Parasitism as a form of existence emerged on Earth for a long time, from ancient protozoa and unicellular microorganisms.Humanity has faced several parasites since the beginning of its existence, but over the millennia of cohabitation, parasites have not become "smarter" and more perfect for their ancestors.Parasites can cause irreparable health damage until the development of serious disability or death.But with the mention of the word "parasite," everyone basically thinks of worms, although this term is much broader.We will discuss parasites in more detail.
Parasites: Who are they?
Parasites are unicellular or multicellular organisms living in the body of their owner or within it (in body or cell cavities).They are usually much smaller than predatory fauna representatives, have the ability to multiply quickly and survive in severe conditions.They eat at the expense of their owner, causing damage.With this, they differ from symbions - organisms that live within their owner and benefit it.
Many of the parasites, besides being hurt, are also able to convey dangerous diseases.Examples are mosquitoes that carry malaria and ticks that carry encephalitis and ticks.
Parasite sizes differ significantly - from microscopic, which can only be seen in a microscope for worms, reaching a length of up to 10 m or more.Parasites use various features of the owner - these are carbohydrates or proteins, fats, as well as minerals or vitamins to grow and develop.In the human body, the parasite can go through one or all stages of the life cycle - intermediate or final.The manifestations of the infected will depend on this.
Most parasites have microscopic sizes, it is difficult to detect.But some types of parasitic worms may form size cysts on the child's head or reach a length of several meters.
Varieties of parasitism
Various types of parasitism are distinguished.They depend on the parasite habitat in the human body:
Endoparasites.They live within the body of owners, typical representatives are helminths (or worms).They can live in the gut, body cavities.Intracellular or intercellular parasites affect certain bodily tissues respectively.This includes bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa.
To spread endoparasites, special conditions are required and sometimes carriers.Organisms that lead them to their constant habitats.For example, for malaria, a carrier will be a mosquito.
Exoparasitas.These organisms live on the owner's body surface, eating their biological media for bites.Typical representatives are lice, fleas, mosquitoes, ticks.
Epiparasites.They parasitize in other parasites, forming the super parasitism.Thus, fleas that feed on the blood of animals or humans have protozoa in the intestines - parasites that already live in the insect body.
Types of human parasites
Although viruses, fungi and bacteria also harm a person in their body, they are considered separately as pathogens of infectious diseases.The real parasites of people include:
Protozoa.These are unicellular organisms that can only share owners within the body.Examples are a dysentery amoeba, plasmodium malaria or chlamydia.
Helminths.They are parasitic worms of different types - plans, ribbons, round and others.
Parasitic insects.This group includes lice, fleas, ticks, mosquitoes.
How does a parasite infection manifest?
One of the unpleasant facts is that not all parasitic infections have typical symptoms.Therefore, if the bites and insect lice are relatively simple, it is not always possible to determine the presence of worms or protozoa without special analysis.Sometimes manifestations resemble bronchitis or pneumonia, hormonal imbalance, allergies or food poisoning.Some parasites, upholstered in the gut or abdominal cavity, cause abdominal pain, hypovitaminosis or cholecystitis.Among the most typical symptoms, experts distinguish:
- Skin rashes on the skin, spots, bubbles, itching or bruises.
- Increased appetite or suppression, weight loss.
- Diarrhea and vomiting, various types of abdominal pain.
- Anemia (decreased hemoglobin level or red blood cells).
- Sleep disorders - insomnia or severe drowsiness.
- Donity of joints, muscles, skin.
- Allergic reactions that did not exist before.
- Evil -Go -overall, weakness, irritability.
- Periodic temperatures up to high numbers or constant subphebes fever.
However, these same manifestations are typical to many other non -parasitic diseases;Therefore, the diagnosis can confirm the detection of the parasite itself, its eggs or antibodies in the blood.
Important!Often, there are no symptoms for a long time, they can occur after stress or infection, with the spread of parasites for the "critical mass."Meanwhile, many parasitic diseases are infectious, and one person, without suspecting, infects others.This is especially likely if you neglect the elementary rules of hygiene.
How do parasites spread?
Depending on the type of parasite, the paths of its propagation may vary.The transmission of the simplest, who live in the gut from one person to someone else, as a rule, occurs fecal-oral route (eg through infected foods or water), with close to human contacts to a person.The simplest, who live in people's blood or tissues, are transmitted to others through insects (for example, through a mosquito or sandy fly bite).
