Symptoms indicating the presence of parasites in the human body are non-specific.In addition, they differ in the acute and chronic stages of the disease.How to recognize them?
The invasion of parasites into the human body has always been and remains one of the most urgent problems in medicine.Despite the fact that the level of health culture of the population is constantly increasing, the number of people suffering from the presence of parasites in the body does not decrease.In addition, due to the development of transport links and population migration, new types of parasites that were previously missing are constantly appearing.Accordingly, new symptoms appear that indicate the presence of helminths in the human body.In addition, parasites living in the child's body require special attention.Let's try to figure out when to pay attention to your health and consult a specialist.
Classification of parasites
There are many species of parasites in the world, but not all of them have adapted to live in our climate.Therefore, in this article we consider only the classification and symptoms of the most common parasites.Scientists divide the worms that parasitize the human body into several groups.
According to their biological characteristics, parasites are divided as follows:
- Roundworms or nematodes (needleworms, roundworms, whipworms, hookworms, roundworms, trichinella).
- Tapeworms, or cestodes (pig tapeworm, cattle tapeworm, dwarf tapeworm, cysticercus, broad tapeworm, alveococcus, echinococcus).
- Flukes (liver, lung, cat, spear, blood).
- Unicellular parasites (amoeba, lamblia, balantidium).
According to the characteristics of their life cycle, there are the following parasites:
- Biohelminths require intermediate hosts to pass through the various stages of development.The sexually mature, reproductively capable individual lives in the definitive host.
- Geohelminths - the eggs mature and spread in the soil.
- Infectious helminths are spread directly from person to person.
Based on the habitat in the body, it can be divided as follows:
- Cavity - parasitizes in intestines and other hollow organs, such as bile ducts and bladder.
- Tissue - parasitizes in parenchymal internal organs and muscles, i.e. outside the intestine.
Clinical picture of helminthiasis
What are the signs to look out for?Traditionally, the course of helminthiasis can be divided into two stages - acute and chronic.The acute phase develops immediately after the parasite "settles" in the human body and lasts from two weeks to two months.
Acute phase
The symptoms of this phase arise from the body's general reaction to the intrusion of foreign proteins, i.e. allergic mechanisms.The following syndromes are highlighted:
- poisoning;
- articular;
- dermatological;
- catarrhal;
- bronchopulmonary;
- hepatolienal;
- abdominal;
- cerebral.
The intoxication syndrome is characterized by increased body temperature, chills, sweating, general weakness and muscle pain.The child may experience anxiety, crying for no reason, and poor sleep.Enlargement of peripheral lymph nodes is common.
Due to the non-specificity of the symptoms, patients do not rush to consult a doctor, since the set of symptoms is the initial phase of ARVI.But even if parents ask for advice because their child has a high temperature, not all pediatricians suspect the presence of parasites in the body at this stage.
Joint damage occurs as a type of reactive arthritis, as proteins with a structure similar to those of parasites are present in the human body.The antibodies produced in response to the penetration of the pathogen affect not only it, but also tissues with a similar structure.Patients complain of severe joint pain, swelling, redness and increased local body temperature.
Skin changes occur as allergic dermatitis and are characterized by itching and the appearance of various rashes.In some patients, the rash is very pronounced, but others do not notice its presence.
The catarrhal syndrome is accompanied by a runny nose, conjunctivitis and sore throat.Bronchopulmonary symptoms include a prolonged cough with sputum production, attacks of bronchial asthma, the clinical picture of pneumonia and pleurisy.
In almost all types of helminths, the liver and spleen are enlarged.But these organs pay special attention when Giardia, Echinococcus and liver fluke settle in the human body.Patients then complain of:
- bitterness in the mouth;
- pain and heaviness in the right hypochondrium;
- yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes.
Abdominal syndrome can be very pronounced in a child of preschool or primary school age.Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain are observed.These symptoms are often the cause of misdiagnosis when helminthiasis is considered acute intestinal poisoning.
Cerebral manifestations are mild and include headache, dizziness, and reduced performance.
The severity of the above symptoms can be different in adult patients and children.It depends on the strength of the immune system.In addition, the severity of the immune response depends on the morphological form of the parasite present in the body.The largest amount of antibodies is synthesized in response to the penetration of the larvae.
Over time, the strength of the immune response weakens and the disease becomes chronic.In this case, it can last for years, since the symptoms are mild and many people simply do not pay attention to them.
Chronic phase
In this phase, the symptoms, and more specifically their severity, are largely determined by the following factors:
- the type of parasites that entered the body;
- number of parasitic individuals;
- the location of parasites in the body of an adult or child.
If the intestinal worm is "armed" with suction cups, hooks, spikes or cutting plates, they mechanically damage the localization site, causing inflammation.
Volumetric formations formed as a result of the vital activity of helminths can compress neighboring structures.Moreover, if it is a vital organ such as the brain, the consequences can be catastrophic.
Since the parasite feeds on substances intended for the host, anemia, hypovitaminosis and protein deficiency develop in the latter.
In order to survive in the human body, parasites severely suppress the immune system.As a result, susceptibility to viral and bacterial diseases increases;they tend to have a severe, prolonged course, the development of complications, the development of chronic forms and asymptomatic carriage.
Features of some helminthiasis
Some helminthiasis have characteristic symptoms that make it possible to distinguish it from other diseases.
- In a child with enterobiasis, the anus itches in the evening and at night.
- Massive whipworm infection causes hemorrhagic colitis.
- Roundworms can cause intestinal obstruction, obstructive jaundice and pancreatitis.
- The hookworm, which feeds on the host's blood, is the cause of severe iron-deficiency anemia.
- The presence of tapeworms can be diagnosed based on a very specific complaint - the independent passage of parasitic segments or during defecation.
- A characteristic of urinary tract schistosome living in the human body is that a drop of blood appears at the end of urination.
- Fillariasis affects the eyes.
Due to the presence of liver fluke, the patient suffers from chronic hepatitis, cholecystitis and cholangitis.Such patients complain of pain and heaviness in the right hypochondrium, bitterness in the mouth, yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes.The same complaints are typical for giardiasis.Even after successful treatment, phenomena such as biliary dyskinesia often remain.
Echinococci, alveococci, and cysticerci do not show their presence in any way until a cyst is formed in the affected organ.Sometimes it can reach quite large sizes and is usually diagnosed by chance.Cysticercosis of the central nervous system is characterized by various symptoms due to the location of the cysts.
Conclusion
As can be seen from the above, the clinical picture of the presence of worms is very diverse.They can easily be confused with other diseases, especially if the patient observes the basic rules of personal hygiene in everyday life.If you notice suspicious symptoms that have no explanation, don't delay seeing a doctor.Competent consultation will help you avoid many troubles in the future.