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 features of parasitism of various worms, it will be possible to significantly reduce the risk of infection. Consider the classification of worm species.

round worms

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

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

1. Pinworms are small worms with a grayish body 5-10 mm long. Located in the intestine, they cause the disease enterobiasis. The infection occurs when the eggs enter the body through the mouth. For 2 weeks, the worm goes through a development cycle until it becomes a sexually mature individual. These parasites live for 1 to 2 months, disrupting the normal functioning of the digestive tract and causing exhaustion. The appearance of the worm can be seen in the photo.
2. Roundworms are large worms that cause the development of ascariasis. The length of their spindle-shaped body is 20-40 cm, they parasitize in the small intestine, but in the process of development they penetrate the liver, heart and lungs. Migrating through the body, the worms damage internal organs and ducts. The life span of parasites is 12-14 months. Infection with them negatively affects health, provokes allergies, digestive disorders, internal bleeding, intestinal obstruction. In children, roundworms can cause developmental delays. The route of infection is through dirty hands, dirty products.
3. Vlasoglavy - worms with a body 3-5 cm long, located in the large intestine. It adheres to its walls and absorbs blood. Causes trichuriasis. This is a very toxic parasite, so it poisons the body a lot. The shelf life is up to 5 years. All this time, it causes problems with appetite and stool, anemia and abdominal pain. It can cause acute appendicitis when injected into the cecum.
4. Trichinella - worms, the length of which 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, pigs. These worms affect the muscular tissues, especially the muscles of the face, 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 resembles a roundworm, because it has the same spindle-shaped body 15-30 cm long. When its larvae enter the body of people, toxocariasis disease occurs. In the human body, toxocara cannot develop into a sexually mature individual, so its larvae migrate throughout the body, causing damage to internal organs, allergies and other disorders.

The intensity of the symptoms of infection with pinworms depends on the number of worms that have entered the body, as well as the state of human health.

you had

Among the most dangerous worms that occur in humans, the main role is occupied by tapeworms or cestodes. Given their enormous 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 ownership 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 tapeworm - a 10-15 m long worm that causes the development of diphyllobothriasis. It settles in the small intestine after a person has eaten raw or undercooked (undercooked) freshwater fish infected with worm eggs. Causes severe abdominal pain, anemia, digestive disorders. This helminth, like most tapeworms, has a frightening appearance.
2. A tapeworm is a worm that enters the body as a result of eating contaminated pork. These 8-meter worms, parasitizing in the intestines, cause the development of taeniasis, accompanied by severe indigestion, nervous dysfunction and allergies.
3. Bull tapeworm: a species of tapeworm that reaches a size of 18 m This is one of the largest human worms. It causes the development of teniarinhoza, leads to intestinal obstruction, physical and nervous exhaustion. You can get infected with this worm by eating the affected meat. The worm is located in the small intestine.
4. Echinococcus is a tapeworm that parasitizes the bodies of dogs and cats. People of this parasite are an intermediate host, but, despite this, the larvae of the worm provoke the development of a very complex disease - echinococcosis. Worm eggs develop to the stage of larvae, which penetrate the tissues of any organ and quickly form cysts. They can only be removed surgically.

flukes

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

1. Liver fluke is a helminth that provokes the development of opisthorchiasis. In length it reaches 7-20 mm. It affects the bile, hepatic and pancreatic ducts. Against the background of infection with this parasite, an ulcer, cholecystitis and pancreatitis develop. Learn more about the liver fluke.
2. Fluke: an 8-13 mm long worm that parasitizes the gallbladder and 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 stage.

Treatment: medications for all types of worms.

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

• strictly targeted - are assigned to the destruction of various types of helminths;
• widely targeted - they are considered universal, since they destroy almost all types of worms, they are suitable for the prevention of the invasion of helminths.

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

• mebendazole;
• pyrantel;
• piperazine;
• carbendamic;
• levamisole;
• pyrvinium embonate;
• Albendazole.

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

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

The defeat of any kind of worms leads to colossal health problems. Given its danger, it is important to take preventive measures to help reduce the risk of infestation. To do this, it is enough to follow the rules of hygiene, eat meat and fish that have only undergone full heat treatment, and thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables.

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

What parasites in the human body do we know?

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

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

Classification

There are three large classes of parasites that pose a danger to human life and health:

• flatworms (Tape class);
• roundworms (class Nematodes);
• flukes (class Trematodes).

All parasites in the human body are highly dangerous, regardless of their class or species.

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

Characteristics of the Tape class

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

A characteristic feature of all worms is their body, which is ribbon-shaped and divided into segments. Body sizes in length can be different - from a few millimeters to tens of centimeters. On the front of the worm there is a scolex - a head that bears the organs necessary for attachment - suckers, proboscis. After the head is the neck, and then there are a large number of segments.

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

wide ribbon

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

The tapeworm is hermaphroditic, like all representatives of flatworms. Its mature segments form ovules, which then exit through the uterine openings. Worm eggs can be yellow to brown in color, have a cap on one end and a tubercle on the other.

