Overview of human parasitic diseases

Parasites are microorganisms that penetrate the human body, affect internal organs and systems and lead to various clinical manifestations.Parasitic disease is not the only disease.This phrase means a separate group of pathologies that are provoked by unicellular and multicellular pathogenic microorganisms.An unpleasant "neighbor" can be temporary or permanent.The life cycle of worms has certain characteristics;in some situations, to form a full-fledged individual, it is necessary to change three hosts.

Symptoms and pathogens of parasitic diseases

The main causes of parasitic pathologies include worms leading to infection with helminthiasis.Helminthiasis, depending on the type of helminth, are classified as follows:

• trematodes.This group of diseases includes fluke infection.For example, damage to internal organs from lung fluke, liver fluke, cat fluke, etc.;
• Nematodes are a parasitic infection caused by round helminths.The source of infection is a sick person.Pathogens include roundworms, pinworms, toxocara, trichinella, whipworms;
• Cestodes develop as a result of tapeworm parasitism.Among them, the most common helminths include beef and pork tapeworms, dwarf tapeworms, broad tapeworms, alveococci and echinococci.

In addition to helminthiasis, parasitic diseases can be protozoan - infection with protozoan parasites - Giardia, the causative agent of malaria, toxoplasma, trichomonad.Also ectoparasites - this includes lice (body, head and pubic lice), bed bugs and ticks.Dermatoses occur due to the parasitic activity of certain insects.

For your information, the clinical picture against the background of a parasitic infection is often blurred - 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. Allergic manifestations are caused by the spread of parasites in the body, in which their waste products and toxic substances enter the human circulatory system, which leads to intoxication.Symptoms: red spots on the skin, urticaria, itching, rash, lichen plaques, etc.
2. Increase in body temperature.In some patients, a febrile state is observed against the background of severe helminthic invasion.Usually the temperature varies from 38 to 40 degrees, sometimes it stays 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 enlargement and inflammation of the lymph nodes.They can flare up one by one or all at once.In addition, the patient experiences headache, decreased appetite and general malaise.In most cases, those lymph nodes that are closest to the site of invasion become inflamed.
4. Muscle and joint pain is an echo of immunological reactions in the human body.The immune system perceives helminth larvae as foreign objects and begins to attack them.Muscle and joint pains develop due to tissue damage by helminth suckers.
5. Pulmonary syndrome manifests as a nonproductive cough.The patient complains of shortness of breath due to lack of physical activity, pain in the chest area.Ascariasis often occurs with blood-tinged sputum.
6. Edema can be localized or spread throughout the body.Angioedema is especially dangerous.In the absence of medical assistance, the probability of death is high.
7. Abdominal syndrome is often found when infected with helminths.This symptom suggests the alternation of constipation and diarrhea, increased gas formation, abdominal distension and disruption of the digestive tract.
8. Painful sensations in the abdomen of various kinds.Some patients complain of constant pain, others of intermittent pain.For some, the pain is pronounced and intense, while others describe it as a dull pain syndrome.
9. In the chronic course of helminthosis, intoxication occurs, accompanied by severe weakness, significant deterioration of general health, frequent respiratory and colds, and sharp weight loss.

The clinical picture of a parasitic disease is always different.Symptoms are based on the localization of helminths, the specific type of pathogen and the patient's age.And also on the state of the immune system, the degree of dysfunction of the internal organs and other aspects.

List of parasitic diseases

Parasitic diseases are divided into protozoan - malaria, giardiasis, toxoplasmosis, amoebiasis, balantidiasis - most common;in helminthiasis, acarosis (scab) and dermatoses.Helminthic infestations are the most common in medical practice.

Parasitic infections:

• African trypanosomiasis.The infection occurs due to the penetration of bacteria 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.Pathogens: amoeba or dysenteric amoeba;
• ascariasis.Parasites - roundworms.Infection is caused by eating contaminated food products;
• Babesiosis is caused by helminths that live in the blood.The infection occurs due to a tick bite;
• Chagas disease (transmitted by bites of blood-sucking insects);
• Trichinellosis is an acute or chronic parasitic disease caused by nematodes;
• Teniarinhoz is a worming of beef tapeworms.The invasive parasite primarily affects 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 pig tapeworm.Parasitic infection is fraught with numerous complications due to the passage of helminthic segments to irreversible brain damage;
• Opisthorchiasis (helminths - cat fluke).The worm "lives" in the liver, bile ducts, pancreas and gall bladder.Infection occurs due to consumption of raw or poorly processed fish;
• clonorchiasis.The reason is the multiplication of Chinese fluke in the body.In addition to humans, the helminth affects cats, dogs and pigs;
• enterobiosis.The causative agent is sedges.Parasitic disease is often diagnosed in childhood.Treatment has its difficulties, as secondary self-infection occurs in 99%.

It is worth knowing: pathologies provoked by ectoparasites - pediculosis, scabies, cochleomiasis, demodicosis, etc.

In fact, the list of parasitic diseases can be continued for a very long time, since there are many parasites that can infect the human body.As an example, the most common diseases were given.

Why are parasites dangerous?

In most clinical pictures, residents of large cities are infected with common helminths, roundworms and tapeworms.Pathogenic microorganisms lead to a decrease in immunity and absorb nutrients from their host.But "banal" roundworms and pinworms are not as scary as they seem at first glance.

People living in tropical countries and tourists who go on vacation to South America, Australia or Africa encounter truly "terrible" helminths.

The most dangerous parasites:

1. Filaria leads to blockage of blood vessels, as a result of which the coordination of movements is disturbed and internal organs can fail.
2. Schistosomes are a special type of helminths that live in human blood.They lead to severe damage to the functionality of the liver, gastrointestinal tract and bladder.

These parasites are found in countries with a tropical climate;in our realities, pathologies are diagnosed relatively 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 damage, 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 parasites leads to severe pain and convulsions;
• Toxoplasma during pregnancy disrupts the intrauterine development of the child to the point of mental retardation.

Important: everyone without exception can get infected;hundreds of thousands of helminth larvae are waiting for every person: in water, soil, tree leaves, in public transport, clinic, shop, food, etc.That is why it is necessary to observe all hygiene measures and to tell children as early as possible about the importance of observing basic hygiene rules.

The penetration of parasite larvae into the body goes unnoticed.In the early stage of infection, there are no symptoms;when the disease becomes chronic, the symptoms are more pronounced.If characteristic signs are found, you need to be treated - otherwise there is a high probability of serious complications that you will have to deal with throughout your life.