Parasitism as a form of existence has emerged on Earth for a long time, starting with ancient protozoa and monocyte microorganisms.Humanity faces various parasites from the beginning of its existence, but over the millennia of cohabitation, parasites have not become "smarter" and more perfect for their ancestors.Pests can cause irreparable damage to health, until the development of serious disability or death.But with the reference to the word "parasite", everyone basically thinks about worms, though this term is much wider.We will discuss more in detail the pests.
Pests: Who are they?
Pests are single -celled or multicellular organisms living in their owner's body or within it (in the cavities of the body or cells).They are usually much smaller in size than representatives of fauna predators, have the ability to multiply quickly and survive in severe conditions.They eat at the expense of their owner, causing damage.With this, they differ from the consultants - organisms that live within their owner and benefit him.
Many of the parasites, in addition to themselves, are also able to transmit dangerous diseases.Examples are malaria mosquitoes and ticks carrying ticks -brain and heavyweight.
The sizes of pests differ significantly - from the tiny, which can only be observed under a microscope, in worms, reaching up to 10 m or more.Pests use various resources of the owner - they are carbohydrates or proteins, fats, as well as minerals or vitamins to grow and grow.In the human body, the parasite can pass one or all stages of the life cycle - intermediate or final.The manifestations of infected will depend on it.
Most of the parasites have tiny sizes, they are difficult to detect.But some types of parasitic worms can form cysts in size on the child's head or reach various measures.
Varieties of parasitism
Various types of parasitism are distinguished.Are dependent on the parasite habitat in the human body:
Endoparasites.They live in the body of the owners, the typical representatives are elminths (or worms).They can live in the intestines, in the cavities of the body.Intracellular or intracellular parasites affect some body tissues correspondingly.These include bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa.
To spread endoparasites, special conditions and sometimes carriers are required.The organizations that bring them to their constant habitats.For example, for malaria a carrier will be a mosquito.
Exoparasites.These organisms live on the surface of the owner's body, eating the biological means for bites.The typical representatives are lice, fleas, mosquitoes, ticks.
Epiparasites.They are trampled on other parasites forming hyper-parasism.Thus, fleas that feed the blood of animals or humans have protozoa in the intestines - the parasites that already live in the body of the insects themselves.
Types of human pests
Although viruses, fungi and bacteria also damage a person in his body, they are considered separate as pathogens of infectious diseases.People's true parasites include:
Protozoa.These are single -celled organisms that can only share the owners within the body.Examples are a dysical amoeba, malaria of plateau or chlamydia.
Helminths.These are parasitic worms of different types - flat, film, round and more.
Pest insects.This group includes lice, fleas, ticks, mosquitoes.
How does a parasitic infection occur?
One of the unpleasant events is that not all parasitic infections that have typical symptoms.Thus, if insect bites and lice are relatively simple, then it is not always possible to determine the presence of worms or protozogs without special analyzes.Sometimes manifestations resemble bronchitis or pneumonia, hormonal imbalance, allergies or food poisoning.Some parasites, coated in the intestines or in the abdominal cavity, cause abdominal pain, hypabetamine or cholecystitis.Among the most typical symptoms, experts distinguish:
- Rashes on the skin, spots, bubbles, itching or bruising.
- Increasing its appetite or repression, weight loss.
- Diarrhea and vomiting, various types of abdominal pain.
- Anemia (decrease in hemoglobin level or red blood cells).
- Sleep disorders - insomnia or severe drowsiness.
- Pain of joints, muscles, skin.
- Allergic reactions that did not exist before.
- General malaise, weakness, irritability.
- Periodic temperatures up to a high number or a fixed subject fever.
However, these same manifestations are typical for many other non -parasite diseases, so the diagnosis can confirm the detection of the parasite itself, eggs or antibodies to it in the blood.
Great!Often there are no symptoms for a long time, they can occur after anxiety or infection, with the dissemination of pests to the "critical mass".In the meantime, many parasitic diseases are infectious, and a person, without suspecting, infects others.This is especially likely if you neglect the elementary hygiene rules.
How do parasites spread?
