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 various worms, it will be possible to significantly reduce the risk of infection. Consider the classification of types of worms.

round worms

Roundworms are the most common type of worm. 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 settle mainly in the intestines, but they can also be localized in other organs and tissues.

The high prevalence of this parasite is due to the ease of transmission. Development does not need to change owners. Nematodes are transmitted from person to person or by eating 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. Pinworms are small worms with a grayish body 5-10 mm long. Localized in the intestines, they cause the disease enterobiosis. Infection occurs when the eggs enter the body through the mouth. Over the course of 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 tract, which leads to exhaustion. What the worm looks like 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, worms damage internal organs and channels. The parasite's life span 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 length of 3-5 cm, localized in the large intestine. It sticks to its walls and absorbs blood. It causes trichuriasis. This is a very toxic parasite, so it poisons the body a lot. The lifespan is up to 5 years. All this time causes problems with appetite and stool, anemia and abdominal pain. May 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 muscle tissue, especially the 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, death is possible.
5. Toxocara is a worm that parasitizes the body of dogs. It looks like a roundworm, because it has the same spindle-shaped body 15-30 cm long. When its larvae enter the human body, the disease toxocariasis occurs. In the human body, toxocariasis 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 huge size, which can reach 18 m, it becomes obvious how harmful they are to health. Cestodes are divided into tapeworms and tapeworms. They need a change of owner to complete their full life cycle. An obligatory stage of development is existence in the body of an ungulate. Consider a brief description of the most common representatives of this species:

1. Broad tapeworm - a worm 10-15 m long, which causes the development of diphyllobothriasis. It is deposited in the small intestine after a person has consumed raw or undercooked (undercooked) freshwater fish infected with worm eggs. It causes severe abdominal pain, anemia, indigestion. 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, parasitizing the intestines, cause the development of taeniasis, accompanied by indigestion, nervous disorders and allergies.
3. Bull tapeworm - a type of tapeworm, reaches a size of 18 m. This is one of the largest human worms. It causes the development of teniarynchosis, leads to intestinal obstruction, physical and nervous exhaustion. You can become infected with this worm if you eat infected beef. The worm is localized in the small intestine.
4. Echinococcus is a tapeworm that parasitizes the bodies of cats and dogs. Humans are an intermediate host for this parasite, but, despite this, worm larvae cause the development of a very complex disease, echinococcosis. Worm eggs develop to the larval stage, which penetrate the tissues of any organ and quickly form cysts. They can only be removed surgically.

flukes

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

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

Treatment - medicines for all types of worms

To destroy the worms, you must take anthelmintic drugs. But first you need to find out which specific type of helminthiasis has affected the body. Medicines are selected based on the results of the diagnosis. They are divided into 2 types:

• narrowly targeted - they are assigned to destroy several types of helminths;
• widely targeted - they are considered universal, because they destroy almost all types of worms, they are suitable for the prevention of helminthic invasion.

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

• mebendazole;
• Pyrantel;
• Piperazine;
• Carbendacym;
• Levamisole;
• Pyrvinium embonate;
• Albendazole.

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

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

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

At the first signs of infection, contact your doctor. The less time 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 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. The characteristics of the structure and species of helminths directly depend on the class to which they belong.

Classification

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

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

All parasites in the human body pose a great danger, regardless of their class or species.

All representatives of the main classes can parasitize 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. They got this name because of the structural characteristics of the body, which has a flat shape. There are more than 1500 species of tapeworms. The most dangerous representatives of this class for humans were united by the common name Cestode.

A characteristic feature of all worms is their body, which has the shape of a strip and is divided into segments. Body sizes in length can be different - from a few millimeters to tens of centimeters. On the front side of the worm there is a scolex - a head that carries the organs necessary for fixation - 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 helminths, therefore the young segments are located closer to the head, and the old ones towards the tail part of the body. Each old segment has a male and a female reproductive system in its composition, that is, it is considered hermaphroditic.

wide band

This representative of the species is considered the largest among all parasitic worms. There have been recorded cases of its length reaching up to 20 meters. The head of the worm has an oval 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 a hermaphrodite, like all representatives of flatworms. Its mature segments form eggs, which then exit through the openings of the uterus. Worm eggs can be yellow to brown in color, with a cap on one end and a tubercle on the other.

