Helminthiasis is a large group of parasitic diseases caused by certain types of parasitic worms - helminths.Most helminthiases have similar clinical manifestations and treatment approaches.
Parasites: from antiquity to the present day
Such common helminthiasis as enterobiasis and ascariasis have been known for a long time.Human invasions by bovine tapeworms and roundworms were mentioned back in 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 such concepts as “helminthiasis” and “ascariasis”.
At the beginning of the eighteenth century, the German microbiologist Karl Rudolphi, during the study of a large number of animals, collected a whole collection of parasitic worms.Soon the science of parasitic worms appeared - helminthology.
In one thousand eight hundred and eighty-four, a famous scientist and doctor established a causal connection between the parasitism of the tapeworm in the human body and the occurrence 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 also published over seven hundred scientific papers.
By the way, it is known that parasitic infection worsens the course of concomitant diseases, especially chronic, decompensated ones.Helminth infections negatively affect growth, ability to work, and also have a depressing effect on the human immune system and nervous system.
Parasitic infection: types of worms
There are three large 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 definitive host of parasites.
The causative agents of helminthiases such as ascariasis, enterobiasis, trichinosis, hookworm disease, trichuriasis, and strongyloidiasis are nematodes.Cestodes cause echinococcosis, alveococcosis, diphyllobothriasis, taeniasis, teniarinchiasis, hymenolepiasis, etc. And trematodes provoke, among other things, opisthorchiasis, clonorchiasis, paragonimiasis, metagonimiasis, fascioliasis.
Depending on the location of parasites in the body, there are:
- Luminal helminthiases.
- Tissue helminthiases.
- Hepatobiliary helminthiases.In this case, the parasitic infection affects the liver, gall bladder and bile ducts (opisthorchiasis, clonorchiasis).
- Pulmonary helminthiases.
The following types of helminthiases are distinguished:
- Geohelminthiases.In this case, the parasite develops with the participation of a non-living substrate (water, soil).
- Contagious helminthiasis.The development of worms occurs within one microorganism, such as in enterobiasis.
- Biohelminthiasis is the development of helminths with the participation of intermediate hosts.A typical example is the wide tapeworm, which has a complex development cycle with a change of host.
By the way, it has been established that intestinal parasites in the body promote the release of Th2 cytokines, which suppress the Th1 cytokine.In this regard, people with helminthic infestations have a higher risk of becoming infected with a particular disease, for example, tuberculosis.
Parasites in the body: main syndromes
The main clinical syndromes of helminth infections include:
Malnutrition syndrome
It is known that the parasite, while in the human body, consumes nutrients from its host, which can cause the latter to develop protein-energy deficiency, 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
This is a whole spectrum of diseases - the heart (myocarditis), the liver (hepatitis), the lungs (pneumonia), the brain (encephalopathy).Up to hemorrhagic necrotic damage to internal organs.
Local damage to organ tissue
Most often it predominates 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 mucous membrane 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, opisthorchid, Chinese flukes, can provoke the development of carcinogenesis.This is evidenced by the so-called parasitic theory of cancer.Of particular danger are long-term chronic opisthorchiasis, which can ultimately lead to cancer of the biliary tract.
When should you see a doctor?
The following may indicate that a person has parasites in his 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 body.
- Itching in the anal area - especially in the evening or at night.
- Dyspeptic phenomena.
- Unstable stool - diarrhea or constipation.
- Protracted dry cough (usually at night), in children - a 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 night sleep, or nervousness, it makes sense to conduct a test for parasites.
If any of the above signs are present, this is a reason to consult a parasitologist or infectious disease specialist.