Parasitism as a form of existence has appeared on earth for a very long time, from ancient protozoa and unicellular microorganisms.Humanity is confronted with various parasites from the start of its existence, but during the millennia of cohabitation, parasites have not become "smarter" and more perfect for their ancestors.Parasites can cause irreparable damage to health, until the development of a disability or severe death.But the mention of the word "parasite", everyone thinks essentially of worms, although this term is much wider.We will discuss more parasites in more detail.
Parasites: Who are they?
Parasites are unicellular or multicellular organisms that live on the body of their owner or inside (in the cavities of the body or cells).They are generally much smaller than predators of wildlife, have the capacity to multiply quickly and survive in severe conditions.They eat at the expense of their owner, while causing him damage.By that, they differ from symbiotes - organizations living inside their owner and take advantage of him.
Many parasites, in addition to injuring themselves, are also able to transmit dangerous diseases.The examples are mosquitoes which carry malaria and ticks which carry encephalitis born by ticks and borreliosis.
The parasitic sizes differ considerably - from the microscopic, which can only be observed in the microscope, to the worms, reaching a length of up to 10 m or more.Parasites use various resources from the owner - they are carbohydrates or proteins, fats, as well as minerals or vitamins to develop and develop.In the human body, the parasite can pass one or all stages of the life cycle - intermediate or final.The manifestations of infected will depend on it.
Most parasites have microscopic sizes, they are difficult to detect.But certain types of parasitic worms can form cysts in size at the head of the child or reach a length of several meters.
Parasitic varieties
Several types of parasitism are distinguished.They depend on the habitat of the parasite in the human body:
Endoparasites.They live inside the owners' body, typical representatives are helminthes (or verses).They can live in the intestines, the cavities of the body.Intracellular or intercellular parasites respectively affect certain body tissues.These include bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa.
To spread endoparasites, special conditions are necessary and sometimes transporters.Organizations that bring them to their constant habitats.For example, for malaria, a carrier will be a mosquito.
Exoparasites.These organizations live on the surface of the owner's body, eating its biological media for bites.Typical representatives are lice, fleas, mosquitoes, ticks.
Epiparasites.They parasitize on other parasites by forming super-parasitism.Thus, the fleas feeding on the blood of animals or humans have protozoa in the intestines - parasites already living in the body of insects themselves.
Types of human parasites
Although viruses, fungi and bacteria also harm a person in their body, they are considered separately as pathogens of infectious diseases.The real parasites of people understand:
Protozoa.These are unicellular organisms that can only share the owners inside the body.The examples are a dysentery amoeba, a malaria plasmodium or a chlamydia.
Helminthes.These are parasites of different types - flat, adhesive tape, round and other.
Parasitic insects.This group includes lice, fleas, ticks, mosquitoes.
How does a parasitic infection manifest?
One of the unpleasant facts is that not all parasitic infections have typical symptoms.So, if the insect bites and lice are relatively simple, it is not always possible to determine the presence of worms or protozoa without special analyzes.Sometimes manifestations look like bronchitis or pneumonia, hormonal imbalance, allergies or food poisoning.Certain parasites, padded in the intestines or the abdominal cavity, cause abdominal pain, hypovitaminosis or cholecystitis.Among the most typical symptoms, experts distinguish:
- Eruptions on the skin, stains, bubbles, itching or bruises.
- Increase in appetite or abolition, weight loss.
- Diarrhea and vomiting, different types of abdominal pain.
- Anemia (decrease in hemoglobin level or red blood cells).
- Sleep disturbances - Insomnia or severe drowsiness.
- Pain of joints, muscles, skin.
- Allergic reactions that did not exist before.
- General discomfort, weakness, irritability.
- Periodic temperatures up to high numbers or a constant sub-bloom fever.
However, these same manifestations are typical for many other non-parasitic diseases, therefore, the diagnosis can confirm the detection of the parasite itself, its eggs or its antibodies in the blood.
Important!Often there have been no symptoms for a long time, they can occur after stress or infection, with the spread of parasites to "critical mass".Meanwhile, many parasitic diseases are infectious, and a person, without suspecting him, infects others.This is particularly likely if you neglect the basic rules of hygiene.
How do parasites spread?
