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 worm species.

roundworms

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. They settle mainly in the intestine, but can also be localized in other organs and tissues.

The high prevalence of this parasite is due to the ease of transmission. For development, he does not need to change the owner. Nematodes are transmitted from person to person or through the consumption of 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 intestine, cause the disease enterobiasis. Infection occurs when the eggs enter the body through the mouth. For 2 weeks, the worm goes through a development cycle to a sexually mature individual. These parasites live for 1-2 months, disrupting the normal functioning of the digestive tract, leading to exhaustion. What the worm looks like can be seen in the photo.
2. Roundworms are large worms that provoke 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 into the liver, heart, and lungs. Migrating through the body, the worms damage the internal organs and ducts. The period of life of parasites is 12-14 months. Infection with them negatively affects health, leads to allergies, digestive disorders, internal bleeding, intestinal obstruction. In children, roundworms can provoke developmental delays. The route of infection is through unwashed hands, dirty products.
3. Vlasoglavy - worms with a body 3-5 cm long, localized in the large intestine. It sticks to its walls and absorbs blood. Causes trichuriasis. This is a very toxic parasite, so it poisons the body greatly. The life span is up to 5 years. All this time, it provokes problems with appetite and stool, anemia, and abdominal pain. Can lead to acute appendicitis when injected into the caecum.
4. Trichinella - worms, the length of which does not exceed 2-5 mm. Despite their small size, they cause a serious illness - trichinosis. Its symptoms are fever, swelling, allergies, high temperature. You can get infected through the meat of game, 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 in the body of dogs. It looks like roundworm, because it has the same spindle-shaped body 15-30 cm long. When its larvae enter the body of people, the disease toxocariasis occurs. In the human body, toxocara cannot develop to 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 infection with roundworms will be 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 huge size, which can reach 18 m, it becomes obvious how detrimental they are to health. Cestodes are divided into tapeworms and tapeworms. They require a change of owner 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. Wide tapeworm - a worm 10-15 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. Causes severe abdominal pain, anemia, digestive disorders. This helminth, like most cestodes, has a frightening appearance.
2. The 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 teniasis, accompanied by severe indigestion, nervous dysfunctions, and allergies.
3. Bull tapeworm - a kind of tapeworm, reaching 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 beef. The worm is localized in the small intestine.
4. Echinococcus is a tapeworm that parasitizes in the bodies of cats and dogs. 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 stage of larvae, which penetrate into the tissues of any organs and quickly form cysts. They can only be removed surgically.

flukes

Flukes or trematodes 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 so feed, absorbing useful substances, blood. The bodies of these helminths have a flat shape, they can reach up to 1. 5 m in length. Visually, they resemble a leaf of a tree. The main source of trematode infection is the consumption of poorly cooked or fried fish and seafood. In the process of development, they need to change 1-2 intermediate hosts. The main varieties of flukes that parasitize in the human body:

1. The liver fluke is a helminth that provokes the development of opisthorchiasis. In length 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 8-13 mm long, parasitizing in 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 - drugs 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 struck the body. Based on the results of the diagnosis, medicines are selected. They are divided into 2 types:

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

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

• mebendazole;
• Pirantel;
• Piperazine;
• Carbendacym;
• Levamisole;
• Pirvinium embonate;
• Albendazole.

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

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

The defeat of any kind of worms entails colossal health problems. Given their 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 complete heat treatment and thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables.

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 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 features. 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. 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 (class Tape);
• roundworms (class Nematodes);
• flukes (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 both an adult and a child. Consider the most famous representatives and the differences between them.

Features 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 1500 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 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. On the front of the worm is a scolex - a head that carries the organs necessary for fixation - suckers, proboscis. After the head is the neck, and then there is a large number of segments.

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

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 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 uterine openings. Worm eggs can be yellow to brown in color, have a lid on one end, and a tubercle on the other.

Pork 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" went 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 a place between the uterus and the vagina. The testicles are located on the sides of the female reproductive system.

unarmed tapeworm

This representative is also called bull tapeworm. "Unarmed" he became due to the lack of hooks on the head, compared with pork tapeworm. Bull tapeworm is the second largest worm after a wide tapeworm. In its structure, it completely resembles an armed tapeworm. 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

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

• cat fluke;
• lanceolate fluke;
• pulmonary 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. The length of their body varies from a few millimeters to 4-5 cm. All of them have a pink or grayish color, an elongated shape in the form of a leaf.

The cat fluke is a small helminth. The length of its body reaches 1. 5 cm in length, 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 has a brown 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 are involved in movement and changing its position in space.

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

Nematodes and their variety

Types of helminths 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 body of nematodes have a pointed and elongated shape. Vlasoglav, human roundworm, pinworm and trichinella are the main representatives that most often cause human helminthiases. Worms look like this:

1. Pinworm is a helminth that parasitizes in the large intestine. More often causes 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 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 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 muscular layer, located under an impenetrable membrane, consisting of a large number of layers.
3. Vlasoglav can differ in the color of his body. It can be white or red-gray. The front of the worm is much thinner than the back. In 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 her 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. Their size is only a couple of millimeters. Visually, they are thread-like worms, the body of which is narrowed at the front and 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 children. Parasites cause the development of giardiasis.

The body of Giardia has the shape of a pear, the front end of which is round and wide. The posterior end is sharp and slightly narrowed. The size of the representatives of the class is so small that it is impossible to distinguish them with the naked eye.

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

A feature of the body of the parasite 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 this 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 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 may be different:

• communication with an animal carrier of pathogens of parasites;
• the use of thermally unprocessed foods containing eggs of parasites;
• 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 vegetable gardens and fields are fertilized with non-disinfected 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 humans, parasites multiply rapidly in conditions that are easy for their life, 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, the embryos of the larvae 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 true cause that caused the disease is established correctly. 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 observed in the case of pneumonia and bronchitis:

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

The larvae of pulmonary worms that have got with the blood, developing, modify the tissues of this organ. There are formed capsules and adhesions. 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 get into 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. Tomography reveals extensive pneumosclerosis, many calcifications. Calcifications form dead parasites in the lungs.

Ascaris eggs, getting into the gastrointestinal tract, cause ascariasis. In places where worms penetrate into 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 blood stream. Parasites in the lungs form a fibrous capsule.

Echinococcosis of the lungs develops as a result of tapeworm cestodes 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-chamber and multi-chamber. Gradually, the cyst grows. Parasites live in human lungs for several years. Sometimes suppuration develops, pus can break into the pleural cavity or into the bronchi.

Diagnosis and treatment

Pulmonary worms 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 pulmonary worms is played by fluorography and x-rays.

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 the 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, improperly cooked fish and meat, garden soil, dirty water bodies. 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. Left unnoticed, they provoke severe illnesses up to cancer, can cause the death of the patient. Care must be taken to prevent infection by parasites.