When we talk about parasites in the body, most people think of worms in the intestines. However, other parasites are also common, difficult to diagnose, and affect other organs rather than the intestines.
These are the simplest microscopic (most parasites) that have not been seen for a long time. However, the simplest parasites can cause significant damage to the body.
Giardia
Giardia is a microscopic flagged parasite with two nuclei and two sets of organelles.
In humans, giardiasis is caused by the most common type of parasite - intestinal lamblia. In addition to humans, other mammals and birds can also be infected. The parasite can form a cyst in the localization organ.
Giardia is present in poorly treated tap water, as well as in natural sources - springs, wells. They can be found in the meat of an infected animal or bird, in the feces of a small number of sick animals, and sometimes survive in the soil, so they are found in vegetables and berries.
The infection usually occurs through the fecal-oral route, which means that a large number of parasitic cysts must be ingested for the invasion to develop. Usually three-month-old children and adults get sick.
Often the disease is asymptomatic and the patient learns about it by chance. But sometimes there are some symptoms (permanent or intermittent). Symptoms are found in the gastrointestinal tract:
- Stomach pain;
- swelling;
- nausea, sometimes vomiting;
- Rumbling in the stomach;
- Constipation and diarrhea are interchangeable;
- dyskinesia of the biliary tract;
- Skin allergies;
- General weakness.
Like intracellular parasites, lamblia are mainly treated with metronidazole. However, in the first stage of therapy it is necessary to eliminate intoxication and normalize the function of the bile ducts. Only then is antiparasitic therapy prescribed. This is followed by therapy aimed at restoring the body's defenses and increasing immunity.
Amoeba
Amoebae are the simplest human parasites that cause amoebic dysentery or amoebiasis.
There are also types of amoebae that can affect the eyes. Amoebae cause encephalitis, but they are less common. Occupancy is not the most common, according to the WHO, only 10% of people are sick (this figure for giardiasis, according to some sources, 50%).
Amoebae are transmitted only by fecal-oral route, ie, as in the previous case, the amoeba forms cysts that must be swallowed in order for the infection to develop.
In countries with hot climates and poor sanitation, the risk of infection is higher. Cysts can retain their ability to infect vegetables, fruits and berries grown in soil, water or contaminated soil for a long time. Cockroaches and flies carry some of these cysts.
Amoebae, like intracellular parasites, 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. Often the liver is affected, because after two or three weeks there is pain, the body grows and thickens.
Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii. This is the simplest organism, mainly spread by members of the cat family, which are its carriers. An infected person also has the ability to spread it.
It is transmitted orally. You can be infected by eating poorly processed meat of infected animals and birds, as well as eggs. To a lesser extent, but still through the blood, in the presence of wounds (for example, when working with contaminated soil in the garden), it can also come into contact with mucous membranes.
It is mainly asymptomatic and, like many viruses, is diagnosed accidentally, for example, during enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Treatment of the acute form often occurs independently. Pregnant women require treatment with pyrimethamine (used to treat intracellular parasites).
Plasmodium
Plasmodia are intracellular parasites that cause malaria. Five types of pathogens can parasitize humans. In addition, they are localized in the blood, in the membranes of its cells.
The disease is transmitted through blood (for example, by transfusion). Because plasmodium is an intermediate host, it is also tolerated by some mosquito species when bitten. As a result, a person becomes infected with malaria.
These mosquitoes (and accordingly the disease) are widespread in tropical 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 the headache and spleen enlargement combine.
Treatment with quinine is carried out under strict medical supervision.
Trichomonas
These are the simplest human parasites that cause trichomoniasis. Affects the human genitourinary system. It is the most common sexually transmitted disease and is also the most common disease of the genitourinary system.
It is transmitted only through sexual intercourse. In women they live in the vagina, in men trichomonas - in the urethra, seminal vesicles, prostate gland.
Symptoms in women include: vaginal discharge, itching and redness of the skin of the genitals, pain during urination and sexual intercourse, inflammation of the vaginal mucosa. In men: secretions from the urethra (rarely with blood), pain during urination, signs of prostatitis with damage to the prostate gland.
The disease needs to be treated in both partners. Anti-trichomonas is treated strictly with medication individually and under the supervision of a physician. In some cases, immune or symptomatic therapy is required.