Various types of parasites can be in the human body for a very long time, causing very specific harm to health.
A significant number of people suffer from severe diseases caused by parasites. At the same time, many have no idea about the presence of pests in the intestines and other organs.
Each species of parasite known to science has its own individual characteristics that an adult should know about.
Infection Risk
By the current moment in time, science knows more than 200 species of parasites, for which the human body is a habitat.
The ways and means of penetration of pests to the most favorable place of stay have been studied in detail. We can say that each type of parasite has its own "specialization".
Many of the helminths live in the gastrointestinal tract. There are also those that parasitize the liver, lungs and even the brain.
Almost all people are subject to parasitic attack. It is equally likely to be an adult or a breastfed baby.
A great danger is the presence of parasites in children. First of all, this is reflected in the state of health. Babies often get sick for no apparent reason.
There is a delay in physical and mental development. It is not so easy to identify the cause of the malaise, although it often “lies” in plain sight.
It is enough to conduct certain studies, identify the type of parasite and prescribe a course of treatment.
A significant number of adults are at risk, since their professional activities are associated with the processing of raw materials contaminated with helminths.
Some species of parasites are highly resistant to environmental influences and can be destroyed with great difficulty.
Pest Varieties
The appearance of parasites in the human body is always accompanied by certain signs.
The peculiarity of this situation is that the symptoms are often very weak and it is difficult to detect the presence of pests without special studies.
The following types of helminths parasitize the body:
- round;
- tape;
- flukes.
This classification has been compiled taking into account external features, while, regardless of the species, parasites have many common features.
Hooks and suction cups of different shapes are designed to make it easier for parasites to fix their position in a certain place.
The life cycle of many parasites consists of several stages. Moreover, a species such as a tapeworm has two "owners" - a man and a pet.
Closed loop migration provides these pests with the ability to exist and reproduce. In the process of moving, the parasite enters the human body and feeds on it.
This feature is inherent in all microorganisms that live in the intestines or other organs. Only useful species are included in creative activity, and parasites are included in destructive activity.
Given these circumstances, humans need to support the beneficial and suppress the pests.
Roundworms
Ascaris is one of the roundworms. It is a parasite of orange color and without suckers.
The spindle shape allows it to migrate through various organs and penetrate into the smallest holes and folds. This type of parasite is capable of invading the lungs or pancreas.
The eggs laid by the roundworm are protected by a strong shell that can withstand the destructive effects of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Most often, people become infected by eating unwashed vegetables and fruits.
Pinworm enters the human body in exactly the same way. In appearance, it is a thin striped worm of pale gray color, growing in length up to 10 mm. Already at the larval stage, the parasite begins to harm humans.
Developing into a sexually mature individual, the larva secretes toxic enzymes that irritate the intestinal mucosa.
An adult pinworm is able to penetrate into the deep layers of the small intestine and penetrate it through and through. In such situations, a serious illness called peritonitis develops.
Another round parasite that parasitizes the large intestine is the whipworm.
When ingested, the following symptoms appear:
- headache and dizziness;
- persistent abdominal pain;
- sleep disorder.
Vlasoglav got its name from its external features - the worm is very thin and reaches a length of 50 mm. The parasite is the causative agent of trichocephalosis.
The body never leaves the limits - the worm can only be destroyed, after which the parasite comes out together with feces.
Tapeworms
The appearance of parasites in humans follows similar scenarios. Pork and bovine tapeworms from the form of tapeworms enter the body when eating meat, respectively, pork and beef contaminated by the Finns.
In appearance, these Finns, or larvae, are white bubbles and resemble millet groats.
Upon reaching the intestines, the larvae become entrenched and begin to develop into a full-fledged parasite. The development is asymptomatic in most cases.
After about three months, the tapeworm is already capable of breeding. This type of pest reaches a length of ten meters or more.
The presence of tapeworm in the body causes a serious disease of teniarhinosis. A more serious threat to human health is the parasite of the tape type Echinococcus.
For this parasite, the human body is an intermediate haven. The main owners are animals - dogs and cats. People become infected by contact with their beloved animals through the alimentary route - through the mouth.
Upon reaching the intestine, the eggs begin to develop into larvae, which have six hooks for fixation.
With the bloodstream, they are carried to various organs and are most often fixed in the liver and lungs.
Growing up, echinococcus begins to destroy the surrounding tissues. Sometimes large enough parasites are mistaken for a tumor.
Alveococcus is another representative of the tape parasite in the human body. After penetration into the intestine, the larvae develop intensively and penetrate into the walls of the small intestine and are carried by the bloodstream through various organs and systems.
Like echinococcus, the parasite is fixed in the liver and begins its destructive activity.
Alveococcus takes the form of a multi-chambered bladder called a larvocyst. These larvocysts are able to invade liver tissue and become cancer-like metastases.
The blood supply to the liver tissue is disrupted, necrosis begins, which poses a serious danger to health and even human life.
Fluke Worms
The list of tapeworms contains a separate species of parasite called flukes.
The following species are among the most dangerous flukes:
- cat fluke;
- fasciola;
- schistosoma.
Liver pathologies are more common among human diseases than other organ diseases. The flukes got their name due to their anatomical structure.
There are several suction cups on the parasite's body, with the help of which the pest is held in a certain place and penetrates deep into living tissues.
Feline fluke is most commonly found in the gallbladder and pancreatic ducts.
Fluke enters the human body together with fish that have not been sufficiently salted or boiled.
In people affected by this pest, the temperature rises sharply, an unreasonable cough appears, and rashes appear on the body. If you do not take emergency measures, then the person can die.
Fasciola is absorbed into the body by drinking unboiled water. With the connivance of the patient, it causes chronic jaundice.
Schistosomiasis, which is caused by a rare parasite, has become more common in recent years.
This fact is explained by the fact that a large number of people began to visit tropical countries where this pest is widespread.
Preventive measures
Medical practice shows that parasites take root in the intestines much more often than in other organs.
Pests of various types are able to adapt to exist in the liver, lungs, heart, brain, and even in the eyes - only this listing gives a sufficient idea of the danger that parasites pose for human health and full life.
Different types of parasites can enter the body both individually and in combination, which increases the severity of the lesion.
In order to prevent pests of any kind into your body, it is enough to follow the basic rules of hygiene and sanitary requirements for food.
Young children should be kept under constant supervision, especially in summer when going to the country or to the sea.
Today there is no need to eat raw meat or fish, including sliced meat. This atavism should be forever left in the past, so as not to expose your body to unjustified risk.