Eye parasites are round and flat, less commonly annelids and spiny-headed worms, flies, and mosquito larvae. Having penetrated the human body, they gradually spread through it, damaging tissues and organs. Most of them are capable of parasitizing in human eyes, causing the development of ophthalmic helminthiasis.
Clinically, these serious pathologies are manifested by pain, burning, itching, visual disturbances, tearing. Immediately after the diagnosis is made, surgical and (or) conservative treatment is performed.
Diseases caused by eye parasites
More than 50 causative agents of ophthalmic helminthiasis are known in humans. Some penetrate directly through the mucosa, damaging the conjunctiva or tear ducts. Others infect the eyeball from the inside, moving toward it with a rush of blood from the intestines or liver. The parasites begin to grow and multiply actively, laying eggs, which leads to a partial or total loss of vision.
The most frequently diagnosed ophthalmic helminthiasis:
- onchocerciasis- helminthiasis caused by the parasitism of Onchocerca nematodes (onchocercias) in the human body. Its specific symptom is the "cloudiness" of the cornea of the eye;
- ophthalmomyasisis a parasitic disease of the eye and its appendages, which occurs when the larvae of flies or horseflies enter. In severe cases of myiasis, retinal detachment or optic nerve atrophy is possible;
- dirofilariasis: Helminthiasis that develops when the larvae of the filamentous nematode invade the eyeball. The movements of the worms cause a burning sensation, intense pain and itching;
- Sparganosisis a human disease of the cestodosis group caused by larvae of tapeworms of the genus Spirometra. The infection occurs mainly through the consumption of meat from wild animals;
- toxocariasisis a chronic infectious disease caused by the larvae of the roundworm toxocara. The source of infection is a sick animal (usually a dog);
- toxoplasmosisis a chronic parasitic invasion caused by intracellular protozoa (toxoplasma). Its vital activity is accompanied by the constant release of allergens and toxins;
- coenurosisis a predominantly chronic disease that occurs after infection with helminths of the cestodosis group of the species Taenia multiceps. A person becomes infected by contact with dogs;
- cysticercosis: a disease caused by a larva of the pig tapeworm that can cause decreased vision and blindness;
- Gnathostomosis- The disease causes severe pain and often leads to death. The worms that cause this disease most often affect the skin, less often the central nervous system and the eyes;
- Echinococcosis of the eyesis a fairly common disease. It is characterized by the formation of parasitic cysts in the orbital area. Echinococcosis develops due to ingestion of parasite eggs with food or water.
- ocular demodicosis, caused by the activation of mites that live in the sebaceous glands of the eyelashes.
- Trichinosisis a parasitic pathology that develops after the introduction of the nematodes Trichinella spirali into the human body.
It is not the larvae or sexually mature individuals that are dangerous to the eyes, but the toxins they release. They are the ones that cause swelling of the eyelids and redness of the mucous membranes.
Eye Parasite Symptoms
Each helminth invasion has its own specific symptoms. But they also have many common signs of damage to the mucous membranes and deeper eye structures.
In the initial stages of the development of the pathology, typical manifestations of conjunctivitis occur:
- redness of the outer layer of the eyeball;
- increased tearing;
- photophobia;
- swelling of the upper and lower eyelids;
- pain, itching, burning;
- localized headaches in the temples and the back of the head;
- slight increase in local temperature.
Young children and weak people develop symptoms of general intoxication of the body. The temperature rises above subfebrile values (37, 1-38, 0 ° C), the appetite decreases due to bouts of nausea and vomiting.
Unlike many infections caused by viruses, bacteria, and fungi, the course of helminthic invasions is accompanied by signs of damage to other organs. These are migrating muscle aches, dry skin, retarded hair growth, and indigestion.
How to get rid of parasites from your eyes
Dipteran larvae, protozoa, ticks and other pathogens of parasitic diseases can rapidly destroy ocular structures. Therefore, treatment is carried out immediately after the diagnosis is made. When choosing therapeutic tactics, doctors take into account the type of infectious agents, the severity of the course of the disease, and the severity of symptoms.
If an infected person presents to the doctor with an advanced helminthic invasion, conservative treatment usually does not work.
Parasitic worms must be removed surgically, opening and draining abscesses according to generally accepted rules.
And then follows a long period of rehabilitation with the use of anthelmintic drugs.
Folk remedies
Even long-term use of powerful modern anthelmintic drugs is often ineffective for these types of diseases. Urgent surgical removal of larvae, eggs, and sexually mature individuals is required.
And traditional medicine is completely powerless when the eyes are affected by helminths. Neither tansy, nor centaur, nor bitter wormwood can cope with ocular invasion.
The use of decoctions and infusions slightly relieves symptoms, so the patient postpones the visit to the doctor. Meanwhile, inflammatory and destructive processes intensify and spread into your eyeballs. They predispose to retinal detachment, total or partial blindness.
Medications
Several treatment regimens have been developed for ophthalmic diseases caused by worms. Individual therapy is carried out only by specially trained parasitologists. The fact is that after the death of helminths and their decomposition, intraocular toxic-allergic reactions can develop. Only an experienced doctor can minimize its consequences.
The following drugs are used to kill parasitic worms:
- anti-nematode;
- anti-cestodial;
- antitrematode;
- broad spectrum drugs.
For external agents, special solutions are used to rinse the eyes. Antihistamines should be included in the therapeutic regimens and, if necessary, antibiotics and antifungals.
Preventive measures
Myiasis infection occurs when the mucous membrane of the eyes comes into contact with flies, mosquitoes, and horseflies. Therefore, infectious disease doctors advise using repellants in the form of sprays, gels and ointments. Insecticidal smoke bombs scare off insects in nature quite well.
But the eggs and larvae of parasitic worms enter the human body mainly through food. They are unstable to the effects of temperature: they die when heated and boiled. Fruits and vegetables brought from the market must also be washed well and stored.
Parasitic eye diseases cannot be independently diagnosed or cured.
Often masquerading as bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. And only as they progress do their distinctive features appear.
A timely visit to a doctor will help save vision, to prevent its loss.