Parasitism as a form of existence has arisen on earth for a long time, starting from ancient protozoa and unicellular microorganisms.Humanity is faced with various parasites since the beginning of its existence, but during the millennia of coexistence, the parasites have not become "smarter" and more perfect for their ancestors.Parasites can cause irreparable health damage, up to the development of serious disabilities or death.But at the mention of the word "parasite", everyone thinks substantially of worms, although this term is much wider.We will discuss parasites in more detailed way.
Parasites: who are they?
Parasites are single -celled or multicellular organisms that live on the body of their owner or inside (in the body's cavities or cells).They are usually much smaller than the predatory fauna representatives, they have the ability to multiply and survive in serious conditions.They eat at the expense of their owner, causing damage.With this, they differ from the symbipons: the organisms that live within their owner and benefit him.
Many of the parasites, in addition to the damage themselves, are also able to transmit dangerous diseases.Examples are mosquitoes that transport malaria and ticks that transport encephalitis and borreliosis with ticks.
The dimensions of the parasites differ significantly - from the microscopic, which can only be seen under a microscope, to the worms, reaching a length up to 10 m or more.Parasites use various resources of the owner: they are carbohydrates or proteins, fats, as well as minerals or vitamins to grow and develop.In the human body, the parasite can pass one or all the phases of the life cycle - intermediate or final.The manifestations of the infect will depend on this.
Most parasites have microscopic dimensions, they are difficult to detect.But some types of parasitic worms can form cysts of size in the child's head or reach a length of several meters.
Variety of parasitism
Different types of parasitism are distinguished.Depend on the parasitic habitat in the human body:
Endoparasiti.They live within the body of the owners, the typical representatives are eliminates (or worms).They can live in the intestine, the cavities of the body.Intracellular or intercellular parasites affect some body tissues respectively.These include bacteria, mushrooms, viruses and protozoa.
To spread endoparasites, special conditions and sometimes vectors are needed.Organisms that lead them to their constant habitats.For example, for malaria a vector will be a mosquito.
Esoparasiti.These organisms live on the surface of the owner's body, eating its biological media for bites.Typical representatives are lice, fleas, mosquitoes, ticks.
Epiparasiti.They parasitize on other parasites forming super-patraxitism.Therefore, the fleas that feed on the blood of animals or humans have protozoa in the intestine - parasites that already live in the body of the insects themselves.
Types of human parasites
Although viruses, mushrooms and bacteria also damage a person in his body, they are considered separately as pathogens of infectious diseases.The real parasites of people include:
Protozoa.These are single -celled organisms that can only share the owners inside the body.Examples are a love of dysentery, a malaria plasmodium or clamidia.
Elmininti.These are parasites of different types: plate, ribbon, round and others.
Parasite insects.This group includes lice, fleas, ticks, mosquitoes.
How does a parasitic infection manifest?
One of the unpleasant facts is that not all parasitic infections have typical symptoms.So, if the bites and lice of insects are relatively simple, it is not always possible to determine the presence of worms or protozoa without special analyzes.Sometimes the events resemble bronchitis or pneumonia, hormonal imbalance, allergies or food poisoning.Some parasites, padded in the intestine or in the abdominal cavity, cause abdominal pain, hypovitaminosis or cholecystitis.Among the most typical symptoms, experts distinguish:
- Skin eruptions on skin, spots, bubbles, itching or bruises.
- Increase appetite or its suppression, weight loss.
- Diarrhea and vomiting, various types of abdominal pain.
- Anemia (decrease in the level of hemoglobin or red blood cells).
- Sleep disorders - insomnia or severe sleepiness.
- Pain of joints, muscles, skin.
- Allergic reactions that did not exist before.
- Malaise general, weakness, irritability.
- Periodic temperatures up to high numbers or constant subfebral fever.
However, these same manifestations are typical for many other non -parasitic diseases, therefore, diagnosis can confirm the detection of the parasite itself, its eggs or antibodies in the blood.
Important!Often there have been no symptoms for a long time, they can occur after stress or infection, with the propagation of parasites to "critical mass".In the meantime, many parasitic diseases are contagious and a person, without suspecting it, infected the others.This is particularly probable if the elementary rules of hygiene neglects.
How do parasites spread?
