Review of human parasitic diseases

Parasites are microorganisms that enter the human body, affect internal organs and systems and lead to various clinical manifestations.Parasitic disease is not the only disease.This phrase implies a separate group of pathologies caused 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 full-fledged individual, it is necessary to change three hosts.

Symptoms and pathogens of parasitic diseases

The main causative agents of parasitic pathologies include worms, which lead to helminthiasis infection.Helminthiases, depending on the type of helminths, are classified as follows:

• Trematodes.This group of diseases involves infection with trematodes.For example, damage to internal organs due to lung flukes, liver flukes, cat flukes, etc.;
• Roundworms are a parasitic infection caused by round helminths.The source of the infection is a sick person.Pathogens include roundworms, pinworms, Toxocara, Trichinella, whipworms;
• Cestodoses develop due to parasitism of tapeworms.Among these, the most common helminths include bovine and porcine tapeworms, dwarf tapeworms, broad tapeworms, alveococci and echinococci.

In addition to helminthiases, parasitic diseases can be protozoan - infection with protozoan parasites - Giardia, the causative agent of malaria, toxoplasma, trichomonas.Also ectoparasites: These include lice (body, head and pubic lice), bedbugs and ticks.Dermatoses occur due to the parasitic activity of some insects.

For your information, the clinical picture against the background of parasitic infection is often blurry: in most cases there are no symptoms or they manifest themselves sharply and violently, which indicates severe intoxication.

Human parasitic diseases have the following symptoms:

1. Allergic manifestations are caused by the proliferation of parasites in the body, during which their waste products and toxic substances enter the human circulatory system, causing intoxication.Symptoms: red spots on the skin, hives, itching, rashes, lichen-like plaques, etc.
2. Increased body temperature.In some patients, against the background of severe helminth infestation, a feverish state is observed.Usually the temperature varies from 38 to 40 degrees, sometimes it remains within 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 manifests itself as enlargement and inflammation of the lymph nodes.They can ignite one at a time or all together.In addition, the patient experiences headaches, decreased appetite and general malaise.In most cases, the lymph nodes closest to the site of invasion become inflamed.
4. Pain in muscles and joints 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 pain develops due to tissue damage caused by helminth suckers.
5. Pulmonary syndrome manifests as a nonproductive cough.The patient complains of shortness of breath due to lack of physical activity, chest pain.Ascariasis often presents with bloody sputum.
6. The swelling may be localized or spread throughout the body.Angioedema is especially dangerous.In the absence of medical treatment, the probability of death is high.
7. When infected with helminths, abdominal syndrome is often detected.This symptom involves alternating constipation and diarrhea, increased gas formation, bloating and disruption of the digestive tract.
8. Painful sensations in the abdomen of various types.Some patients complain of constant pain, others intermittent pain.For some the pain is pronounced and intense, while others describe it as a dull ache syndrome.
9. In the chronic course of helminthiasis, intoxication occurs, accompanied by severe weakness, a significant deterioration in general health, frequent respiratory tract and colds, and severe weight loss.

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

List of parasitic diseases

Parasitic diseases are divided into protozoa - malaria, giardiasis, toxoplasmosis, amoebiasis, balantidiasis - the most common;for helminthiasis, acarosis (scabies) and dermatoses.In medical practice, helminth infestations are most often encountered.

Parasitic infections:

• African trypanosomiasis.The infection occurs due to the penetration of the Trypanosoma brucei bacteria.Route of transmission: tsetse fly bite.The main clinical manifestations include fever, headache, myalgia;
• Amoebiasis develops due to the penetration of parasites into the human body along with food and water.Pathogens: amoeba or dysenteric amoeba;
• Ascariasis.Parasites - nematodes.The infection is caused by the consumption of contaminated food products;
• Babesiosis is caused by helminths that live in the bloodstream.The infection occurs due to a tick bite;
• Chagas disease (transmitted through the bites of blood-sucking insects);
• Trichinosis is an acute or chronic parasitic disease caused by roundworms;
• Teniarinhoz is a parasitism of the bovine tapeworm.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;
• Teniasis.The causative agent is pork tapeworm.A parasitic infection is fraught with numerous complications due to the passage of helminthic segments, up to irreversible brain damage;
• Opisthorchiasis (helminth – cat fluke).The worm “lives” in the liver, bile ducts, pancreas and gallbladder.The infection occurs due to the consumption of raw or undercooked fish;
• Clonorchiasis.The reason is the reproduction of the Chinese fluke in the body.In addition to humans, helminths affect cats, dogs and pigs;
• Enterobiasis.The causative agent is pinworms.The parasitic disease is often diagnosed in childhood.Treatment has its difficulties, since in 99% of cases secondary autoinfection occurs.

Good to know: pathologies caused by ectoparasites - pediculosis, scabies, cochliomiasis, demodicosis, etc.

In fact, the list of parasitic diseases could go on for a long time, as there are many parasites that can infect the human body.The most common diseases have been given as examples.

Why are parasites dangerous?

In most clinical pictures, residents of large cities are infected with common helminths, round and ribbon parasites.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 might seem at first glance.

People living in tropical countries and tourists going on holiday to South America, Australia or Africa face truly “terrible” helminths.

The most dangerous parasites:

1. Heartworm leads to blockage of blood vessels, as a result of which coordination of movements is impaired and internal organs can fail.
2. Schistosomes are a special type of helminths that live in human blood.Lead to severe impairment of liver, gastrointestinal tract and bladder function.

These parasites are found in countries with tropical climates;In our reality, 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 failure, 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 interrupts the intrauterine development of the child up to mental retardation.

Important: Anyone, without exception, can be infected;hundreds of thousands of helminth larvae lie in wait for every person: in water, in the soil, on tree leaves, in public transport, in a clinic, in a store, in food, etc.Therefore, it is necessary to observe all hygiene measures and explain to children as early as possible the importance of observing basic hygiene rules.

The penetration of the larvae of the parasite into the body occurs unnoticed.In the initial phase of the infection there are no symptoms;when the disease becomes chronic, the symptoms are more pronounced.If characteristic signs are detected, it is necessary to be treated, otherwise there is a high probability of serious complications with which you will have to deal with all your life.