Human parasitic diseases (from the Greek parasitos - “free rider”) are a large group of diseases from the category “infectious diseases”; they are caused by unicellular and multicellular parasites.
A parasite is a living organism that lives or resides in the body of the host and receives food from it or at its expense, i.e.h.he leads a parasitic lifestyle.All of them can live in the human body, some completely unnoticed, others can cause serious damage to health.
pathogens of parasitic diseases
There are three main classes of parasites that can cause disease in humans:
Protozoa are microscopic single-celled organisms that can be free-living or parasitic in nature.They are able to reproduce in humans, which contributes to their survival and also allows the development of serious infections by just one organism.
Helminths (from Greek helmins - “worms”) are large multicellular organisms that are usually visible to the naked eye in the adult stage.Like protozoa, helminths can be either free-living or parasitic in nature.In their adult form, helminths cannot reproduce in humans.
Ectoparasites: This term is usually used more narrowly to refer to organisms such as ticks, fleas, and lice that attach to or burrow into the skin and remain there for long periods of time (weeks to months).Arthropods can cause infestations themselves or transmit other diseases.
List of parasitic infections: amebiasis, ascariasis, hymenolepiasis, diphyllobothriasis, clonorchiasis, cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis, malaria (imported cases), opisthorchiasis, teniarinchiasis, taeniasis, toxocarosis, toxoplasmosis, trichinosis, trichocephalosis, cysticercosis, enterobiasis, echinococcosis.
Signs of parasitic diseases.
Their manifestations can be diverse and depend on the type and location of the parasite, as well as the level of immunity of the person who is its host.
Protozoa most commonly cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems.Heartworm infections can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea (diarrhea), muscle pain, cough, skin lesions, malnutrition, weight loss, difficulty coordinating movement and speech, seizures and many other symptoms, depending on the individual organism and the severity of the infection.
Diagnosis and treatment of parasitic diseases
Diagnosis of parasitic diseases includes:
- Clinical blood test.
- Blood test for specific antibodies and antigens of parasites.
- Blood smear.
- Analysis of stool for eggs of worms and parasites.
- Endoscopic research methods (e.g. colonoscopy for complex diagnostics).
- X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computer tomography (CT) for severe damage to internal organs caused by parasites.
The treatment plan depends on the specific diagnosis.As a rule, medication is prescribed in tablet form; sometimes inpatient treatment or even surgery is required.
Other treatments may also be recommended to relieve your symptoms (diet, water intake).
Prevention of parasitic diseases
Prevention is always easier than cure and there are very simple ways to protect yourself.
Don't eat:
- undercooked fish, crabs and shellfish;
- undercooked meat;
- raw aquatic plants;
- raw vegetables that may be contaminated with human or animal feces.
Parasites can live in natural water sources, i.e. when swimming:
- do not swallow water;
- Do not allow children to defecate in the water.Take the children to the toilet every hour and check their diapers.Change diapers in the bathroom or diaper changing area rather than by the pool to avoid introducing germs into the pool.
- Do not swim or allow children to swim if they have diarrhea.
- Conduct your mini inspection (contamination).
- Shower for at least 1 minute before diving into the water.
Pets can carry parasites and spread them to people.A zoonosis is a disease that spreads between animals and humans.Sometimes people with zoonotic infections have no symptoms.Other people may experience symptoms such as diarrhea, muscle pain and fever.
Regular veterinary care protects your pet and your family.There are simple steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from diseases that animals can spread.Make sure your pet is under the care of a veterinarian.
Practice four rules:
- Collect animal waste immediately and dispose of it properly.Be sure to wash your hands after handling household waste.
- Wash your hands frequently, especially after touching animals, and avoid contact with animal feces.
- Follow proper food handling procedures to reduce the risk of contamination from contaminated food.
- People with weakened immune systems should be particularly careful when coming into contact with animals that can transmit these infections.