Overview of human parasitic diseases

Parasites are microorganisms that invade the human body, affecting internal organs and systems and leading to various clinical manifestations.Parasitic diseases are 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, in order 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, which lead to infection with helminthiasis.Helminthiases are classified as follows depending on the type of helminth:

• Trematodes.This group of diseases involves infection with flukes.For example, damage to internal organs caused by lung flukes, liver flukes, cat flukes, etc.;
• Nematodes are a parasitic infection caused by roundworms.The source of infection is a sick person.Pathogens include roundworms, pinworms, Toxocara, Trichinella and whipworms.
• Cestodoses arise from parasitism by tapeworms.The most common helminths include bovine and pork tapeworms, dwarf tapeworms, broadband worms, alveococci and echinococci.

In addition to helminthiases, parasitic diseases can be protozoan - infections with protozoan parasites - Giardia, the causative agent of malaria, toxoplasma, trichomonas.Also ectoparasites - these include lice (body, head and pubic lice), bed bugs and ticks.Dermatoses arise from the parasitic activity of certain insects.

For your information: The clinical picture against the background of a parasitic infection is often unclear - in most cases there are no symptoms or they manifest themselves acutely and violently, indicating severe intoxication.

Parasitic human diseases have the following symptoms:

1. Allergic manifestations are caused by the reproduction of parasites in the body, during which their waste products and toxins enter the human circulatory system, resulting in intoxication.Symptoms: red spots on the skin, urticaria, itching, rash, lichen-like plaques, etc.
2. Increase in body temperature.In some patients, a feverish state is observed against the background of severe helminthic infestation.Normally the temperature fluctuates between 38 and 40 degrees, sometimes it remains in the subfebrile range 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 ignite individually or all at once.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 bodies and begins to attack them.Muscle and joint pain occurs due to tissue damage caused by helminth suckers.
5. Pulmonary syndrome is manifested by an unproductive cough.The patient complains of shortness of breath due to lack of physical activity and chest pain.Ascariasis often occurs when sputum is mixed with blood.
6. Swelling can occur locally or spread throughout the body.Angioedema is particularly dangerous.Without medical care, the likelihood of death is high.
7. Abdominal syndrome is often detected when infected with helminths.This symptom indicates an alternation of constipation and diarrhea, increased gas formation, bloating and disruption of the digestive tract.
8. Pain sensations in the abdomen of various types. Some patients complain of constant pain, others of intermittent pain.For some the pain is pronounced and intense, others describe it as a dull pain syndrome.
9. In the chronic course of helminthiasis, intoxication occurs, accompanied by severe weakness, a significant deterioration in general health, frequent respiratory diseases and colds, and severe weight loss.

The clinical picture of a parasitic disease is always different.Symptoms depend on the location of the helminths, the specific type of pathogen and the age of the patient.And also from 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, amebiasis, balantidiasis - the most common;for helminthiasis, acarosis (scabies) and dermatoses.In medical practice, helminthic infestations occur most often.

Parasitic infections:

• African trypanosomiasis.The infection occurs through the invasion of Trypanosoma brucei bacteria.Mode of transmission: Tsetse fly bite.The main clinical manifestations include fever, headache, myalgia;
• Amebiasis occurs due to the penetration of parasites into the human body along with food and water.Pathogens: amoeba or dysentery amoeba;
• Ascariasis.Parasites – roundworms.Infection is caused by eating contaminated food;
• Babesiosis is caused by helminths that live in the bloodstream.The infection occurs through a tick bite;
• Chagas disease (transmitted by bites of blood-sucking insects);
• Trichinosis is an acute or chronic parasitic disease caused by nematodes;
• Teniarinhoz is a parasitism of the bovine tapeworm.The invasive parasite primarily affects the gastrointestinal tract.Symptoms: severe abdominal pain, allergic reactions, headaches, general malaise.The incubation period varies between 2 and several years;
• Taeniasis.The pathogen is the pork tapeworm.A parasitic infection is fraught with numerous complications, including irreversible brain damage, due to the passage of helminth segments;
• Opisthorchiasis (worm – cat fluke).The worm “lives” in the liver, bile ducts, pancreas and gallbladder.Infection occurs from eating raw or poorly cooked fish;
• Clonorchiasis.The reason is the proliferation of Chinese chance in the body.In addition to humans, the helminth also attacks cats, dogs and pigs;
• Enterobiasis.The pathogen is pinworms.Parasitic diseases are often diagnosed in childhood.Treatment is difficult because secondary self-infection occurs in 99% of cases.

Worth knowing: Pathologies caused by ectoparasites - pediculosis, scabies, cochliomyasis, demodicosis, etc.

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

Why are parasites dangerous?

In most clinical pictures, residents of large cities become infected with helminths, round and band parasites.Pathogenic microorganisms lead to a weakening of 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 vacationing in South America, Australia or Africa are faced with truly “terrible” helminths.

The most dangerous parasites:

1. Filariae lead to blockage of blood vessels, which impairs coordination of movements and can cause internal organs to fail.
2. Schistosomes are a special type of helminth that live in human blood.Lead to severe impairment of the functionality of the liver, gastrointestinal tract and bladder.

These parasites are found in countries with a tropical climate;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 diseases:

• Chronic giardiasis leads to liver dysfunction, liver cirrhosis develops;
• Trichomonads can cause cancer, heart attacks, diabetes mellitus and multiple sclerosis;
• Roundworms with prolonged parasitism significantly worsen the condition of the gastrointestinal tract and affect the lungs;
• Trichinae.The development of parasites leads to severe pain and cramps;
• Toxoplasma during pregnancy disrupts the intrauterine development of the child, up to mental retardation.

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

The penetration of parasite larvae into the body occurs unnoticed.There are no symptoms in the early stages of infection;When the disease becomes chronic, the symptoms are more pronounced.If characteristic signs are detected, treatment is required - otherwise there is a high probability of serious complications that you will have to deal with for life.