Parasitism as a form of existence on earth was created for a very long time, starting with old protozoa and unicellular microorganisms.Humanity has been confronted with various parasites right from the start, but over the millennia of living together, the parasites have not become "more intelligent" and more perfect for their ancestors.Parasites can harm the health of irreparable, until the development of severe disabilities or death.But when mentioning the word "parasite" everyone basically thinks about worms, although this term is much wider.We will discuss more detailed parasites.
Parasites: Who are you?
Parasites are unicellular or multi -cell organisms that live on the body of their owner or in them (in the cavities of the body or in the cells).As a rule, they are much smaller than predatory representatives of the fauna, have the ability to multiply quickly and survive under difficult conditions.They eat at the expense of their owner and cause him damage.In doing so, they differ from the symbiors - organisms that live in their owner and benefit them.
Many of the parasites, in addition to damage themselves, can also transmit dangerous diseases.Examples are mosquitoes that wear malaria and ticks that wear encephalitis and Lyme disease with ticks.
The sizes of parasites differ significantly - from microscopic, which can only be seen in a microscope, to worms and reach a length of up to 10 m or more.Parasites use different resources 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 carry out one or all stages of the life cycle - medium or final.The manifestations of the infected will depend on it.
Most parasites have microscopic sizes, they are difficult to recognize.However, some types of parasitic worms can form cysts in the size of the child's child or reach a length of several meters.
Varieties of parasitism
Different types of parasitism are differentiated.They depend on the habitat of the parasite in the human body:
Endoparasites.They live in the body of the owner, typical representatives are helminths (or worms).You can live in the intestines, body caves.Intracellular or intercellular parasites each influence certain body tissue.This includes bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa.
Special conditions are required and sometimes carriers to spread endoparasites.Organisms that bring them to their constant habitats.For example, a carrier is a mosquito for malaria.
Exoparasites.These organisms live on the surface of the owner's body and eat its biological media for bite.Typical representatives are lice, fleas, mosquitoes, ticks.
Epiparasites.You parasitize other parasites by forming super parasitism.The fleas that feed on the blood of animals or humans have protozoa parasites in the intestine that already live in the body of insects.
Types of human parasites
Although viruses, fungi and bacteria also harm a person in their body, they are considered separately as pathogens.One of the true parasites of humans are:
Protozoa.These are individual organisms that can only share the owners in the body.Examples are a Ruhr for a Ruhr of amöben, malaria plasmodium or chlamydia.
Helminthen.These are parasitic worms of different types - flat, adhesive tape, round and others.
Parasitic sect.This group includes lice, fleas, ticks, mosquitoes.
How manifests a parasitic infection?
One of the unpleasant facts is that not all parasitic infections have typical symptoms.So if insect bites and lice are relatively simple, it is not always possible to determine the presence of worms or protozoa without special analyzes.Sometimes manifestations are similar to bronchitis or pneumonia, hormonal imbalance, allergies or food poisoning.Some parasites that were padded in the intestine or in the abdominal cavity provoke abdominal pain, hypovitaminosis or cholecystitis.Experts differentiate from the most typical symptoms:
- Rashes on the skin, stains, bubbles, itching or bruises.
- Increasing appetite or oppression, weight loss.
- Diarrhea and vomiting, different types of abdominal pain.
- Anemia (acceptance of hemoglobin levels or red blood cells).
- Sleep disorders - insomnia or severe sleepiness.
- Pain of the joints, muscles, skin.
- Allergic reactions that did not previously exist.
- General discomfort, weakness, irritability.
- Periodic temperatures to high numbers or constant subfebril fever.
However, the same manifestations are typical of many other, non -parasitic diseases, so the diagnosis can confirm the proof 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 spreading to the "critical mass".In the meantime, many parasitic diseases are contagious, and one person without suspecting it is infected by others.This is particularly likely if you neglect the basic rules of hygiene.
How do parasites spread?
Depending on the type of parasite, the paths of its spread can vary.The simplest of the simplest, which usually lives in the intestine of a person, usually takes place (e.g. through infected foods or water) with narrow contacts from people to one person.The simplest that live in the blood or tissue of people are transferred to other people by insects (for example by a mosquito bite or a sand fly).
