A review of human parasitic diseases

Parasites are microorganisms that penetrate 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 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 situations, to form a complete individual, it is necessary to change three hosts.

Symptoms and pathogens of parasitic diseases

The main causative agents of parasitic pathology include worms, which lead to infection with helminthiases.Helminthiases, depending on the type of helminth, are classified as follows:

• Trematodes.This group of diseases involves infection with flukes.For example, damage to internal organs by lung disease, liver disease, cat disease, etc.;
• Nematodes are parasitic infections caused by round helminths.The source of infection is a sick person.Pathogens include roundworm, pinworm, Toxocara, Trichinella, whipworm;
• Cestodos develop as a result of parasitism by tapeworms.Among them, the most common helminths include cattle and pig tapeworms, dwarf tapeworms, broad tapeworms, alveococci and echinococci.

In addition to helminthiases, parasitic diseases can be protozoal - infections with protozoan parasites - Giardia, the causative agent of malaria, toxoplasma, trichomonas.Also ectoparasites - these include ticks (body, head and genital lice), bugs and ticks.Dermatosis occurs due to the activity of certain insect parasites.

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

Human parasitic diseases have the following symptoms:

1. Manifestations of allergies are caused by the proliferation of parasites in the body, where their waste products and toxic substances enter the human circulatory system, which leads to intoxication.Symptoms: red spots on the skin, urticaria, itching, rashes, lichen-type plaques, etc.
2. Increased body temperature.In some patients, against the background of severe helminthic attacks, a febrile state is observed.Usually the temperature varies 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 is manifested by the enlargement and inflammation of the lymph nodes.They can flare up one after the other, or all at once.In addition, patients experience headaches, decreased appetite, and general malaise.In most cases, the lymph nodes closest to the site of invasion become inflamed.
4. Pain in the muscles and joints is an echo of the immunological response 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 by helminths.
5. Pulmonary syndrome manifests itself 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. Swelling can be localized or spread throughout the body.Angioedema is very dangerous.In the absence of medical treatment, the possibility of death is high.
7. When infected with helminths, abdominal syndrome is often detected.These symptoms imply intermittent constipation and diarrhea, increased gas formation, flatulence, and digestive tract disorders.
8. Painful sensations in the stomach of various kinds.Some patients complain of constant pain, others intermittent pain.For some people, the pain is pronounced and intense, while others describe it as a dull pain syndrome.
9. In the chronic course of helminthiasis, intoxication occurs, accompanied by severe weakness, a significant deterioration in general health, frequent breathing and colds, and sudden weight loss.

The clinical picture of parasitic diseases is always different.Symptoms are based on the localization of helminths, the type of specific pathogen, and the age of the patient.And also on the state of the immune system, the level of internal organ dysfunction and other aspects.

List of parasitic diseases

Parasitic diseases are divided into protozoa - malaria, giardiasis, toxoplasmosis, amoebiasis, balantidiasis - the most common;for helminthiasis, acarosis (scab) and dermatosis.In medical practice, helminthic attacks are most often encountered.

Parasitic infections:

• African trypanosomiasis.The infection occurs due to the penetration of the bacterium Trypanosoma brucei.Route of transmission: tsetse fly bite.The main clinical manifestations include fever, headache, myalgia;
• Amebiasis develops due to the penetration of parasites into the human body along with food and water.Pathogen: amoeba or amoeba dysentery;
• Ascariasis.Parasites - roundworms.Infection is caused by the consumption of contaminated food products;
• Babesiosis is caused by helminths that live in the bloodstream.Infection occurs as a result of 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 cattle tapeworm parasitism.Invasive parasites primarily affect the gastrointestinal tract.Symptoms: severe abdominal pain, allergic reactions, headache, general malaise.The incubation period varies from 2 to several years;
• Taeniasis.The causative agent is pork tapeworm.Parasitic infection is full of various complications caused by the passage of helminth segments, until irreversible brain damage;
• Opisthorchiasis (helminth – cat fluke).Worms "live" in the liver, bile ducts, pancreas, and gall bladder.Infection occurs as a result of consuming raw or undercooked fish;
• Clonorchiasis.The reason is the reproduction of Chinese fluke in the body.In addition to humans, helminths affect cats, dogs and pigs;
• Enterobiasis.The causative agent is pinworms.Parasitic diseases are often diagnosed in childhood.Treatment has difficulties, because in 99% secondary self-infection occurs.

Be aware of: pathologies caused by ectoparasites - pediculosis, scabies, cochliomiasis, demodicosis, etc.

In fact, the list of parasitic diseases can be continued for a very long time, because there are many 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 big cities are infected with common helminths, roundworms and tapeworms.Pathogenic microorganisms lead to decreased immunity and absorb nutrients from the host.But "banal" roundworms and pinworms are not as scary as they seem at first glance.

People who live in tropical countries and tourists who go on vacation to 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 movement coordination is impaired and internal organs can fail.
2. Schistosomes are a special type of helminth that lives in human blood.Leads to severe deterioration of liver, gastrointestinal tract, and bladder function.

This parasite is found in countries with a tropical climate;in our reality, pathology is diagnosed quite rarely.Science knows more than 200 types of parasites that can lead to the development of acute and chronic pathologies:

• Chronic giardiasis leads to liver disorders, 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 the parasite leads to severe pain and seizures;
• Toxoplasma during pregnancy interferes with the intrauterine development of children leading to mental retardation.

Important: anyone without exception can be infected;hundreds of thousands of helminth larvae await each person: in water, soil, on tree leaves, in public transport, clinics, shops, on food, etc.Therefore, it is necessary to observe all hygiene measures and inform children as early as possible about the importance of observing basic hygiene rules.

The penetration of parasite larvae into the body occurs without being noticed.In the early stages 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 deal with throughout your life.