General and specific signs of the presence of parasites in the human body

Signs of parasites in the human body depend on the specific type of parasite and its waste. One of the most common signs of parasites in the body is intestinal and gastric discomfort.

According to WHO statistics, about 95% of the Earth's total population is infected with parasites—microorganisms that exist and feed on other organisms. Often, the signs of the presence of parasites in the human body are not noticed, because some of them have adapted well and the signs can be mistaken for other diseases.

A type of parasite that often infects the human body

The human body is most often inhabited by:

• roundworms;
• pinworms;
• hookworm;
• Giardia;
• whipworm;
• cattle tapeworm;
• wide band;
• pork tapeworm;
• echinococcus;
• trichinella.

Helminths is the general name for worms that exist in living organisms. In short, worms. They are classified into the following types: tapeworms (cystodes), flukes (flukes) and roundworms (nematodes). The most common type of helminth is roundworm.

They are round in shape and mostly live in the intestine and its various parts. Some representatives, for example, Trichinella, can migrate throughout the body. The intestine is the main place for the life of roundworms. Representatives of tapeworms are cattle and pig tapeworms, tapeworms, echinococcus. The size of the parasite in question can reach several meters in length. Some of them began to grow outside the human body.

Biohelminths undergo stages of maturation and development in animal organisms. These are, for example, toxocara, cattle and pig tapeworms, etc. Soil is the habitat of geohelminths Geohelminths thrive in soil. And they enter humans through the skin or through ingestion. This includes many types of roundworms. Contact parasites enter a person through direct contact with another person. Enterobiasis is one of the diseases transmitted by contact parasites, pinworms.

How does infection occur?

You can become infected with parasite larvae by eating unprocessed food (fish, capelin), raw vegetables and fruits that are not washed properly, insect bites, sexual intercourse, household methods, drinking raw water, and swallowing water, duringswimming in the reservoir, from pets. , through the ground.

General signs of the presence of helminths

Often, it is quite difficult to recognize the presence of the pest in question in an individual's body. And many symptoms can be mistaken for chronic diseases and not successfully treated. Disease symptoms may vary depending on the type of worm, its location and quantity. But there are general signs of the presence of parasites in the human body.

Allergies

As a result of the metabolic process, worms secrete toxic elements that penetrate the blood system and contribute to the occurrence of allergic manifestations. The rash may appear and disappear periodically. This allergy is difficult to treat with dermatological agents.

Allergies can manifest themselves:

• tearing, eyelid pain and conjunctivitis
• chronic runny nose
• shortness of breath, cough
• skin rash, peeling and redness, burning
• rosacea, eczema
• jamming in the corners and inflammation of the lips
• Leukocytosis is an increase in white blood cells in the blood
• scabies in the anal area (pinworms) and on the body
• problem skin and acne
• asthma and tuberculosis (mining worms)
• hair fall

Stomach and intestinal discomfort syndrome

Many parasites inhabit the large and small intestines of an individual. They stick to the walls, irritate them and contribute to the occurrence of inflammatory processes in the organs. The absorption function of nutrients, especially fatty substances, is affected

A large number of fat elements in feces can be detected by laboratory methods.

Bile stagnation

Due to their large size, some parasites can block the bile ducts and cause biliary dyskinesia. These symptoms can trigger other more serious liver diseases. Parasites can block the bile ducts, which can negatively affect the liver

constipation

Worms can clog the intestinal lumen. Often, signs of the presence of parasites in the human body are shown by symptoms such as constipation, and can even cause intestinal obstruction. Diarrhea Diarrhea is one of the most common symptoms of helminth infestation. Prostaglandins, produced by the parasite, lead to frequent watery stools.

Dysbacteriosis

Due to intestinal dysfunction, symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, and excessive gas formation occur, which can be mistaken for dysbacteriosis. But in this case, treatment with antibiotics and probiotics did not give positive results. Decreased immunity Parasites eat what humans eat. They absorb most of the nutrients that are digested.

Weak immunity may be caused by the activity of parasites in the body

Due to the constant response of the immune system to the presence of "foreigners, " the body's defenses are reduced and the immune system is weakened. This is manifested by frequent colds, an unreasonable increase in temperature, body aches, etc.

Pain in joints and muscles

Worms can affect different organs. Trichinella, for example, settles in muscle tissue and can damage it. This is the body's response to the vital activity of the parasite.

Weight changes

One of the signs of helminthiasis is weight loss or obesity. Weight loss occurs due to the inability to obtain nutrients from the food consumed. And weight gain, as a result of the body's reaction, is the need to "store food for future use. "Therefore, before making a decision to gain or lose weight, it is necessary to undergo a complete examination for the presence of parasites in the human body.