Many adulthood helminths cannot multiply in humans.People can be final masters - adults live in them or moderate - larvae live in them.Eggs or larvae are transferred from dirty hands, infected foods or water, dust particles that are raised in the air.In addition, parasites with infected fish, meat and a bird can fall in which larvae spread.
Ektoparasites - lice and scabies are transmitted through contact and close contacts with infected children or adults.Arthropods are not only as provocators of diseases in themselves, but also as the carrier of serious illnesses - malaria, decisive typhoid, ticket -bony encephalitis, etc. - even more important.
Parasitic infections cause a large number of diseases in both tropics and in subtropics and in a more moderate climate.Malaria of all parasitic diseases is the cause of most deaths in the world.Around 660,000 people die every year from malaria, most of whom are small children.
How do I identify parasites?
If it is a pubic or head lice, scabies or pinworms that parents find in the baby's pot, the diagnosis is already clear that they only have to be treated.However, most parasites have to be identified first, determine exactly who it is and only then to select a treatment that is effective and safe.
Today, different types of laboratory tests for diagnosing parasitic diseases are available.The type of study prescribed by the applicable doctor depends on your symptoms and symptoms, all other diseases you can have, and your history of trips abroad or across the country.The diagnosis can be complicated, so that the doctor can not only prescribe tests but also additional procedures.A list of some frequently used tests that a doctor can be prescribed when diagnosed with parasites:
Investigation of feces to detect parasites or their eggs.The analysis is used to identify parasites that cause diarrhea, liquid or aqueous chairs, stomach cramps, flatulence and other diseases of the abdominal cavity.It is recommended to examine three or more stool samples that were collected over a few days.
Blood tests for antibodies against parasites, Urine tests, blood plants and some other tests, depending on the alleged diagnosis.Some, but not all parasitic infections, can be found when analyzing your blood.In this case, however, blood is examined for a certain parasitic infection.There is no blood test that determines all parasitic infections.The doctor can prescribe two main types of blood tests:
Serology.This test is used to look for antibodies or antigens of parasites that are produced with parasites when infecting the body, and the immune system tries to combat the invaders.
Blood smear.This test is used to identify parasites that are included in the blood.If you look a blood smear under a microscope, it is possible to diagnose parasitic diseases such as friliatosis, malaria or babusiosis.This test is carried out by placing blood drops on the subject glass of a microscope.Then the object glass is painted and examined under a microscope.
In addition to tests, the doctor can prescribe other studies.Endoscopy is used to recognize parasites that cause diarrhea, liquid or aqueous chairs, abdominal cramps, flatulence and other symptoms from the abdominal cavity.It is used if the examination of the chair does not show the cause of its diarrhea.During the procedure in the mouth (endoscopy) or rectum (colonoscopy), a pipe is inserted with a camera and backlight so that the doctor can examine the intestine.This test is looking for parasites or other anomalies that can cause unpleasant symptoms.
X -ray images, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computer axial Tomography (Kat).These tests are used to look for a few parasitic diseases that can cause organs.
How are you treated?
If the exact diagnosis is known, it is already easier to choose the treatment.Almost all parasitic diseases are healed today.However, the treatment of helminthiasis is a multi -level and takes time from the patient.
In the first stage, the body should be prepared and cleaned by accumulated toxins.Sorbents is prescribed to the patient.Cleaning the toxins takes at least five days.
In the second phase, the patient is prescribed Anthelmintic agent.It is better if the drug is selected individually for a certain type of parasite.The treatment is carried out in two courses.The first course will kill adults from helminths in the human body.After 10 to 14 days, adult worms are replaced by new ones that hatch out of the layered eggs.The second course will kill new people.
In the third stage, the digestive tract, the liver and the immune system are restored.The patient is prescribed sorbents and after taking drugs that help in the digestive tract.Polyvitamins are added at the same time.
Sometimes the disease can be started or has a special form that requires surgical intervention.For example, in the presence of echinococcystic cysts in the liver, kidney or lungs only helps.
The entire course of treatment, medication and other procedures is selected by the doctor based on the diagnosis, age and weight of the patient.