Parasitic diseases in humans (from the Greek parasitos - "parasite") are a large group of diseases from the section "infectious diseases", the cause of which are unicellular and multicellular parasites.
A parasite is a living organism that lives or resides in the host's body and receives nourishment from or at the host's expense, i. H. leads a parasitic lifestyle. Everyone knows how to live in the human body, some completely imperceptibly, some can cause serious damage to health.
Causative agents of parasitic diseases
There are three main classes of parasites that can cause disease in humans:
Protozoa are microscopic unicellular organisms that can be free-living or parasitic. They can reproduce in humans, which contributes to their survival and also enables severe infections from just one organism.
Helminths (from the Greek helmines - "worms") are large multicellular organisms that are normally visible to the naked eye in the adult stage. Like protozoa, helminths can be either free-living or parasitic. In their adult form, helminths cannot multiply in humans.
Ectoparasites: This term is usually used more narrowly to refer to organisms such as ticks, fleas and lice that attach or hide on the skin and remain there for a long period of time (weeks to months). Arthropods can cause infection on their own. and can transmit other diseases.
List of parasitic infections: amebiasis, ascariasis, hymenolepiasis, diphyllobothriasis, clonorchiasis, cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis, malaria (imported cases), opisthorchiasis, teniarin pants, teniasis, toxocariosis, toxoplasmosis, trichintozephalosis, cytocytes.
Signs of parasitic diseases.
Their manifestations can be different and depend on the type and location of the parasite, as well as the immunity of the person who is its host.
Protozoa most commonly cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Helminth infections can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, muscle pain, cough, skin lesions, malnutrition, weight loss, impaired movement and speech coordination, seizures, and many other symptoms, depending on the person and the severity of the infection.
Diagnosis and treatment of parasitic diseases
Diagnosing parasitic diseases includes:
- Clinical blood test.
- Blood test for specific antibodies and parasite antigens.
- Blood smear.
- Analysis of feces on eggs from worms and parasites.
- Endoscopic examination methods (e. g. colonoscopy for complex diagnostics).
- X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) for severe damage to internal organs by parasites.
The treatment plan is based on the specific diagnosis: Medicines are usually prescribed in tablet form, sometimes inpatient treatment is required, including surgery.
Other treatments may also be recommended to relieve your symptoms (diet, water intake).
Parasitic Disease Prevention
Prevention is always easier than cure, and there are simple ways to protect yourself.
Do not eat:
- raw fish, crabs and shellfish;
- undercooked meat;
- raw aquatic plants;
- raw vegetables that may be contaminated with human or animal feces.
Parasites can live in natural water sources, so when swimming:
- do not swallow water;
- prevent babies from defecating in the water, taking babies to the toilet and checking diapers every hour, changing diapers in the bathroom or in the changing area instead of at the pool to prevent germs from entering the pool;
- do not swim or let children swim if they have diarrhea;
- do your mini-inspection (contamination);
- Shower at least 1 minute before submerging in water.
Pets can carry parasites and transmit them to humans. Zoonosis is a disease that spreads between animals and humans. Sometimes people with zoonotic infections have no symptoms. Other people can have symptoms such as diarrhea, muscle pain, and a fever.
Regular veterinary care will keep your pet and family safe. There are simple steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from animal-borne diseases. Make sure your pet is looked after by a veterinarian.
Practice the four rules:
- Collect animal excrement quickly and dispose of it properly. Be sure to wash your hands after handling household waste.
- Wash your hands frequently, especially after touching animals, and avoid contact with animal feces.
- Follow proper food handling procedures to reduce the risk of contamination with contaminated food.
- Particular care should be taken when handling animals that can transmit these infections in people with weakened immune systems.