Types Of Parasites In The Human Body

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Types of parasites in the human body

There are a great many parasites that can live in the human body. They are found all over the world, but the most common of them are worms that parasitize the human intestine (helminths). However, parasites can live in the human body almost anywhere: in the lungs, in the liver, in the brain, in the eyes, under the skin, etc.

Almost every day, everyone runs the risk of becoming infected, since parasites surround people everywhere: they lay eggs and larvae in water, in the ground, in the air, in food.

Types of parasites

The most common types of parasites:

• Pinworm
• Toksokara
• Ascaris
• Hookworm and nekator
• Wide ribbon
• Bovine tapeworm (tapeworm)
• Pork tapeworm
• Echinococcus
• Alveococcus
• Lamblia
• Histological amoeba
• Gnatostoma
• Trichinella
• Schistosoma

Pinworm

Pinworms are the most famous parasites in the intestines. The disease caused by pinworms is called enterobiasis. Not only people suffer from it, but also great apes. Children are at increased risk of pinworm infection. According to various sources, the level of their involvement in enterobiasis at preschool age ranges from 25 to 90%.

Pinworms are passed from one person to another. Infection occurs through a handshake, clothes and any objects touched by a sick person, provided that after contact the hands were not washed and pinworm eggs got into the mouth (this happens especially often during meals). Flies and cockroaches can carry the eggs of these nematode worms, seeding food with them. Pinworms live in the small intestine, in the cecum, in the colon. They mate in the ileum, after which the female crawls out of the anus through the rectum and lays eggs in the anus.

Symptoms of enterobiasis are itching in the anal area, intoxication of the body (allergic reactions, exhaustion, fatigue), anemia, an increase in the level of eosinophils in the blood, insomnia, and abdominal pain.

In order to get rid of enterobiasis, anthelmintic drugs are used, for example, Pirantel, Dekaris, Vormil, Vermox, Piperazin, Nemozol, etc. The doctor selects the dosage and course of treatment.

To avoid re-infection, it is important to keep your hands clean, wash them after visiting any public places, after using the toilet, before eating, etc. Nails should be cut short, bedding and underwear should be thoroughly disinfected, and the apartment should be cleaned daily.

Learn more about pinworms.

Toksokara

Toxocara is a parasite from the nematode group. The disease caused by toxocara is called "toxocariasis". This invasion in humans can be larval (ocular and visceral), as well as intestinal. The disease is widespread throughout the world.

Toxocara infection occurs when the eggs of the worm enter the human digestive tract. This is most commonly seen when eating food or water contaminated with dog feces. Contact with sick animals is no less dangerous. Natural carriers of Toxocar are cats and dogs, foxes and wolves. Once in the human body, the larva of the worm migrates through the blood vessels and can settle in any organ. The symptoms of the disease will depend on this.

Most often, toxocariasis manifests itself in the form of allergic reactions (Quincke's edema, skin rash, bronchial asthma). During an exacerbation of the disease, an increase in body temperature up to 38 ° C is possible, but the symptoms of body intoxication are mild. You can suspect toxocariasis by the enlarged lymph nodes.

• The visceral form of toxocariasis is the most common, occurs with damage to internal organs (intestines, respiratory system, heart valves). A person may experience pain in the abdomen, in the right hypochondrium, dyspeptic disorders, and nausea.
• If the respiratory system is damaged, a person has shortness of breath, dry cough, and asthma attacks.
• If toxocars settle on the heart valves, then the patient has weakness, blue fingers and nasolabial triangle, shortness of breath.
• The skin form is characterized by itching, a feeling of movement under the skin, inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes.
• In the neurological form, the parasite provokes the development of inflammation of the meninges and the brain tissues themselves. This manifests itself in headaches, nausea and vomiting, seizures and other neurological disorders.

For the treatment of toxocariasis, anthelmintic drugs (Mebendazole and Albendazole) are used, as well as pathogenetic and symptomatic therapy.

More on toxocariasis.

Ascaris

Ascaris human is a roundworm that parasitizes the small intestine. The disease that these parasites provoke is called ascariasis.

The owner of the roundworm and the source of infection is a sick person. Together with his feces, the eggs of the worms enter the soil, where they mature to larvae. Then this soil is transferred to food or to human hands, and if the rules of personal hygiene are not observed and if fruits, vegetables and berries are poorly processed, it is transferred to the digestive tract. Children and rural residents are more susceptible to infection.

Ascariasis manifests itself in different phases of its development in different ways. In the phase of migration of larvae through the body, an increase in body temperature occurs, a dry cough appears, wheezing in the lungs, and lymph nodes increase in size. Children suffer ascariasis more severely than adults. Allergic skin reactions are a characteristic symptom of ascariasis.

During parasitism in the intestines, the patient develops dyspeptic disorders, loose stools are replaced by constipation, frequent abdominal pains, nausea and vomiting occur. On the part of the nervous system, hysterical seizures, insomnia, mental fatigue, and headaches are observed.

