How to identify parasites in the human body, who are "parasites" and how do we get infected by them?

Parasites are organisms whose existence is directly related to their host. In other words, parasites survive at the expense of their hosts, exploiting them for their own benefit while negatively affecting their hosts. These creatures are extremely tenacious and have a high reproductive rate, so fighting them is a very difficult task. Such organisms include: viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. In particularly severe cases, the parasite robs the owner of all his juices, poisons him with the products of his vital activities and causes serious harm to his health. How to identify parasites in the human body?

who is a parasite

Parasites are organisms that exist solely on the host organism but also have a negative impact on the host organism. These include various types of bacteria, fungi, protozoa and worms. Bacteria are the smallest in size. Nonetheless, they can be the causative agent of quite serious diseases, including:

• plague
• typhus
• tuberculosis
• tetanus
• Meningitis etc.

Fungal parasites are the second most developed of this group of organisms. There are as many as one hundred species of pathogenic fungi. They are slightly larger than bacteria and, unlike bacteria, have excellent protection against environmental factors and good adaptability to changing environmental conditions. They are divided into two groups: filamentous fungi and yeast fungi. The most prominent representative of this parasite is Candida. They affect the skin, nails, and mucous membranes of the host and are the causative agents of candidiasis.The most common parasites are worms. They include many species living in different host systems. The roundworm, Trichinella spiralis, causes a disease called trichinellosis. The disease affects humans and pigs. Tapeworms belong to the class Flatworms and are intestinal parasites. They live in the digestive system of the host organism and feed on the host organism.Most commonly, their hosts are vertebrates: humans, cats, dogs, fish. Tapeworms have special suckers that attach to the intestinal wall. They absorb nutrients throughout the body because their primitive structure does not provide for a digestive tract or any sense organs.There are a lot of tapeworms. The length of these parasites ranges from one-tenth of a centimeter to nine meters. Their body structure also varies: they can be a complete organism or they can be made up of linked links. Flatworms are hermaphroditic - every representative of the species is both male and female at the same time.An equally common type of parasitic roundworm is nematodes. The most famous of them are: roundworms, pinworms, and trichinella spiralis. Unlike tapeworms, they have an oral cavity through which they suck nutrients they steal from their hosts. Most often, they are heterosexual, but like tapeworms, there are hermaphrodites—organisms with the sexual characteristics of both sexes—among them.

Parasites are organisms that exist entirely at the expense of their host. Unlike other organisms that live in symbiosis with the human body, their life activities can cause continuous harm to the human body. Parasites include: protozoa, bacteria, fungi, and worms.

Parasitic infection route

There are many ways for parasites to enter the human body, the main ones are:

1. Nutritious– through contaminated food, water;
2. contact family– Infection occurs through contact with contaminated objects, household members, pets;
3. communicable– Infection through blood-feeding insects;
4. positive– Parasites enter the body when interacting with contaminated soil or swimming in ponds.

Nutrition

Among the helminths transmitted through food, it is necessary to place a separate emphasis on worms transmitted through meat products. The most dangerous of these are pork and cattle tapeworms. The bovine tapeworm can survive in the human body for up to ten years and can reach a length of three to ten meters. The solium tapeworm colonizes the intestines and begins to multiply, infecting the entire body with the help of cysticercus larvae.Additionally, the meat of some animals may be contaminated with Trichinella spiralis. A few days after Trichinella spiralis enters the human body, a serious disease - trichinellosis - occurs. It often ends in death. When buying meat, be sure to pay attention to the seller's information. Since he is the one directly related to food, his responsibilities include regular physical examinations and strict compliance with hygiene standards. Unfortunately, in our time, this is rarely monitored, which is why this disease emerged.In addition, freshwater fish is a dangerous product from the perspective of worm infection. For example, carp can cause diseases such as opioditis. The parasite's eggs enter the fish through river molluscs and have little effect on the fish itself - it simply acts as a vector for the parasite.

Dried, smoked or dried fish poses a serious hazard. For example, raw pike caviar may be infected with a wide range of tapeworms. Diphyllobothriasis is a disease caused by this worm. The large tapeworm can grow up to ten meters long and live in the small intestine for decades.

Contact details and family

The most well-known worms transmitted this way are pinworms and roundworms. Violation of hygiene regulations is the main cause of pinwormiasis and ascariasis. Children infected with pinworms scratch their anus while sleeping because the female pinworms will come out and lay eggs, which can then become infected on various household items and clothing.If the infection is not detected quickly, all family members may have the disease. You can get giardiasis by drinking contaminated water. This parasite can even survive in chlorinated water. In addition, household items such as toys and tableware may also become sources of infection for these parasites.

Route of infection

Filariasis is a helminth disease that can be transmitted by certain species of mosquitoes common in tropical and subtropical climates. Malaria or yellow fever is a fatal disease that is also spread by mosquitoes. Filariae can live in the blood and lymph fluid and cause various adverse reactions in the host.

active infection pathways

In this case, the parasite infects people through direct contact with contaminated water or soil. For example, hookworm is a parasite that can be contracted simply by walking barefoot on contaminated soil.There are many ways of parasitic infection, of which there are four main ones. In order to somehow protect yourself from infection, you must strictly observe the rules of personal hygiene and try not to eat questionable foods, especially meat.

How to identify internal parasites

Symptoms when the body is infected with parasites can vary widely. Parasites can be identified when the following symptoms appear:

• constipate. Due to their size and large numbers, certain types of worms can cause blockages in various body systems: bile ducts, intestines. These blockages can lead to some type of disease and, in particularly severe cases, require surgical intervention.
• diarrhea. Parasites produce substances similar to prostaglandins due to their life activities, causing frequent and loose stools in the host.
• abdominal bloating. During their life, worms often cause intestinal inflammation. These inflammatory processes can lead to the formation of excess gas, which can lead to bloating.
• allergy. Damage to the lining of the gastrointestinal tract can allow undigested food molecules to enter the bloodstream. In this case, the immune system comes into play, and as a result of its reaction, large numbers of eosinophils (cells that cause inflammation) are released into the blood, indicating an allergic reaction in the body.
• bad skin. Many different skin conditions can be caused by microorganisms that live on the skin.
• weight problem. Deviations in weight from normal, either an increase or a decrease, can be a sign of the presence of parasites in the body. Weight loss occurs due to indigestion and loss of appetite. Some worms lower blood sugar levels, causing uncontrollable hunger in the host, leading to obesity.
• chronic fatigue. Weakness, flu-like symptoms, apathy, difficulty concentrating, and poor memory are common symptoms of malnutrition. If you are infected with worms, the function of your digestive system will be impaired, which will affect the absorption of various nutrients, leading to chronic fatigue.
• airway inflammation. Some types of worms move throughout the body, including the respiratory system. In some cases, they can cause lung damage, leading to coughing and fever. Roundworms can even cause illnesses such as pneumonia.
• nervous. The human nervous system can be severely damaged by exposure to worm waste. Various neurological disorders are signs of worm poisoning in the body.

Identifying parasites in the human body is not easy. Although the signs of their presence in the body are very clear, they can be misinterpreted and attributed to an entirely different disease. Therefore, the best way to detect internal parasites is to consult a doctor and get the necessary tests done.Parasites are various organisms that survive by parasitizing another organism. Due to their life activities, the host's ability to survive is significantly reduced. There are many ways to become infected with parasites; they literally surround a person. Symptoms of infection vary, and if you suspect you have a parasite, you should consult your doctor and get tested.