Parasites in the human body: symptoms and treatment

a man taking a pill against parasites

Parasites in the human body arise from the environment and perform a strong activity there. Toxic substances created as a result of the activity of these creatures poison the human body, dealing a serious blow to health. Symptoms of parasites entering the human body can be a variety of unpleasant signs that require urgent treatment. If treatment of the invasion is started on time, the consequences of the disease will be minimized.

What are parasites in the human body

Parasites in the human body are invasions that ensure their existence at the expense of the host. Parasites live in the human body, perform their vital activity, feed on human food and energy, and often on human cells and tissues. Recent research shows that the probability of the presence of parasites in any organism is 85%. Some scientists add another 10% to this figure.

species of human parasites

Dr. Ross Andersen made the statement that parasitic infestation is the most undetected disease in the world. He admits that this is a very brave statement, but it is based on the analysis of data from the medical history of more than 20 thousand patients and on many years of work experience that is more than 20 years.

It is possible to determine that parasites are indeed present in the human body by sampling feces for analysis. This is the traditional and most common diagnostic method. However, it is extremely uninformative and unreliable, because the parasite can only be detected if a laboratory assistant sees its larvae under a microscope.

Parasites in the human body can live almost anywhere. There are no obstacles for them. They parasitize not only in the intestines, but also in the liver, joints and muscles, in the blood, in the brain, in the eyes. Science knows more than 100 species of parasites that live in the human body, ranging from invisible amoebae to worms several meters long.

But after all, worms do not always lay large numbers of eggs, which means that during a standard study, the parasite may not be detected. Some experts recommend testing three times, but this does not guarantee a reliable result. It is believed that at least 8 and even 10 feces need to be made to detect parasites.

At the same time, it was discovered that the most common parasites that inhabit the human intestine are helminths. They all have different shapes, they can look like a wooden leaf, like a woman's bracelet, like a pencil sharpened on both sides.

abdominal pain in the presence of parasites

However, they have one thing in common - they pursue the goal of destroying their master, squeezing the maximum benefit out of his body. In addition, all parasites are very fertile and viable.

It is a mistake to believe that helminthic invasion is exclusively a childhood disease. Very often adults suffer from them, and most people do not even suspect such an awkward and dangerous neighborhood.

Types of parasites in the human body

Parasites in the human body. When infected with any type of parasitic microorganism, a person may not even be aware of this trouble. Only some symptomatologies can signal the presence of disease-causing beings: general weakness, weight gain, or decrease.

Signs of body invasion appear only in those cases when the number of microbes reaches large values, and general and local immunity is significantly reduced. Numerous types of worms are characterized by causing great damage to human health.

Types of parasites in the human body:

  • roundworms:are microscopic in size. The most famous representatives of this group are Trichinella, Ascaris, Pinworm, Whipworm;
  • trematode:a group of flatworms. They parasitize inside and outside the body. These include fluke species, flakes;
  • cestode:tapeworms, tapeworms, echinococci, are tapeworms. They have no digestive system;
  • prickly head: these are worms, small in size, with a flat elongated body, which is completely covered with thorns;
  • with scrapers:a person becomes infected from an infected fish, bird, mammal. Microorganisms that parasitize under the skin. This includes the roundworm. They also call it guinea worms. The risk of invasion is very high;
  • amoeba: unicellular microscopic helminth. It has an irregular shape that is constantly changing. Settling in the blood vessels, it causes pathologies of the heart and circulatory system, the development of stroke. It is the cause of amoebiasis;

The liver is affected by different types of lamblia, amoebae, schistosomes, roundworms, echinococci, which leads to disruption of many processes in the body. The liver and other organs are unprotected from a whole army of virulent microorganisms.

Ways of parasite penetration into the human body

Parasites in the human body. Parasitic diseases, helminthic infestations are caused by pathogens that enter the human body in several ways. The infection most often occurs when the helminth (parasite) enters through the mouth (contamination of food and water with soil, eggs and cysts of the pathogen), through dirty hands.

