, the possibility of death is very high.
7. When infected with helminths, abdominal syndrome is often detected.This symptom implies alternation between constipation and diarrhea, increased gas formation, bloating and gastrointestinal disorders.
8. There are many different types of pain in the abdomen.Some patients complain of constant pain, others complain of intermittent pain.For some people, the pain is sharp and intense, while others describe it as a dull pain syndrome.
9. In the chronic stage of helminthiasis, intoxication occurs, accompanied by severe weakness, a significant deterioration in overall health, frequent colds and respiratory infections, and severe weight loss.

The clinical picture of parasitic diseases is always different.Symptoms are based on the location of the helminth, the specific type of pathogen, and the patient's age.And what 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, amebiasis, balantidosis - the most common;Treatment of helminths, acarosis (scabies) and dermatological diseases.In medical practice, helminth infections are most common.

Parasitic infections:

• African trypanosomiasis.Infection occurs due to the invasion of Trypanosoma brucei bacteria.Transmission route: tsetse fly bite.The main clinical manifestations include fever, headache, and muscle pain;
• Amoebiasis develops due to the penetration of parasites into the human body with food and water.Pathogen: amoeba or dysentery amoeba;
• Ascariasis.Parasites - roundworms.Infection occurs due to consumption of contaminated food;
• Babesiosis is caused by helminths living in the blood.Infection occurs due to tick bites;
• Chagas disease (transmitted through the bite of a blood-sucking insect);
• Trichinosis is an acute or chronic parasitic disease caused by nematodes;
• Teniarinhoz is a parasite of the beef tapeworm.Invasive parasites primarily affect the gastrointestinal tract.Symptoms: severe abdominal pain, allergic reactions, headaches, general malaise.The incubation period varies from 2 to several years;
• Taenosis.The causative agent is pork tapeworm.Parasitic infections have many complications due to migration of helminth segments, leading to irreversible brain damage;
• Opisthorchiasis (helminths – cat flukes).Worms "live" in the liver, bile ducts, pancreas and gallbladder.Infection occurs from eating raw or undercooked fish;
• Clonorchz disease.The cause is trematodes growing in the body.In addition to humans, helminths also affect cats, dogs and pigs;
• Intestinal disease.The causative agent is pinworm.Parasitic diseases are often diagnosed in childhood.Treatment is difficult because 99% of secondary infections occur spontaneously.

Worth knowing: pathologies caused by parasites - pediculosis, scabies, cochliomyosis, demodicosis, etc.

In fact, the list of parasitic diseases can go on for a very long time, since there are many types of parasites that can infect the human body.The most common diseases are given as examples.

Why are parasites dangerous?

In most clinical pictures, residents of large cities are infected with common helminths, round and ice parasites.Pathogenic microorganisms lead to reduced immunity and absorption of nutrients from the host.But “ordinary” roundworms and pinworms are not as scary as they seem at first glance.

People living in tropical countries and tourists vacationing in South America, Australia or Africa face truly "terrible" helminths.

The most dangerous parasites:

1. Filaria leads to blockage of blood vessels, as a result of which coordination of movements is impaired and internal organs may fail.
2. Schistosomes are a special type of helminth that live in human blood.Leads to serious impairment of liver, digestive tract and bladder function.

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

• Chronic giardiasis leads to liver dysfunction, development of cirrhosis;
• Trichomonas can cause cancer, heart attack, diabetes, multiple sclerosis;
• Prolonged parasitic roundworms aggravate the condition of the gastrointestinal tract and affect the lungs;
• Trichinella.The growth of the parasite leads to severe pain and convulsions;
• Toxoplasma during pregnancy disrupts the child's intrauterine development, leading to mental retardation.

Important: anyone without exception can become infected;Hundreds of thousands of helminth larvae are lurking in every person: in water, soil, on leaves, on public transport, clinics, stores, food, etc.Therefore, it is necessary to comply with all hygiene measures and tell the child as early as possible about the importance of observing basic hygiene rules.

Penetration of parasite larvae into the body occurs unnoticed.In the early stages of infection, there are no symptoms;When the disease becomes chronic, the symptoms become more obvious.If you detect characteristic signs, you need to get treatment - otherwise, there is a high probability of serious complications that you will have to face throughout your life.