Parasitism, as a form of existence, has been raised on Earth for a very long time, from ancient protozoa and unicellular microorganisms.From the beginning of the existence of mankind, they face various parasites, but during the cohabitation millennia, the parasites did not become "smarter" and perfect for their ancestors.Parasites can cause irreparable damage to health, severe disability or death.But when mentioning the word "parasite", everyone thinks basically worms, though this term is much wider.We discuss the parasites in more detail.
Parasites: Who are they?
Parasites are unicellular or multicellular organisms that live on or in the body of their owner (the body or cells of the cells).They are generally much smaller than the predator representatives of the animal world, are able to reproduce quickly and survive in severe conditions.They eat at the expense of their owner while causing him damage.This differs from the symbols - the organisms that live within their owner and serve it.
Many of the parasites, in addition to the damage, are able to spread dangerous diseases.An example of this is mosquitoes, which are malaria and ticks that carry tick -encephalitis and borreliosis.
The size of the parasites differs significantly - the microscopic, which is visible only in a microscope, up to 10 m or more in the worms.Parasites use various sources of the owner - the growth and development of carbohydrates or proteins, fats, and minerals or vitamins.In the human body, the parasite can pass on one or every stage of the life cycle - intermediate or final.The infected manifestation depends on this.
Most of the parasites have a microscopic size, which is difficult to detect.However, some types of parasitic worms may form size cysts to the child's head or may be several meters long.
Types of parasitism
Several types of parasitism can be distinguished.They depend on the parasitic habitat of the human body:
Endoparasites.The owners live within the body of typical representatives Helmin (or worms).They can live in the intestine, the body cavity.Intracellular or intercellular parasites affect certain body tissues.These include bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa.
Special conditions are required to distribute endoparasites and sometimes carriers.Organisms that bring them to their permanent habitat.For example, in the case of malaria, the carrier will be a mosquito.
Exoparasites.These organisms live on the surface of the owner's body and consume its biological medium for bite.Typical representatives are lice, fleas, mosquitoes, ticks.
Epipharasites.They parasitize for other parasites by developing super-parasitism.So fleas nourishing animals or people have protozoa in the intestine - parasites that already live in the body of insects themselves.
Types of human parasites
Although viruses, fungi and bacteria also damage their body, they are considered to be pathogens of infectious diseases.Among people's true parasites:
Protozoa.These are unicellular organisms that can only share owners inside the body.Examples of a dysentery amoeba, malaria plasmodium or chlamydia.
Helmints.These are different types of parasitic worms - flat, tape, round and others.
Parasitic insects.This group contains lice, fleas, ticks, mosquitoes.
How does the parasitic infection manifest?
One unpleasant fact is that not all parasitic infection has a typical symptom.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.Manifestations are sometimes similar to bronchitis or pneumonia, hormonal imbalance, allergies or food poisoning.Some parasites that are upholstered in the intestine or abdominal cavity provoke abdominal pain, hypovitaminosis or cholecystitis.Among the most typical symptoms are experts distinguished:
- Rashes on the skin, spots, bubbles, itching or bruising.
- Increasing appetite or its suppression, weight loss.
- Diarrhea and vomiting, various types of abdominal pain.
- Anemia (a decrease in the level of hemoglobin or red blood cells).
- Sleep disorders - insomnia or severe drowsiness.
- Pain pain in joints, muscles, skin pain.
- Allergic reactions that did not exist before.
- General malaise, weakness, irritability.
- Periodic temperatures up to a large number or constant subfebrile fever.
However, the same manifestations are typical of many other non -parasitic diseases, so the diagnosis can confirm the detection of the parasite, its eggs or antibodies in the blood.
Important!Often there are no symptoms for a long time, after stress or infection, with the spread of parasites into a "critical mass".Meanwhile, many parasitic diseases are infectious and a person who is suspected of infecting others.This is especially likely if you neglect the basic rules of hygiene.
How do parasites spread?
