Helminthiasis is a large group of parasitic diseases caused by certain types of parasitic worms - helminths.Most helminthiasis have similar clinical manifestations and treatment approaches.
Parasites: From Antiquity to the Present
Such common helminthiasis as enterobiosis and ascariasis have been known for a long time.Human infestations by bovine tapeworms and roundworms are mentioned as early as the sixteenth 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 "helminthiasis" and "ascariasis".
At the beginning of the eighteenth century, the German microbiologist Karl Rudolfi, during the study of a large number of animals, collected a whole collection of parasitic worms.Soon the science of parasitic worms - helminthology - appeared.
In one thousand eight hundred and eighty-four, a famous scientist and doctor established a cause-and-effect relationship between tapeworm parasitism in the human body and the appearance of anemia in the patient.
A great contribution to the development and validation of helminthology was made by an outstanding scientist and academician who organized the first department of parasitology and opened specialized institutions dedicated to the study of helminths.On his initiative, more than three hundred parasitological 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 also published over seven hundred scientific articles.
By the way, it is known that parasitic infection worsens the course of concomitant diseases, especially chronic, decompensated ones.Helminth infections negatively affect growth, performance, and also have a depressing effect on the human immune system and nervous system.
Parasitic infections: types of worms
There are three large classes of helminths - tapeworms (cestodes), roundworms (nematodes), flukes (trematodes).Nematodes are classified as roundworms, while tapeworms and flukes are classified as flatworms.Humans can act as an intermediate or definitive host for parasites.
The causative agents of helminthiasis such as ascariasis, enterobiosis, trichinellosis, hookworm disease, trichuriasis and strongyloidiasis are nematodes.Cestodes cause echinococcosis, alveococcosis, diphyllobothriasis, taenia, taeniarhynchiasis, hymenolepiasis, etc.And trematodes provoke, among other things, opisthorchosis, clonorchiasis, paragonimosis, metagonimiasis, fascioliasis.
Depending on the location of the parasites in the body, there are:
- Luminal helminth infections.
- Tissue helminthiasis.
- Hepatobiliary helminthiasis.In this case, the parasitic infection affects the liver, gall bladder and bile ducts (opisthorchiasis, clonorchiasis).
- Pulmonary helminthiasis.
The following types of helminthiasis are distinguished:
- Geohelminthiasis.In this case, the parasite develops with the participation of a non-living substrate (water, soil).
- Infectious helminthiasis.The development of worms occurs within a microorganism, for example, in enterobiosis.
- Biohelminthosis is the development of helminths with the participation of intermediate hosts.A typical example is the broad tapeworm, which has a complex development cycle with host switching.
By the way, intestinal parasites in the body have been found to promote the release of Th2 cytokines, which suppress Th1 cytokines.In this regard, people with helminthic infestations have a higher risk of contracting a certain disease, for example, tuberculosis.
Parasites in the body: basic syndromes
The main clinical syndromes of helminth infections include:
Malnutrition syndrome
It is known that the parasite, while in the human body, consumes nutrients from its host, which can lead to the development of protein-energy deficiency, hypovitaminosis and anemia.This often happens when the body is damaged by tapeworms and roundworms that parasitize 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 a whole spectrum of diseases - of the heart (myocarditis), of the liver (hepatitis), of the lungs (pneumonia), of the brain (encephalopathy).To hemorrhagic necrotic damage to internal organs.
Local damage to organ tissue
It most often prevails in the chronic phase and is determined by the localization of the helminth.Thus, hookworms and cestodes have a traumatic effect on the intestinal mucosa, opisthorchids damage the bile ducts, and schistosomes damage the mucosa of the large intestine and urinary tract.
By the way, it has been proven that helminth infections reduce the effectiveness of vaccination.Some helminths, for example, schistosomes, opisthorchids, Chinese flukes, can provoke the development of carcinogenesis.This is proven by the so-called parasite theory of cancer.Especially dangerous are long-term chronic opisthorchosis, which can eventually lead to cancer of the bile ducts.
When should you see a doctor?
The following may indicate that a person has parasites in their body:
- Various types of allergic reactions, including unspecified recurrent urticaria, which do not go away even with hormonal and desensitizing drugs.
- Decreased or, conversely, increased appetite.
- Exhaustion of the body.
- Itching in the anal area - especially in the evening or at night.
- Dyspeptic phenomena.
- Loose 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, malaise.Of course, such symptoms can be attributed to various diseases.However, if the child has an unexplained increase in fatigue or mood, a bad night's sleep or nervousness, it makes sense to conduct a test for parasites.
If any of the above signs are present, this is a reason to consult a parasitologist or infectious disease specialist.