Helminthosis is a large group of parasitic diseases caused by certain types of parasitic worms - helminths.Most helminthiasis have similar clinical manifestations and approaches to treatment.
Parasites: From Antiquity to the Present
Such common helminth infections as enterobiasis and ascariasis have been known for a long time.Human invasions of bovine tapeworms and roundworms are mentioned as early as the sixteenth century BC in the ancient Egyptian medical treatise - the Ebers Papyrus.Hippocrates himself paid great attention to helminths.It was they who introduced concepts such as "helminthiasis" and "ascariasis".
At the beginning of the eighteenth century, the German microbiologist Karl Rudolfi, while studying a large number of animals, collected a whole collection of parasitic worms.Soon the science of parasitic worms appeared - helminthology.
In 1884, a well-known scientist and doctor established a causal relationship between tapeworm parasitism in the human body and the appearance of anemia in the patient.
An outstanding scientist and academician made a great contribution to the development and establishment of helminthology, who organized the first department of parasitology and opened specialized institutions dedicated to the study of helminths.On his initiative, more than three hundred parasitological expeditions were carried out in which he was directly involved.
Parasitologists have described more than five hundred species of parasitic worms that were previously unknown to science.The doctor himself discovered and described more than two hundred new species of helminths, and published over seven hundred scientific papers.
Otherwise, it is known that parasitic infection worsens the course of accompanying diseases, especially chronic, decompensated ones.Helminth infections negatively affect growth, work ability, and also have a depressing effect on the human immune system and nervous system.
Parasitic infection: types of worms
There are three major classes of helminths - tapeworms (cestodes), roundworms (nematodes), flukes (trematodes).Nematodes are classified as roundworms, while tapeworms and flukes are classified as flatworms.A person can act as an intermediate or final host for a parasite.
The causative agents of helminthiasis such as ascariasis, enterobiasis, trichinosis, hookworm, trichuriasis and strongyloidiasis are nematodes.Cestodes cause echinococcosis, alveococcosis, diphyllobothriasis, taeniasis, taeniarhynchiasis, hymenolepiasis, etc.And trematodes cause, among other things, opisthorchiasis, clonorchiasis, paragonimiasis, metagonimiasis, and fascioliasis.
Depending on the location of the parasite in the body, they differ:
- Luminal helminthiasis.
- Tissue helminthiasis.
- Hepatobiliary helminthiases.In this case, the parasitic infection affects the liver, gallbladder and bile ducts (opisthorchiasis, clonorchiasis).
- Pulmonary helminthiasis.
The following types of helminthiasis are distinguished:
- Geohelminthiases.In this case, the parasite develops with the participation of a non-living substrate (water, soil).
- Infectious helminthiasis.The development of worms occurs within a single microorganism, such as enterobiosis.
- Biohelminthiasis is the development of helminths with the participation of intermediate hosts.A typical example is the broad tapeworm, which has a complex developmental cycle with host change.
Otherwise, it has been established that intestinal parasites in the body stimulate the release of Th2 cytokines, which suppress Th1 cytokines.In this sense, people with helminthic infestations have a higher risk of contracting a certain disease, for example, tuberculosis.
Parasites in the body: main syndromes
The main clinical syndromes of helminth infection include:
Malnutrition syndrome
It is known that the parasite, while in the human body, consumes nutrients from its host, which can cause the development of protein-energy deficit, hypovitaminosis and anemia.This often happens when the body is damaged by tapeworms and roundworms that parasitize the intestines.
Immunosuppressive syndrome
When they remain in the body for a long time, helminths can have an immunosuppressive effect, reducing resistance to various microbial and viral infections.
Toxic-allergic organ damage
It is a whole spectrum of diseases - heart (myocarditis), liver (hepatitis), lungs (pneumonia), brain (encephalopathy).Up to hemorrhagic necrotic damage to internal organs.
Local damage to organ tissue
It most often prevails in the chronic phase and is determined by the localization of the helminth.Thus, hookworms and cestodes have a traumatic effect on the intestinal mucosa, opisthorchids damage the biliary tract, and schistosomes damage the mucosa of the large intestine and urinary tract.
By the way, it has been proven that helminth infections reduce the effectiveness of vaccination.Some helminths, for example, schistosomes, opisthorchids, Chinese flukes, can cause the development of carcinogenesis.This is evidenced by the so-called parasitic theory of cancer.A special danger is long-term chronic opisthorchiasis, which can ultimately lead to bile duct cancer.
When should you see a doctor?
The following may indicate that a person has parasites in their body:
- Various types of allergic reactions, including unspecified recurrent urticaria, which do not go away even with the use of hormonal and desensitizing drugs.
- Decreased or, conversely, increased appetite.
- Exhaustion of the organism.
- Itching in the anal area – especially in the evening or at night.
- Dyspeptic phenomena.
- Unstable stool - diarrhea or constipation.
- Prolonged dry cough (usually at night), in children - prolonged barking cough.
- An increase in the level of eosinophils in the blood is eosinophilia.
- Anemia, especially B12 deficiency.
- Asthenic syndrome - general weakness, fatigue, malaise.Of course, such symptoms can be attributed to various diseases.However, if the child has an incomprehensible increase in fatigue or moodiness, poor sleep or nervousness, it makes sense to do a parasite test.
If any of the above signs are present, it is a reason to consult a parasitologist or infectious disease specialist.