For the treatment of ascariasis in the stage of larval migration, patients are prescribed drugs such as Tiabendazole, Levamisole. During the parasitism of worms in the intestines, patients are prescribed Pirantel, Dekaris, Mebendazole, Piperazine.

More about roundworm.

Hookworm and nekator are two species of roundworms that belong to the Ancylostomatidae family and cause a disease called hookworm.

There are two ways of infecting the human body with these parasites - fecal-oral (drinking contaminated water, fruits, vegetables) and percutaneous in contact with soil (penetration occurs through the skin).

Clinical symptoms of ankylostomiasis: papular-vesicular rash, shortness of breath and cough, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, loose stools, anemia with iron deficiency.

Treatment is reduced to taking anthelmintic drugs (Pirantel, Vermox, Levamisole) and to eliminate anemia with iron preparations.

Wide ribbon The broad tapeworm belongs to the tapeworms of the order Pseudophyilidea. These parasites live in the small intestine of humans and those mammals that consume fish. Infection with a tapeworm provokes the development of a disease such as diphyllobothriasis. There are 12 types of tapeworms that can parasitize in the human body, however, the most common is the wide tapeworm. Infection occurs when eating raw and thermally unprocessed lightly salted fish or caviar, which contains worm eggs. Symptoms of the presence of the parasite in the intestines: nausea, abdominal pain, anemia. In severe cases, intestinal obstruction develops. To get rid of the parasite, patients are prescribed Praziquantel or Niclosamide. After the completion of the therapeutic course, a second study is mandatory for the presence of a worm in the body. If necessary, the administration of anthelmintic drugs is repeated. More about diphyllobothriasis.

Bovine tapeworm (tapeworm) Bovine tapeworm is a tapeworm, belongs to the teniid family. In the larval stage, it affects cattle, and in the tapeworm stage it lives in the human body (in its intestines). The tapeworm provokes a disease called teniarinchiasis, as a rule, one parasite is present in the patient's body. Human infection occurs through the alimentary route after eating poorly heat-treated meat (beef). Clinically, the disease is manifested by nausea, immoderate appetite, abdominal pain, unstable stools, and allergic reactions like urticaria. To remove bovine tapeworm from the body, Fenasal is most often prescribed (less often Biltricid). In parallel, the patient should adhere to a slag-free diet, put cleansing enemas, take laxatives. After using an anthelmintic agent, the worm dies and leaves the human body naturally. Sometimes its length can be up to 12 m. Learn more about the bullish chain.

Pork tapeworm Pork tapeworm refers to the parasitic tapeworms that infect the body of mammals. Intermediate carriers can be pigs, dogs, rabbits, camels, but the final owner is always a man. If an adult parasite is found in a person's body, then they talk about such a disease as teniasis. When the parasite is in the patient's body in the larval stage, the disease is called "cysticercosis". Infection with pork tapeworm occurs when eating thermally unprocessed pig meat. Sometimes the sources of the cysticercini are seeding hands or water. A patient with teniasis poses an epidemiological danger both to himself (infection by larvae of the brain, skin, eyes or skeletal muscles) and to others. Symptoms of teniasis: abdominal pain, loss of appetite, upset stools, headaches, frequent dizziness, fainting (extremely dangerous is teniasis of the brain and eyes). For the treatment of teniasis, the patient is placed in a hospital. Under the supervision of doctors, he is prescribed anthelmintic drugs (Praziquantel, Niclosamide), after which, 2 hours later, the patient takes a saline laxative, which allows him to get rid of the worm's joints and eggs. For the treatment of cysticercosis of the eyes and brain, surgical intervention is necessary. Read more about pork tapeworm.

Echinococcus

Echinococcus is a tapeworm from the order Cyclophyllid. Adults parasitize in the intestines of dogs and cats, and are found in jackals and wolves. For humans, parasite larvae are dangerous, which can cause a serious disease - echinococcosis.

Larvae can infect human internal organs, forming echinococcal cysts in them. For echinococci, humans act as an intermediate host. Infection is carried out by contact (in the process of cutting carcasses, when interacting with a sick animal), or alimentary (when using contaminated food or water). At risk are people who are engaged in animal husbandry or who have constant contact with animals.

Symptoms may not appear for many years. When the asymptomatic stage ends, pains, itchy skin occur at the site of the larva's introduction, and urticaria is possible. In addition, the functioning of the organ inside which the echinococcus larva parasitizes suffers. An increase in body temperature and fever is observed during cyst suppuration.

A complete cure for echinococcosis is possible only by surgery. The cyst is peeled off, being careful not to damage its membrane. If the bladder is very large, then it is punctured and the contents are sucked out. Before and after the operation, the patient is prescribed antiparasitic drugs: Praziquantel, Albendazole, Mebendazole. In the case of radical removal of the cyst, the prognosis for recovery is favorable.

