Parasitic diseases of man (from Greek parasitic - "parasite") are a large group of diseases from the section "communicable diseases", which are caused by protozoan and protozoan parasites. multicellular.
A parasite is a living organism that lives or stays in the host's body and receives food from it or at its expense, i. e. it has a parasitic lifestyle. They all know how to live in the human body, some are completely imperceptible and some can seriously damage health.
The causative agent of parasitic disease
There are three main types of parasites that can cause illness in humans:
Protozoa are microscopic single-celled organisms that can be free-living or parasitic in nature. They can reproduce in humans, contributing to their survival, and also allowing serious infections to develop from just one organism.
Helminths (from Greek helmins - "worms") are large multicellular organisms usually visible to the naked eye during their adult stage. Like protozoa, helminths can be free-living or parasitic in nature. In their adult form, helminths cannot reproduce in humans.
Parasites: This term is more commonly used to refer to organisms such as ticks, fleas, and lice that attach or hide in the skin and stay there for a long time (weeks to months). Arthropods can infect themselves, and can carry diseases to others.
List of parasitic infections: filariasis, ascariasis, filariasis, filariasis, gnathostomiasis, cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis, malaria (imported case), oculopathy, teniarinhoses, teratomas, helminthiasis, toxoplasmosis, trichinosis, trichocytocephalosis.
Signs of parasitic disease.
Their manifestations can be diverse and depend on the type and location of the parasite, as well as the degree of immunity of the human host.
Protozoa often cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Infection with helminths can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea (diarrhea), muscle aches, cough, skin lesions, malnutrition, weight loss, impaired motor and speech coordination, convulsions, and many other symptoms. other symptoms, depending on the individual and the severity of the infection.
Diagnosis and treatment of parasitic diseases
Diagnosis of parasitic diseases includes:
- Clinical blood test.
- Blood tests for specific antibodies and parasite antigens.
- Blood stains.
- Analysis of feces for worm eggs
- Endoscopic study methods (eg, colonoscopy, in cases of complicated diagnosis).
- X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) for severe damage of internal organs due to parasites
The treatment plan will depend on the specific diagnosis. As a rule, the drug is prescribed in the form of tablets, sometimes requiring inpatient treatment, up to surgical intervention.
Other treatments may also be recommended to relieve your symptoms (diet, drinking water).
Prevention of parasitic diseases
Prevention is always easier than cure, and there are simple ways to protect yourself.
Do not eat:
- undercooked fish, crab and shellfish;
- undercooked meat;
- raw aquatic plants;
- Raw vegetables may have been contaminated with human or animal feces.
Parasites can live in natural water sources, so when swimming:
- do not swallow water;
- prevent children from defecating in the water, taking them to the toilet and checking diapers every hour, changing diapers in the bathroom or in the diaper changing area instead of by the pool to prevent germs from entering the pool;
- do not swim or let the child swim if the child has diarrhea;
- do your small check (pollution);
- Shower for at least 1 minute before submerging in water.
Pets can carry the parasite and pass it on to people. Animal-to-human disease is a disease that is transmitted between animals and humans. Sometimes people with animal infections have no symptoms. Others may have symptoms such as diarrhea, muscle aches, and fever.
Regular veterinary care will protect your pet and your family. There are simple steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from diseases that can be spread by animals. Make sure your pet is cared for by a veterinarian.
Practice the four rules:
- Collect animal manure quickly and dispose of it properly. Make sure to wash your hands after handling household waste.
- Wash your hands often, especially after touching animals, and avoid contact with animal feces.
- Follow proper food handling procedures to reduce the risk of contamination of contaminated food.
- For people with weakened immune systems, take extra care when dealing with animals that can transmit these infections.