Depending on the type of parasite, the paths of its propagation may vary.The transmission of the simplest, which live in the intestines of a person, to another person, as a rule, occurs the faecal-oral route (for example, by food or infected water), with close contacts from man to a person.The simplest, who live in the blood or tissues of people, are transmitted to other people through insects (for example, by a mosquito bite or a sandy fly).
Many helminthes in adulthood cannot multiply in people.People can be end masters - adults live there, or intermediaries - the larvae live there.Eggs or larvae are transmitted from dirty hands, infected food or water, dust particles raised in the air.In addition, parasites can fall with infected fish, meat and a bird where the larvae spread.
Ectoparasites - lice and scabies, are transmitted by contact by communication and close contacts with infected children or adults.Arthropods are important not only as provocateurs of diseases in themselves, but even more important as carriers of serious illnesses - malaria, rash, encephalitis born in tick, etc.
Parasitic infections cause a large number of diseases in too many tropics and subtropics, as well as in a more moderate climate.Of all parasitic diseases, malaria is the cause of most deaths in the world.About 660,000 people die from malaria each year, most of whom are small children.
How to identify parasites?
Of course, if they are pubis lice or head, scabies or pine worms that parents find in the baby jar - the diagnosis is already clear, you only have to be treated.But most parasites must first be identified, determine exactly who it is, and only to select a treatment that will be effective and safe.
Various types of laboratory tests are available today for the diagnosis of parasitic diseases.The type of study that will be prescribed by the attending physician depends on your symptoms and complaints, any other disease you can have and your travel history abroad or in the country.The diagnosis can be complicated, so the doctor can prescribe not only tests, but also additional procedures.A list of certain frequently used tests that a doctor may be prescribed when diagnosing parasites:
Study of excrement for the detection of parasites or their eggs.The analysis is used to identify parasites that cause diarrhea, liquid or aqueous stools, stomach cramps, flatulence and other abdominal cavity diseases.It is recommended to explore three samples of stools or more taken from certain days.
Blood tests for antibodies against parasites, urine tests, blood crops and some other tests depending on the alleged diagnosis.Some parasitic infections, but not all, can be found when analyzing your blood.However, in this case, the blood will be examined for a specific parasitic infection;There is no blood test that will determine all parasitic infections.The doctor can prescribe two main types of blood tests:
Serology.This test is used to search for antibodies or parasite antigens produced when the body is infected with parasites, and the immune system tries to fight invaders.
Blood smear.This test is used to identify the parasites found in the blood.Looking at a blood smear under a microscope, it is possible to diagnose parasitic diseases, such as friororses, malaria or bagabusiosis.This test is carried out by placing blood drops on the glass subject of a microscope.Then the object glass is painted and examined under a microscope.
In addition to tests, the doctor may prescribe other studies.Endoscopy is used to detect parasites that cause diarrhea, liquid or aqueous stools, abdominal cramps, flatulence and other symptoms of the abdominal cavity.It is used when the study of the stool does not reveal the cause of your diarrhea.During the procedure in the mouth (endoscopy) or the rectum (colonoscopy), a tube with a camera and a backlight is introduced so that the doctor can examine the intestines.This test is looking for parasites or other anomalies that can cause unpleasant symptoms.
X -ray images, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), calculated axial tomography (Kat).These tests are used to look for certain parasitic diseases that can cause organs.
How to be treated?
When the precise diagnosis is known, it is already easier to choose a treatment.Almost all parasitic diseases are cured today.However, the treatment of helminthiasis is in several stages and will take the patient's time.
In the first stage, the body must be prepared and cleaned accumulated toxins.The patient is prescribed sorbants.Cleaning the body of toxins lasts at least five days.
At the second stadium, Anthelminthes agents are prescribed to the patient.It is preferable that the drug is individually selected for a certain type of parasite.The treatment is carried out in two lessons.The first course will kill helminthes adults in the human body.After 10 to 14 days, adult lines will be replaced by new ones that will hatch the eggs in layers.The second course will kill new people.
In the third stage, the digestive tract, the liver and the immune system are restored.The patient is prescribed a sketch lesson and after taking medication that helps in the digestive tract.Polyvitamins are added at the same time.
Sometimes the disease can be launched or has a special form, which requires surgery.Thus, for example, in the presence of echinococcal cysts in the liver, kidneys or lungs, only their withdrawal will help.
The entire treatment, drugs and other procedures is selected by the doctor, based on the diagnosis, age and weight of the patient.