Anemia

Some parasites, Trichomonas, for example, can infect various human organs, including the blood. By consuming its cells, helminthiasis causes anemia and iron deficiency. Vitamin deficiency A person suffers from a lack of nutrients and vitamins, which causes vitamin deficiency. This is a consequence of the parasite's gluttony.

Anxiety, sleep disorders

Insomnia, poor short sleep, may be the reaction of the nervous system to the presence of "illegal" residents. Some helminths come out at night through the anus to lay larvae. This can cause discomfort and itching, which causes you to wake up often and does not allow you to fully rest.

"Chronic fatigue syndrome"

Against the background of general intoxication of the body, lack of vitamins and nutrients absorbed by parasites, an individual may feel constant fatigue, decreased concentration, apathy and memory loss.

Oncology

The presence of parasites does not have the best effect on the human body as a whole. The normal function of all organs is disrupted, inflammation occurs, health worsens, and immunity decreases. Disruption of the normal functioning of the body due to the influence of parasites can lead to severe consequences

It is important to know that all these signs, with prolonged action, can trigger the formation of tumors and neoplasms.

Inflammation of the larynx and respiratory tract

Worms can move throughout the body. Once they reach the respiratory tract, they cause a severe cough, sore throat and fever. As a result of their vital activity, asthma or pneumonia can develop.

You cannot ignore any symptoms that indicate damage to the body. At the first manifestation of signs of any disease, you must immediately see a doctor and undergo a procedure to be checked for parasites. This will allow you to receive timely treatment and prevent the damaging effects of toxins from damaging your body. The long-term presence of worms in the human body can lead to the development of serious diseases, including cancer or chronic forms of existing diseases.

Specific symptoms of parasite infestation

In addition to the general ones, there are some special signs of the presence of parasites in the human body, which are characteristic of women and men separately.

For women are:

• disruption of the normal menstrual cycle;
• vaginal dysbiosis, mycosis;
• inflammation of ovaries, kidneys, bladder;
• uterine fibroids;
• infertility.

For men, the disease in question manifests itself:

• sexual dysfunction;
• the presence of sand or stones in the kidneys or bladder;
• inflammation of the prostate gland;
• mental disorder.

Differences in symptoms between children and adults

When parasite larvae enter, they face a 3-level protective barrier:

• saliva;
• gastric juice;
• local intestinal immunity.

In a child's still fragile body, such protection may not work. And children are the most vulnerable to the disease. In the summer, when children are always outdoors, the risk of contracting helminths is very high. Anything can be in the sand if its cleanliness is not monitored. There are more than enough ways of infection for children: children's sandbox, pets, fruits and vegetables that are not always washed, swimming in the pool. Furthermore, especially for the little one, there is a desire to taste everything.

The habit of thumb-sucking only increases the chances of getting helminthic attacks. The most common types of parasites in children include: pinworms, roundworms, whipworms, and toxocara. Pinworms are small white worms, no more than 1 cm. They come out and lay eggs near the anus. Therefore, the presence of such parasites is always accompanied by itching around the anus. Ringworms are larger in size, they can reach 40 cm in length!

Please note that the phenomenon of "bruxism" (teeth grinding) is considered one of the signs of the presence of parasites in the human body and often disturbs children in their sleep. Parents should pay attention to this fact and have their children checked for the presence of parasites. Often, worms live in the intestines, so children may experience problems with stools, bloating, vomiting, and epigastric pain.

Diagnosis of parasites

The main problem in diagnosing parasitic diseases is that they masquerade as many chronic diseases and it is very difficult to identify the true cause of the symptoms.

How to determine the presence of parasites

When one or another organ or tissue is damaged, its own characteristics dominate.

In the intestines

The most suitable place for parasites to live: high humidity, warm temperature, neutral pH environment. Symptoms of intestinal damage:

• constipation;
• diarrhea;
• flatulence;
• intestinal obstruction;
• spasmodic pain, cramps in the stomach;
• weight loss;
• vomiting;
• nervousness;
• lack of (or increased) appetite.

A person is overcome by helplessness, fatigue, and reluctance to move.

In the stomach

With a parasite attack, the following signs are observed:

• nausea;
• belch;
• saliva;
• heaviness and bloating;
• diarrhea;
• bleeding during bowel movements;
• itching in the anal area due to pinworms;
• cough due to gastric neuroreceptor irritation.

With intestinal acne, sputum can be separated from the blood fraction.

In the heart

symptoms:

• pain in the right hypochondrium;
• belch;
• nausea;
• allergic urticaria;
• yellowing of the sclera, oral mucosa and skin;
• loss of hair follicles;
• weaknesses;
• irritation;
• anemia.

There is significant swelling in the legs and abdomen.

In the blood

Distinctive symptoms:

• fever;
• thickening, enlargement, pain of lymph nodes;
• rash on the body;
• dizziness, headache;
• thirst;
• lethargy, sleepiness;
• breathing difficulties;
• circulatory disorders, expressed in numbness and coldness in the legs.

