Human infections caused by parasites are more common than they seem at first glance. They can cause serious health complications in both adults and children. There are several types of infections, depending on their size and whether the parasites are in a person's blood or on the surface of the body.
Typical symptoms of a parasitic infection in the human body
The human body may contain microparasites (malaria) that can only be seen under a microscope.
The next group are macroparasites - round and flatworms (nematodes, tapeworms, etc. ), which in the body of an infected person can often reach enormous sizes.
The presence of parasites in the body is not limited to the intestines, they often affect the lungs, liver, muscles, brain, blood, skin and even the eyes.
The symptoms of the presence of parasites in the human body depend on the type of parasite itself and its toxic waste:
- chronic diarrhea caused by poor digestion;
- chronic constipation, flatulence and bloating (especially after eating) or other digestive problems, including heartburn, abdominal pain and cramps, mucus or blood in the stool, intestinal problems, etc.
- puffy eyes and dark circles;
- fever;
- Pancreatitis;
- nausea, loss of energy, lethargy and depression;
- chills, weakness.
Parasites and skin
Symptoms of infection with parasites on the skin include mostly itching. Inflammation of the tissue increases the number of white blood cells that protect the body.
This reaction often causes skin irritation. The person may even develop food allergies.
Parasites release toxins and the skin, which is the largest organ, tries to get rid of them. As a result, various skin problems occur.
Signs of parasite infestation include:
- dry skin and hair;
- hair loss;
- allergies and allergic reactions to food;
- itching in the nose, skin or anus;
- eczema, stomatitis;
- swelling;
- feeling of "creeping under the skin";
- jaundice.
Parasites and the nervous system
Toxins secreted by parasites in humans can affect the central nervous system. Insecurity and nervousness are often caused by the presence of unwanted organisms in our bodies.
Signs of parasites in the human body related to the central nervous system:
- rapid and frequent mood swings;
- anger and irritability;
- nervousness;
- depression;
- forgetfulness and disorganized thinking;
- anxiety;
- anxiety;
- retarding reflexes;
- disturbance of attention.
Infection with parasites poisoned the body. The body reacts to them even while resting, because it is at night that the manifestations of parasitic infections are most pronounced.
Infected people often wake up at night, especially between 2: 00 and 3: 00, when the liver tries to expel toxins from the body.
This causes the following signs of parasites in the human body:
- insomnia and sleep disorders;
- grinding teeth during sleep;
- night sweats and increased salivation.
Signs of parasites in the body are often not diagnosed for a long time, "pests" can live a long time in the body of its host unnoticed, consuming essential nutrients derived from food.
Parasites in the body often make a person eat a lot. However, the infected person cannot gain weight.
Other symptoms of a physical infection
Parasites can move to almost any soft tissue, including joints and muscles, where they form cysts and inflammation. These symptoms of parasites in the body are often mistakenly called arthritis or muscle pain.
Parasitic toxins also often accumulate in joints and muscles, forming muscle cramps and pain, joint pain, abdominal pain, chest pain, rheumatic pain and increased heart rate. What symptoms appear depends on the affected system or organ.
Parasites are often also responsible for problems with the urinary and excretory systems. After inhalation, their larvae "wander" through the respiratory system, causing the following symptoms:
- acute bronchitis;
- asthma;
- pneumonia;
- cough;
- sensation of a foreign body in the throat;
- difficulty swallowing;
- bad breath and many others.
The symptoms of parasites in the human body can be quite atypical signs and some types of helminths are very difficult to identify. This is due in particular to the complex diagnosis: it is often necessary to perform sampling of 3-6 stools to eliminate false results. In practice, however, only one negative conclusion is sufficient for the patient's refusal.
Of course, parasites do not hide behind all diseases, but often participate in the appearance of some of them. For example, roundworms manifest in the stomach and gastrointestinal tract through bloating and flatulence. Many of them can lead to intestinal blockages and constipation. Ascaris eggs can be eaten with unwashed vegetables.
Pinworms in the body often cause nausea and diarrhea, they easily penetrate the intestinal wall into the vascular system, can lead to:
- hemorrhoids;
- excretion in women;
- inflammation of the bladder;
- bile duct obstruction.