Insects (flies, cockroaches), rodents and larger animals (cats, dogs) can transmit the causes of parasitic infections and protozoal diseases through infected household items.

Parasitic pathogens and their larvae can live in almost all organs and tissues - in the intestinal lumen and large and small, rectum, biliary and urinary tract, in the bronchopulmonary system, blood, brain and liver tissue, in muscle tissue and in the eyes. . .

In children's collectives, helminth eggs are transmitted by toys, with dirty hands. Some parasites can enter the body of the host by touching through the skin (even undamaged) and mucous membranes, less frequently by inhalation.

In the process of evolution, in order to preserve their species, many parasites have developed special mechanisms for their spread (for example, a complex developmental cycle with a change of host, the formation of cysts and protective membranes).

Parasites have lost some organs (sight, digestive system). But at the same time, the reproductive system of the parasite has reached an incredible development (hermaphroditism, a huge number of eggs secreted by one individual).

Diagnosis of parasitic diseases

Parasites in the human body. An important issue is the diagnosis and detection of parasites for their timely treatment and removal from the body. Diagnosis and identification of many types of helminthiasis is based on the detection of parasites, their eggs in feces and the use of other techniques.

diagnosis of parasites in the body

It is often necessary to repeat the examination of the feces in order to make a reliable diagnosis of parasitosis. In enterobiasis, the parasite's eggs are examined by scraping from the perianal folds.

ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) allows the identification of pathogens by testing antibodies in the blood. A general analysis of all parasitosis and helminthic invasions reveals an increase in the proportion of eosinophilic leukocytes in the blood, indicating allergy, often signs of anemia due to iron deficiency or other genesis (macrocytic, B12 deficient).

Prolonged mass invasion of parasites can lead to electrolyte changes and mineral deficiency (calcium, phosphorus). Biochemical examination of markers of liver damage, transaminases, bilirubin is often used when helminthiasis is suspected.

Ultrasound, endoscopy of the stomach and duodenum, CT - examination - can be used in the diagnosis of certain parasitic diseases (echinococcosis, giardiasis). In trichinosis, a biopsy of muscle tissue and skin is mandatory (detection of parasites and confirmation of the diagnosis).

Symptoms of the presence of parasites in the human body

Parasites in the human body are organisms that live off the host. They live in parallel in our body, feeding on our energy, cells and food. It’s no secret that they dump their waste products directly into our body and die there.

The symptoms of parasites in the human body are quite different. Their insidiousness is that they all manifest in such a way that it is almost impossible to make a diagnosis on the fly. Regardless of the fact that a person has worms, the symptoms of any helminthiasis will be very similar.

In addition, the onset of symptoms is characteristic of a deficiency of any type of nutrient, as parasites are known to suck up the most beneficial nutrients from food, including vitamins and minerals.

Symptoms of parasites in the human body:

  • constant fatigue, decreased performance, nervousness, irritability;
  • drowsiness or, conversely, insomnia;
  • problematic skin and hair;
  • cosmetic defects in the form of delamination of nails, cracked heels, various spots on the skin, early wrinkles on the face;
  • abdominal pain, bloating (gas and bloating);
  • stool disorders (more often in the form of diarrhea, but constipation is also possible);
  • significant changes in weight in a relatively short period;
  • bulimia (prolonged increase in appetite) or, conversely, worsening of appetite;
  • hypovitaminosis (vitamin deficiency);
  • anemia, low hemoglobin; granulomas, tumors;
  • headaches, joint pain, muscle aches;
  • gnashing of teeth in sleep, itching in the anus;
  • immune disorders, frequent colds;
  • increased frequency of allergic reactions in the form of asthma, atopic dermatitis, urticaria.

Symptoms of parasites in the liver in humans

Parasites in the liver can be silent for a long time. It is important for the sick person to pay attention in time to some signs and symptoms that indicate the presence of parasites.

