Helminthiasis is a large group of parasitic diseases caused by certain types of parasitic worms - helminths.Most helminthiases 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.The invasion of humans by tapeworms and roundworms was mentioned in the sixteenth century BC in an ancient Egyptian medical treatise - the Ebers papyrus.Hippocrates himself paid great attention to helminths.It was they who introduced concepts such as "helminthiasis" and "ascariasis".
At the beginning of the eighteenth century, the German microbiologist Karl Rudolphi, during the study of a large number of animals, collected a whole collection of parasitic worms.Soon the science of parasitic worms appeared - helminthology.
In one thousand eight hundred and eighty-four, a famous scientist and doctor established a causal relationship between tapeworm parasitism in the human body and the occurrence of anemia in patients.
An outstanding scientist and academician made a great contribution to the development and establishment of helminthology, who organized the first department of parasitology and opened a specialized institution dedicated to the study of helminths.On his initiative, more than three hundred parasitological expeditions were carried out, in which he was directly involved.
Parasitology has described more than five hundred species of parasitic worms previously unknown to science.The doctor himself discovered and described more than two hundred new species of helminths, and also published more than seven hundred scientific papers.
In this way, it is known that parasitic infections worsen the course of concomitant diseases, especially chronic, decompensated ones.Helminth infections negatively affect growth, the ability to work, and also have a depressing effect on the human immune system and nervous system.
Parasitic infections: types of worms
There are three major classes of helminths - tapeworms (cestodes), roundworms (nematodes), flukes (trematodes).Nematodes are classified as roundworms, while tapeworms and worms are classified as flatworms.A person can act as an intermediate or definitive host of a parasite.
The causative agents of helminthiases such as ascariasis, enterobiasis, trichinosis, hookworm disease, trichuriasis, and strongyloidiasis are nematodes.Cestodes cause echinococcosis, alveococcosis, diphyllobothriasis, taeniasis, teniarynchiasis, hymenolepiasis, etc.And trematodes provoke, among others, opisthorchiasis, clonorchiasis, paragonimiasis, metagonimiasis, fascioliasis.
Depending on the location of the parasite in the body, there are:
- Luminal helminthiases.
- Tissue helminthiases.
- Hepatobiliary helminthiases.In this case, the parasitic infection affects the liver, gallbladder and bile ducts (opisthorchiasis, clonorchiasis).
- Pulmonary helminthiases.
The following types of helminthiases are distinguished:
- Geohelminthiases.In this case, the parasite develops with the participation of a non-living substrate (water, soil).
- infectious helminthiasis.The development of worms occurs in a single microorganism, as in enterobiasis.
- Biohelminthiasis is the development of helminths with the participation of an intermediate host.A common example is the tapeworm, which has a complex developmental cycle with host changes.
By the way, it has been established that intestinal parasites in the body promote the release of Th2 cytokines, which suppress Th1 cytokines.In this regard, people with helminthic attacks have a higher risk of contracting certain diseases, for example, tuberculosis.
Parasites in the body: the main syndrome
The main clinical syndromes of helminth infection include:
Malnutrition syndrome
It is known that the parasite, while in the human body, consumes nutrients from its host, which can cause the latter to suffer from protein-energy deficiency, hypovitaminosis, and anemia.This often happens when the body is damaged by tapeworms and roundworms that become parasites in the intestines.
Immunosuppressive syndrome
When they remain in the body for a long time, helminths can have an immunosuppressive effect, reducing resistance to various microbial and viral infections.
Toxic-allergic organ damage
This is the whole spectrum of diseases - heart (myocarditis), liver (hepatitis), lungs (pneumonia), brain (encephalopathy).Until hemorrhagic necrotic damage to internal organs.
Local damage to organ tissue
Often it dominates in the chronic phase and is determined by the localization of helminths.Thus, hookworms and cestodes have a traumatic effect on the intestinal mucosa, opisthorchids damage the bile ducts, and schistosomes damage the mucous membranes of the large intestine and urinary tract.
In this way, 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 evidenced by the so-called parasite theory of cancer.A particular danger is long-term chronic opisthorchiasis, which can eventually lead to bile duct cancer.
When should you see a doctor?
The following may indicate that a person has parasites in his body:
- Various types of allergic reactions, including unspecified recurrent urticaria, which do not disappear even with the use of hormonal drugs and desensitization.
- Decreased or, conversely, increased appetite.
- Body fatigue.
- Itching in the anal area - especially in the evening or at night.
- Dyspeptic phenomenon.
- Unstable stools - diarrhea or constipation.
- Prolonged dry cough (usually at night), in children - prolonged "barking" cough.
- An increased level of eosinophils in the blood is eosinophilia.
- Anemia, especially B12 deficiency.
- Asthenic syndrome - general weakness, fatigue, malaise.Of course, such symptoms can be associated with various diseases.However, if the child experiences an inexplicable increase in fatigue or depression, a poor night's sleep, or nervousness, it makes sense to run a test for parasites.
If any of the above signs are present, this is a reason to consult a parasitologist or an infectious disease specialist.