Parasitic infections are often at the root of health problems such as tissue damage (as a result, weakened areas are more easily attacked by viruses and bacteria).
Dizziness and parasites
In the presence of parasites in the human body, symptoms and treatment are closely related. This applies, for example, to vertigo (vertigo). Our ancestors have already noticed the connection between flukes and vertigo. All flukes (there are several types) reduce metabolism, clog the bile ducts, impair liver function and increase cholesterol levels.
Even the largest human parasite, tapeworm, is relatively common. Infection occurs more frequently in fishing areas. The source is freshwater fish - marinated or smoked.
Tapeworms in dogs and cats, although not common in humans, are no exception.
What can parasites cause in the body?
They are able to provoke the development of a number of serious diseases; however, their role in causing such diseases is often overlooked.
- Parkinson's disease can be caused by a combination of several main parasites: Trichomonas vaginalis (Trichomonada vaginalis), with blood entering the brain, Treponema pallidum, often congenital, nocardia (Nocardia asteroids), echinococcal tapeworm and other parasites.
- The larvae of the parasites migrate to the larynx and pharynx, easily accumulate on the thyroid gland and cause an autoimmune process (characteristic of multiple sclerosis). Multiple sclerosis is caused by dysenteric amoeba (Entamoeba histolytica), echinococci (Echinococcus multilocularis), Borrelia, sometimes gonococci or meningococci, etc.
- The situation is similar with ankylosing spondylitis, which is often caused by echinococci and tapeworms that have penetrated the spinal canal and suppressed peripheral nerves.
- Epilepsy and dizziness. The cause can be large parasites (tapeworm, tapeworm, echinococcal tapeworm) either in the cerebellum or in the inner ear. Bacterial stress is often present.
The cysts of some parasites have a multilayered protective shell, which makes them practically indestructible. The live larva can survive for up to 30 years (Trichinella). Various lumps under the skin can form worms, Trichinella, echinococcus tapeworm.
How to remove parasites from the body?
To remove parasites from the human body, it is first important to cleanse the entire digestive system. A clean, well-muscled gut is not a good place for intestinal parasites.
Step 1. In terms of bowel cleansing, medicinal herbs play an important role. The most effective are the following:
- camomile;
- tansy;
- yarrow;
- oak bark;
- immortal;
- garden brush;
- buckthorn bark.
Consuming onions and garlic is a good method. Pumpkin seeds can also treat parasitic infections.
If you cannot overcome the problem on your own, you should contact a specialist who will prescribe anthelmintics.
Important! When treated, a course of treatment should be completed by all family members and animals living in the same house to avoid re-infection.
Step 2. Increasing fiber intake speeds up the time it takes for undigested food to avoid sedimentation - this reduces the quality of the soil for colonization of parasites.
Step 3. Prevention of vitamin deficiency. Adequate intake of vitamins, minerals and nutrients is essential to fight parasitic infection.
Step 4. Identify the source of infection and prevent infection:
- it is important to avoid contact with known sources of infection, such as rodent feces, cat feces, contact with dogs is inappropriate;
- you must be careful when drinking water and / or swimming in water whose quality is unknown;
- to prevent bites from blood-sucking insects that can carry parasites, you should wear protective clothing;
- Before eating, you should wash all fruits and vegetables in clean water - this will also help avoid infection;
- water from potentially contaminated sources should not be used for watering vegetables.
Children are particularly susceptible to parasitic attack; worms are often present in large quantities in children's bodies. That is why it is obligatory to teach them good hygiene - washing hands after using the toilet, playing outside and before eating.
Precautions
Infection can occur through linen in the same laundry basket, bed linen, towel, household items such as toys, cutlery, glasses and, of course, animals (parasites lay invisible eggs on their fur).
It is important to wash the bed and linen often in water with a temperature of at least 60 ° C, as well as all clothing that comes into contact with intimate parts of the body. During deworming, these items must be washed daily and separately from other clothes.
It is also recommended to sleep in panties to avoid inadvertently scratching the anus at night, when the parasites are most active and lay eggs.
Do not allow pets to sit on your bed, sofa, pillows or blankets.
Sinks and toilets should be cleaned frequently with alcohol, as many parasitic eggs are resistant to the pH of detergents and soaps.