Human parasitic diseases (from the Greek parasitos - "parasite") are a large group of diseases of the "infectious diseases" section, the cause of which are unicellular and multicellular parasites.
A parasite is a living organism that lives or is in the host's body and receives food from it or at its expense, that is, leads a parasitic lifestyle. Everyone knows how to live in the human body, some imperceptibly, others can cause serious damage to health.
Causative agents of parasitic diseases
There are three main classes of parasites that can cause disease in humans:
Protozoa are microscopic single-celled organisms that can be free-living or parasitic in nature. They are able to reproduce in humans, which contributes to their survival and also allows for the development of serious infections from only one organism.
Helminths (from the Greek helminths - "worms") are large multicellular organisms that are usually visible to the naked eye during the adult stage. Like protozoa, helminths can be free or parasitic in nature. In their adult form, helminths cannot reproduce in humans.
Ectoparasites: This term is usually used more narrowly to refer to organisms such as ticks, fleas and lice that attach or hide in the skin and remain there for a long period of time (weeks or months). Arthropods can cause infection on their own, and it can carry other diseases.
List of parasitic infections: amoebiasis, ascariasis, hymenolepiasis, diphyllobothriasis, clonorchiasis, cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis, malaria (imported cases), opisthorchiasis, teniarinhoses, teniasis, toxocariasis, toxoplasmosis, trichinosis, trichocytocephaly, cysticocytosis.
Signs of parasitic diseases.
Their manifestations can be varied and depend on the type and location of the parasite, as well as the level of immunity of the host.
Protozoa most commonly cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Helminth infections can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea (diarrhea), muscle pain, cough, skin breakdown, malnutrition, weight loss, impaired movement and speech coordination, seizures, and many other symptoms, depending on the individual and the severity of the infection.
Diagnosis and treatment of parasitic diseases
Diagnosis of parasitic diseases includes:
- Clinical blood test.
- Blood test for specific antibodies and antigens of the parasite.
- Blood smear.
- Analysis of feces for eggs of worms and parasites.
- Endoscopic research methods (for example, colonoscopy, in the case of complex diagnostics).
- X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) for severe damage to internal organs by parasites.
The treatment plan will depend on the specific diagnosis. As a rule, drugs are prescribed in the form of tablets, sometimes hospital treatment is required, up to surgical intervention.
Other treatments to relieve symptoms (diet, water intake) may also be recommended.
Prevention of parasitic diseases
Prevention is always easier than cure and there are simple ways to protect yourself.
Do not eat:
- undercooked fish, crabs and shellfish;
- undercooked meat;
- raw aquatic plants;
- raw vegetables that may have been contaminated with human or animal feces.
Parasites can live in natural water sources, so when swimming:
- do not swallow water;
- prevent babies from defecating in the water, take babies to the bathroom and check nappies every hour, change nappies in the bathroom or in the nappy changing area rather than by the pool to prevent germs from entering the pool;
- do not swim or let children swim if they have diarrhea;
- do your own mini-inspection (contamination);
- take a shower for at least 1 minute before diving into the water.
Pets can carry parasites and transmit them to humans. Zoonosis is a disease that spreads between animals and humans. Sometimes people with zoonotic infections have no symptoms. Other people may have symptoms such as diarrhea, body aches, and fever.
Regular veterinary care will protect your pet and family. There are simple steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from diseases that can be carried by animals. Make sure your pet is treated by a veterinarian.
Put the four rules into practice:
- Quickly collect animal droppings and dispose of them properly. Make sure you wash your hands after handling household waste.
- Wash your hands often, especially after touching animals, and avoid contact with animal feces.
- Follow proper food handling procedures to reduce the risk of contamination with contaminated food.
- For people with weakened immune systems, be especially careful when dealing with animals that can transmit these infections.