When a cough appears due to parasites, most people think of viral or infectious diseases that affect various parts of the respiratory tract. But there are parasites that cause coughing with similar symptoms. Laboratory tests and instrumental examinations performed by a therapist or infectious disease specialist will help understand the condition.
Types of parasites cause coughing
Main types of parasitic infections:
- Giardia;
- fluke;
- toxin;
- roundworms.
Typically, the infection is localized to the lower digestive tract, but if left untreated, it spreads to other organs and systems, including parts of the respiratory system.
Paths that the parasite can travel:
- with blood flow through the vessels (some worms are so small that they penetrate through the endothelial wall into the blood);
- fecal-oral method (after defecation, people forget to wash their hands, so when eating and drinking, bacteria enter the oral cavity);
- through food or drinking water.
Many people do not know that parasites and cough are compatible concepts. Pathogens can enter anywhere in the body, causing symptoms of infection.
Fluke
The structure of the pathogen resembles a coffee bean. There are small spikes on its body. At the bottom there are suction cups to help it move and eat. All individuals are hermaphrodites, that is, they can reproduce independently. But there are also options for cross-fertilization.
The main stages of the life cycle go through:
- pond snails;
- larval;
- metacercaria.
Helminths take no more than 2 days to go through all stages, causing infection. This is because the respiratory membrane is a favorable environment for flukes to develop.
When the parasite enters the body, symptoms are not immediately detected. Initially, microorganisms multiply, spreading throughout the tissues.
Giardia
Giardia is a parasite that often causes coughs in children. In adults, the disease also occurs but is rare.
Giardia are single-celled microorganisms with flagella necessary for movement through tissues. Reproduction occurs by division; Within 1 day after infection, their number increases many times.
If the pathogen is outside the body, its body is covered with a membrane that helps it survive in the environment. With its help, it can survive up to 12 hours on various objects. If it is fed dairy products, its survival time is extended to 3 months.
The main route of entry into the human body is through the mouth. The main carriers of the disease are animals and birds. Giardiasis is commonly found in schools and daycares. Microorganisms settle on all household items, but for a short time.
Roundworms and how they affect the respiratory system
The parasite enters the host's body through the fecal-oral route through contaminated products - this can be food or drinking water. The larvae are located in the digestive tract and are not affected by gastric juice and other adverse factors. Then the eggs appear with processes that adhere to the intestinal mucosa.
Small worms make holes in the mucous membrane, penetrating the vascular endothelium into the blood. Through this they spread to the heart, alveoli of the lungs and bronchi. In the respiratory tract, they go through stages of development over a period of 3 weeks.
Causes of cough:
- alveolar tissue damage;
- strong sensitizing effect, the immune system is activated, sending many lymphocytes to the site of inflammation with the formation of infiltrates;
- bronchial obstruction, areas of helminthic infiltration and accumulation leading to obstruction of various parts of the bronchi;
- When coughing, helminths spread from the bronchi into the throat, eventually returning to the digestive tract.
This is how a chronic disease is formed. The larvae continuously invade the respiratory and digestive tracts, creating repeated infections.
Toxocara and their harmful effects on the human body
Toxocara is the causative agent of toxocariasis. The disease affects humans and animals. Children who go to school get sick more often. The epidemiological peak is observed in the summer.
Worms have a life cycle of eggs, larvae and adults. Parasites enter the human body through contaminated food and water, spreading in the intestines. Once they enter the circulatory system, they travel to various organs, including the lungs. They lay eggs in the tissues, thereby forming repeated helminth infections.
Eggs and larvae enter the environment through animal feces and from there they can even spread into water. The parasite is stable in the environment and survives in the soil. So it remains infectious for many years.
The main danger of pathogens is their ability to penetrate through the placenta from the pregnant woman to the fetus. The infection is also spread through breast milk.
intestinal diseases
Enterobosis develops due to helminths entering the body. The disease only occurs in humans due to pinworm larvae entering the esophagus. Children are often most susceptible to illness due to their weak immune system.
Nematodes are roundworms that invade the child's body. The maximum length of the parasite is 1 cm. Once inside the body, they spread throughout the intestines and lay eggs in the anus; Then the adults die. Parasites stick to the child's underwear, as well as under the fingernails when scratching the anus. A repeated cycle of infection occurs through contaminated hands.
Symptom:
- anal itching, worst at night;
- redness and inflammation of the anus;
- Complicated cases with eczema and anal dermatitis;
- sleep disorders;
- bruxism (teeth grinding);
- urinary incontinence;
- relieve pain in the abdomen like contractions;
- loss of appetite;
- periodic changes in stools (diarrhea, constipation);
- nausea, vomiting, weight loss;
- in severe cases - developmental disorders;
- emotional instability, increased fatigue and loss of concentration.
