What parasites live in the human body

Different types of worms can live in the human body. No one is safe from parasites, general information about helminths is important information for everyone. Knowing the ways of invasion and the characteristics of parasitism of different worms, it will be possible to significantly reduce the risk of infection. Consider the classification of types of worms.

roundworms

Roundworms are the most common type of worms. Another name for them is nematodes. This is a group of parasites whose body is round in cross section. Their length varies from 5 mm to 40 cm. They are mainly located in the intestines, but they can also be located in other organs and tissues.

The high prevalence of this parasite is due to the ease of transmission. For development, it does not need to change the owner. Nematodes are transmitted from person to person or through the consumption of unwashed vegetables and fruits. Especially massive helminthiasis of this type, called the disease of dirty hands, is diagnosed in children. Such representatives of nematodes settle in the human body:

1. Worms are small worms with a gray body 5-10 mm long. Localized in the intestine, cause the disease enterobiasis. Infection occurs when the eggs enter the body through the mouth. For 2 weeks, the worm goes through a cycle of development into a sexually mature individual. These parasites live for 1-2 months, disrupting the normal functioning of the digestive system, leading to exhaustion. What the worm looks like can be seen in the photo.
2. Roundworms are large worms that provoke the development of ascariasis. The length of their finger-shaped body is 20-40 cm. They parasitize in the small intestine, but in the process of development they penetrate into the liver, heart and lungs. By migrating through the body, the worms damage internal organs and channels. The life span of parasites is 12-14 months. Infection with them negatively affects health, leads to allergies, digestive disorders, internal bleeding, intestinal obstruction. In children, roundworms can cause developmental delays. The way of infection is through unwashed hands, dirty products.
3. Vlasoglavy - worms with a body 3-5 cm long, located in the large intestine. It clings to its walls and sucks blood. It causes trichuriasis. This is a very toxic parasite, so it poisons the body a lot. Life expectancy is up to 5 years. All this time it provokes problems with appetite and stool, anemia and abdominal pain. It can lead to acute appendicitis when injected into the intestine.
4. Trichinella - worms whose length does not exceed 2-5 mm. Despite their small size, they cause a serious disease - trichinosis. Its symptoms are fever, swelling, allergies, high temperature. You can get infected through game meat, pork. These worms affect muscle tissue, especially facial muscles, as well as the respiratory tract. After 3-4 weeks, the larvae that have entered the muscles are encapsulated. Recovery is coming. But with a massive infection, a fatal outcome is possible.
5. Toxocara is a worm that parasitizes the body of dogs. It looks like a roundworm because it has the same finger-shaped body 15-30 cm long. When its larvae enter the human body, the disease toxocariasis appears. In the human body, toxocara cannot develop into a sexually mature individual, so their larvae migrate throughout the body, causing damage to internal organs, allergies and other disorders.

How intense the symptoms of roundworm infection will be depends on the number of worms that have entered the body, as well as on the state of human health.

Tapeworms

Among the most dangerous worms that occur in humans, the main role is played by tapeworms or cestodes. Given their large size, which can reach 18 m, it becomes clear how harmful they are to health. Cestodes are divided into tapeworms and tapeworms. They require a change of owner to complete their full life cycle. An obligatory stage of development is the existence in the body of ungulates. Consider a brief description of the most common representatives of the species:

1. Broad tape - a worm 10-15 m long, causing the development of diphyllobothriasis. It settles in the small intestine after a person has consumed raw or undercooked (uncooked) freshwater fish infected with worm eggs. It causes severe abdominal pain, anemia, digestive disorders. This helminth, like most cestodes, has a frightening appearance.
2. Tapeworm is a worm that enters the body as a result of eating contaminated pork. These 8-meter worms, parasitic in the intestine, cause the development of taeniasis, accompanied by severe indigestion, nervous dysfunctions and allergies.
3. Bull tape - a type of tape, reaching a size of 18 m. This is one of the largest human worms. It causes the development of teniarhinosis, leads to intestinal obstruction, physical and nervous exhaustion. You can become infected with this worm by eating infected beef. The worm is located in the small intestine.
4. Echinococcus is a tapeworm that parasitizes the body of cats and dogs. Humans are an intermediate host for this parasite, but, despite this, the larvae of the worm provoke the development of a very complex disease, echinococcosis. Worm eggs develop into larval stages, which penetrate the tissues of any organ and quickly form cysts. They can only be removed surgically.