Anemia inevitably develops, because many parasites destroy red blood cells.

In case of heart failure

There are always signs of lung and heart failure.

• cough;
• breathing difficulties;
• nervousness, fear;
• weaknesses;
• chest pain;
• arrhythmia, bradycardia;
• temperature, fever alternating with chills;
• changes in blood pressure;
• sweating;
• pale face, neck;
• anemia.

Signs of hypoxia are observed: cyanosis of the skin of the fingertips, nasolabial triangle and oral mucous membrane.

In the lungs

Characteristic symptoms:

• breathing difficulties;
• difficulty breathing;
• attacks of dry cough at night;
• asthmatic bronchospasm;
• allergic rhinitis, sneezing;
• chest pain;
• rapid pulse;
• nausea

It is possible to separate a little frothy sputum with blood cells.

Under the skin

External symptoms:

• small itchy red rash, large swollen blisters on the skin;
• ulcers, abscesses, warts, eczema;
• fever;
• night sweats;
• dense mobile tumor-like areas under the skin;
• anemia.

Allergic cough and runny nose often develop.

In the eye

Distinctive symptoms:

• inflammation of the conjunctiva, accompanied by burning and itching;
• pain in the eyes and pain when moving your eyes to the side, up;
• flies fly, cloudy threads before the eyes;
• dry mucous eyes;
• blurred vision of objects, double vision;
• headache, dizziness;
• eyelid swelling;
• blue under the eyes.

There is a significant deterioration in visual acuity.

Parasitosis disguises itself as thousands of diseases, so it is impossible to determine it visually, without laboratory tests. The duration of recovery depends on the accuracy of the diagnosis and the identification of the parasite in the early stages of the infection.

In the blood

Parasites that live in the blood can live in red blood cells, plasma and white blood cells. Types of pests:

• Mansonella is a type of worm that can grow up to 8 centimeters. Causes dizziness, headache and joint pain, fever, skin problems, numbness in the legs.
• Hemosporidia are single-celled organisms that live inside red blood cells.
• Trypanosomes are single-celled organisms that cause Chagas disease and sleeping sickness.
• Plasmodium malaria.

Symptoms of diseases caused by parasites

Often this disease is named after the parasite that causes it.

Ascariasis

The causative agent of this disease is a roundworm, which is located in the human intestine. The extent of the disease depends on the age of the patient, the severity and duration of the parasite attack.

Symptoms of ascariasis appear as follows:

• allergic rash located on the patient's legs, hands and body;
• increased temperature, fever;
• general weakness and malaise;
• sweating at night and during the day;
• enlarged liver and aching pain in the hypochondrium;
• lack of appetite and nausea; pain and cramps in the stomach;
• constipation and diarrhea; weight loss or gain;
• cough, shortness of breath and chest pain occur during the period of migration of roundworms and their localization in the lungs;
• insomnia;
• decreased cognitive abilities;
• convulsions;
• obstructive jaundice and intestinal obstruction.

Hookworm disease

The causative agents of this disease are helminths, hookworms and necators. Disease symptoms:

• urticaria and dermatitis, when larvae penetrate the skin, swelling forms at the site of penetration, which causes a burning sensation and itching;
• bronchitis, tracheitis, laryngitis are observed during the migration of parasites throughout the human body, in this case the patient experiences cough, shortness of breath, hoarseness;
• when the larvae reach the intestine, anemia, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, and loss of appetite develop;
• irritability, fatigue, insomnia.

Diphyllobothriasis

This disease is caused by a broad tapeworm. Disease symptoms:

• weight loss;
• diarrhea and constipation;
• loss of appetite;
• low fever;
• increased tiredness and fatigue;
• the presence of worms in the feces in the form of white ribbons;
• cramps and stomach pain;
• anemia;
• dizziness and headache;
• cracks and red spots on the tongue;
• pathological processes in the mouth and esophagus;
• intestinal obstruction;
• depression

Taeniasis

The causative agent of this disease is the pig tapeworm, which is located in the small intestine. Disease symptoms:

• nausea and vomiting; fragments of parasite larvae can be observed in vomit;
• diarrhea and constipation;
• weight loss and appetite;
• cramps and stomach pain;
• anal itching;
• dizziness and headache;
• insomnia and excitement;
• when the larva is located in the brain, cysticercosis develops, which is manifested by speech disorders, epilepsy, delirium, hallucinations, loss of consciousness;
• When the parasite migrates, it is able to penetrate the eyes, heart and lungs.

Echinococcosis

The causative agent of this disease is the Echinococcus tapeworm. The worm is dangerous because it is able to form cysts in almost any internal organ: heart, liver, brain, lungs, etc. This disease is very dangerous, because at first it is completely asymptomatic, and clinical manifestations are already observed in the final stages of the formation of hydatid cysts.

