Parasites are called lower organisms that can live in the body of a person or animal and feed on it. Scientists have a huge number of such creatures, and each of them is dangerous in its own way and can cause a wide variety of diseases.
Types of parasites in humans.
All parasites can be distinguished according to several criteria:
- There are two large categories that differ according to the structure of the body: unicellular (bacteria, viruses) and multicellular;
- parasites can live both on the surface of the body (for example, lice) and inside a living being (for example, types of intestinal parasites: worms, etc. );
- by the time they parasitize: they can be permanent (almost all the parasites that live inside living beings) and temporary (leeches, mites, which after being fed leave the body of a living being).
The most common parasites that humans can infect include:
- helminthiasis;
- group of protozoan invasions;
- arthropodosis.
Helminthiases are the most frequent intruders in the human body. These include roundworms, tapeworms, and flukes, which can cause diseases like flukes.
TOP 5 most famous parasites of the human body
- Pinworms - most often found among groups of children. In the human body, they parasitize in organs such as the large and small intestine. The eggs it lays are not only on the body, but can also be transferred to bedding and undergarments, making it highly contagious. In addition, the eggs are perfectly preserved for a long time in the external environment, although only 4-6 hours are enough for a new parasite to hatch.
- Toksokara: Most of the time we receive an intruder from our beloved pets, mainly dogs. The size of this creature is quite large - it can reach up to 0. 3 m in length. The eggs of this parasite are often "picked up" by children playing in the sandbox, near which the dog walked. This type of parasite is dangerous because it can penetrate almost all organs, and the consequences of its vital activity can be irreversible.
- Ascaris is one of the common parasites that infects more and more people every day. It enters the human body most often together with poorly washed food, raw water, dirty hands and dust. The egg of the parasite entering the human body gradually begins to parasitize in the intestines, and then can travel through the blood vessels to other organs.
- The tapeworm is the largest of the most common parasites. Cases have been recorded in which the extracted parasite reached several meters in length. The most common causes of infection are the consumption of salted fish, crayfish and caviar. If after that you notice alarming symptoms in the form of exhaustion, increased salivation in the morning, nausea and lethargy, you should immediately consult a doctor.
- Echinococcus can enter the body with poorly washed food, raw water, and animals. This parasite is dangerous because its larvae can travel to almost all organs. Gradually they stop somewhere and turn into a cyst, which begins to put pressure on nearby tissues.
The most dangerous and rare parasites.
Along with the "traditional" parasitic organisms, which are well known and easily treatable, there are also more dangerous and rare species. These include parasites such as:
- Bull tapeworm: This parasite can live in the human body for most of its life and can be much larger than the tapeworm. On average, according to scientists, the size of an adult parasite can reach from 4 to 40 meters in length.
- Filaria is a more exotic parasite that can be found in tropical countries. Once in the human body, it leads to clogging of the lymphatic vessels, due to which the limbs begin to reach gigantic sizes. This is the main reason for the development of "elephantiasis", because basically these parasites affect the lower limbs.
- Anisakid is a recent discovery of scientists. Previously, there was information that these parasites are not dangerous due to the fact that they cannot develop in the human body. But now it has been proven that these pests can cause fatal diseases. Most often they enter the body along with half of raw shellfish and fish.
- Schistosoma - this guest can not be collected in everyday life, but when traveling somewhere in the tropics, it is elementary. Especially if you buy fresh water somewhere in a hot tropical climate. Once in the human body, they can cause anemia, growth inhibition and retardation, and a decreased ability to learn.
