According to the WHO, more than 4 billion people on Earth suffer from parasites. Such a massive infection can be explained by an underestimation of the problem, inadequate education of the population, and ineffective diagnosis and treatment of patients.
Any parasite that can cause disease in humans can be divided into three major groups:
- Protozone or protozoan. There are quite a variety of them, but only a few are widespread around the world - lamblia, toxoplasma, Trichomonas.
- Worms or helminths. There are roundworms, pinworms, toxocaras, trichinella, porcine and bovine tapeworms, echinococcus, felines, and others in the CIS countries.
- Ectoparasites (parasitize outside) - lice with head lice, ticks.
Infection of the human body with parasites into the latter group is fairly easy to spot, but protozoa and worms often become "surprises" to their "owners. "
Why are parasites dangerous?
Most parasites live long and actively multiply in the human body, so the diseases they cause are chronic, recurrent. In this case, the affected organs completely cease to function, immunity is reduced, and the patient becomes more vulnerable to infections.
As a result, the body of a person infected with parasites is exhausted, weakened, poisoned by parasitic poisons, and allergic. These processes, of course, do not develop at lightning speed, but years of ignorance of the presence of the pest in the body and, accordingly, a lack of treatment cause serious health problems.
How can you get infected?
Knowing the main ways to get parasites is a chance to protect yourself and stay healthy. If we focus on the pathogens that are common in the CIS countries, the possible route of transmission of these parasites in humans will be as follows:
- With dirty hands.
- Through dirty water (including swimming in it).
- Through unwashed vegetables and fruits.
- Through raw or improperly cooked meat and fish.
- Contact with an infectious animal.
- Sexual intercourse (thus spreading trichomoniasis).
How is a parasite suspected in a person?
Each parasite has its own localization in the human body, as well as a special clinic for defeating one or another organ. However, a number of signs that are common to all helminthiasis and diseases caused by certain protozoa can be distinguished.
Intoxication
Its appearance in humans is associated with the vital activity of the parasite, the products it selects poison the patient's body. This is manifested by headache, weakness, nausea, loss of appetite, irritability.
Allergy
Most often, it is a skin rash that appears and disappears and does not respond well to dermatological treatment. This can manifest as diathesis in infants. The origin of such a rash is also explained by the effect of the parasite’s toxins on the body. If a person is allergic, infection with worms can cause more serious manifestations - swelling of the mucous membranes, bronchospasm, and so on.
Weight Loss
This symptom occurs especially in children who seem to eat well but do not gain weight, do not lose weight, but are outright desperate. The reason for weight loss again lies in competing with the worms for nutrients in the patient’s body.
Periodic hyperthermia
In addition, the temperature does not rise much - up to 37, 5. This happens in the absence of obvious signs of any disease.
Intestinal disorders
These include bloating, constipation, diarrhea, growl and abdominal pain. Often, these symptoms are explained by the presence of dysbiosis and are treated unsuccessfully with antibiotics and bacterial drugs.
anemia
Human parasites feed on food, so the nutrients, micro- and macroelements, and vitamins often consumed by the patient are not enough to meet the body's own needs. The first sign of such a deficiency is the lack of iron in anemia, which manifests itself in pallor and dizziness of the skin and mucous membranes.
Changes in eating preferences, craving for sweets
These phenomena can also be explained by a lack of nutrients in the patient's body.
The appearance of these signs, all the more so, simultaneously warns and forces a doctor.
Diagnostic and protection methods
It should be noted at the outset that alternative methods for detecting parasites in the human body (such as the published Voll method) cannot be considered as a reliable source of information. Therefore, you can only rely on microscopic examination of feces and multiple and specific blood tests for the presence of antibodies to individual worms and protozoa. The latter can be done in private laboratories.
To avoid becoming a victim of a parasite, humans should follow simple rules:
- Always wash your hands with soap and water.
- There are only vegetables, fruits and herbs that are thoroughly washed or, better yet, boiled with boiling water.
- Do not drink raw water.
- Do not swim in muddy waters.
- Complete heat treatment of meat and fish products is mandatory.
- Wash children's toys regularly and disinfect those kept outdoors, such as in a sandbox.
- Check your pets for parasites annually.
Antiparasitic agents
Doctors recommend worm prophylaxis twice a year with special preparations. However, it is impossible to arbitrarily prescribe such medications to yourself, and even more so to a child, as they are all toxic not only to worms. Therefore, you should consult your doctor about the possibility of using or administering this medicine.
If the presence of a parasite in the human body is confirmed, it is worth looking for a good parasitologist who prescribes an effective treatment regimen, as taking a drug is usually not enough.