Depending on the type of parasite, the paths of its spread may vary.The transmission of the simplest, living in one person's intestines, in another person, as a rule, appears the course of the stools (for example, through contaminated foods or water), with close contacts from people to one person.The simplest, living in the blood or in human tissues, are transmitted to other people through insects (for example, bite mosquito or sandy fly).
Many Elminths in adulthood cannot multiply people.People can be final gentlemen - adults live in them, or intermediate - the larvae live in them.Eggs or larvae are transmitted by dirty hands, contaminated foods or water, dust particles rising in the air.In addition, pests can fall with infected fish, meat and a bird where the larvae spread.
Ectoparasites - lice and scabies, are transmitted by contact with communication and close contact with infected children or adults.Arthropods are important not only as the nominations of diseases on their own, but even more important as carriers of serious illness - malaria, typhoid rash, tick -brain, etc.
Parasitic infections cause a huge number of diseases in both tropical and subtropical, as well as in a more moderate climate.Of all parasitic diseases, malaria is the cause of most deaths in the world.About 660,000 people die annually from malaria, most of whom are young children.
How to locate parasites?
Of course, if they are lice, scabies, scabies or tables that parents find in the baby's container - the diagnosis is already clear, you should only be treated.But most parasites must first be identified, determine exactly who they are, and only then to choose a treatment that will be effective and safe.
Various types of laboratory tests are available today to diagnose parasitic diseases.The type of study prescribed by the treating physician depends on your symptoms and complaints, any other diseases you can have and your history on traveling abroad or across the country.The diagnosis can be complicated, so the doctor can prescribe not only the tests but also the additional procedures.A list of a few commonly used tests that a doctor can be prescribed when diagnosing pests:
Study of feces to detect pests or eggs.The analysis is used to detect pests that cause diarrhea, liquid or aqueous stools, stomach cramps, flatulence and other abdominal diseases.It is recommended to explore three or more stool samples collected in a few days.
Blood tests for antibodies in parasites, urine tests, blood crops and some other tests depending on the alleged diagnosis.Some, but not all, parasitic infections can be found in your blood analysis.However, in this case, blood will be examined for a particular parasitic infection.There is no blood test that determines all parasitic infections.The doctor may prescribe two main types of blood tests:
Serology.This test is used to search for antibodies or pest antigens produced when the body is infected with a parasite and the immune system tries to fight the invaders.
Blood coating.This test is used to identify pests in the blood.Looking at a blood coating under a microscope, it is possible to diagnose parasitic diseases, such as frenzy, malaria or brush.This test is carried out by placing blood drops on the subject of a microscope.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 pests that cause diarrhea, liquid or aqueous stools, abdominal cramps, flatulence and other symptoms of the abdominal cavity.It is used when the stool study does not reveal the cause of your diarrhea.During the process in the mouth (endoscopy) or in the rectum (colonoscopy), a hose with a camera and backlight is inserted so that the doctor can examine the intestines.This test is looking for parasites or other abnormalities that can cause unpleasant symptoms.
X -ray images, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), calculated computed tomography (KAT).These tests are used to search for certain parasitic diseases that can cause organs.
How to deal with?
When the exact diagnosis is known, it is already easier to choose the treatment.Almost all parasitic diseases are cured today.However, the treatment of helminth is multi -stage and will take time from the patient.
In the first stage, the body must be prepared and cleaned of accumulated toxins.The patient has been prescribed Sorbents.Toxin body cleansing lasts at least five days.
In the second stage, anthelmintic agents are prescribed to the patient.It is better if the drug has been selected individually for a particular type of parasite.The treatment is performed in two courses.The first course will kill the adults of helm in the human body.After 10-14 days, adult worms will be replaced by young people hatched by eggs.The second lesson will kill new people.
In the third stage, the digestive system, liver and immune system are restored.The patient has prescribed a path of Sorbents after taking drugs that help the digestive tract.Multivitamins are added at the same time.
Sometimes the disease can start or have a special form, which requires surgery.Thus, for example, in the presence of echinococcal cysts in the liver, kidneys or lungs, only their removal will help.
The entire course of treatment, medicines and other procedures is selected by the doctor, based on the diagnosis, age and weight of the patient.