Parasites in the human intestine
Parasites in the human intestine are various harmful organisms, the optimal habitat for which is the small or large intestines. In this most important organ of the human digestive system, helminths and protozoa can parasitize.
Helminths are all worms that can exist in the human body and other animals. They cause diseases collectively called helminthiasis. The protozoa includes more than 15,000 organisms that are capable of provoking diseases such as protozoanosis.
Content:
- What parasites live in the intestines?
- Symptoms of parasites in the intestines
- Treatment of parasites in the intestines
What parasites live in the intestines?
Helminths that can live in the human intestine are as follows:
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Intestinal hookworm and nekator. These parasites provoke a disease called hookworm disease. Ankylostomida and nekator are roundworms that parasitize the human intestine. In addition to diarrhea and abdominal pain, parasites cause allergic reactions, poor appetite, coughing and shortness of breath.
- Ascaris. Roundworms are nematodes that belong to the class of roundworms. They parasitize the human small intestine and cause general disorders of the digestive system. In the early phase, parasites contribute to the appearance of symptoms of general intoxication with fever, cough and lymphadenitis. The disease is widespread throughout the world, according to the WHO, about a billion people are infected with ascariasis.
- Wide ribbon. This parasite belongs to tapeworms, which provokes a disease called diphyllobothriasis. In addition to the broad tapeworm, there are 12 more varieties of tapeworms that are capable of parasitizing in the human body. However, this particular type is the most common. The worm parasitizes in the small intestine, attaching itself to its mucous membrane. There he turns into a sexually mature individual and begins to release eggs into the external environment.
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Intestinal acne. Intestinal eel belongs to the class of round parasitic worms and provokes a disease called strongyloidosis. The digestive and hepatobiliary systems are affected, in addition, the body of an infected person reacts to the parasite with a variety of allergic reactions.
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Bovine tapeworm. This parasite is a tapeworm of a fairly large size, it can reach 12 m in length. Helminth parasitizes in the human intestine, causing a disease called teniarinchiasis. The main symptoms of invasion are abdominal pain, stool disturbances, increased appetite against the background of weight loss.
Pork tapeworm - Pork tapeworm. This is a tapeworm that causes a disease called teniasis. It parasitizes in the human small intestine, provokes digestive disorders, impaired appetite, neurological disorders. The danger of the pork tapeworm lies in the fact that its larvae have ways to infect the brain, organs of vision, and skin.
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Trichinella. This parasitic worm causes a serious illness in humans called trichinosis. Sexually mature individuals parasitize in the human intestine, causing fever, muscle pain, swelling and allergic reactions. In severe disease, death is possible.
- Vlasoglav. This is a helminth belonging to the group of roundworms that parasitize in the human intestines, provoking a disease called trichocephalosis. The disease is ubiquitous, occurs in Russia, especially in the North Caucasus and the Central Black Earth Region.
- Schistosomes. Schistosomes are flukes. Disorders in the functioning of the intestine provoke intestinal schistosomes. The invasion is accompanied by colitis, which leads to hardening of the intestinal wall or appendicitis.
The main protozoa or protozoal microorganisms that can live in the human intestine:
- Dysenteric amoeba or histological amoeba. This microorganism provokes a disease called amebiasis. The infection is accompanied by the appearance of ulcers on the inner lining of the large intestine. The leading symptom of the disease is severe diarrhea.
- Giardia. Giardia is one of the simplest intestinal parasites that provoke various digestive disorders. With the invasion of lamblia, symptoms such as nausea, abdominal pain, and stool disorders come to the fore. It is a widespread disease that is especially diagnosed in childhood.
- Blastocyst homni. This is a conditionally pathogenic microorganism that can live in the intestines of even perfectly healthy people. However, most scientists tend to classify blastocysts as the simplest parasites. Blastocysts harm the human body only if the immune system is weakened, provoking vomiting, diarrhea and other disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.
There are other parasites that can inhabit the human intestine. However, they are not widespread and most often parasitize in the digestive system of animals.
Symptoms of parasites in the intestines
The symptoms of parasites in the gut will vary depending on which organism has entered the person's body.
However, there are general signs that signal helminthic or protozoal intestinal invasion:
- Disruption of the normal functioning of the intestines. The patient complains of increased gas production, flatulence and bloating.
