Parasites in the human body lead to the development of serious diseases.Its harmful effects significantly affect life expectancy.
According to research, almost everyone is a carrier of certain parasites (from the smallest ones, which are only visible under a microscope, to 10-meter-long tapeworms).Unfortunately, parasites don't only live in the intestines.Its habitat includes: the intestinal tract, muscle tissue, heart, blood and even the brain, as well as other vital human organs.
No one, not a single person in the world, is immune to the entry of parasites into their body.Furthermore, the age of the person (whether child or adult) and status (rich, poor, famous, unknown, etc.) does not matter.
types of parasites
For example, there are parasites such as hookworms.During their life cycle, they will surely visit almost all the organs of our body.Why is it like this?Because hookworm larvae, when they enter the soil through feces, remain viable for several weeks.And, if during this time they manage to come into contact with human skin, they will gnaw it and therefore enter the blood vessels.And with the blood flow they will be transferred to the lungs.Once these larvae are in the alveolar capillaries, they enter the alveoli of the lungs to ascend through the respiratory tract.They will then pass into the pharynx and be swallowed.At the same time, throughout the entire journey, they literally bite their way through.To gnaw our lungs, intestines and blood vessels, nature provided them with four teeth that protrude in the shape of a hook.Once it has entered the intestines, hookworm, which feeds on blood, can remain there for up to 14 years, thanks to its gnawing at the intestinal mucosa.According to research, today more than 650 million people around the world suffer from hookworm.
Another parasite, alveococcus (a class of helminths), creates specific formations in the body - Finns.It is a capsule formed by a set of small bubbles, which is called alveococcus finna.In this case the bubbles do not contain liquid.They grow in human tissue by external budding and are similar to a malignant tumor.This disease presents as a malignant formation. Alveococcosis is rare, but mainly affects the liver and brain.The alveococcus nodes reach 15 cm in diameter.This type of helminthiasis is difficult to diagnose.Therefore, the diagnosis in most cases is made at a late stage, when surgical intervention is no longer possible.
All parasites are ruthless and ungrateful.To stay in the "master's house" as long as possible, they resort to using sharp hooks, clothespins, plates - teeth made of chitin (the density resembles a nail) or wire-hard hairs (whipworms).These unique devices constantly damage the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, load the liver with waste and take away food from a person, which reduces immunity and inhibits beneficial microorganisms.The vital activity of bacteria that synthesize vitamin B, as well as lactic acid bacteria and interferon donor bacteria, is inhibited.And all this is intestinal immunity, that is, almost half of all human immune mechanisms.
Thanks to our unique camouflage, we can go unnoticed by two or more types of parasites at the same time.In the liver - lamblia, in the intestines - roundworms.In fact, a large number of patients with anemia, chronic fatigue, pancreatitis, asthma, allergies, dysbacteriosis, cholelithiasis and others turn out to be infected with parasites.
If we talk about the symptoms of a parasitic infection, they may not appear at all.Despite the invasion, a person can feel completely healthy if he has good immunity.In fact, you will be healthy for a strictly individual time.Later, as the immune system weakens (due to stress, illness, surgery), the parasite will continue to send weak signals.They are characterized by pimples on the skin, smelly urine, persistent cough with clear lungs, loose stools with a strong odor or constipation, gas formation and bad breath.The most striking manifestation is considered to be nocturnal teeth grinding (bruxism).Symptoms may include drooling, perverted appetite (nighttime or insatiable hunger), food cravings (sour and sweet foods), and burping air.Sometimes you can meet people with a bigger appetite, while you lose weight.Unfortunately, the number of possible symptoms is almost infinite.Parasites are so “cunning” that they mask their presence with symptoms of the most common diseases.
Parasites that can be obtained from pets
Pets can give us not only their love and affection, but also other, much less pleasant “gifts.”In order for doctors not to study the practical parasitology of our body, it is necessary to know what exactly threatens us and how to treat it.
ascariasis
Who transmits?Pig, cat, dog, human.With feces, the pathogen enters the soil and from it to humans through hands and unwashed vegetables.There are also frequent cases of transmission of ascariasis through strawberries, which are tested unwashed on the market.Ascaris lives in the small intestine of a person for up to 2 years, eats useful substances and poisons it with products of its vital activity.Ascaris eggs live in the soil for up to 10 years.
