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 ones, which are visible only under a microscope, to 10-meter tapeworms).Unfortunately, parasites live not only in the intestines.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 from parasites entering his body.In addition, it does not matter the person’s age (whether a child or an 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 organs of our body.Why is this so?Because hookworm larvae, when they enter the soil from feces, remain viable for several weeks.And, if during this time they are able to get on human skin, they will gnaw through 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 in order to ascend the respiratory tract.They will then go into the pharynx and be swallowed.At the same time, throughout their entire journey they literally gnaw their way through.To gnaw through our lungs, intestines, and blood vessels, nature endowed them with four protruding hook-shaped teeth.Once, having entered the intestines, the hookworm, feeding on blood, can stay there for up to 14 years, thanks to gnawing into the intestinal mucosa.According to research, today more than 650 million people around the world are affected by hookworm disease.
Another parasite, alveococcus (a class of helminths) creates specific formations in the body - finns.This is a capsule consisting of a collection of small bubbles, which is called alveococcus finna.In this case, the bubbles do not contain liquid.They grow into human tissue through external budding and are similar to a malignant tumor.This disease occurs as a malignant formation. Alveococcosis is rare, but primarily affects the liver and brain.Alveococcus nodes reach 15 cm in diameter.This type of helminthiasis is difficult to diagnose.Therefore, the diagnosis in most cases is made at a late stage, when surgical intervention is no longer possible.
All parasites are merciless and ungrateful.To stay in the “master’s house” for as long as possible, they resort to the use of sharpened hooks, clothespins, plates - teeth made of chitin (the density resembles a nail) or wire-hard hairs (whipworm).These unique devices constantly injure 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 be 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, allergosis, dysbacteriosis, cholelithiasis and others turn out to be 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 they have good immunity.He will indeed be healthy for some strictly individual time.Afterwards, as the immune system fades (due to stress, illness, surgery), the parasite will still begin to send weak signals.They are characterized by pimples on the skin, smelly urine, persistent cough with clear lungs, loose stools with a strong odor or constipation, gas formation, and bad breath.The most striking manifestation is considered to be night grinding of teeth (bruxism).Symptoms may include drooling, perverted appetite (night or insatiable hunger), food cravings (sour and sweet foods), and belching of air.Sometimes you can meet people with 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 obtained 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 about our body, it is necessary to know what exactly threatens us and how to deal with it.
Ascariasis
Who transmits?Pig, cat, dog, human.With feces, the pathogen enters the soil, and from it to humans through unwashed hands and vegetables.There are also frequent cases of transmission of ascariasis through strawberries, which are tasted unwashed at the market.Ascaris lives in the small intestine of a person for up to 2 years, eating useful substances, and poisons it with the products of its vital activity.Ascaris eggs live in 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 against roundworms - a handful a day.If you suspect ascariasis, have your stool tested at the clinic.This disease is treated with antiparasitic tablets.
Giardiasis
Who transmits?The natural carrier of Giardia is the cat.They can also be contaminated soil or water in a well.Can be transmitted from humans through dirty hands.Often happens in children.
Symptoms: Giardia settles in the duodenum, clogs 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 drive away 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 the weight, according to the instructions, once every 3 months.
Toxocariasis
Who transmits: a dog, occasionally a cat.This is a canine roundworm that does not take root in the human intestines, but penetrates the blood, feeds on its proteins and releases toxins there.Often affects children.
Symptoms: the same as for other parasites, but nothing is found in the stool; the blood needs to be examined.Sometimes toxocara gets into the eyes through the bloodstream, and a person can go blind.An ophthalmologist can see the pathogen in the fundus.
What to do: if you have any suspicion, go to the clinic for examination.Toxocariasis is easy to cure, it’s just difficult to find and suspect.
Toxoplasmosis
Who transmits: cat.The pathogen lives in the blood.
Symptoms: sometimes - slight fever, weakness, enlarged liver, fatigue, muscle pain, headache.Often there are no symptoms, only the weakest organ suffers.You won’t suspect anything from the cat’s behavior either, but you can bring 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 throughout the body, and stops under the skin or in the eye.There was a case when a heartworm measuring 23 centimeters was pulled out of one woman’s eye.No more than 3 heartworms can live in a person at the same time.
Symptoms: migrating subcutaneous tumor, sensation of movement in it.
What to do: go to the clinic in the infectious diseases department or to a surgeon to have it removed.Watch the dog: if it walks frail, sleepy, or drags its legs, this is already grounds for suspicion.60-80% of stray dogs have heartworm larvae.Treatment of such sick animals is usually not undertaken, since two out of three dogs die from toxic drugs, and the one that survives is not completely cured.Prevention method: window nets and mosquito repellents.
Against roundworms and giardia, take a small head of garlic or 2 large cloves, chop it, pour half a liter of hot milk in a thermos overnight.In the morning you can already 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 dog roundworm because it lives in the blood and not in the digestive tract.
Self-defense
- Before eating, wash your hands with soap, soaping twice.
- Vegetables and strawberries should be washed under running cold water, peeled, placed in 1-2 layers in a colander, poured over with boiling water and immediately rinsed with cold water to prevent vitamin C from being destroyed.
- Treat pets periodically for parasites.Wash your hands afterward.
- If you have an animal at home, sometimes check yourself for parasites and check your children, especially if you have been feeling weak, allergic, or lack of appetite lately
Well, if you still 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.