Parasites in the human body lead to the development of serious diseases.Their harmful effects have a significant impact on life expectancy.
According to research, almost all people are carriers of certain parasites (from the smallest, visible only under a microscope, to 10-meter tapeworms).Unfortunately, parasites don't just live in the intestines.Their habitat includes: the intestinal tract, muscle tissue, heart, blood and even the brain, as well as other vital human organs.
Nobody, not a single person in the world is immune to the invasion of parasites into their body.In addition, it does not matter how old the person is (whether a child or an adult) and what status he has (rich, poor, famous, unknown, etc.).
Types of parasites
For example, there are parasites such as hookworms.During their life cycle, they will definitely visit almost all organs of our body.Why is that?If hookworm larvae enter the soil through feces, they remain viable for several weeks.And if they manage to get onto human skin during this time, they gnaw through it and thus get into the blood vessels.And with the blood flow they are transported to the lungs.Once in the alveolar capillaries, these larvae penetrate the alveoli to ascend into the respiratory tract.They then enter the throat and are swallowed.At the same time, they literally eat away at each other throughout their entire journey.To gnaw through our lungs, intestines and blood vessels, nature has equipped them with four protruding hook-shaped teeth.Once in the intestine, the hookworm, which feeds on blood, can stay there for up to 14 years by gnawing into the intestinal lining.According to research, hookworm disease affects more than 650 million people worldwide today.
Another parasite, Alveococcus (a class of helminths), creates specific formations in the body - fins.This is a capsule consisting of a collection of small vesicles called Alveococcus finna.In this case, the bubbles do not contain any liquid.They grow into human tissue through external budding and resemble a malignant tumor.This disease occurs as a malignant formation. Alveococcosis is rare but primarily affects the liver and brain.Alveococcus nodes reach 15 cm in diameter.This type of helminthiasis is difficult to diagnose.Therefore, in most cases the diagnosis is made late, when surgical intervention is no longer possible.
All parasites are merciless and ungrateful.In order to stay in the “master's house” as long as possible, they resort to sharpened hooks, clothespins, plates - teeth made of chitin (the density is similar to a nail) or wire-hard hair (whipworm).These unique devices constantly injure the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, load the liver with waste substances, deprive a person of food, which reduces immunity and inhibits useful microorganisms.The vital activity of bacteria that synthesize B vitamins, as well as lactic acid bacteria and interferon donor bacteria, is inhibited.And all of this is gut immunity, which is almost half of all human immune mechanisms.
Thanks to our unique camouflage, we can remain unnoticed by two or more parasite species 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, allergosis, dysbiosis, cholelithiasis and others are infected with parasites.
If we talk about the symptoms of a parasite infection, they may not appear at all.Despite the invasion, a person can feel completely healthy if he has good immunity.He will indeed be healthy for some strictly individual time.Afterwards, when the immune system weakens (due to stress, illness, surgery), the parasite still begins 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, flatulence and bad breath.The most noticeable phenomenon is the grinding of teeth at night (bruxism).Symptoms may include drooling, impaired appetite (nighttime or insatiable hunger), food cravings (sour and sweet foods), and belching of air.Sometimes you meet people with increased appetite and losing weight at the same time.Unfortunately, the number of possible symptoms is almost endless.Parasites are so “sly” that they mask their presence with the symptoms of the most common diseases.
Parasites that can be transmitted by 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 deal with it.
Ascariasis
Who transmits?Pig, cat, dog, human.The pathogen gets into the soil through feces and from there to people via unwashed hands and vegetables.It is also common for ascariasis to be transmitted through strawberries tasted unwashed at the market.Ascaris lives in the small intestine of a person for up to 2 years, consuming useful substances and poisoning him with the products of his vital activity.Ascaris eggs live in the soil for up to 10 years.
Symptoms: Weakness, allergies, rash, loss of appetite, weight loss, nervousness, poor sleep.If you live a healthy lifestyle, you may not experience any symptoms.If the worms have multiplied and entered the respiratory tract, a cough is possible.
What to do: Pumpkin seeds are suitable for preventing roundworms - a handful per day.If you suspect ascariasis, have your stool examined at the clinic.This disease is treated with antiparasitic tablets.
Giardiasis
Who transmits?The natural carrier of Giardia is the cat.It can also be contaminated soil or water in a well.Can be transmitted to humans through dirty hands.Often occurs in children.
Symptoms: Giardia settles in the duodenum, clogs the ducts of the gallbladder and pancreas (visible on ultrasound), these organs disturb the patient, food is poorly digested and absorbed, loss of appetite.
What to do: Bring the chair to the clinic.If the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor will prescribe tablets.Do not try to get rid of giardia with “Vormil” – it has no effect on them.The cat also needs to be treated: buy Drontal or Droncid in a veterinary pharmacy, depending on weight, according to the instructions, administer every 3 months.
Toxocariosis
Who transmits: a dog, occasionally a cat.This is a dog roundworm that does not take root in the human intestine, but penetrates the blood, feeds on its proteins and releases toxins there.Often affects children.
Symptoms: the same as other parasites, but nothing is found in the stool;The blood needs to be tested.Sometimes Toxocara enters the eyes through the bloodstream and a person can become blind.An ophthalmologist can detect the pathogen in the back of the eye.
What to do: If you have any suspicions, go to the clinic for an examination.Toxocariosis is easy to cure but difficult to detect 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 won't suspect anything from the cat's behavior either, but you can take the cat feces to a veterinary clinic for analysis.
What to do: go to the clinic.
Dirofilariasis
Who transmits: dogs, mosquitoes.After biting a sick dog, the mosquito bites a person and transmits the pathogen.The larva grows, migrates through the body and remains under the skin or in the eye.There was a case where a 23 centimeter heartworm was pulled out of a woman's eye.No more than 3 heartworms can live in a human at the same time.
Symptoms: migrating subcutaneous tumor, feeling of movement in it.
What to do: Go to the clinic of the infectious diseases department or a surgeon to have it removed.Pay attention to the dog: if he walks frailly, is sleepy or drags his legs, this is already a suspicion.60-80% of stray dogs have heartworm larvae.Such sick animals are usually not treated because two out of three dogs die from toxic drugs and the surviving dog is not completely cured.Prevention method: window nets and mosquito repellent.
To combat roundworms and giardia, take a small clove of garlic or 2 large cloves, chop them and pour half a liter of hot milk into a thermos overnight.In the morning you can already drink half a glass three times a day before meals for 10 days.The recipe is suitable for pregnant women for whom antiparasitic tablets are contraindicated.Garlic has no effect on dog roundworms because it lives in the blood and not the digestive tract.
Self-defense
- Wash your hands twice with soap before eating.
- Vegetables and strawberries should be washed under cold running water, peeled, placed in a colander in 1-2 layers, poured with boiling water and immediately rinsed with cold water to prevent destruction of vitamin C.
- Treat pets regularly for parasites.Then wash your hands.
- If you have an animal at home, sometimes check yourself for parasites and check your children, especially if you have been feeling weak, allergic or loss of appetite recently
If you still become ill, contact a professional doctor as soon as possible.An experienced specialist will prescribe treatment that will help you recover as quickly as possible.