Parasites in the human body lead to the development of serious diseases.Their harmful effects significantly affect life expectancy.
According to research, almost all people are carriers of certain parasites (from the smallest, which can only be seen under a microscope, to 10-meter tapeworms).Unfortunately, parasites don't just live in the gut.Their habitat includes: the intestinal tract, muscle tissue, heart, blood and even the brain, as well as other vital human organs.
No one, not a single person in the world is immune to the penetration of parasites into his body.Also, it doesn't matter the person's age (whether child or adult) and status (rich, poor, famous, unknown, etc.).
Types of parasites
For example, there are parasites such as hookworms.During their life cycle, they will definitely visit almost all the organs of our body.why is this Because hookworm larvae, when they enter the soil from feces, remain viable for several weeks.And if during this time they manage to get on the human skin, they will gnaw it and thus get into the blood vessels.And with the blood flow they will be transferred to the lungs.Once these larvae are in the alveolar capillaries, they enter the alveoli of the lungs to ascend the airways.They will then go to the pharynx and be swallowed.At the same time, throughout their journey, they literally cut their way.To bite through our lungs, intestines and blood vessels, nature has gifted them with four protruding hook-shaped teeth.Once in the intestine, the hookworm, feeding on blood, can remain there for up to 14 years, thanks to a bite in the intestinal mucosa.According to research, today more than 650 million people worldwide are affected by hookworm.
Another parasite, alveococcus (class of helminths) creates specific formations in the body - fins.It is a capsule consisting of a collection of small bubbles called alveococcus finna.In this case, the bubbles do not contain liquid.They grow in human tissue by external budding and are similar to a malignant tumor.This disease occurs as a malignant entity. Alveococcosis is rare, but mainly affects the liver and brain.Alveococcal nodules reach 15 cm in diameter.This type of helminthiasis is difficult to diagnose.Therefore, in most cases, the diagnosis is made at a late stage, when surgical intervention is no longer possible.
All parasites are ruthless and ungrateful.To stay in the "master's house" as long as possible, they resort to the use of sharpened hooks, clothespins, plates - teeth made of chitin (the density resembles a nail) or hard as wire hairs (whipworm).These unique devices constantly damage the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, load the liver with waste, take away food from a person, which reduces immunity, inhibiting beneficial microorganisms.The vital activity of bacteria that synthesize B vitamins, as well as lactic acid bacteria and interferon-donor bacteria, is inhibited.And all this is intestinal immunity, that is, almost half of all human immune mechanisms.
Thanks to our unique camouflage, we can go unnoticed by two or more types of parasites at the same time.In the liver - lamblia, in the intestines - roundworms.In fact, a huge number of patients with anemia, chronic fatigue, pancreatitis, asthma, allergy, dysbacteriosis, cholelithiasis and others are infected with parasites.
If we talk about the symptoms of parasite infection, they may not appear at all.Despite the invasion, a person can feel completely healthy if he has good immunity.He will really be healthy for some strictly individual time.Then, when the immune system weakens (due to stress, illness, surgery), the parasite will still start sending weak signals.They are characterized by skin rashes, smelly urine, persistent cough with clear lungs, infrequent stools with a strong odor or constipation, gas formation and bad breath.The most striking manifestation is considered to be nocturnal teeth grinding (bruxism).Symptoms may include drooling, perverted appetite (nighttime or ravenous hunger), food cravings (sour and sweet foods), and belching air.Sometimes you can meet people with an increased appetite while losing weight.Unfortunately, the number of possible symptoms is almost endless.Parasites are so "cunning" that they mask their presence with symptoms of the most common diseases.
Parasites that can be acquired from pets
Pets can give us not only their love and affection, but also other, much less pleasant "gifts".In order for doctors not to study practical parasitology for our body, it is necessary to know what exactly threatens us and how to deal with it.
ascariasis
Who is transmitting?Pig, cat, dog, human.With feces, the pathogen enters the soil, and from it into people through unwashed hands and vegetables.Cases of transmission of ascariasis through strawberries that are tried unwashed in the market are also common.Ascaris lives in the small intestine of a person for up to 2 years, eats useful substances and poisons it with the products of its vital activity.Ascaris eggs live in the soil for up to 10 years.
