What parasites live in the human body

Different types of worms can live in the human body. Nobody is safe from parasites, general information about helminths is important information for everyone. Knowing the forms 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 worm species.

worms

Roundworms are the most common type of worms. 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 and they are installed mainly in the intestine, 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 doesn't need to change the owner. The nematodes are transmitted from person to person or through the consumption of 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. Infection occurs when eggs enter the body through the mouth. For 2 weeks, the worm undergoes a developmental cycle into a sexually mature individual. These parasites live for 1-2 months, disrupting the normal functioning of the digestive tract, leading to exhaustion. The worm's appearance can be seen in the photo.
2. Roundworms are large worms that cause ascariasis to develop. The length of the fusiform body is 20 to 40 cm. They parasitize 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 the parasites is 12 to 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 route of infection is through unwashed hands, dirty products.
3. Vlasoglavy - worms with a body of 3-5 cm in length, 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. Shelf life is up to 5 years. All this time, it causes appetite and stool problems, anemia and abdominal pain. It can lead to 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 muscle 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 looks like a roundworm, because it has the same spindle-shaped body that is 15 to 30 cm long. When their larvae enter people's bodies, the disease toxocariasis 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 roundworm infection depends on the number of worms that have entered the body, as well as the state of human health.

tapeworms

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 evident how harmful they are to health. Cestodes are divided into tapeworms and tapeworms. They require a change of ownership to complete their full lifecycle. An obligatory stage of development is existence in the body of ungulates. Consider a brief description of the most common representatives of the species:

1. Broad tapeworm - a worm 10 to 15 m long, causing the development of diphyllobothriasis. It settles 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, digestive disorders. This helminth, like most Cestoids, has a terrifying 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 severe indigestion, nerve dysfunction and allergies.
3. Bull tapeworm - a species of tapeworm, reaching a size of 18 m. This is one of the biggest 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 body of dogs and cats. People for this parasite are an intermediate host, but despite this, the worm larvae provoke 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 surgically removed.

chance

Flukes or flukes 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 are flat-shaped, can reach up to 1. 5 m in length and visually resemble a tree leaf. The main source of fluke 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 varieties of worms that parasitize in the human body:

1. The liver fluke is a helminth that causes 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 - a worm 8 to 13 mm long, parasitizing the gallbladder as well as 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 - medicines for all types of worms

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

• narrowly targeted - are attributed to the destruction of various types of helminths;
• broadly targeted - are considered universal, as they destroy almost all types of worms, are suitable for the prevention of helminthic invasion.

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

• mebendazole;
• Pyrantel;
• Piperazine;
• carbendacim;
• Levamisole;
• pyrvinium embonate;
• Albendazole.

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

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

Defeating any type of worm brings colossal health problems. Given their danger, it is important to take preventative measures to help reduce the risk of infestation. To do this, just follow the rules of hygiene, eat meat and fish that have only undergone complete heat treatment, and wash fruits and vegetables well.

At the first sign 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

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 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.

Classification

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

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

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

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

Tape class features

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 over 1500 types of tapeworms. The most dangerous representatives of this class for people were united by the common name Cestode.

A 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 front of the worm there is a scolex - a head that carries 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, so the young segments are located closer to the head, and the old ones are located in the tail part of the body. Each ancient segment has in its composition the male and female reproductive systems, 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 its length of up to 20 meters. The worm's head has an oval shape, it has two narrow slits, with 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 eggs, which come out through the uterine openings. Worm eggs can be yellow to brown in color, have a cap on one end and a tuber on the other.

Pig tapeworm (armed tapeworm)

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

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

unarmed tapeworm

This representative is also called a bull tapeworm. "Unarmed" he 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 main 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

Worms are human parasites that can cause serious illness to develop. The main representatives of the medical interest class:

• cat worm;
• lanceolate worm;
• lung worm;
• liver worm.

A feature of the body of worms of this class is the presence of all kinds of formations for attachment and movement: spines, suction cups and other devices. The body length varies from a few millimeters to 4-5 cm. They all have a pink or grayish color, an elongated, leaf-shaped shape.

The cat worm 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 lungworm is brown in color, shaped like an ellipse or coffee bean. The shape of the helminth is oval, wide. The worm's entire body is covered on the outside with small spike-like formations that are involved in movement and changing its position in space.

The lanceolate worm reaches 8-10 mm in length. The tip of the head and tail are slightly elongated. Under the abdominal suction cup is the male reproductive system in the form of two testes, as well as the female one, 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 roundworm, pinworm and trichinella are the main representatives that most often cause human helminthiasis. The worms look like this:

1. Pinworm is a helminth that parasitizes the large intestine. Most often it causes the development of diseases in children. Representatives are small, the female's body is twice as large as that of the male. Pinworms are whitish in color, sometimes with a gray tint. On the front of the body there is a bump with which the worm can attach itself to the walls of the intestine.
2. The human roundworm is a helminth that reaches half a meter in length. The female is larger than the male by about 2 times. The body is oval in shape, elongated in anterior and posterior directions. On the side of the tail there is a slight curve, which is directed towards the abdomen. The movement of helminths takes place with the help of a well-developed muscular layer, located under an impenetrable shell, consisting of a large number of layers.
3. Vlasoglav can differ in body color. It can be white or greyish-red. 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 the tail. In the female, the tail has a spiral shape, while in the male it is located in the form of an arc.
4. Trichinella - the smallest representatives of the class. Its size is only a few millimeters. Visually, they are thread-like worms, whose body is narrow in front and covered by a cuticle.

lamblia

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

Giardia's body is pear-shaped, the front end 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.

Determining parasitic worms in the intestine is only possible under laboratory conditions.

A feature 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 this is not about 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. The medical literature describes more than one clinical case when a patient is attended by several specialized doctors, and only one can replace them - the parasitologist.

Ways of infection with worms

They can be different:

• communication with an animal carrying parasite pathogens;
• the use of unheated foods containing 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 gardens and fields are fertilized with undisinfected manure.

Far from being an isolated case, when worm larvae 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 man, the parasites multiply rapidly in conditions that make their lives easier, 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, larvae embryos enter the bloodstream and are transported throughout the body (eg, to the lungs, liver, brain). Having settled in any organ, the worms begin to actively multiply, causing disease in that organ. A rare case when the true cause that caused the disease is correctly established. The degree of damage depends on the state of the immune system.

Signs of helminthic invasion of the lungs

The symptoms of the disease when infected with worms vary according to 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 immune system to weaken. When there are parasites in a person's lungs, the symptoms are similar to those seen in the case of pneumonia and bronchitis:

• dyspnea;
• Warm;
• cough without expectoration;
• headache, nausea, vomiting;
• wheezing;
• decreased visual acuity and contrast;
• manifestations of allergies;
• lack of appetite.

The larvae of lungworms that entered with blood, developing, change the tissues of this organ. There are formed capsules and adhesions. 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 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, eyes. CT scan 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.

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 tapeworm cestodes from entering the respiratory system. Cestodia form parasitic cysts with a fibrous membrane in the lungs. If the parasite dies, the capsule deflates and calcifies. Echinococcosis can be monochamber and multichamber. Gradually, the cyst grows. Parasites live in human lungs for several years. Sometimes suppuration develops, pus can invade the pleural cavity or the bronchi.

diagnosis and treatment

Lungworms 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 lungworms is played by fluorography and x-rays.

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

Infection with parasites occurs through dirty vegetables and herbs, undercooked fish and meat, garden soil, dirty bodies of water. Parasite larvae, 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. Left unnoticed, they cause serious diseases, even cancer, and can cause the death of the patient. Care must be taken to avoid infection by parasites.