Depending on the type of parasite, the paths of spread may vary.The simplest handover that lives in the intestine, for another person, is usually on the stool (such as infected foods or water), with people's close relationships from people.The simplest that live in people's blood or fabrics spread to other people through insects (such as mosquito patch or sandy fly).
In many adulthood, many helmin cannot reproduce in people.People can be final masters - adults live in them or intermediate - larvae live in them.Eggs or larvae are driven from dirty hands, infected foods or water, dust particles into the air.In addition, parasites can fall with infected fish, meat and a bird where the larvae spread.
The ectoparasites - lice and cancer - transmit communication and close relationships with infected children or adults.The arthropods are not only important in themselves as a provocateur of diseases, but also more important than carriers of serious illness - malaria, rash tyfoid, tick -encephalitis, etc.
Parasitic infections cause a huge number of diseases in both tropics and subtropes and in the temperate climate.Of all parasitic diseases, malaria is the cause of most deaths in the world.About 660,000 people die every year due to malaria, most of whom are young children.
How to identify parasites?
Of course, if these are my pubic or head milk, cancer or pinworms, which parents find in the baby's vessel - the diagnosis is already clear, you just need to be treated.But most parasites must first be determined, precisely determined who it is and only selects effective and safe treatment.
Different types of laboratory tests are available to diagnose parasitic diseases.The type of study prescribed by the examiner depends on its symptoms and complaints, other diseases, and excursions from foreign or all over the country.The diagnosis can be complicated, so your doctor can prescribe not only tests but also additional procedures.A list of some frequently used tests that can be prescribed by a doctor when diagnosed with parasites:
Examination of stool to detect parasites or eggs.Analysis is used to identify parasites that cause diarrhea, liquid or wet stools, stomach cramps, bloating and other diseases of the abdominal cavity.We recommend that you discover three or more stool samples collected for a few days.
Blood test of antibodies against parasites, urine tests, bloody and some other tests, depending on the alleged diagnosis.Some, but not all, parasitic infections are found in the analysis of the blood.In this case, however, the blood is examined in the case of a specific parasitic infection;There is no blood test that determines all parasitic infections.Your doctor may prescribe two main types of blood tests:
Serology.This test is used to look for antibodies or antigens with parasites that are infected with the body parasite and the immune system tries to fight the invaders.
Blood smear.This test is used to identify parasites in the blood.In search of blood smear, you can diagnose parasitic diseases such as friliatosis, malaria or babusiis.This test is carried out by placing blood drops on the microscope's glass glass.The object glass is then 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 wet stools, abdominal cramps, bloating and other symptoms from the abdominal cavity.It is used when studying stool does not reveal the cause of diarrhea.During the mouth (endoscopy) or the rectum (colonoscopy) procedure, a pipe with a camera and backlight is introduced to the doctor examine the intestines.This test searches for parasites or other disorders that can cause unpleasant symptoms.
X -rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), calculated axial tomography (cat).These tests are used to search for parasitic diseases that can cause organs.
How to handle?
If the exact diagnosis is known, it is easier to choose treatment.Today, almost all parasitic diseases are healing.However, treatment of helminthiasis is multi -step and takes time from the patient.
In the first stage, the body should be prepared and cleaned from the accumulated toxins.The patient is prescribed by sorbents.Cleaning the body of toxins takes at least five days.
In the second phase, antihelmintic agents are prescribed for the patient.It is better to select the medicine separately for a particular type of parasite.Treatment is performed in two courses.The first course kills adults of helmints in the human body.After 10-14 days, adult worms are replaced by new ones that get out of layered eggs.The second course will kill new persons.
In the third stage, the digestive system, liver and immune systems are restored.The patient requires a Sorbens course and after helping in the digestive system.Polyvitamines are added simultaneously.
Occasionally, the disease can be started or has a special form that requires surgical intervention.So, for example, in the presence of echinococcal cysts in the liver, kidney or lungs, only their removal helps.
The full course of treatment, medicines and other procedures is selected by the physician based on the patient's diagnosis, age and weight.