Symptoms: weakness, allergies, rash, lack of appetite, weight loss, nervousness, lack of sleep.With a healthy lifestyle, there may be no symptoms.If the worms have multiplied and entered the respiratory tract, coughing may occur.
What to do: Pumpkin seeds are useful as a preventative against intestinal worms: a handful a day.If you suspect ascariasis, have a stool analysis done at the clinic.This disease is treated with antiparasitic tablets.
giardiasis
Who transmits?The natural carrier of Giardia is the cat.They can also be contaminated soil or water from a well.It can be transmitted from humans through dirty hands.It usually occurs in children.
Symptoms: Giardia settles in the duodenum, clogs the ducts of the gallbladder and pancreas (visible on ultrasound), these organs bother the patient, food is poorly digested and absorbed, lack of appetite.
What to do: take the stool to the clinic.If the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor will prescribe pills.Do not try to scare away Giardia with "vormil", as it does not affect them.The cat should also be treated: buy Drontal or Droncid at a veterinary pharmacy, administer according to weight, according to instructions, once every 3 months.
toxocariasis
Who transmits: a dog, occasionally a cat.This is a canine worm that does not take root in the human intestines, but rather penetrates the blood, feeds on its proteins and releases toxins there.It often affects children.
Symptoms: the same as for other parasites, but nothing is found in the feces;it is necessary to examine the blood.Sometimes toxocara enters the eyes through the bloodstream and the person may become blind.An ophthalmologist can see the pathogen in the fundus of the eye.
What to do: If you have any suspicions, go to the clinic to be examined.Toxocariasis is easy to cure, but it is difficult to find and suspect.
toxoplasmosis
Who transmits: cat.The pathogen lives in the blood.
Symptoms: sometimes: mild fever, weakness, enlarged liver, fatigue, muscle pain, headache.Often there are no symptoms, only the weakest organ suffers.You will also not suspect anything from the cat's behavior, but you can take the cat's feces for analysis to a veterinary hospital.
What to do: go to the clinic.
heartworm disease
Who transmits: dogs, mosquitoes.After biting a sick dog, the mosquito bites a person and transmits the pathogen.The larva grows, travels throughout the body, and stops under the skin or in the eye.There was a case where a woman had a heartworm measuring 23 centimeters removed from her eye.No more than 3 heartworms can live in one person at the same time.
Symptoms: migratory subcutaneous tumor, sensation of movement in it.
What to do: Go to the infectious diseases department clinic or surgeon to have it removed.Keep an eye on the dog: if it walks fragile, sleepy or drags its legs, this is already cause for suspicion.Between 60% and 80% of stray dogs have heartworm larvae.Treatment of these sick animals is usually not carried out, since two out of three dogs die from toxic drugs and the one that survives is not completely cured.Prevention method: window screens and mosquito repellents.
Against intestinal worms and giardia, take a small head of garlic or 2 large cloves, chop it and pour half a liter of hot milk into a thermos overnight.In the morning you can drink half a glass before meals three times a day for 10 days.The recipe is suitable for pregnant women for whom antiparasitic tablets are contraindicated.Garlic has no effect on dog nematodes because it lives in the blood and not in the digestive tract.
self defense
- Before eating, wash your hands with soap, soaping twice.
- Vegetables and strawberries should be washed with cold water, peeled, placed in 1-2 layers in a colander, poured with boiling water and immediately rinsed with cold water to prevent destruction of vitamin C.
- Treat pets periodically for parasites.Wash your hands afterwards.
- If you have an animal at home, check yourself from time to time for parasites and check your children, especially if you have been feeling weak, allergic, or have a lack of appetite lately.
Well, if you still get sick, contact a professional doctor as soon as possible.An experienced specialist will prescribe treatment that will help you recover as soon as possible.