Read more about echinococcosis.

Alveococcus is a helminth from the cestode group. The worm cries out a life-threatening disease of alveococcosis, which is characterized by the formation of a primary focus in the liver with the subsequent spread of metastases to other organs.

Infection occurs when oncospheres of the parasite enter the mouth. This can happen during hunting, in the process of cutting the carcasses of wild animals, in contact with domestic animals, when eating unprocessed berries and herbs from the forest.

Symptoms of alveococcosis are reduced to pain in the right hypochondrium, belching, nausea. Often there is itching, allergic reactions. Suppuration of a tumor with a parasite and its breakthrough into the abdominal or pleural cavity is not excluded. Alveococcus metastases can be found in the brain and lungs.

Treatment of the disease is prompt, but should be supplemented with antiparasitic drugs (Levamisole, Mebendazole).

Lamblia Giardia (another name for giardia) is a flagellate parasite belonging to the diplomonadid order. Giardia causes a disease called "giardiasis" and parasitizes in the small intestine of humans, as well as many other mammals and even birds. Infection with lamblia occurs through the fecal-oral route: food, water and contact-household methods. Of greatest importance in terms of transmission of infection is the use of raw water, contaminated food, the use of public items seeded with lamblia cysts. The leading symptoms of giardiasis are nausea, painful sensations in the abdomen, stool disturbances, and excessive gas. In addition, patients suffer from allergic reactions, intoxication and neurotic disorders. Giardiasis therapy is carried out using antiprotozoal drugs (Tinidazole, Metronidazole, etc.), as well as with the inclusion of enzymes, choleretic agents and enterosorbents in the treatment regimen. More on giardiasis.

Histological amoeba Histological amoeba is a protozoal parasite that causes a disease called amoebiasis. The disease is manifested by the formation of ulcers in the large intestine, followed by damage to other internal organs. Infection with amoebas occurs through the fecal-oral route, after mature cysts from water or food enter the human gastrointestinal tract. Possible contact transmission of parasites through unwashed hands. Flies can be carriers of amoebas. Another way of spreading amebiasis is through the sexual route (anal intercourse). Symptoms of amebiasis: profuse mucous stools, abdominal pain, blood in the stool, weight loss, anemia. In addition, extraintestinal amebiasis is characterized by the formation of abscesses in those organs that are affected by parasites (lungs, brain, liver, etc.). For the treatment of intestinal amebiasis, Tinidazole, Metronidazole, Ornidazole are prescribed. If the patient has an intolerance to Metronidazole, then it is replaced with Erythromycin or Doxycycline. The duration of therapy is determined by the severity of the course of amebiasis.

Gnatostoma A disease called gnatostomosis is caused by larvae and sexually mature nematodes Gnathostoma spinigerum. Infection occurs when eating unprocessed fish, frog or bird meat, as well as drinking unboiled, non-disinfected water. Symptoms of the disease are manifested in cough and pain at the site of penetration of the larva under the skin, in local inflammation and an increase in body temperature. Severe edema and itching are characteristic. As a rule, after a week from the manifestation of symptoms, they disappear, but they recur again over the course of many years. Dangerous damage to the eyeball and the brain, it is often fatal. Treatment involves taking anthelmintic drugs (most often Albendazole is prescribed) and surgery. During the operation, parasites are removed from under the skin.

Trichinella Trichinella are round parasitic worms that in the larval stage live in the muscles (oculomotor, masticatory, diaphragm muscles), and in adulthood - in the lumen of the small intestine. The disease provoked by Trichinella is called "Trichinosis". It is deadly. Human infection occurs through the consumption of raw or poorly processed meat from wild and domestic animals. Symptoms include loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Later, muscle pains, swelling of the eyelids, rashes on the skin join, the body temperature rises to 40 ° C. Treatment of parasitic infestation is carried out with the help of Mintezol, Vermox, Albendazole. At the same time, antihistamines are prescribed, and corticosteroids as needed. Read more about trichinosis.

Schistosoma Schistosomes are fluke worms from the genus trematodes. They provoke a disease called schistosomiasis. Human infection occurs during bathing, in the process of washing clothes or watering the ground with water with schistosom larvae. They are able to penetrate into the human body even through the entire skin and mucous membranes. Symptoms in the acute stage of the disease are manifested in an increase in temperature to high levels, in skin itching and in the appearance of papules all over the body. After the disease becomes chronic, the infected person may show signs of colpitis, prostatitis, colitis, ascites, hydronephrosis, etc. For the treatment of the disease, anthelmintic drugs are used: Niridazole, Praziquantel, Metriphonate, etc. Surgical intervention is required for complications of urogenital schistosomiasis. There are many parasites that can harm the human body. Most of them enter the body of their owner through the gastrointestinal tract if safe food preparation technology is not followed and basic hygiene procedures are not followed.

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