Pig tapeworm (armed tapeworm)

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

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

unarmed tapeworm

This representative is also called bull tapeworm. It became "unarmed" due to the lack of a hook on the head, compared to the pork tapeworm. The bull tapeworm is the second largest tapeworm after the broad tapeworm. Its structure completely resembles an armed tapeworm. It is also white in color. Parasitic worms reproduce in the intestines of the intermediate or main host.

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

Representatives of trematodes and their description

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

• cat fluke;
• spear fluke;
• lung fluke;
• liver fluke.

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. Their body length varies from a few millimeters to 4-5 cm. All are pink or grayish in color, elongated in the shape of a leaf.

Cat fluke is a small helminth. The length of the body reaches 1. 5 cm, it has an elongated shape, slightly expanded towards the tail. Two teats 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 a middle position. It is large and includes a large number of eggs.

The body of the lung fluke is brown, in the shape of an ellipse or a coffee bean. The shape of the helminth is oval, wide. The whole body of the worm is covered from the outside with small pointed formations that are involved in movement and change of position in space.

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

Nematodes and their diversity

Helminth species in this class are called roundworms. Their body has a round shape when drawing a cross-section, which served as the basis for such a name. The ends of the nematode body have a pointed and elongated shape. Headworm, human roundworm, pinworm and trichinella are the main representatives that most often cause human helminthiasis. Worms look like this:

1. Pinworm is a helminth that parasitizes the large intestine. More often it causes the development of the disease in children. The representatives are small in size, the body of the female is twice as large as the male. Pinworms are whitish in color, sometimes with gray tints. 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 front and back directions. On the side of the tail is a slight curve that is directed towards the belly. The movement of the helminth takes place with the help of a well-developed muscle layer, which is located under the impenetrable shell, which consists of a large number of layers.
3. The bald head can be distinguished by its body color. It can be white or red-gray. The front part of the worm is much thinner than the back. At 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-shaped worms, whose body is narrowed at the front and covered with a cuticle.

lamblia

Intestinal Giardia belongs to the order Diplomonad of the flagellate class. This is a special type of worm, 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 end of which is round and wide. The back 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.

Determining worms-parasites in the intestines is possible only in laboratory conditions.

The characteristic of the parasite's body is the presence of two nuclei and two sets of organelles. 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 lies in the fact that there are thousands of species. Signs of the presence of parasites are similar to the symptoms of the disease. More than one clinical case has been described in the medical literature when a patient is treated by several specialist doctors, and only one parasitologist can replace them.

Ways of worm infection

They can be different:

• communication with an animal carrier of a pathogenic parasite;
• use of thermally unprocessed food containing parasite eggs;
• swimming 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 vegetable gardens and fields are fertilized with undisinfected manure.

Far from being an isolated case, when the larvae of worms enter the gastrointestinal tract of a person with vegetables grown in their 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 conditions that are easy for them to live, 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 intestine, larval embryos enter the bloodstream and are carried throughout the body (for example, to 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 real cause that caused the disease is accurately determined. The degree of damage depends on the state of the immune system.

Signs of helminthic lung invasion

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. Lungworms 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, symptoms are similar to those seen in pneumonia and bronchitis:

• dyspnea;
• heat;
• cough without sputum;
• headache, nausea, vomiting;
• squealing;
• reduced visual acuity and contrast;
• manifestations of allergies;
• lack of appetite.

Larvae of lungworms that arrived with the blood, developing, modify the tissues of this organ. There are formed capsules and adhesions. As a result of damage to the lungs, malfunctions in their work are noted. Tumors, emphysema, pleuritis, pneumosclerosis can form.

What kinds of worms can get into the lungs?

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

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

Ascaris eggs, entering the gastrointestinal tract, cause ascariasis. In the places where the worms penetrate the lung tissue, there is a trace of mechanical damage. The body reacts with tissue edema, creating an infiltrate.

Lung cysticercosis is caused by tapeworm larvae. They enter the lungs with the bloodstream. Parasites in the lungs form a fibrous capsule.

Lung echinococcosis occurs as a result of tapeworm cestode 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 or multi-chambered. Gradually, the cyst grows. Parasites live in the lungs of people for several years. Sometimes suppuration develops, pus can penetrate into the pleural cavity or into the bronchi.

Diagnosis and treatment

Lungworms are detected using the following studies:

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

Fluorography and X-rays play a major role in the diagnosis of lungworms.

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

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