Symptoms: weakness, allergies, rash, poor appetite, weight loss, nervousness, poor sleep.With a healthy lifestyle, there may be no symptoms.If the worms have multiplied and entered the respiratory tract, a cough is possible.
What to do: Pumpkin seeds are useful as a preventative for roundworms – a handful a day.If you suspect ascariasis, have your stools tested at the clinic.This disease is treated with antiparasitic tablets.
giardiasis
Who is transmitting?The natural carrier of Giardia is the cat.They can also be contaminated soil or well water.It can be transmitted from people through dirty hands.It often occurs in children.
Symptoms: Giardia settles in the duodenum, blocks the ducts from the gallbladder and pancreas (visible on ultrasound), these organs bother the patient, food is poorly digested and absorbed, poor appetite.
What to do: take the stool to the clinic.If the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor will prescribe pills.Do not try to expel Giardia with "vormil" - it has no effect on them.The cat must also be treated: buy Drontal or Droncid at a veterinary pharmacy, give according to weight, according to the instructions, once every 3 months.
Toxocarosis
Who transmits: dog, sometimes cat.This is a canine roundworm that does not take root in the human intestine, but penetrates the blood, feeds on its proteins and releases toxins there.It often affects children.
Symptoms: same as other parasites, but nothing is found in the stool;blood should be tested.Sometimes toxocarria enters the eyes through the bloodstream and a person can go blind.The ophthalmologist can see the pathogen in the fundus.
What to do: if you have any doubts, go to the clinic for an examination.Toxocariasis is easy to treat, it's just difficult to detect and suspect.
Toxoplasmosis
Who transmits: cat.The pathogen lives in the blood.
Symptoms: sometimes - mild fever, weakness, enlargement of the liver, fatigue, muscle pain, headache.Often there are no symptoms, only the weakest organ suffers.You also won't suspect anything from the cat's behavior, but you can take the cat's feces for analysis to a veterinary hospital.
What to do: go to the clinic.
Dirofilariasis
Who transmits: dogs, mosquitoes.After biting a sick dog, the mosquito bites a person and transmits the pathogen.The larva grows, travels through the body and stops under the skin or in the eye.There was a case when a heartworm measuring 23 centimeters was removed from a woman's eye.No more than 3 heartworms can live in one person at the same time.
Symptoms: migrating subcutaneous tumor, sensation of movement in it.
What to do: go to the clinic in the department of infectious diseases or to a surgeon to remove it.Watch the dog: if it walks weakly, sleepily or drags its legs, this is already a reason for suspicion.60-80% of stray dogs have heartworm larvae.Treatment of such sick animals is usually not undertaken, as two out of three dogs die from toxic drugs, and those that survive are not fully cured.Prevention method: window nets and mosquito repellents.
Against roundworms and giardia, take a small head of garlic or 2 large cloves, chop them, pour half a liter of hot milk in a thermos overnight.In the morning, you can now drink half a glass before meals three times a day for 10 days.The recipe is suitable for pregnant women for whom antiparasitic tablets are contraindicated.Garlic has no effect on roundworms in dogs because it lives in the blood, not the digestive tract.
Self defense
- Before eating, wash your hands with soap, lathering twice.
- Vegetables and strawberries are washed under running cold water, peeled, arranged in 1-2 layers in a colander, poured with boiling water and immediately rinsed with cold water to prevent the destruction of vitamin C.
- Periodically treat pets for parasites.Wash your hands afterwards.
- If you have an animal at home, occasionally check yourself for parasites and examine your children, especially if you've been feeling weak, allergic or have no appetite lately
Well, if you do get sick, contact a professional doctor as soon as possible.An experienced specialist will prescribe a course of treatment that will help you recover as soon as possible.