Parasitic diseases are a group of pathologies caused by microorganisms, arthropods, and worms. They differ in a sluggish course and affect vital systems. Indigestion, changes in body weight, chronic fatigue are the main signs of the presence of parasites in the human body. To diagnose invasive diseases, an ultrasound examination of the peritoneal organs, a fecal analysis for dysbiosis and a biochemical blood test are carried out.
What parasites can live in a person
The causative agents of parasitic pathologies are worms, arthropods and unicellular organisms - viruses, fungi, protozoa. In 69% of cases, helminthic invasions are diagnosed, provoked by such helminths:
- Trematodes (leeches) - schistosomes, cat and liver fluke;
- Scraper (acanthozephalosis) - pearl-shaped scraper, giant comb;
- Nematodes (roundworms) - hookworms, pinworms, roundworms, whipworms;
- Cestodes (tape) - wide tapeworm, beef tapeworm, Echinococcus.
Endoparasites predominate in helminthic invasions that settle in the small or large intestine. Common arthropod pathogens in parasitic diseases are:
- Ticks;
- Centipede;
- Reed;
- Insects.
The group of temporary parasites includes blood-sucking arthropods and leeches, and the group of permanent ones includes lice, parasitic worms, and pruritic mites. Very often invasive pathologies are caused by opportunistic fungi, protozoa - amoeba, lamblia.
Parasites have a negative effect on the body and lead to undesirable systemic effects - poisoning with waste products, gastrointestinal dysfunction, allergies, anemia.
Common signs of the presence of helminths
Symptoms depend on the type, location, and amount of the parasite in the body. The basis of the clinical picture is the immune response to an infection with a parasitic infection and damage to individual organs.
Digestive problems
Disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract are mainly caused by parasitic worms located in the small intestine. Your waste products cause an allergic reaction in the body that narrows the biliary tract. As a result, there are complaints about:
- Indigestion;
- Bloating;
- acid regurgitation;
- bad appetite.
More than 80% of patients suffer from constipation, diarrhea and gas.
stomach pain
Abdominal pain and a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen are clear signs of parasites in the body. They irritate the receptors of the gastrointestinal lining, which leads to a spastic contraction of the smooth muscles. As a result, abdominal pain occurs.
When parasite flukes act as provocateurs of an invasive disease, abdominal discomfort occurs due to their introduction into the intestinal wall.
Anal itching
Periodic itching in the anal area and painful bowel movements are the first signs of parasites in the body. The symptoms are mainly caused by pinworms, less often by Ascaris. The former lays eggs in the anus, causing severe itching.
The lifespan of pinworms is only 1. 5 months. Parasite eggs have a protective cover so that they cannot be destroyed by external factors.
Failure to observe hygiene leads to self-infection, an increase in the number of worms in the body.
Change in body weight
An increase or decrease in body weight is a clear sign that there are parasites in the body. Weight fluctuations are the result of:
- increased or decreased appetite due to poisoning;
- Metabolic disorders;
- Intestinal dysbiosis.
In half of the cases, the patients complain of a constant feeling of hunger. However, when the parasites are localized in the small intestine, more than 70% of the nutrients do not get into the bloodstream.
Blood in the stool
Signs of parasite infestation depend on the causative agent of the invasive disease. The presence of blood and mucus in the stool indicates damage to the bowel:
- human roundworm;
- wide band;
- Pinworms.
Parasites invade the body and cause intestinal irritation. Inflammation of the walls causes bleeding and mixing of blood with feces.
Skin changes
Allergic reactions are the most pronounced signs of parasites in the human body. According to statistics, massive invasions lead to toxic-allergic changes in 92% of patients:
- itchy skin;
- Abscesses;
- Red stain;
- Yellowing;
- Peeling;
- dry skin.
The yellowing of the skin indicates stagnation of bile in the body, an increase in the activity of liver enzymes.
Decreased immunity
Helminthiasis in adults is associated with dysbiosis. More than 75% of the immune tissue is located in the gastrointestinal tract, so that the parasitic disease leads to secondary immune defects. A decrease in the body's resistance to infection is indicated by:
- frequent colds;
- Long-term healing of cuts and abrasions;
- regular exacerbations of chronic pathologies.
Parasites exhaust the body's own protective reserves, which reduces the production of antibodies against viruses, fungi and bacteria.
allergy
Worms poison the body with the products of their vital activity. Poisoning leads to autoimmune diseases that manifest themselves in allergic effects:
- itchy skin;
- Bronchospasm;
- Rash on the body.
The most pronounced toxic-allergic reactions are caused by roundworms, trichinae and echinococci.
Joint and muscle pain
Myalgia and arthralgia - pain in muscles and joints - are signs of the presence of parasites in the human body. In the migration stage, helminth larvae are carried by the bloodstream. Many of them settle in the synovial fluid and muscles and cause painful sensations.
Palpitations
Parasite toxins negatively affect the functioning of the cardiovascular system. Massive helminthic invasions cause:
- Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat);
- Hypertension.
Dangerous complications are caused by representatives of tapeworms - Echinococcus. They form echinococcal cysts not only in the heart but also in the lungs.
Hair loss
Impaired absorption of substances from the intestine leads to a lack of many vitamins and metabolic disorders. Therefore, the frequent companions of parasitic diseases are:
- dull hair;
- excess oily scalp;
- Alopecia (hair loss).