strikes

Flukes or trematodes are a type of worm with suckers on the surface of the body. With their help, worms dig into the walls of internal organs, tissues and thus feed, absorbing useful substances, blood. The bodies of these helminths have a flat shape, can reach up to 1. 5 m in length, visually resemble a leaf of a tree. The main source of trematode infection is the consumption of undercooked or fried fish and seafood. In the development process, they need to change 1-2 intermediate hosts. The main types of flukes that parasitize the human body:

1. Liver fluke is a helminth that provokes the development of opisthorchiasis. It reaches 7-20 mm in length. It affects the bile, hepatic and pancreatic ducts. Against the background of infection with this parasite, ulcers, cholecystitis and pancreatitis develop. Learn more about liver stroke.
2. Fluke - a worm 8-13 mm long, parasitic in the gallbladder, as well as in its ducts. In the early stages of the invasion, there is a high temperature, pain in the muscles, joints, indigestion, then the symptoms become less pronounced. This is evidence that the disease has passed into the chronic phase.

Treatment - drugs for all types of worms

To destroy the worms, you need to take anthelmintic drugs. But first you need to determine what specific type of helminthiasis struck the body. Based on the results of the diagnosis, the drugs are selected. They are divided into 2 types:

• narrowly targeted - are designated for the destruction of certain types of helminths;
• broad target - considered universal, since they destroy almost all types of worms, they are suitable for preventing helminthic invasion.

The most popular are anthelmintic tablets and suspensions that contain the following active ingredients:

• mebendazole;
• Pyrantel;
• Piperazine;
• Carbendacym;
• Levamisole;
• Embonat Pirvinium;
• Albendazole.

The regimen, as well as the duration of treatment with tablets, must be determined by the doctor, since anthelmintic drugs have many contraindications and side effects.

In addition, during anthelmintic therapy, you can use folk recipes. Many plants are characterized by anthelmintic properties - garlic, onions, pumpkin seeds, herbs, spices, ginger. On their basis, anthelmintic infusions, decoctions and other means are prepared, the use of which will help to cleanse the body.

The loss of any kind of worm brings colossal health problems. Given their danger, it is important to take preventive measures to help reduce the risk of infection. To do this, it is enough to follow the rules of hygiene, eat meat and fish that have undergone only complete heat treatment and wash fruits and vegetables well.

At the first sign of infection, contact your doctor. The less time the worms live in the body, the easier it is to get rid of the consequences of parasitism.

What parasites in the human body do we know about?

The human body is an ideal platform for the life and reproduction of most microorganisms, including helminths. Each species has its own differences and morphological features. You need to know what the representatives of helminths look like and what is the difference between them.

Parasites in the human body are a widespread pathological condition. The characteristics of the structure and type of helminths directly depend on the class to which they belong.

Distribution

There are three major classes of parasites that pose a risk to human life and health:

• flatworms (class tape);
• roundworms (class nematodes);
• flukes (class Trematodes).

All parasites in the human body are of great danger, regardless of their class or type.

All representatives of the main classes can parasitize the body of an adult and a child. Consider the most famous representatives and the differences between them.

Features of the Tape class

Representatives of the species are also called flatworms. This name was given to them because of the structural features of the body, which has a flat shape. There are more than 1, 500 species of tapeworms. The most dangerous representatives of this class for humans were united under the common name Cestode.

A characteristic feature of all worms is their body, which has a ribbon-like shape and is divided into segments. Body sizes in length can be different - from a few millimeters to tens of centimeters. In the front part of the worm is a scolex - a head that carries the organs necessary for fixation - suckers, proboscis. Behind the head is the neck, and then there are a large number of segments.

The neck area is responsible for the growth of the helminth, therefore, the new segments are located closer to the head, and the old ones are located towards the tail part of the body. Each old segment has in its composition the male and female reproductive system, that is, it is considered hermaphrodite.

wide ribbon

This representative of the species is considered the largest among all parasitic worms. There have been cases of reaching a length of up to 20 meters. The head of the worm has an oval shape, there are two narrow slits, with the help of which the helminth can climb to the surface and change the position of its body.

The tapeworm is a hermaphrodite, like all representatives of flatworms. Its mature segments form eggs, which then emerge through the openings of the uterus. Worm eggs may be yellowish-brown in color, have a cap on one end and a tubercle on the other.

