Parasites are round and flat, less commonly annelids and spiny-headed worms, fly and mosquito larvae. Once penetrating the human body, they gradually spread through it, damaging tissues and organs. Most of them are able to parasitize in the human eye, provoking the development of ophthalmic helminthiasis.
Clinically, these serious conditions present with pain, burning, itching, blurred vision, and tearing. Surgical and / or conservative treatment is performed immediately after diagnosis.
Parasitic diseases of the eyes
There are more than 50 causes of ophthalmic helminthiasis in humans. Some penetrate directly through the mucosa, damaging the conjunctiva or tear ducts. Others infect the eyeball from the inside, moving in with blood flow from the intestines or liver. Parasites begin to actively grow and multiply, laying eggs, leading to partial or complete loss of vision.
The most commonly diagnosed ophthalmic helminthiasis:
- onchocerciasis- helminthiasis caused by the parasitism of Onchocerca nematodes (onchocercias) in the human body. A specific symptom is the "turbidity" of the cornea of the eye;
- ophthalmomyasisis a parasitic disease of the eye and its attachments that occurs when larvae of flies or birds enter. In severe cases of myiasis, retinal detachment or optic nerve atrophy is possible;
- dirofilariasis- helminthiasis, which develops when the nematode larvae enter the eyeball. The movement of the worms causes a burning sensation, severe pain, and itching;
- sparganosisis a human disease belonging to the cestodosis group caused by larvae of tapeworms of the genus Spirometra. The infection occurs mainly when consuming meat from wild animals;
- toxocariasisis a chronic infectious disease caused by larvae of the toxocara globular worm. The source of infection is a sick animal (usually a dog);
- toxoplasmosisis a chronic parasite invasion caused by intracellular protozoa (toxoplasma). Their vital activity is accompanied by the constant release of allergens and toxins;
- coenurosisis a predominantly chronic disease that occurs after infection with helminths from the cestodose group of Taenia multiceps species. A person becomes infected through contact with dogs;
- cysticercosis- a disease caused by the larvae of a porcine tapeworm that can lead to decreased vision and blindness;
- Gnatostomosis- The disease causes severe pain and often leads to death. Worms that cause this disease affect the skin more often, the central nervous system, and the eyes less often;
- eye echinococcosisis a fairly common disease. It is characterized by the formation of parasitic cysts in the orbital zone. Echinococcosis is caused by ingesting parasitic eggs with food or water.
- Eye demodicosiscaused by activation of mites living in the sebaceous glands of the lashes.
- trichinosisis a parasitic pathology that develops after the introduction of Trichinella spirali nematodes into the human body.
It is not sexually mature individuals and larvae that are dangerous to the eye, but the toxins they emit. They cause swelling of the eyelids and redness of the mucous membranes.
Parasitic symptoms of the eye
Every helminth invasion has its own specific symptoms. But there are also many common signs of damage to the mucous membranes and deeper eye structures.
Typical manifestations of conjunctivitis occur in the early stages of pathology:
- the outer shell of the eyeball;
- increased tearing;
- photophobia;
- swelling of the upper and lower eyelids;
- pain, itching, burning sensation;
- headache is localized in the temples and in the back of the head;
- Slight increase in local temperature.
Young children and weak people have symptoms of general body poisoning. Temperatures rise above subfebrile values (37, 1-38, 0 ° C), appetite decreases due to seizures and nausea.
Unlike many infections caused by viruses, bacteria, and fungi, the course of helminthic invasion is accompanied by signs of damage to other organs. These include migrating muscle aches, dry skin, retarded hair growth, and indigestion.
How to get rid of parasites in your eyes
Diptera larvae, protozoa, ticks and other pathogens of parasitic diseases can quickly destroy the structure of the eye. Therefore, treatment is performed immediately after diagnosis. In selecting therapeutic tactics, physicians will consider the type of infectious agents, the severity of the course of the disease, and the severity of the symptoms.
When an infected person turns to doctors with advanced helminthic invasion, conservative treatment often does not work.
Parasitic worms should be surgically removed - by opening and emptying the abscesses according to generally accepted rules.
This is followed by a long rehabilitation period with the use of anthelmintic drugs.
Folk remedies
Long-term use of strong, modern anthelmintic drugs is also often ineffective for such diseases. Urgent surgical removal of larvae, ova, and mature individuals is required.
And traditional medicine is completely weak when the eyes are affected by helminth patterns. Neither tansy, nor centaury, nor bitter wormwood can cope with seminvasion.
The use of decoctions and infusions relieves symptoms slightly, so the patient delays the visit to the doctor. Meanwhile, inflammatory and destructive processes intensify and spread in your eyeball. They are prone to detachment of the retina, complete or partial blindness.
Medications
Different treatment regimens have been developed for ophthalmic diseases caused by worms. Individual therapy is performed only by specially trained parasitologists. The fact that intraocular toxic-allergic reactions may develop after the death and degradation of helminth samples. Only an experienced physician can minimize their consequences.
The following drugs are used to kill parasitic worms:
- anti-nematode;
- anti-cestodial;
- antitrematode;
- broad-spectrum drugs.
For external agents, special eye rinsing solutions are used. Antihistamines should be included in the therapeutic regimen and antibiotics and antifungals if necessary.
Preventive measures
Myiasis infection occurs when the mucous membranes of the eyes come in contact with flies, goats, and worms. Therefore, doctors of infectious diseases recommend the use of repellents in the form of aerosols, gels, ointments. Smoke bombs with insecticides are quite deterrent to insects in nature.
But the eggs and larvae of parasitic worms get mainly into the human body through food. Unstable to temperature effects - they die when heated and boiled. There is also a need to wash and store fruit and vegetables from the market well.
Parasitic eye diseases cannot be diagnosed and treated on their own.
They are often disguised as bacterial, viral, fungal infections. And it is only as they progress that their distinguishing marks appear.
A timely visit to the doctor will help save your vision, avoiding its loss.