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies lead to relapses of oily seborrhea, which in many cases leads to irreversible hair loss.
Change taste preferences
A violation of the perception of taste (dysgeusia), when the body is affected by parasites, is due to a change in the protein composition of the blood, hypovitaminosis.
What are the signs of dysgeusia:
- unpleasant taste in the mouth;
- Cravings for sweets;
- Dullness of taste;
- Burning in the mouth.
Taste disorders are often linked to gastrointestinal disorders caused by parasitic worms.
Chronic fatigue
Metabolic disorders, lack of vitamins and other useful components lead to a decrease in the body's energy reserves, disorders in the liver. Therefore, patients with invasive diseases complain of:
- rapid fatigue;
- constant drowsiness;
- Absent-mindedness;
- Lethargy.
The feeling of tiredness does not go away even after a long break or a long sleep.
Avitaminosis
Avitaminosis is the lack of vitamins in the body. It occurs when parasites are localized in the small intestine. Symptoms depend on which vitamin is missing. Often patients complain about:
- Dizziness;
- decreased visual acuity;
- frequent nausea;
- A headache;
- Deterioration of the skin.
Long-term vitamin deficiencies are dangerous due to the dysfunction of vital organs.
anemia
Anemia or anemia - a decrease in the concentration of hemoglobin in blood cells. When the body is damaged by parasites, there is a deficiency of vitamins that are involved in the synthesis of hemoglobin and erythrocytes:
- Folic acid;
- Cyanocobalamin;
- Vitamin C.
Anemia with helminthiasis manifests itself in shortness of breath, headache, loss of appetite, and tinnitus.
Nervousness, sleep disorder
Infection with parasites in humans manifests itself in poisoning, which has a negative effect on the functioning of the nervous system. Then there are complaints about:
- a sharp change in mood;
- Anger;
- depressed state;
- Sleep disorder.
Emotional lability against the background of hypovitaminosis and anemia is a clear sign of damage to the body from parasitic worms.
Deterioration in memory and attention
Cognitive impairments - a decrease in intellectual abilities, memory and attention - occur against the background of chronic intoxication of the body with the products of the vital activity of parasites. Helminthiases cause disorders in the work of many organs, as a result of which the nervous system and brain tissues suffer. However, in 94% of cases, cognitive disorders are reversible.
to cough
A dry cough with no accompanying symptoms of ENT disease is one of the signs of a parasite infection. In 8 out of 10 cases, an unproductive cough is triggered by:
- human roundworm;
- Lung accident.
During the migration phase, the larvae of the worms invade the lungs. When coughing, roundworms get into the oral cavity, after which they are swallowed and deposited in the intestines.
Other signs
Additional symptoms of an invasive illness include:
- increased body temperature;
- Enlargement of the liver;
- bad breath;
- Obstructive jaundice;
- yellow coating on the tongue;
- Bronchospasm;
- Isolation of fragments of worms with feces;
- restless sleep;
- Chest pain;
- increased gas formation;
- Vaginitis in women;
- Pain in the right side.
If the brain is damaged, neuroses and mental disorders are possible.
Symptoms of infection with other types of parasites
The clinical picture depends on the causative agent of the parasitic disease.
| Form of disease | Symptoms |
| Giardiasis | Nausea, belching, itching, gas, fever |
| Pediculosis | Itching of the scalp, burning sensation in the lice bite, red spots and nodules on the head, insomnia, nits in the hair |
| Mycosis | Peeling of the skin, nail damage, sour odor, thickening of the epidermis, cracks |
| Amebiasis | Abdominal pain, choking, bloody stools, loss of appetite. |
There are many signs of invasive lesions on the body. To rule out complications, it is recommended to have a blood test for parasites at least once a year.
Why is untreated parasitic infestation dangerous?
Parasitic infections have a systemic effect on the body and disrupt the functions of all organs. Delayed treatment leads to:
- Intestinal obstruction;
- Pancreatitis;
- Prolapse of the rectum;
- Lymphadenitis;
- Myocarditis;
- Bronchopneumonia;
- Cholecystitis;
- Endometritis;
- Pleurisy;
- Gastric ulcer;
- Meningoencephalitis;
- Heart defect;
- purulent peritonitis.
In the case of chronic diseases, parasites make their course more difficult. Ignoring invasive diseases is dangerous in the case of disability and even death.
Diagnosis and treatment
Laboratory tests are used to identify parasites:
- Cockroaches for enterobiasis;
- Coprogram;
- Analysis of feces on egg leaves;
- Enzyme immunoassay for antibodies against parasites.
With intestinal invasions, instrumental examination is recommended - ultrasound of the peritoneal organs, colonoscopy and liver scintigraphy.
The effectiveness of anthelmintic therapy is determined based on the results of repeated diagnostics carried out 1 month after treatment.
Depending on the results of the diagnosis, antiparasitic drugs are prescribed:
- antinematodic;
- against trematodes;
- protivocestodozny;
- Broad spectrum anthelmintics;
- Antifungal agent;
- Anti-lice;
- Remedies for scabies mites.
Parasitic cysts (such as echinococcal cysts) are surgically removed.
Clinical manifestations and methods of treatment for parasitic diseases depend on the type of pathogen. Parasites enter the body through natural openings - the mouth, skin pores, urethra, etc. Timely diagnosis and therapy of invasive pathologies prevents complications - meningitis, ulcer disease, myocarditis.