A parasite is a creature whose existence is directly related to its host. In other words, parasitic organisms live at the expense of the host, exploiting it for their own benefit, and at the same time influencing it negatively. These creatures are very hardy and reproduce at a high rate, so fighting them is quite a difficult task. These types of living things include: viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. In severe cases, parasites take all the juice from the 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 is a parasite?
Parasites are organisms that exist solely thanks to the host organism and at the same time have a negative effect on it. These include various types of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and worms. Bacteria have the smallest size. Even so, they can be the causative agents of quite serious diseases, among which are:
- epidemic
- type
- dry cough
- tetanus
- meningitis, etc.
Fungal parasites are the next most advanced organisms of this type. There are up to a hundred species of pathogenic fungi. Its size is slightly larger than bacteria and, unlike them, it has excellent protection from environmental factors, and is also endowed with good adaptation to changing environmental conditions. They are divided into two groups: filamentous fungi and yeast. 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 agents 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 attack 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 eat at its expense.
Most often, their hosts are vertebrates: humans, cats, dogs, fish. Tapeworms have special suckers that attach to the intestinal wall. They absorb nutrients throughout the body, because their primitive structure does not provide either a digestive tract or any sense organs.
There are many tapeworms. The length of this parasite varies from a tenth of a centimeter to nine meters. Their body structure also varies: they can be either whole organisms or consist of segments connected to each other in a chain. Flatworms are hermaphrodites - each representative of this species is 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 a mouth cavity, where 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 in which parasites can enter the human body, the main ones are:
- nutrition– through contaminated food, water;
- contact-household– infection occurs through contact with contaminated objects, family members, pets;
- can be transmitted– infection that occurs through insects that feed on blood;
- active– parasites enter the human body during interaction with contaminated soil or while swimming in a pool.
Nutrition
Among the helminths transmitted through food, it is necessary to highlight separately those transmitted through meat products. The most dangerous of them are pig and cattle tapeworms. Cattle tapeworms can live in the human body for up to ten years, reaching a length of three to ten meters. The pig tapeworm, after settling in the intestine and starting 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. Often ends in death. When buying meat, you should always pay attention to the seller. Since he is the person directly related to food, his responsibilities include frequent medical examinations and strict adherence to hygiene standards. Unfortunately, in our time, few people monitor this, which is why the focus of the disease arises.
Also, from the point of view of helminth infection, freshwater fish is a dangerous product. For example, cyprinids can cause diseases such as opisthorchiasis. The eggs of these parasites enter the fish through river molluscs and have almost no effect on the fish themselves - they only serve as carriers of the parasite.
Dried, smoked or dried fish pose a serious danger. Raw pike caviar, for example, can be infected with broad tapeworms. Diphyllobothriasis is a disease caused by this worm. Tapeworms can reach up to ten meters in length and are small intestinal parasites for decades.
Contacts and household
The most famous helminths that are spread in 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 while sleeping, because female pinworms come out to lay eggs, after which various household items and clothes are infected.
If the infection is not detected quickly, then all family members can develop the disease. Giardiasis can be contracted by drinking contaminated water. This parasite can live even in chlorinated water. Also, household items: toys, dishes can serve as a source of infection with this parasite.
Transmissible route of infection
Filariasis is a type of helminthiasis that can be transmitted by certain mosquito species that are common in tropical and subtropical climates. Malaria, or yellow fever, is a deadly disease that is also spread by mosquitoes. Filaria can live in blood and lymph, causing various negative reactions in the host.
Active route of infection
In this case, the parasite infects 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. To protect yourself from infection, you must follow 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 large size and number, some types of worms can cause blockage of various body systems: bile ducts, intestines. These restrictions lead to certain types of disease and, especially in severe cases, require surgical intervention.
- Diarrhea. Parasites, which as a result of their vital activity produce substances similar to prostaglandins, cause frequent and loose stools in the host.
- Bloated stomach. In the course of their life, worms can often cause inflammation in the intestines. This inflammatory process causes excessive gas formation, which leads to bloating.
- Allergies. A damaged lining of the gastrointestinal tract can cause undigested food molecules to enter the blood. In this case, the immune system plays a role and, as a result of its response, a large number of eosinophils, cells that cause inflammation, are released into the blood, indicating an allergic reaction in the body.
- Bad skin. Many different skin diseases can be caused by parasitic organisms on the skin.
- Weight problems. Deviation of body weight 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 experience uncontrollable hunger, which leads to obesity.
- Chronic fatigue. Weakness, flu-like conditions, apathy, poor concentration and memory are symptoms that often occur with poor nutrition. In the case of helminth infection, the function of the digestive system is affected and therefore the absorption of various nutrients is affected, which leads to chronic fatigue.
- Inflammation of the respiratory tract. Some types of worms move throughout the human body, including the respiratory system. In some cases, they trigger a disturbance in the lungs, causing cough and fever. Roundworms can also cause diseases such as pneumonia.
- Feeling nervous. The human nervous system can be severely damaged by exposure to helminth waste. Various nervous disorders are signs 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 clear, however, they can be misinterpreted and associated with completely different diseases. 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 other living things. As a result of their vital activity, the viability of the host is significantly reduced. There are many ways to become infected with parasites; it really surrounds a person. The symptoms of infection vary quite a bit and if you suspect a parasitic infection, you should see a doctor and undergo an examination.