Depending on the type of parasite, the paths of its diffusion may vary.The transmission of the simplest, who lives in a person's intestine, to another person, as a rule, occurs fecal-orale path (for example, through infected food or water), with close contacts from humans to a person.The simplest, who lives in the blood or fabrics of people, are transmitted to other people through insects (for example, through a mosquito bite or a sandy fly).
Many Elmininti in adulthood cannot multiply in people.People can be final masters - adults live in them or intermediate ones - the larvae live in them.Eggs or larvae are transmitted by dirty hands, infected food or water, dust particles raised in the air.In addition, parasites can fall with infected fish, meat and a bird in which the larvae spreads.
Ectoparasites - Lice and Scabbia, are transmitted by contact and close contacts with infected children or adults.Arthropods are important not only as provocateurs of diseases in themselves, but even more important as bearers of serious diseases: malaria, Erutto -zecca cheering, encephalitis based on ticks, etc.
Parasitic infections cause a huge number of diseases both in the tropics and in the subtropics, 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 every year from malaria, most of whom are small children.
How to identify parasites?
Of course, if they are publishing or head lice, scabies or Pinworms that parents find in the child's pot: the diagnosis is already clear, you just have to be treated.But most parasites must first be identified, determine exactly who it is and only then to select a treatment that will be effective and safe.
Today various types of laboratory tests are available for diagnosis of parasitic diseases.The type of study that will be prescribed by the attending physician depends on the symptoms and complaints, on any other disease you can have and your history of travel abroad or throughout the country.The diagnosis can be complicated, so the doctor may prescribe not only tests, but also additional procedures.A list of some tests used by frequently that a doctor can be prescribed during the diagnosis of parasites:
Study of the feces for detecting parasites or their eggs.The analysis is used to identify parasites that cause diarrhea, liquid or watery stools, stomach cramps, flatulence and other diseases of the abdominal cavity.It is recommended to explore three or more samples of stools collected in a few days.
Blood tests for antibodies to parasites, Urine tests, blood crops and other tests depending on the alleged diagnosis.Some, but not all of them, can be found parasitic infections when analyzing blood.However, in this case, the blood will be examined for a specific parasite infection;There is no blood test that will determine all parasitic infections.The doctor may prescribe two main types of blood tests:
Serology.This test is used to search for antibodies or parasites antigens that are produced when the body is infected with a parasite and the immune system tries to fight invaders.
Sangimi of blood.This test is used to identify the parasites found in the blood.Looking at a strip of blood under the microscope, it is possible to diagnose parasitic diseases, such as Friliasi, malaria or babysitious.This test is performed by positioning drops of blood on the glass of the subject of a microscope.Then the glass of the object is painted and examined under the microscope.
In addition to the tests, the doctor may prescribe other studies.Endoscopy is used to detect parasites that cause diarrhea, liquid or aqueous feces, abdominal cramps, flatulence and other symptoms from the abdominal cavity.It is used when the stool study does not reveal the cause of the diarrhea.During the procedure in the mouth (endoscopy) or right (colonoscopy), a tube is introduced with a camera and a backlight so that the doctor can examine the intestine.This test is looking for parasites or other anomalies that can cause unpleasant symptoms.
X -ray images, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), calculated axial tomography (KAT).These tests are used to look for some parasitic diseases that can cause organs.
How to be treated?
When accurate diagnosis is known, it is already easier to choose the treatment.Almost all parasitic diseases are treated today.However, the treatment of elmintiasis is multi -stage and will take time from the patient.
In the first phase, the body should be prepared and clean by accumulated toxins.The patient are prescribed absorbent.The cleaning of the toxins's body lasts at least five days.
In the second phase, the antielminic agents are prescribed to the patient.It is better if the drug is selected individually for a certain type of parasite.The treatment is carried out in two courses.The first course will kill Elmininti's adults in the human body.After 10-14 days, adult worms will be replaced by new ones who foil from strata eggs.The second course will kill new individuals.
In the third phase, the digestive tract, the liver and the immune system are restored.The patient is prescribed an absorbent course and after taking drugs that help in the digestive tract.The polyvitamins are added simultaneously.
Sometimes the disease can be launched or has a special form, which requires surgery.So, for example, in the presence of echinococcal cysts in the liver, kidneys or lungs, only their removal will help.
The entire course of treatment, drugs and other procedures is selected by the doctor, based on the diagnosis, age and weight of the patient.