Helminths are a large group of parasitic diseases caused by certain types of parasitic worms - helminths.Most helminth diseases have similar clinical manifestations and treatment methods.
Parasites: from ancient times to the present day
Common helminth diseases such as ascariasis and ascariasis have been known for a long time.Invasion of humans by bovine tapeworms and roundworms was mentioned as early as the 16th century BC in the ancient Egyptian medical treatise - the Ebers papyrus.Hippocrates himself paid great attention to helminths.It was they who introduced such concepts as “helminth disease” and “ascariasis”.
At the beginning of the 18th century, German microbiologist Karl Rudolphi, in the process of studying a large number of animals, collected a whole collection of parasitic worms.Soon the science of parasitic worms appeared - helminths.
In 1884, a famous scientist and physician established a causal link between the parasitism of tapeworms in the human body and the appearance of anemia in patients.
An outstanding scientist and scholar who made a great contribution to the development and establishment of helminthology, who organized the first department of parasitology and opened specialized facilities for the study of helminths.On his initiative, more than three hundred parasitic 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 helminths, and published more than seven hundred scientific articles.
By the way, it is known that parasitic infections worsen the course of accompanying diseases, especially chronic, decompensated ones.Helminth infections negatively affect growth, working ability and also have the effect of weakening the human immune system and nervous system.
Parasitic infections: types of worms
There are three types of large helminths - tapeworms (cestodes), roundworms (nematodes), trematodes (trematodes).Nematodes are classified as roundworms, while tapeworms and trematodes are classified as flatworms.A person can act as an intermediate or final host for the parasite.
The agents that cause helminth diseases such as roundworm, strongyloidiasis, trichinosis, hookworm disease, strongyloidiasis, and strongyloidiasis are all nematodes.Cestodes cause echinococcosis, alveococcosis, diphyllobothrheim, taenheim, teniarinchchiasis, hymenolepheim, etc.And trematodes cause, among other diseases, opisthorchiasis, clonorchiasis, paragonimiasis, metagonimiasis, liver flukes.
Depending on the location of the parasite in the body, there are:
- Helminth disease in the lumbar region.
- Tissue helminths.
- Hepatobiliary helminth disease.In this case, parasitic infection affects the liver, gallbladder and bile ducts (opisthorchiasis, clonorchiasis).
- Lungworm disease.
The following types of helminths are distinguished:
- Geohelminthiase.In this case, the parasite develops with the participation of a non-living substrate (water, soil).
- Infectious helminth disease.Worm development occurs in a microorganism, such as intestinal worm disease.
- Biological helminths are the development of helminths with the participation of an intermediate host.Typically, broad tapeworms have complex development cycles with host changes.
By the way, it has been established that intestinal parasites in the body promote the release of Th2 cytokines, which have an inhibitory effect on Th1 cytokines.In this regard, people infected with helminths are at high risk of being infected with a particular disease, such as tuberculosis.
Parasites in the body: main syndrome
The main clinical syndromes of helminth infections include:
Malnutrition syndrome
It is known that parasites when in the human body consume nutrients from the host, which can cause the host to suffer from protein energy deficiency, vitamin deficiency and anemia.This often happens when the body is damaged by tapeworms or parasitic roundworms in the intestines.
Immunosuppression syndrome
When they remain in the body for a long time, helminths can have an immunosuppressive effect, reducing resistance to various bacterial and viral infections.
Allergic organ damage due to toxins
This is a series of diseases - heart (myocarditis), liver (hepatitis), lungs (pneumonia), brain (encephalopathy).Up to hemorrhagic necrosis of internal organs.
Local damage to organ tissue
Usually it prevails in the chronic phase and is determined by the localization of the helminth.Thus, hookworms and cestodes have the effect of causing damage to the intestinal mucosa, opisthorchid causes damage to the biliary tract, and schistosomiasis causes damage to the lining of the large intestine and urinary tract.
By the way, it has been proven that helminth infections reduce the effectiveness of vaccination.Some helminths, such as schistosomiasis, opisthorchid, and Chinese tapeworm, can stimulate the growth of carcinogens.This is proven by the so-called parasitic theory of cancer.Particularly dangerous is long-term chronic opisthorchosis, which can eventually lead to cholangiocarcinoma.
When should you see a doctor?
The following may indicate that a person has parasites in the body:
- Various types of allergic reactions, including unspecified recurrent urticaria, do not disappear even with the use of hormonal and desensitizing drugs.
- Reduced or conversely, increased appetite.
- Exhaustion of the body.
- Itching in the anal area - especially in the evening or at night.
- Symptoms of indigestion.
- 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, irritability.Of course, such symptoms can be caused by various diseases.However, if your child shows an inexplicable increase in fatigue or moodiness, has difficulty sleeping at night, or is anxious, it is reasonable to have a test for parasites.
If any of the above signs are present, this is a reason to consult a parasitologist or infectious disease specialist.