How dangerous are internal parasites?

Specific diseases classified as infectious include parasitic diseases. They are caused by special parasites adapted to live in or on the human body, feeding and reproducing in or with the body's help. In this case, a person can be either an intermediate host for the parasite or the final host (i. e. , the eggs and larvae or adults develop inside the body). Depending on the type of parasite and the location of the lesions, many diseases caused by them can be recognized. The most common are helminthiasis - diseases caused by parasites of specific types of worms.

Parasites: Various parasites in the body

The largest group of parasites that can live in the human body are the various types of worms, both flat and round. They belong to a separate group of diseases that doctors collectively refer to as "helminthiasis. "Each parasite of this group has its own route and method of infection, life cycle characteristics and development of clinical manifestations, and treatment options. Additionally, each parasite is capable of causing specific complications due to its life cycle. The most common parasites found in people are pinworms and roundworms, trichinella spiralis, and pork or bovine tapeworms.

Types of parasites and characteristics of the infection process

If there are indirect signs of helminth infection, it can be assumed that a parasite is present in the body. However, in order for treatment to be effective and correct, it is important to understand the specific types of parasites and which organs and systems are affected by them. For this reason, it is important to undergo a thorough inspection and pass several tests. Why is this necessary?First, it is important to remember that various types of parasites live inside the host as larvae (if a person is an intermediate host) or as sexually mature individuals (if a definitive host). In this regard, the effectiveness of treatment may vary depending on the stage of worm parasitism and where the parasite lives.Parasite types such as Echinococcus are dangerous to humans in their larval stages. The larvae are round cysts filled with toxic fluid that can infect the lungs, liver, kidneys or brain. Within these organs, hydatid worms grow for months or years, with larvae inside the cysts. But parasites such as pinworms live in the body as sexually mature individuals. The female crawls out of the rectum and lays millions of eggs, which are released into the external environment in her feces.Clinical manifestations range from asymptomatic to overtly severe and even fatal depending on the type of parasite and the body's individual response to the parasite, the location of the lesions, and the body's response. It is also worth remembering that there are variants of mixed infections when multiple types of parasites live in the body at the same time.

How do parasites enter the body?

Parasites may enter the body in different ways. Infection usually occurs when parasite eggs enter the body through contaminated food or water, dirty hands, damaged skin, or insect bites. Typically, worm eggs remain in the form of eggs for long periods of time in soil, water, or on surfaces. Entering the body through hands, food or water that has not been properly treated, the parasite penetrates the body and the eggs soon mature, from which larvae (intermediate versions of the parasite) or mature individuals emerge. It's important to remember that parasites in the body can cause serious damage even if there are no obvious signs of damage. First, they eat their host, depriving it of some nutrients, vitamins and minerals. In addition, internal parasites can drastically increase the body's allergy, overstimulating the immune system, which threatens the development of spontaneous skin and other allergic reactions to previously very familiar products and substances.The body does not remain indifferent to the invasion of worms, especially the soft tissues and internal organs. As a result, protective inflammatory capsules form in muscles and tissues, separating parasites from healthy tissue. This results in the formation of parasitic cysts, which are often filled with the worm's waste products. Often, if parasites live in the intestines, the body also responds to their introduction with digestive disturbances, changes in appetite, weight fluctuations, and exacerbation of chronic disease.Don't think that the parasite problem is only relevant to people from the poorest countries and those who don't pay attention to hygiene. The prevalence of worms is alarming; according to the World Health Organization, it rivals antiviral drugs and illnesses such as influenza. Therefore, regular inspections are needed to rule out parasites.

What kind of parasite testing is needed?

Many patients mistakenly believe that a negative result from a single parasite test (smear from stool or perianal area) guarantees that parasites are not present in the body. However, this is not the case, and this result does not make any sense. First, parasites can be extraintestinal, living in other organs and tissues, and then their eggs or larvae do not appear in the stool at all.Second, when testing for parasites, there may be periods of time in the parasite's life when it is still or no longer laying eggs. Thirdly, there is a risk that all analytical conditions are not met and therefore eggs are not found at all in the sample provided.So, if we talk about intestinal worms, when a parasite test is prescribed, the stool is taken 3 times at certain intervals to confirm the presence of parasites. Only this technique can confirm or refute the diagnosis with a probability of up to 90%.More indicative in this regard are the analyzes of parasites removed from veins and the determination of antibodies against certain helminths. If the body has been recently exposed to a parasite, it produces class M antibodies that recognize the pathogen. The long-term presence of parasites also produces other classes of antibodies.