Pork Strip (Armed Strip)

The next representative of the class Tapeworms. Its body is white and can reach a length of 5 meters. The name "armed" went to the helminth due to the presence of a double corolla of hooks located in the scolex. The segments are square and hermaphrodite.

Each segment has a uterus located in the middle and the ovaries, which occupy a place between the uterus and the vagina. The testicles are located on the sides of the female reproductive system.

unarmored bar

This representative is also called the bull bar. "Unarmed" he became due to the lack of hooks on the head, compared to the pig's bar. The bull tapeworm is the second largest tapeworm after the broad tapeworm. In its structure, it completely resembles an armed bar. It also has a white color. Parasitic worms reproduce in the intestines of the intermediate or primary host.

All tapeworms in the human body look the same. It is possible to differentiate the species only with the help of laboratory research.

Representatives of Trematodes and their description

Flukes are human parasites that can cause the development of serious diseases. The main representatives of the class of medical interest:

• cat strike;
• lancet lancet;
• pulmonary stroke;
• liver stroke.

A feature of the body of worms of this class is the presence of all kinds of formations for attachment and movement: spikes, suckers and other devices. The length of their body varies from a few millimeters to 4-5 cm. They are all pink or gray in color, elongated in the shape of a leaf.

Cat flu is a small helminth. The length of its body reaches 1. 5 cm in length, it has an elongated shape, slightly expanded towards the tail. Two fangs are located in front of the body, which distinguishes it from other representatives. The male reproductive system is closer to the tail, and the uterus occupies an intermediate position. It is large and contains a large number of eggs.

The body of the lungs has a brown color, in the shape of an ellipse or coffee beans. The shape of the helminth is oval, wide. The entire body of the worm is covered from the outside with small spike-like formations that are involved in movement and changing its position in space.

The length of the lancet reaches 8-10 mm. The end of her head and tail are slightly elongated. Under the abdominal cavity is the male reproductive system in the form of two testicles, as well as the female reproductive system, represented by an ovary and the body of the uterus. The ventral sucker is close to the oral one.

Nematodes and their variety

Helminth species in this class are called roundworms. Their body has a round shape when you draw a cross section, which served as the basis for such a name. The edges of the body of nematodes have a pronounced and elongated shape. Vlasoglav, human roundworm, pinworm and trichinella are the main representatives that most often cause human helminthiases. Worms look like this:

1. Penworm is a helminth that parasitizes the large intestine. It most often causes the development of diseases in children. The representatives are small in size, the body of the female is twice as large as that of the male. Red worms are white in color, sometimes with a gray tint. In front of the body there is a swelling with which the worm can stick to the intestinal walls.
2. The human roundworm is a helminth that reaches a length of half a meter. The female is about 2 times larger than the male. The body has an oval shape, elongated in the front and back directions. On the side of the tail there is a slight bend, which is directed towards the belly. The movement of helminths occurs with the help of a well-developed muscle layer, located under an impenetrable shell, consisting of a large number of layers.
3. Vlasoglav can change the color of his body. It can be white or red-gray. The front part of the worm is much thinner than the back part. In the back are all the organs of the helminth. The worm has a small length - from 3 to 5 cm. The female differs from the male in the curvature of the tail. In the female, the tail has a spiral shape, while in the male, it is in the shape of an arch.
4. Trichinella - the smallest representatives of the class. Their size is only a few millimeters. Visually, they are thread-like worms, whose body is narrowed at the front and covered with a cuticle.

lamblia

Intestinal Giardia belongs to the order of Diplomonads of the flagella class. This is a special type of worms, which is also dangerous for the human body, especially for children. Parasites cause the development of giardiasis.

The body of Giardia is pear-shaped, the front part of which is round and wide. The rear end is sharp and slightly tapered. The size of the representatives of the class is so small that it is impossible to distinguish them with the naked eye.

To determine worms-parasites in the intestine is possible only in laboratory conditions.

A feature of the parasite's body is the presence of two nuclei and two groups of organelles. The organelles include two medial bodies and eight flagella.

