When it comes to parasites in the body, most people think of worms in the gut. However, there are often other parasites that are quite difficult to diagnose and affect organs other than the gut.
These are the simplest microscopic (most often parasites), which may not appear in any way for a long time. However, the simplest parasites can cause significant damage to the body.
Garden
Giardia is a microscopic flagellated parasite that has two nuclei and two sets of organelles.
Giardiasis in humans is caused by the most common type of parasite - intestinal giardiasis. In addition to humans, they can infect other mammals and birds. The parasite can form a cyst in the organ of localization.
Giardia is present in poorly purified tap water, as well as in natural sources - springs, wells. They can be found in the meat of an infected animal or bird, in small quantities in the feces of an infected animal, sometimes surviving in the soil and therefore present on vegetables and fruits.
Usually the infection occurs by fecal-oral route, ie for the development of the invasion it is necessary to swallow a significant number of parasitic cysts. Children aged three months and adults are usually ill.
Most often the disease is asymptomatic and the patient learns about it by accident. But sometimes there are some symptoms (constantly or periodically). Symptoms of the gastrointestinal tract are revealed:
- Stomach pains;
- Swelling of the abdomen;
- Nausea, sometimes vomiting;
- Snoring in the stomach;
- Constipation and diarrhea alternate;
- Dyskinesia of the biliary tract;
- Skin allergies;
- General weakness.
Like intracellular parasites, giardia are mainly treated with metronidazole. However, in the first stage of therapy it is necessary to eliminate intoxication and normalize the work of the bile ducts. Only then is antiparasitic therapy prescribed. Then therapy is carried out aimed at restoring the body's defenses and boosting immunity.
amoeba
Amoebae are the simplest human parasites that cause amoebic dysentery or amoebiasis.
There are also species of amoeba that can affect the eyes. They cause amoebic encephalitis, but are less common. Invasion is not the most common, only 10% of people suffer from it, according to the WHO (while for giardiasis this figure is 50% according to some sources).
Amoebae are transmitted exclusively by faecal-oral route, ie, as in the previous case, amoebae form cysts that must be swallowed in order for infection to develop.
The probability of infection is higher in countries with hot climates and poor sanitation. Cysts can retain their ability to infect for a long time while in the soil, in water, on vegetables and fruits grown on contaminated soil. Cockroaches and flies carry these cysts to some extent.
Like intracellular parasites, amoebae cause symptoms only 7-10 days after infection. Symptoms of colitis appear: abdominal pain (in the lower part), general weakness, a slight increase in body temperature. The liver is most often affected, as after two to three weeks pain appears in it, the organ grows and thickens.
toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is a disease that causes Toxoplasma gondi. This is the simplest organism, which is spread mainly by members of the family of cats that carry it. An infected person is also able to spread it.
It is transmitted by faecal-oral route. You can become infected by eating poorly processed meat from infected animals and birds, as well as eggs. To a lesser extent, but still able to be transmitted through the blood, in the presence of wounds (for example, when working with contaminated soil in the garden), as well as in contact with mucous membranes.
It is most often asymptomatic and diagnosed accidentally, like many viruses, for example during enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. In the acute form, treatment often occurs independently. Pregnant women need treatment with pyrimethamine drugs (used to treat intracellular parasites).
plasmodium
Plasmodia are intracellular parasites that cause malaria. Five types of pathogens are capable of parasitizing humans. In addition, they are localized in the blood, located on the membranes of its cells.
The disease is transmitted through blood (for example, through blood transfusions). It is also tolerated by some species of mosquitoes when bitten, as mosquitoes are the intermediate hosts of Plasmodium. As a result, the person becomes infected with malaria.
These mosquitoes (and therefore the disease) are common in hot countries, mainly in Africa.
Malaria has severe symptoms that begin to appear 5-7 days after infection. The first symptoms are joint pain, fever, severe chills. Then join the headache, enlargement of the spleen.
Treatment is carried out with quinine preparations strictly under the supervision of a physician.
Trichomonas
These are the simplest human parasites that cause trichomoniasis. Affects the human genitourinary system. It is the most common sexually transmitted disease and also the most common disease of the genitourinary system.
It is transmitted exclusively through sexual contact. In women they live in the vagina, Trichomonas in men - in the urethra, seminal vesicles, prostate gland.
In women, the symptoms are as follows: vaginal discharge, itching and redness of the skin of the genitals, pain during urination and intercourse, inflammation of the vaginal mucosa. In men: urethral discharge (rarely with blood), pain when urinating, symptoms of prostatitis with prostate damage.
It is necessary to treat the disease in both partners. It is treated with antitrichomonas drugs strictly individually and under the supervision of a doctor. In some cases, immune or symptomatic therapy is required.