Disease symptoms:

• the occurrence of pain at the site of cyst formation;
• weakness, increased fatigue, drowsiness;
• skin allergies in the form of hives and itching;
• disturbances in the function of the affected organs: if the liver is affected, then the appetite worsens, nausea and vomiting appear if the lungs are affected, then there is cough, shortness of breath, fever if the brain is affected, then epilepsy; occur, paresis of the arms and legs, with the formation of cysts in the heart the development of serious cardiac pathology is possible;
• When the cyst ruptures, the parasite spreads with incredible speed to all internal organs and systems, which can lead to very serious complications and even the death of the patient.

Alveococcosis

The causative agent of this disease is alveococcus tapeworm. The disease is considered indolent: 10 years or more may pass from the moment of infection to the development of the disease. Disease symptoms: dermatological manifestations:

• skin itching and urticaria;
• bitterness in the mouth, nausea;
• pain and heaviness in the right hypochondrium;
• heart bra;
• compaction is observed in the heart;
• weight loss;
• weakness and lethargy;
• When the parasite is in the brain, severe headaches and dizziness are observed.

Giardiasis

This disease develops as a result of infection of the human body with intestinal lamblia. Sometimes asymptomatic carriage occurs, without obvious signs of the disease. symptoms:

• disorders in the gastrointestinal tract: nausea, vomiting, belching, diarrhea and constipation;
• specific pain in the navel area;
• loss of appetite, flatulence;
• temperature increase;
• general fatigue, decreased performance;
• irritability and restlessness;
• skin itching.

Amoebiasis

This disease is caused by histological amoeba. Sometimes the symptoms of the disease may not be present at all, and sometimes, on the contrary, they manifest themselves very clearly. Symptoms manifest in two forms: intestinal and extraintestinal. With the extraintestinal form of amebiasis, the lungs, brain, genitourinary system, and skin are affected, but the intestinal form is the most common.

Symptoms of intestinal amoebiasis:

• painful diarrhea, with frequent urges (up to 20 times) sometimes with blood;
• stomach ache;
• increase in temperature indicators;
• vomiting and nausea;
• loss of appetite

After some time, the symptoms of the disease may disappear by themselves, for a while, and then appear with renewed vigor.

Schistosomiasis

The causative agent of this disease is blood schistosoma. This disease has several stages of development:

• in the early stages, the patient experiences an allergic reaction, which is manifested by rash and swelling, cough with hemoptysis, which has a paroxysmal nature with general weakness and pain in the joints and muscles;
• when the disease becomes chronic, the symptoms are limited to disturbances in the act of urinating (pain and pain during urination, increased frequency of urination, urinary incontinence at night and during the day);
• There are particularly severe cases that lead to the death of the patient.

There are a large number of symptoms of parasites in the human body. Without laboratory tests, based only on the symptoms themselves, it is impossible to diagnose the presence of parasites in the body. The severity of symptoms depends mainly on a person's defense mechanisms, on the location of the parasite and its type.

To determine the presence of parasites, it is necessary to undergo a series of tests

Also, a significant problem is created by the ability of most parasites to exist for a long period, sometimes without symptoms, of existence in the human body. Therefore, if there are signs of a sluggish chronic disease, it is appropriate to carry out an examination for the presence of parasites.

Methods for diagnosing parasites:

Direct methods: stool analysis, urine analysis, scraping of the perianal area, subungual phalanx, analysis of sputum and duodenal contents. This method has several disadvantages, which are associated with the characteristics and development period of the parasite, as well as with the condition of the human body.

Ultrasound is also used to study the presence of parasites in the body.

To increase the content of such diagnostic information, it is necessary to undergo the examination several times. But this does not guarantee that you will receive reliable information. Recently, stool analysis using the PCR method has been used, which significantly increases the effectiveness of the direct method, as it helps to identify parasites by their DNA. But this is only if there are parasites in the gastrointestinal tract.

Indirect methods: X-ray, morphology, ultrasound, biopsy.

Bioresonance method: Voll method, ART.

The enzyme immunoassay method is to determine the presence of antibodies to various types of parasites in human blood. This method is very informative and helps to identify the early form of the disease.

When you need to see a doctor immediately

In the early stages, there may be no signs of the presence of parasites in the human body. It will take years for the parasite infestation to manifest. In the first disease without cause, you should see a specialist doctor. It is important to remember that if a person is bothered by any of the symptoms mentioned above, he should immediately contact a specialist (immunologist or parasitologist), especially if this involves children.

The doctor will order the test, which may need to be done several times to get more reliable information. Then an adequate treatment will be selected. Helminthiasis is a rather serious and dangerous disease. It is important to remember this and not allow parasites to cause irreparable harm to the body. Therefore, you should observe the rules of personal hygiene, monitor food and immediately seek qualified help from a specialist.