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 some parasites (from the smallest, which can only be seen 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.Moreover, it does not 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 roundworms.During their life cycle, they will definitely visit almost all the organs of our body.Why is that so?Because the larvae of the earthworm, when they enter the soil from the faeces, remain viable for several weeks.And, if during this time they are able to enter the human skin, they will corrode it and, thus, enter 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 attach to the respiratory tract.They will then enter the pharynx and be swallowed.At the same time, throughout their journey they literally dig their way.To swallow our lungs, intestines and blood vessels, nature equipped them with four protruding hook-like teeth.Having entered the intestines, the hookworm, feeding on blood, can stay there for up to 14 years, thanks to the erosion of the intestinal mucosa.According to research, today more than 650 million people worldwide are affected by breast worm disease.
Another parasite, alveococcus (a class of helminths) creates specific formations on the body - finns.This is a capsule made up of a collection of tiny bubbles called alveococcus finna.In this case, the bubbles do not contain liquid.They grow in human tissue through outgrowths and are similar to a malignant tumor.This disease appears as a malignant formation. 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 "house of the master" as long as possible, they use sharpened hooks, clothespins, plates - teeth made of chitin (the density resembles a nail) or strong wire hairs (whipworm).These unique devices constantly damage the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract, load the liver with waste, remove 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-donating 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 large number of patients with anemia, chronic fatigue, pancreatitis, asthma, allergies, 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 he has good immunity.He will really be healthy for a strictly individual time.Then, as the immune system weakens (due to stress, illness, surgery), the parasite will continue to send weak signals.They are characterized by rashes on the skin, foul-smelling urine, persistent cough with clear lungs, loose stools with a strong smell or constipation, gas formation and bad breath.The most prominent manifestation is considered to be teeth grinding at night (bruxism).Symptoms may include drooling, perverted appetite (night or insatiable hunger), food cravings (sour and sweet foods), and gasping for air.Sometimes you can meet people with increased appetite, losing weight.Unfortunately, the number of possible symptoms is almost endless.Parasites are so "cunning" that they mask their presence with the symptoms of the most common diseases.
Parasites that can be carried by 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 broadcasts?Pig, cat, dog, human.With feces, the pathogen enters the soil, and from it to people through unwashed hands and vegetables.There are also frequent cases of ascariasis transmission through strawberries, which are enjoyed unwashed in the market.Ascaris lives in the small intestine of a person for up to 2 years, eating useful substances and poisoning 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, irritability, 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, check your stool at the clinic.This disease is treated with antiparasitic tablets.
Giardiasis
Who broadcasts?The natural carrier of Giardia is the cat.They can also be soil or contaminated water in a well.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 disturb 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 remove 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.
Toxocariasis
Who broadcasts: a dog, occasionally a cat.This is a roundworm of the dog that does not take root in the human intestines, but penetrates into the blood, feeds on its proteins and releases toxins there.It often affects children.
Symptoms: same as for other parasites, but nothing is found in the stool;the blood should be examined.Sometimes toxocara enters the eye 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 doubts, go to the clinic for an examination.Toxocariasis is easy to cure, it is just difficult to find and suspect.
Toxoplasmosis
Who broadcasts: the cat.The pathogen lives in the blood.
Symptoms: sometimes - low fever, weakness, enlarged liver, fatigue, muscle pain, headache.Often there are no symptoms, only the weakest organ suffers.You won't even suspect anything from the cat's behavior, but you can bring the cat's feces for analysis to a veterinary hospital.
What to do: go to the clinic.
Dirofilariasis
Who transmits it: 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 23-centimeter heartworm was pulled out of a woman's eye.No more than 3 heartworms can live in a person at the same time.
Symptoms: migration of 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.Look at the dog: if it walks weakly, sleepily or drags its legs, this is already 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 the toxic drugs and those that survive do not fully recover.Prevention method: window screens 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, washing them twice.
- Vegetables and strawberries should be washed in cold running water, peeled, placed in 1-2 layers in a colander, poured with boiling water and immediately rinsed with cold water to prevent the destruction of vitamin C.
- Treat pets periodically for parasites.Wash your hands afterwards.
- If you have an animal at home, sometimes check yourself for parasites and check your children, especially if you have felt weak, allergic or lack of appetite recently.
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 quickly as possible.