Pork tapeworm (armed tapeworm)

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

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

I had unarmed

This representative is also called the bull tapeworm. "Unarmed" became due to the lack of hooks on the head, compared to the pork tapeworm. The bull tapeworm is the second largest worm after a broad tapeworm. In its structure, it completely resembles an armed tapeworm. 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 medical interest class:

• cat flounder;
• lanceolate stave;
• lung fluke;
• hepatic parasite.

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, all of them have a pinkish or grayish color, an elongated leaf-like shape.

Cat fluke 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 suckers 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 includes a large number of eggs.

The body of the lung fluke is brown in color, shaped like an ellipse or a coffee bean. The shape of the helminth is oval, wide. The entire body of the worm is covered on the outside with small spike-like formations that move and change their position in space.

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

Nematodes and their variety.

Types of helminths in this class are called roundworms. His body has a round shape when drawing a cross section, which served as the basis for such a name. The ends of the body of nematodes have a pointed and elongated shape. Vlasoglav, human roundworms, roundworms and trichinella are the main representatives that most often cause human helminthiasis. The worms look like this:

1. The intestinal worm is a helminth that parasitizes in the large intestine. Most often provokes the development of diseases in children. Representatives are small in size, the body of the female is twice as large as that of the male. Pinworms are whitish in color, sometimes with a gray tint. In front of the body there is a swelling with which the worm can attach to the walls of the intestine.
2. The human roundworm is a helminth that reaches half a meter in length. The female is about 2 times larger than the male. The body has an oval shape, elongated in the anterior and posterior directions. From the side of the tail there is a slight bend, which is directed towards the abdomen. 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 may differ in body color from her. It can be white or red-gray. The front of the worm is much thinner than the back. On 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 its tail. In the female, the tail is spiral-shaped, while in the male it is situated in the shape of an arch.
4. Trichinella - the smallest representatives of the class. Its size is only a couple of millimeters. Visually, they are thread-like worms, the body of which tapers at the front and is covered with a cuticle.

Lamblia

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

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

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

A feature of the parasite body is the presence of two nuclei and two sets 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 is not about them. But many people are infected with parasites. The difficulty of detecting worms is that there are thousands of species. The signs of the presence of parasites are similar to the symptoms of diseases. The 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 carrying pathogens of parasites;
• the use of non-thermally processed foods that contain parasite eggs;
• bathing in ponds and lakes infected with parasites;
• introduction of parasites through the skin.

Residents of rural areas are most often infected with parasites. They are more likely to come into contact with infected animals. The risk of invasion increases when orchards and fields are fertilized with unsanitized manure.

Far from being an isolated case, when the larvae of the worm enter the gastrointestinal tract of a person with vegetables grown in his own 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 organism with the products of their vital activity. In humans, it can cause allergies, nausea, vomiting, and liver disease. From the intestine, the embryos of the larvae enter the bloodstream and are carried throughout the body (for example, to the lungs, liver and brain). Having settled in any organ, the worms begin to multiply actively, causing diseases of this organ. A rare case when the true cause of the disease is correctly established. 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 penetration into 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 with pneumonia and bronchitis:

• dyspnoea;
• heat;
• cough without sputum;
• headache, nausea, vomiting;
• wheezing;
• decreased visual acuity and contrast;
• manifestations of allergies;
• lack of appetite.

The larvae of lungworms that have entered with the blood, developing, modify the tissues of this organ. Capsules and adhesions form. As a result of damage to the lungs, failures in their work are noted. Tumors, emphysema, pleurisy, pneumosclerosis can form.

What types of worms can enter 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 and eyes. Tomography reveals extensive pneumosclerosis, many calcifications. The calcifications form dead parasites in the lungs.

Ascaris eggs, getting into 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.

Cysticercosis of the lungs is caused by tapeworm larvae. They enter the lungs with the bloodstream. The parasites in the lungs form a fibrous capsule.

Echinococcosis of the lungs develops as a result of the entry of tapeworm cestodes into the respiratory system. Tapeworms form parasitic cysts with a fibrous membrane in the lungs. If the parasite dies, the capsule deflates and calcifies. Echinococcosis can be monocameral and multicameral. Gradually, the cyst grows. The parasites live in human lungs for several years. Sometimes suppuration develops, pus can enter the pleural cavity or the bronchi.

Diagnosis and treatment

Lungworms are detected by the following tests:

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

The main role in the diagnosis of lungworms is played by fluorography and radiography.

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

Infection with parasites occurs through dirty vegetables and herbs, undercooked fish and meat, garden soil, dirty water bodies. The larvae of parasites, consuming nutrients, develop and can live in the body for several years. The waste products of parasites poison a person, affect his brain, blood, liver, lungs, immune system, without causing acute conditions for years. If they are not noticed, they cause serious illnesses up to cancer, and can cause the death of the patient. Care must be taken to prevent infection by parasites.