There are various parasites that live in the human body, disrupting the function of internal organs and the whole body as a whole. People knew about helminths in ancient times, and for the first time they and the diseases related to them were described by Hippocrates.
Today, science knows many parasites, but some of them are common in the human body. They differ from each other in structure and way of existence, but for development and reproduction they need to enter the human body.
Based on the type of structure, all parasites in humans are divided into several categories:
- roundworms;
- flukes;
- tape
Let's consider the listed types of parasites in the human body in more detail.
Characteristics of roundworms
These parasites are called nematodes. Outwardly, they resemble earthworms, but differ in sharper ends. Its size varies from one millimeter to 130 centimeters.
Many roundworms have a simple life cycle. After infection of the human body with nematodes, parasite eggs emerge from the intestine, which cannot be seen with the naked eye.
When released into the environment, the eggs mature and then return to the human body through contaminated food, water or dirty hands. Roundworms hatch from them and begin to actively grow.
All round parasites in the human body are divided into several subspecies, including:
- pinworms. The most common parasite that is easily spread between humans through shared objects. The development of these nematodes in the body causes severe discomfort in the form of itching around the anus.
- Ringworm. When infected on a large scale, they are dangerous to health. It is a worm that reaches a length of 25 cm. After maturity, the larvae spread throughout the body and internal organs in the blood.
- Trichinella. These small roundworms are up to 5 mm long. Developing in the intestines, they lay larvae. After that, they penetrate the blood vessels and spread throughout the body.
- Filaria. They are distributed mainly in hot countries, and their carriers are insects.
Parasites - worms
The so-called trematodes are parasites in the human body, the symptoms of which are not always clearly visible. These are flatworms up to 8 centimeters long, which have suckers on their bodies to feed on parasites.
Flukes have a complex life cycle and change hosts several times. Eggs develop in a body of water, after which they enter the body of a mollusk for metamorphosis. When the modified larvae emerge from the mollusk, they enter the body of a crustacean or fish, where they are modified again.
Flukes enter the body of their final host, i. e. a person, with raw or undercooked meat of cancer species or fish.
Among the most popular trematodes are:
- Opisthorchis. People become infected with this parasite by eating salted or undercooked/undercooked carp or stroganina.
- Chinese coincidence. It affects many fish and crustaceans living in Primorye and Japanese waters. Parasites affect the bile and bile ducts, pancreas and liver.
- Paragonimiasis. It causes dangerous diseases that affect the lungs, liver, pancreas, kidneys and even the brain. People who eat undercooked crabs and crayfish from fresh water will become infected with it.
- Schistosomiasis. The parasite is usually found in tropical countries, and the larvae actively enter through the human skin when swimming, as well as when water from reservoirs enters the mouth.
Tape parasites (worms)
We almost know what parasites are in the human body, but there are still tapeworms, which are also found in different types:
- Bull tapeworm. It can reach 10 meters in length, and people become infected by eating beef that has undergone low heat treatment. Housewives are sometimes infected by testing raw minced meat for the amount of added spices or salt. After entering the body, the larvae turn into saltpeter, which sticks to the intestinal wall and causes weight loss, loss of appetite, insomnia and dizziness in humans.
- Pork tapeworm. They are smaller in size (up to 2 meters long), and can be infected by eating undercooked pork.
- Wide tapeworm. The length of this parasite varies between 6-15 meters. It is usually contracted by eating raw freshwater fish. Weakness, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and other symptoms occur.
- Echinococcus. Dangerous helminths that can be contracted from cats and dogs that carry the parasite. In the human body, the larvae hatch from the eggs and are transported with the blood to various organs, especially the liver. Subsequently, echinococcal cysts are formed, which are dangerous to health and require surgical intervention.
We see what parasites live in the human body, but these are not all known helminths. Study the symptoms of parasite infestation and if you find it, go to the doctor for a diagnosis.