Home / Treatment / Parasitic diseases of man

Parasitic diseases of man

Parasitic diseases of man is a separate group of diseases, all of them were caused by a parasitic single-celled and multicellular organisms. The most common parasites are worms (helminths), followed by arthropods (that's insects and mites). Otherwise, a parasitic disease called invasive diseases or just invasions.

Parasites can be temporary and permanent. Their life cycle is very complex, in some cases to form a complete specimen of the parasite you need to change three owners.

Invasive disease is very dangerous for human health. Parasites can cause the host organism to mechanical damage, to poison it with their waste products, provoke the development of allergic reactions, feed on human blood to have a negative impact on the course of other diseases.

Parasitic infestations are widespread. According to who, every fourth inhabitant of the Earth is a carrier of a parasite. Intestinal helminths are among the most dangerous diseases, it is believed that they occupy the 4th place for damage to human health in comparison with other pathologies. Overtake parasitic infestation on the prevalence of only tuberculosis, coronary heart disease and diarrhea.

One of the striking features of parasitic diseases is that the pathogen is capable of for a long time to live in the human body (if the treatment is not available) and to cause re-infection.

The content of the article:


Causative agents of parasitic diseases

The main causative agents of parasitic diseases is the worms that cause helminth infections.

Based on the type of parasite, the following types of worms:

  • The trematode, helminth infections caused by the flukes: the lung Fluke, liverFluke, cat Fluke, shistosoma, Cloner.
  • The nematodes – the round worms infestation. The source of infection is people. Among all types of helminths nematodes the most pervasive. They are caused by the following pathogens: roundworm, pinworm, vlasoglavy, Toxocara, Trichinella.
  • The cestodosis – infestations tapeworms, among which the beef tapeworm (tapeworm or tapeworm naked), pork tapeworm (tapeworm armed) tapeworm, the dwarf tapeworm, broad tapeworm, Echinococcus and alveolars.

In addition to helminths, the causative agents of parasitic diseases are:

  • Protozoa or protozoa, among which Giardia, malarial Plasmodium, Toxoplasma, Trichomonas, etc.
  • Ectoparasites, among them lice (pubic, head and wardrobe), bed bugs and mites.
  • Other parasites: the larvae of mosquitoes, larvae of flies, sand fleas.

The symptoms of parasitic diseases

The symptoms of parasitic diseases are often blurred. They may be absent altogether for many years, and can occur acutely.

The main signs of parasitic infestation are:

  • Allergic reactions. Mostly they occur type of urticaria.

  • The increase in body temperature. Sometimes the patient has a fever. Typically, a body temperature of 38-40 degrees characteristic of the acute stage of the disease, or it rises to such high levels when the development of complications of parasitic infestation. In the vast majority of cases a person is saved or the normal body temperature or it rises to subfebrile levels. Therefore, the most important characteristic that allows to suspect a parasitic infestation, is continued for a long time subfebrile body temperature.

  • Lymphadenitis is another frequent symptom of parasitic diseases. It manifests itself in inflammation of the lymph nodes. They can grow and become painful as one by one, and groups. In parallel from an infected person experiences headaches, deteriorating appetite, he feels a General malaise. Often inflamed regional lymph nodes, ie those which are located in the immediate vicinity of the source of infection. It is not excluded parasitic lesions of lymph nodes.

  • Arthralgia and myalgia. Pain in the muscles and joints are often the result of immunological reactions. The fact that the immune system perceives parasites as foreign objects and begins to attack them. Muscles and joints can ache because they are within the larvae of the parasite or because of an overall inflammatory response of the body. In addition, pain may be the result of damage to the muscle or joint tissue of the jaws or suction cups parasites.

  • Pulmonary syndrome often occurs in people with a parasitic infestation. It manifests itself in a long exhausting cough. The patient may appear shortness of breath, chest pain. In some infestations, for example, ascariasis, a person develops eosinophilic pleurisy, it may be hemoptysis.

  • Often in people infected with swelling (for example, when trichinosis, and when trihozefaleze). They can spread throughout the body, and may affect only the limbs and face. Particularly dangerous angioedema.

  • Relevant to parasitic infestation of the abdominal syndrome. It manifests itself in alternating constipation and diarrhea, flatulence, nausea and belching. Sometimes it may be vomiting.