Many adulthood helminths cannot multiply in people.People can be final masters - adults live in them or intermediate - larvae live in them.Eggs or larvae are transmitted from dirty hands, foods or water infected, dust particles raised in the air.In addition, parasites can fall with infected fish, meat and a bird where the larvae propagate.
Ectoparasites - lice and scabies, are transmitted by communication contact and close contacts with infected children or adults.Arthropods are important not only as causing disease in themselves, but even more important as patients with serious illness - malaria, precipitated typhoid, encephalitis by bamba, etc.
Parasitic infections cause a large number of diseases in tropics and subtropics, as well as in a more moderate climate.Of all parasitic diseases, malaria is the cause of most deaths in the world.About 660,000 people die annually from malaria, most of whom are young children.
How to identify parasites?
Obviously, if they are pubic lice or head, scabies or pinworms that parents find in the baby's pan - the diagnosis is already clear, you just need to be treated.But most parasites must first be identified, determine exactly who it is and only then selecting a treatment that will be effective and safe.
Several types of laboratory tests are available today for the diagnosis of parasitic diseases.The type of study that will be prescribed by the attending physician depends on your symptoms and complaints, any other diseases you may have and your travel history abroad or throughout the country.The diagnosis can be complicated so that the doctor can prescribe not only tests but also additional procedures.A list of some tests frequently used that a doctor may be prescribed by diagnosing parasites:
Study of feces for parasitic detection or their eggs.The analysis is used to identify parasites that cause diarrhea, liquid or aqueous strokes, stomach cramps, flatulence and other abdominal cavity diseases.It is recommended to explore three or more samples of stool collected in a few days.
Blood tests for parasitic antibodies, urine testing, blood cultures and some other tests, depending on the supposed diagnosis.Some, but not all, parasitic infections can be found when analyzing your blood.However, in this case, blood will be examined for a specific parasitic infection;There are no blood tests that determine all parasitic infections.The doctor can prescribe two main types of blood tests:
Serology.This test is used to look for parasite antibodies or antigens that are produced when the body is infected with parasite, and the immune system tries to combat the invaders.
Blood stain.This test is used to identify parasites found in the blood.Looking at a blood stain under a microscope, it is possible to diagnose parasitic diseases such as friliatosis, malaria or business.This test is performed by placing blood drops on the glass of a microscope.Then the glass glass is painted and examined under a microscope.
In addition to the tests, the doctor may prescribe other studies.Endoscopy is used to detect parasites that cause diarrhea, liquid or aqueous stools, abdominal cramps, flatulence and other symptoms of the abdominal cavity.It is used when stool study does not reveal the cause of your diarrhea.During the procedure in the mouth (endoscopy) or straight (colonoscopy), a tube with a camera and background light is introduced so that the doctor can examine the gut.This test is looking for parasites or other anomalies that can cause unpleasant symptoms.
X-ray images, magnetic resonance imaging (magnetic resonance imaging), computed axial tomography (KAT).These tests are used to look for some parasitic diseases that can cause organs.
How to be treated?
When the needy diagnosis is known, it is easier to choose the treatment.Almost all parasitic diseases are healed today.However, the treatment of helminthiasis is multi -stages and will take the patient's time.
In the first stage, the body should be prepared and clean from accumulated toxins.The patient receives prescribed ice cream.Cleaning of the toxin body lasts at least five days.
In the second stage, anti -helmintic agents are prescribed for the patient.It is better if the medicine is selected individually for a certain type of parasite.The treatment is performed in two courses.The first course will kill adults of helminths in the human body.After 10 to 14 days, adult worms will be replaced by new ones that eclodes from the eggs in layers.The second course will kill new individuals.
In the third stage, the digestive tract, the liver and the immune system is restored.The patient receives a course of sorbents and after taking medications that help in the digestive tract.Politicians are added at the same time.
Sometimes the disease can be launched or has a special form, which requires surgical intervention.Thus, for example, in the presence of echinococcal cysts in the liver, kidney or lungs, only their removal will help.
The entire course of treatment, medicines and other procedures is selected by the doctor, based on the patient's diagnosis, age and weight.