Review of human parasitic diseases.

Parasites are microorganisms that penetrate the human body, affect internal organs and systems and cause various clinical manifestations.Parasitic diseases are not the only disease.This phrase implies a separate group of pathologies caused by single-celled 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 owners.

Symptoms and pathogens of parasitic diseases.

The main causative agents of parasitic pathologies include worms, which cause helminth infection.Helminthiases, depending on the type of helminth, are classified as follows:

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

In addition to helminthiases, parasitic diseases can be protozoal (infection with protozoan parasites), Giardia, the causative agent of malaria, toxoplasma and trichomonas.Also ectoparasites, which include lice (body, head and pubic lice), bed bugs and ticks.Dermatoses occur due to the parasitic activity of certain insects.

For your information, the clinical picture in the context of a parasitic infection is often blurry;In most cases there are no symptoms or they manifest themselves sharply and violently, indicating severe poisoning.

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, leading to intoxication.Symptoms: red spots on the skin, hives, itching, rash, lichen-like plaques, etc.
2. Increased body temperature.In some patients, against the background of severe helminthic infestation, a febrile 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 is manifested by enlargement and inflammation of the lymph nodes.They can become inflamed one at a time or all at once.Additionally, the patient experiences headache, decreased appetite and general malaise.In most cases, the lymph nodes closest to the site of invasion become swollen.
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 non-productive cough.The patient complains of difficulty breathing due to lack of physical activity, pain in the chest area.Ascariasis often occurs with sputum mixed with blood.
6. The swelling may be localized or spread throughout the body.Angioedema is especially dangerous.Without medical care, 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 of intermittent pain.For some, the pain is pronounced and intense, while others describe it as a dull pain syndrome.
9. In the chronic course of helminthiasis, intoxication occurs, accompanied by severe weakness, significant deterioration in general well-being, frequent colds and respiratory diseases, and sharp 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 about 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 dermatosis.In medical practice, helminthic infestations are the most common.

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, headaches, myalgias;
• Amebiasis develops due to the penetration of parasites into the human body along with food and water.Pathogens: amoeba or dysenteric amoeba;
• Ascariasis.Parasites: intestinal worms.The infection is caused by the consumption of contaminated food products;
• Babesiosis is caused by helminths that live in the bloodstream.Infection occurs due to 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 mainly affects the gastrointestinal tract.Symptoms: severe abdominal pain, allergic reactions, headaches, general malaise.The incubation period varies from 2 to several years;
• Taeniasis.The causative agent is the pork tapeworm.A parasitic infection is fraught with numerous complications due to the passage of helminth 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.Parasitic diseases are usually diagnosed in childhood.Treatment has its difficulties, since secondary autoinfection occurs in 99%.

It is worth knowing: pathologies caused by ectoparasites: pediculosis, scabies, cocliomiasis, demodicosis, etc.

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

Why are parasites dangerous?

In most clinical pictures, residents of large cities are infected with common helminths, round and tapeworm parasites.Pathogenic microorganisms cause 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 vacation to South America, Australia or Africa face truly "terrible" helminths.

The most dangerous parasites:

1. Filaria causes blockage of blood vessels, as a result of which coordination of movements is disturbed and internal organs may fail.
2. Schistosomes are a special type of helminth that lives in human blood.It leads to serious impairment of the functionality of the liver, gastrointestinal tract and bladder.

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 cause the development of acute and chronic pathologies:

• Chronic giardiasis causes liver damage and cirrhosis develops;
• Trichomonas can cause cancer, myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis;
• Nematodes with prolonged parasitism significantly worsen the condition of the gastrointestinal tract and affect the lungs;
• Trichinella.The development of parasites causes severe pain and seizures;
• Toxoplasma during pregnancy alters the intrauterine development of the child to the point of mental retardation.

Important: anyone, without exception, can become infected;Hundreds of thousands of helminth larvae lie in wait for every person: in water, in soil, on tree leaves, in public transport, in the clinic, in the store, in food, etc.Therefore, it is necessary to observe 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 goes unnoticed.In the initial stage of infection, there are no symptoms;When the disease becomes chronic, the symptoms are more pronounced.If characteristic signs are detected, treatment is necessary;Otherwise, there is a high probability of serious complications that you will have to deal with throughout your life.