Parasites are creatures whose existence is directly related to their host. In other words, parasitic organisms live at the expense of the host, exploit it in their own interests, and at the same time negatively influence it. These creatures are extremely hardy and reproduce at a high rate, so fighting them is quite a difficult task. This type of living beings includes: viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. In especially severe cases, parasites take away all the juices from their owner, poison him with the products of their vital activity and cause serious harm to his health. How to identify parasites in the human body?
Who are parasites
Parasites are organisms that exist solely thanks to the host organism and at the same time negatively affect it. These include various types of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and worms. Bacteria have the smallest size. Despite this, they can be the causative agents of quite serious diseases, among which are:
- plague
- typhus
- tuberculosis
- tetanus
- meningitis, etc.
Fungal parasites are the next most developed organisms of this type. There are up to one hundred species of pathogenic fungi. They are slightly larger in size than bacteria and, unlike them, have excellent protection from environmental factors, and are also endowed with good adaptation to changing environmental conditions. They are divided into two groups: filamentous and yeast fungi. The most prominent representative of this type of parasite is the Candida fungus. They affect both the skin, nails and mucous membranes of the host, and are the causative agent of candidiasis.
The most popular parasites are helminths. They include many species that live in different host systems. The roundworm, trichina, causes a disease called trichinosis. This disease can affect both humans and pigs. Tapeworms, which belong to the class of flatworms, are intestinal parasites. They live in the digestive system of the host organism and feed at its expense.
Most often, their hosts are vertebrates: humans, cats, dogs, fish. Tapeworms have special suckers with which they attach to the intestinal walls. They absorb nutrients throughout the body, since their primitive structure does not provide for either a digestive tract or any sense organs.
There are a lot of tapeworms. The length of these parasites varies from a tenth of a centimeter to nine meters. The structure of their body is also varied: they can be either a whole organism or consist of segments connected to each other in a chain. Flatworms are hermaphrodites - each representative of this species is both male and female at the same time.
An equally common type of parasitic roundworm is the nematode. The most famous among them: roundworms, pinworms, trichinella. Unlike tapeworms, they have an oral cavity, through which they feed on nutrients stolen from the host. For the most part, they are heterosexual, but just like tapeworms, among them there are hermaphrodites - organisms that have sexual characteristics of both sexes.
Parasites are organisms that live exclusively at the expense of the host. Unlike other organisms that live in symbiosis with the human body, they cause constant harm to it as a result of their vital activity. Parasites include: protozoa, bacteria, fungi, helminths.
Ways of infection by parasites
There are many ways through which parasites can enter the human body, the main ones are:
- nutritional– through contaminated food, water;
- contact-household– infection occurs through contact with contaminated objects, family members, pets;
- transmissible– infection that occurs through insects that feed on blood;
- active– the parasite enters the human body during its interaction with contaminated soil or while swimming in a pond.
Nutritional
Among the helminths that are transmitted through food, it is necessary to separately highlight those that are transmitted through meat products. The most dangerous of them are pork and bovine tapeworms. The bovine tapeworm can live in the human body for up to ten years, reaching three to ten meters in length. Pork tapeworm, having settled in the intestines and beginning to multiply, infects the entire human body with the help of its cysticercus larvae.
In addition, the meat of some animals may be contaminated with Trichinella. A few days after Trichinella enters the human body, it develops a serious disease - trichinosis. It often ends in death. When purchasing meat, you should always pay attention to the seller. Since he is a person directly connected with food, his responsibilities include regular medical examinations and strict adherence to sanitary standards. Unfortunately, in our time, few people monitor this, which is why such foci of the disease arise.
Also, from the point of view of helminth infection, freshwater fish is a dangerous product. For example, cyprinids can cause a disease such as opisthorchiasis. The eggs of this parasite enter the fish through river mollusks and have practically no effect on the fish itself - it simply serves as a carrier of the parasite.
Dried, smoked or dried fish pose a serious danger. Raw pike caviar, for example, can be infected with broad tapeworm. Diphyllobothriasis is a disease caused by this worm. The broad tapeworm can reach up to ten meters in length and parasitize the small intestine for decades.
Contact and household
The most well-known helminths that are spread this way are pinworms and roundworms. Violation of hygiene rules is the main cause of enterobiasis and ascariasis. A child infected with pinworms scratches his anus during sleep, because the female pinworm comes out to lay eggs, after which various household items and clothing become infected.
If the infection is not detected quickly, then all family members can suffer from the disease. Giardiasis can be contracted by drinking contaminated water. This parasite can survive even in chlorinated water. Also, household items: toys, dishes can serve as a source of infection with these parasites.
Transmissible route of infection
Filariasis is a type of helminthiasis that can be transmitted through certain species of mosquitoes common in tropical and subtropical climates. Malaria, or yellow fever, is a deadly disease that is also transmitted by mosquitoes. Filaria can live in the blood and lymph, causing various negative reactions in the host.
Active route of infection
In this case, the parasites infect a person through direct contact with contaminated water or soil. For example, hookworm is a parasite that can be contracted simply by walking barefoot on contaminated soil.
There are many ways of infection by parasites, among which there are four main ones. In order to somehow protect yourself from infection, you must carefully adhere to the rules of personal hygiene and try not to eat suspicious foods, especially meat.
How to identify parasites in the body
Symptoms when the body is infected with parasites can be very different. Parasites can be identified when the following signs appear:
- Constipation. Due to their size and large numbers, some types of worms can cause blockage of various body systems: the bile duct, intestines. These blockages lead to a certain type of disease and, in especially severe cases, require surgical intervention.
- Diarrhea. Parasites, which as a result of their vital activity produce substances similar to prostaglandin, provoke frequent and loose stools in the host.
- Bloating. In the course of their life, worms can often cause inflammation in the intestines. These inflammatory processes cause excessive gas formation, which leads to bloating.
- Allergy. Damaged linings of the gastrointestinal tract can cause molecules of undigested food to enter the blood. In this case, the immune system comes into play and, as a result of its reaction, a large number of eosinophils, cells that cause inflammation, are released into the blood, indicating an allergic reaction within the body.
- Bad skin. Many different skin diseases can be caused by organisms that parasitize the skin.
- Weight problems. Weight deviations from the norm, both up and down, can serve as a sign of the presence of parasites in the body. Weight loss occurs due to indigestion and loss of appetite. Some helminths reduce blood sugar levels, causing the host to have an uncontrollable feeling of hunger, which leads to obesity.
- Chronic fatigue. Weakness, flu-like conditions, apathy, poor concentration and memory are signs that often occur with poor nutrition. In case of helminth infection, the functionality of the digestive system is impaired and therefore the absorption of various nutrients is impaired, which leads to chronic fatigue.
- Airway inflammation. Some types of worms move throughout the human body, including the respiratory system. In some cases, they provoke disruption of the lungs, causing cough and fever. Roundworms can even cause a disease such as pneumonia.
- Nervousness. The human nervous system can be seriously damaged as a result of exposure to helminth waste products. Various nervous disorders are a sign of helminth poisoning in the body.
Identifying parasites in the human body is not entirely easy. Although the signs of their presence in the body are quite obvious, nevertheless, they can be incorrectly interpreted and attributed to a completely different disease. Therefore, the best way to detect parasites in the body is to consult a doctor and undergo the necessary tests.
Parasites are various organisms that live by parasitizing another living being. As a result of their vital activity, the viability of the host decreases significantly. There are many ways to become infected with parasites; they literally surround a person. Symptoms of infection are quite varied and if you suspect infection with parasites, you should consult a doctor and undergo an examination.