- The stool becomes unstable, constipation is replaced by diarrhea. Such stool disorders can be observed for many years with periodic remissions and exacerbations.
- Joint pain, muscle pain. Such painful sensations can be associated with the migration of parasites throughout the body, as well as with prolonged tension of the immune system.
- Allergic syndrome. It is also the leading trait that indicates parasites in the intestines. Reactions can be mild and manifest as minor skin rashes. However, some parasites are capable of provoking serious allergic manifestations, for example, Quincke's edema or bronchial asthma.
- Change in appetite. It can increase or decrease depending on what kind of parasite lives in the intestine.
- The condition of the skin is deteriorating. The dermis becomes dry, prone to acne and acne. The appearance of papillomas, exacerbation of existing skin diseases (eczema, urticaria, dermatitis) is possible. In addition, hair and nails are affected, and cracks in the heels are formed.
- Weight loss. This symptom is caused by a lack of nutrients. In addition to the fact that part of the food goes to nourish the parasites, they contribute to the deterioration of the intestines. Thus, the human body receives less vitamins and minerals, and fats, proteins and carbohydrates are not able to be fully absorbed.
- Nervous system disorders. With a parasitic invasion, a person becomes more irritable, prone to depression. Patients have an unmotivated feeling of anxiety, they get tired faster.
- Teeth grinding in sleep. Bruxism is a frequent companion of parasitic invasion, although the mechanisms of its occurrence have not yet been established.
- Itching in the anus, worse at night.
- Weakening of the body's defenses. The presence of parasites in the body provokes a constant strain of immunity. This leads to frequent illnesses, to exacerbation of chronic pathologies. People are more susceptible to viral infections. Dysbiosis is a constant companion of intestinal parasites.
- Some parasites can cause respiratory problems such as coughing and shortness of breath. Most often this happens due to the migration of helminths throughout the body.
If you turn to blood tests, then most often the presence of parasites in the body is indicated by an increase in eosinophils and leukocytes in the blood. Most patients have iron deficiency anemia.
Treatment of parasites in the intestines
The treatment of parasites in the intestines is in the competence of the parasitologist. Modern medicine has at its disposal more than 10 drugs with anthelmintic activity. You should not prescribe them yourself, since they all have specific activity in relation to different types of parasites.
It is impossible to determine independently what type of worms lives in the patient's intestines. A doctor cannot do this based only on the patient's complaints. Therefore, to clarify the diagnosis, laboratory tests will be required. Only on the basis of the data obtained will it be possible to draw up a truly effective treatment regimen.
Depending on the type of parasite, the patient may be prescribed drugs with one of the following active ingredients:
- Mebendazole (Vermox, Wormin, etc.).
- Levamisole (Decaris).
- Piperazine adipate.
- Befenia hydroxy naphthoate.
- Albendazole (Nemozole, Vormil).
- Praziquantel.
- Pirantel pamoat (Pirantel, Nemocid, Helmintox).
It should be understood that drugs for worms have certain contraindications and can give a wide variety of side effects. Therefore, the dosage and duration of the course of treatment should be determined only by the doctor. It largely depends on the patient's age, on his weight, on the presence of concomitant diseases.
Since some drugs are not capable of destructively affecting the eggs of parasites, a repeated course of anthelmintic therapy may be required.
During treatment, the patient should adhere to a dietary diet. In some cases, a cleansing enema is recommended in order to quickly remove parasites from the body.
In the recovery period, which occurs after the elimination of helminths from the body, the intestinal microflora is corrected for patients, and it is possible to take drugs aimed at strengthening the immune system. For these purposes, enterosorbents, immunostimulants, enzyme and bacterial preparations, and herbal adaptogens are used.
As for the protozoal parasites that live in the human body, their elimination requires the use of special antiprotozoal drugs. It can be Tinidazole, Metronidazole, Ornidazole, Nimorazole, Furazolidone, etc. Therapy is also selected on an individual basis and directly depends on the type of parasite. In some cases, hospitalization of patients is required.
The effectiveness of therapy with a well-designed treatment regimen for parasites in the intestine reaches 95-100%. However, re-infection is not excluded.
Author of the article: Danilova Tatyana Vyacheslavovna | Infectionist
Education: in 2008 received a diploma in General Medicine (General Medicine) at the Pirogov Russian Research Medical University. Immediately passed an internship and received a diploma of a therapist