When pathogens enter the respiratory tract,The condition is complicated by symptoms:
- cough, asthma attack;
- asthma;
- Viral diseases frequently occur due to a suppressed immune system.
Parasites spread not only in the gastrointestinal tract and pulmonary system. It can enter the urinary tract. Therefore, girls are often diagnosed with vulvovaginitis and vaginitis.
opisthorchiasis
The causative agent is a type of worm belonging to the trematode group. It penetrates through the gastrointestinal tract into the pulmonary and hepatic systems, causing clinical symptoms.
Pathogens are not immediately transmitted to humans. The primary host is shellfish and the secondary host is fish. Only then could it move to mammals. The larvae enter freshwater bodies and become infected through fresh water.
Symptom:
- increased body temperature;
- discomfort in the form of weakness, fatigue, drowsiness, abdominal pain;
- intoxication of the body, manifested by muscle and joint pain;
- hepatosplenomegaly;
- indigestion disorders;
- bronchial asthma with coughing attacks and severe asthma;
- toxic allergic damage to the brain and heart;
- inflammation of various parts of the digestive tract, gallbladder, pancreas;
- pneumonia, pleurisy.
Lack of treatment leads to death.
paragonimosis
The causative agent is trematodes. This is a lung fluke disease, located mainly in the respiratory tract (bronchi, lungs, trachea). It goes through a complex development cycle. It does not reach humans immediately but develops first in the organs of animals. The transmission mechanism is fecal-oral. Eggs fall into the soil with feces, then enter the water.
Symptoms (no symptoms in the first 3 weeks):
- inflammation of the esophagus and liver;
- acute stomach;
- rash and itching on the skin;
- tracheitis, bronchitis, pneumonia;
- increases body temperature to critical values;
- choking, coughing, coughing up blood;
- increased heart rate, arrhythmia;
- If the pathogen is in the central nervous system, it is accompanied by meningitis and encephalitis.
Several months after the pathogen enters the human body, symptoms will gradually decrease. A chronic disease is formed that can develop over many years with exacerbations.
Respiratory system complications due to parasitic infection
If cough and infection are not treated, the condition will gradually get worse and complications develop:
- bleeding of the mucous membranes of the digestive and respiratory tract;
- In the lungs, tissue necrosis, pleural pus, cysts, abscesses may occur, and may only be accompanied by a dry cough;
- If pathogens move to the upper respiratory tract and completely block them, suffocation and death will occur;
- Penetration into the central nervous system accompanied by paralysis, intracranial hemorrhage, epilepsy;
- Intestinal obstruction, appendicitis, cholangitis and forms of hepatitis in the gastrointestinal tract.
Necessary diagnosis
Therapist or infectious disease specialist determinesWhich diagnostic methods are sufficient to diagnose:
- General clinical analysis of urine, blood, blood biochemistry;
- bacteriological analysis and sputum PCR;
- scraped from the anus then examined with a microscope;
- co-program expansion;
- X ray;
- Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity.
Increased numbers of immune cells are detected in the blood. A chest X-ray can show tumors that could be mistaken for tuberculosis or cancer. Analysis of sputum and scratches from the anus revealed helminths.
Treatment and prevention measures
The main treatment is antiparasitic drugs, which are carried out in several stages.
Use symptomatic therapy with the following medications:
- antihistamines;
- antipyretics;
- analgesic;
- corticosteroids;
- bronchodilators.
After the first use of anthelmintic drugs, the course is repeated. This is because some eggs and larvae can survive by turning back into worms.
If parasites cause coughing, syrup should not be used to suppress it - it can cause suffocation. For prevention, you should regularly wash your hands, vegetables and fruits.
Clinical images
Usually patients are interested in:
- stomach-ache;
- dyspeptic disorders (nausea, vomiting, stool changes);
- itching in the anus;
- increased body temperature;
- signs of respiratory infection with dry or wet cough;
- rash, itching on the skin.
Parasites that cause cough in children and adults have an atypical pattern of disease formation. It can easily be confused with appendicitis, intestinal infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
What do doctors say about parasites?
Doctors advise to be especially careful in the summer. At this time, the parasite is actively developing, penetrating the soil and water. Therefore, it is recommended not to drink liquids from water bodies and thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables.
Experts tell us which parasites cause coughing: toxocara, lamblia, trematodes. All of them cause symptoms in the form of cough when entering the respiratory tract.