Symptoms and treatment of parasites in human lungs

Not everyone knows that there are worms in the lungs, the symptoms of the disease are not so easy to recognize. The topic of parasites in the body is often undeservedly ignored by most people, believing that it has nothing to do with them. But many people are infected with parasites. The difficulty in detecting worms lies in the fact that there are thousands of species. The signs of the presence of parasites are similar to the symptoms of diseases. Medical literature describes more than one clinical case when a patient is treated by several specialized doctors and only one can replace them - a parasitologist.

Ways of infection with worms

They can be different:

• communication with an animal carrier of parasite pathogens;
• the use of thermally unprocessed foods containing parasite eggs;
• bathing in ponds and lakes infested with parasites;
• the introduction of parasites through the skin.

Residents of rural areas are more often infected with parasites. They are more likely to come into contact with infected animals. The risk of infestation increases when gardens and vegetable fields are fertilized with non-disinfected organic manure.

It is not an isolated case, when the larvae of worms enter the gastrointestinal tract of a person with vegetables grown in their garden. The intestines are a very favorable environment for the development and life of helminths. Consuming nutrients intended for humans, parasites multiply rapidly in easy conditions for their life, poisoning the patient's body with the products of their vital activity. In humans, it can cause allergies, nausea, vomiting and liver disease. From the intestines, larval embryos enter the bloodstream and are carried throughout the body (for example, in the lungs, liver, brain). Having settled in any organ, the worms begin to multiply actively, causing diseases of this organ. A rare case when the true cause that caused the disease is correctly determined. The degree of damage depends on the state of the immune system.

Signs of helminthic invasion of the lungs

Symptoms of the disease when infected with worms vary depending on the number of helminths in the body, the route of invasion and human immunity. Worms in the lungs rarely appear immediately after entering the body. They can live there for several years, waiting for the weakening of the immune system. When there are parasites in a person's lungs, the symptoms are similar to those seen in pneumonia and bronchitis:

• dyspnea;
• heating;
• cough without sputum;
• headache, nausea, vomiting;
• whistling;
• decrease in visual acuity and contrast;
• manifestations of allergies;
• lack of appetite.

The larvae of pulmonary worms that have taken the blood, while developing, modify the tissues of this organ. Capsules and adhesions are formed. As a result of damage to the lungs, failures in their work are observed. Tumors, emphysema, pleurisy, pneumosclerosis can form.

What types of worms can get into the lungs?

Knowing which parasites live in the lungs, it is possible to more objectively assess the degree of damage to the organ.

The causative agent of Toxoplasma is a pathogenic protozoan that causes toxoplasmosis. The patient is affected by the brain and spinal cord, liver, eyes. Tomography reveals extensive pneumosclerosis, many calcifications. Calcifications form dead parasites in the lungs.

Ascaris eggs, entering the gastrointestinal tract, cause ascariasis. In places where the worms penetrate the lung tissue, a trace of mechanical damage occurs. The body reacts with tissue edema, the formation of infiltrates.

Lung cysticercosis is caused by tapeworm larvae. They enter the lungs with the blood stream. The parasites in the lungs form a fibrous capsule.

Lung echinococcosis develops as a result of tapeworm cestodes entering the respiratory system. Cestodes form parasitic cysts with a fibrous membrane in the lungs. If the parasite dies, the capsule deflates and calcifies. Echinococcosis can be single-chambered and multi-chambered. Gradually, the cyst grows. Parasites live in human lungs for several years. Sometimes suppuration develops, pus can break out in the pleural cavity or in the bronchi.

Diagnosis and treatment

Pulmonary worms are detected using the following studies:

• blood analysis;
• X-rays of light;
• serological methods of examination;
• lung ultrasound;
• tomography.

The main role in the diagnosis of pulmonary worms is played by fluorography and x-rays.

Treatment of the disease is carried out with anthelmintic drugs that kill the parasites. Pharmacies sell many effective medicines. Only an experienced doctor can correctly assess the symptoms and treatment. Parasites always deplete the body, destroy the immune system, so the treatment must be comprehensive, aimed at strengthening the organism.

Infection with parasites occurs through dirty vegetables and herbs, improperly cooked fish and meat, garden soil, polluted water bodies. Parasite larvae, consuming nutrients, develop and can live in the body for several years. The remains of the parasites poison the person, affect the brain, blood, liver, lungs, immune system, without causing acute conditions for years. Left unnoticed, they provoke serious diseases up to cancer, can cause the death of the patient. Care must be taken to prevent infestation by parasites.