Various parasites live in the human body, which disrupt the functioning of the internal organs and the entire organism as a whole. People knew about helminths in ancient times, and for the first time they and related diseases were described by Hippocrates.
Today, science knows many parasites, but some of them are particularly common in the human body. They differ from each other in structure and ways of existence, but for their development and reproduction, it is necessary to get into the human body.
Based on the type of structure, all parasites in humans are divided into several categories:
- roundworms;
- flukes;
- tape
Let's take a closer look at the listed types of parasites in the human body.
Characteristics of roundworms
These parasites are called nematodes. Outwardly, they resemble earthworms, but differ in sharper ends. Their sizes vary from a millimeter to 130 centimeters.
Many roundworms have a simple life cycle. After infecting the human body with nematodes, parasitic eggs are released from the intestines, which are invisible to the naked eye.
Once in the environment, the eggs mature and then return to the human body through dirty food, water or dirty hands. Roundworms hatch from them, which begin to actively develop.
All round parasites in the human body are divided into several subspecies, including:
- Pinworms. The most common parasite that is easily transmitted between people through shared objects. The development of these nematodes in the body creates severe discomfort in the form of itching around the anus.
- Roundworms. In case of mass infection, they are dangerous to health. They are worms reaching a length of up to 25 cm. After maturation, 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. Subsequently, they penetrate the blood vessels and spread throughout the body.
- Filariae. They are mainly distributed in hot countries, and their carriers are insects.
Parasites - flukes
So-called trematodes are parasites in the human body whose symptoms are not always clearly visible. These are flatworms up to 8 centimeters long that have suckers on their bodies for feeding on parasites.
Fluffs have a complex life cycle and change hosts several times. The eggs develop in bodies of water, then enter the body of the mollusc 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, which is a human, with raw or undercooked crustacean meat or fish.
Among the most popular trematodes are:
- Opisthorchis. People become infected with these parasites by eating lightly salted or undercooked/undercooked carp or stroganina.
- Chinese fluke. It affects many fish and crustaceans living in Primorye and the waters of Japan. The parasite affects the bile and bile ducts, the pancreas and the liver.
- Paragonimosis. It provokes a dangerous disease that affects the lungs, liver, pancreas, kidneys and even the brain. People who eat undercooked crabs and freshwater crabs become infected with it.
- Schistosomiasis. Parasites are usually found in tropical countries, and larvae actively enter through human skin when swimming, as well as when water from a tank enters the mouth.
Tapeworms (worms)
We almost understood what parasites are in the human body, but there are still tapeworms, which also come in different types:
- Whipworm. It can reach up to 10 meters in length, and people become infected by eating beef that has undergone low heat treatment. Hosts sometimes become infected by tasting raw minced meat for the amount of added spices or salt. Once inside the body, the larva turns into nitrate, which attaches to the intestinal wall and causes weight loss, loss of appetite, insomnia and dizziness in humans.
- Pork tapeworm. It is smaller in size (up to 2 meters in length) and can be infected by eating poorly processed pork.
- Broad 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 appear.
- Echinococcus. A dangerous helminth that can be infected by cats and dogs carrying 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 looked at what parasites live in the human body, but these are not all known helminths. Research the symptoms of parasite infestation and if you find any, see a doctor for diagnosis.