The most common parasites in the liver give the following symptoms:

  • weight loss, fever, leukocytosis, pain (or discomfort) in the right hypochondrium. Sometimes the pain radiates to the shoulder. This clinical picture is typical of hepatic amebiasis; organic and functional changes in the liver, which usually occur in giardiasis;
  • nervousness and irritation. This is one of the most common symptoms of a parasitic infection not only of the liver but of the body as a whole. Waste products of the parasite have a toxic effect on the human nervous system. According to medical observations, after the removal of parasites, patients become more patient and calmer;
  • sleep disorder. The peak of active liver activity occurs at 2-3 o'clock in the morning. In the presence of parasites, patients can wake up almost every night at this time. Sometimes helminths can come out through the anus, which also leads to a disturbance of the patient’s sleep;
  • Other symptoms associated with a parasitic liver infection include: bad breath and bad taste in the mouth, constant hunger, acne and acne, diabetes mellitus, headaches and migraines.

Treatment of parasites in the human body

Medicinal treatment of parasites in the human body

Appointment and control of drug therapy is carried out exclusively by an infectologist or parasitologist. In addition to the use of drugs for the successful treatment of parasitic pathologies, alternative medicine methods are also used.

Well-known, but also the latest, anthelmintic drugs are widely used for drug therapy of helminthiasis.

Treatment of parasites in the human body by folk methods

Parasites in the human body. To get rid of parasites in the human body folk remedies will not take a single day.

folk remedies for parasites in the body

If the method is strong, the worm will die on the first day. But there are also eggs that can’t be laid the first time.

How to get rid of parasites at home - recipes:

  • cleaning the brine of sauerkraut in the body will be effective: drink it per cup 3 r. daily. before a meal. It is able to rid the liver of parasites;
  • even flowers can cure a person: fill a bottle with lilac flowers and pour vodka into it to the top. Stand for 10 days and take 1 tsp. before each meal. Reviews of this popular method are commendable;
  • you can get rid of parasites in adult fungi: for this use tinctures obtained at home. Agaricus and chanterelle fungus effective against worms. Insist on a glass of chopped agaricus in 0, 5 liters of vodka for 14 days. Drink 1 tbsp. l. 3 р. / D. before meals. To make cleansing more effective, drink a product with an infusion of calendula, currant and yarrow. The treatment lasts a month;
  • it is allowed to use folk remedies for parasite recipes from the seeds of plants: it is good to remove cumin and dill seeds with flour. The mixture is eaten in 1 tsp. and rinse with water. Removal of parasites in this way for a long time (6 months), but not without results.

Influence of parasites on the organism

Parasites in the human body interfere with the functioning of organs, cause inflammatory processes in them and destroy tissues. Often during its vital activity parasites produce substances toxic to humans, leading to the gradual poisoning of his body.

Intestinal parasites use nutrients from food for their growth and development. Because of this, the human body begins to feel their lack. This is especially dangerous for children, because their growth slows down, physical and mental development is disturbed.

Parasites adapt well, can live in one organism for years, and their eggs and larvae are very resistant to the environment.

In the digestive organs, to protect them, parasites can secrete special substances that inactivate enzymes and interfere with the process of digestion. Therefore, in a patient with intestinal parasites, the symptoms often resemble diseases of the digestive system.

Should a person get rid of parasites from the body

As for purifying organisms from parasites, it makes no sense to carry it out just because it has become modern and popular. If a person does not have any symptoms of invasion, but indigestion occurs only occasionally, then it is preferable to simply switch to a gentler diet and adjust the lifestyle.

specialist counseling on parasites in the body

Nature itself has thus commanded that the human intestine be a "refuge" for bacteria. Without them a person simply could not exist. Even such dangerous microorganisms as Staphylococcus aureus and candida are needed by humans because they are included in the food chain and are food for beneficial bacteria.

If a person is healthy, then his body functions as a well-coordinated system and nothing will interfere with its functioning. A strong immune system will prevent any parasite from harming the body.

However, against the background of weakening self-defense, with an irrational diet, due to the intake of drugs, the work of the internal ecosystem of the body is disrupted, and parasites can enter and cause damage. In that case, you need to get rid of them by all available means. It is necessary to cleanse not only the liver, but the whole body as a whole.