  • Abdominal pain are the most diverse in nature, they can be acute, persistent, and mild cramping.
  • At a long current of a parasitic infestation in a patient develops intoxication syndrome of increasing weakness, with a tendency to frequent infections, weight loss, etc.

  • Typical astenoneuroticalkie disorders: trouble sleeping, frequent outcries and awakening at night, irritability, teeth grinding during sleep, seizures, headaches, dizziness.

  • Frequent skin diseases: psoriasis, seborrhea, acne, atopic dermatitis. Worsens the condition of hair and nails, increased breakage, no Shine etc.

  • From the urogenital and excretory systems there are frequent relapses vulvitis, vaginitis, urethritis, practical.

Patients with parasite become moreprone to respiratory infections, they often have gingivitis, stomatitis and other diseases, indicating a weakening of the immune system.


List of parasitic diseases

Helminthiasis, which are fuelled by the various worms:

  • Hookworm;
  • Ascariasis;
  • Antacids;
  • Gnathostomes;
  • Difillobotrioz;
  • The clonorchiasis;
  • Opisthorchiasis;
  • Parganas;
  • Beef tapeworm infection;
  • Cestodes;
  • Schistosomiasis (Japanese, Asian, genitourinary, Manson);
  • Enterobiasis;
  • Echinostomes.

Disease provoked by the protozoan organisms:

  • Amoebiasis;
  • Isosporous;
  • Giardiasis;
  • Leishmaniasis;

  • Malaria;

  • Rhinosporidiosis;
  • Sleeping sickness;

  • Toxoplasmosis;

  • Trichomoniasis, etc.

Diseases, provoked by parasites:

Diseases provoked by other parasites:

  • Measy;
  • Linguatula;
  • Dermatobia.

Treatment of parasitic diseases

Treatment of parasitic diseases is reduced to the reception of anti-parasitic drugs.

The drug is chosen on the basis of three fundamental principles:

  • The possibility of destroying the larvae (larvicidal effect).
  • The possibility of destroying the eggs (ovicidal effect).
  • The possibility of destroying the adults(vermicidal effect).

After completion of the antiparasitic course in a mandatory manner conducting follow-up research to clarify whether there had been a therapeutic effect.

It is important to consider the form of bot, the phase of the disease, patient age, presence of comorbidities. It should be remembered that all anthelmintic drugs have toxic effects on the body not only worms, but also humans. So to pick them up should the doctor.

Modern drugs for the treatment of helminthiasis:

  • Levamisole (Decaris).
  • Albendazole (Nematol).
  • Mebendazole (Vermoxum, Vermin, etc.).
  • Pyrantel (Nemocid, Helmintox, etc.).
  • Piperazine.
  • Carbendazim (Medmin).
  • Pervine the embonate (Person, Vanquis, etc.).
  • Niclosamide (Fenasal);
  • Mepacrine (Quinacrine);
  • Praziquantel (Cesol, Azinoks, etc.).
  • Bithionol, Hloksila and other.

To ensure that the deworming was conducted successfully, must be treated all family members: adults and children. In some cases shown therapy entire communities, and the patient is subject to dispensary registration. As necessary, a second deworming the patient.

Often in the scheme of treatment include antihistamines, conduct detoxication therapy, prescribe corticosteroids. Severe forms of parasitic diseases require surgical intervention.

Read more: effective treatment of parasites in children and adults


Prevention of parasitic diseases

Prevention of parasitic diseases is reduced to the following recommendations:

  • First and foremost, it is necessary to observe rules of personal hygiene. This applies to washing hands before meals, after each trip to the toilet, after visiting public places and after contact with animals.
  • All food must undergo the appropriate treatment. Fruits and vegetables, herbs and berries need to be rinsed in running water, and as you need to soak in a disinfectant solution (for example, soda solution).
  • Meat and fish should be treated.
  • Water should be boiled.
  • If the home has Pets, you shouldprophylactic antiparasitic courses. The toilet and the eating of the pet should be kept clean. Should wash their hands after each contact with animals.
  • There should be regular wet cleaning.
  • While working with the ground the hands must be wearing gloves.
  • When traveling to tropical and subtropical countries it is necessary to worry about how to pass the prevention of helminthiasis pills, if there are risks of invasions (to prescribe medications should the doctor).

These are the basic preventive measures of parasitic diseases, which will allow to protect yourself and others from possible invasions.