Often, when we hear about parasites, we certainly imagine helminths, but in fact their number is large today.
Many of them can exist in the upper layers of the epithelium and in subcutaneous fat, remaining invisible to the carrier.
The subcutaneous worm can enter the human body: through tactile contact with infected people; from blood-sucking insects carrying parasite larvae from animals.
The main feature of such an invasion is the difficulty in recognizing the pathology, since at first the infection can be disguised as other somatic diseases.
The main signs of the presence of this type of parasites in the body are severe weakness, reduced efficiency, and a constant desire to scratch the skin. When these signs appear, it is advisable to appear to specialists: a therapist, a dermatologist, an allergist, an infectious disease specialist. The joint work of doctors and the diagnostic methods used by them in their work help to recognize the presence of subcutaneous invasion in the body in time.
Types of helminths
There are a number of subcutaneous worms that can leave a lot of trouble with their appearance. It is possible to detect their presence if you pay attention to certain symptoms. With timely diagnosis of the disease, getting rid of unwanted guests will be much easier.
In order to have an idea of how to quickly recognize their presence, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the most popular representatives:
Filariasis
This type of helminthiasis is found exclusively in tropical areas. Therefore, when traveling, be as careful as possible, it will not be difficult to pick it up.
Pathogens are a great danger, since the duration of the incubation period can reach from 5 to 7 years, while they actively reproduce. They do not show any signs of their presence, continuing all these years to absorb nutrients and vitamins in the body.
Dracunculiasis
Parasitosis can overtake the future carrier in helminth-infected water. It is impossible to determine the presence of the larvae of this parasite in the water with the naked eye; moreover, neither the device nor special analyzes will be able to determine. The danger lies in the fact that an inconspicuous larva can reach a meter in its mature state. As a rule, infection with dracunculiasis leads to death.
It must be understood that the death is due to the fact that an adult helminth meters in length occupies a large part of the stomach and easily penetrates into the lungs, thereby blocking access to the supply of oxygen. But, as a rule, pathogens are located in the lower extremities, so cases of death are quite rare in modern medicine.
Scabies
This type of disease is by far the most popular. It will not be an exaggeration that, perhaps, every second inhabitant of the planet has encountered this unpleasant disease. The main symptom of this disease is constant itching on the skin.
If you look closely, you can determine exactly where the worms are located, in the place of their localization, you can observe noticeable redness and irritation of the skin. In addition to intense itching, no more unpleasant symptoms are observed in an infected person.
On a note.Transmission is carried out from the sick to the healthy, through physical contact, as well as when using the same things.
Diagnosis is almost impossible without the availability of special equipment; it is possible to determine, as mentioned earlier, only the place of their mass accumulation. The cause of irritation is explained by the fact that parasitic mites get under the epithelium by disturbing the upper layer of the epithelium, thereby leaving noticeable traces.
demodicosis
Pathogens prefer sebaceous glands as a habitat. Their appearance is accompanied by purulent formations on the face, which are so easily confused with acne. The more intense the parasite develops, the more noticeable it is on the face. In addition to abscesses, it should be said about another symptom that may seem even more unpleasant - eyelash loss.
Attention.Diagnosing this parasite is quite simple compared to other species. An experienced doctor will not even prescribe special tests to ascertain the presence of helminthiasis, it is enough for him to conduct only a visual examination of the patient. The fact that the treatment is stretched for several years is also unpleasant. Getting rid of the disease is quite difficult, so even with constant treatment, it can take more than one year.
dirofilariasis
These parasites are transmitted to humans through physical contact with an infected animal, usually carried by our pets. Roundworms enter the human body quite quickly, one of the carriers can be a mosquito.
To notice this is quite simple, the bite becomes dense, inflammation and itching appear. The parasite settles in the body and begins active life. The most important symptom that will allow you to immediately establish an accurate diagnosis is the feeling of stirring.
This is due to the fact that adults can move freely. Cases have been recorded when infected people saw a helminth under the skin, and it can also come out through the mucous membrane of the eye.
Strongyloidiasis
The larvae of this parasite easily penetrate the epidermis, for this it is enough just to walk on the ground with bare feet.
In addition to severe itching, redness, and noticeable inflammation, the skin of the infected person is covered with red blisters.
Schistosomiasis
The causative agent is found in Africa and Asia, lives exclusively in fresh water. Easily penetrates into the human body. It prefers to be in human skin or in the genitourinary system. In the course of its life, it releases products that are toxic to humans. Toxins seriously disrupt the body and cause severe poisoning.
The appearance of this or that parasite is accompanied by certain symptoms, so an experienced doctor will usually diagnose it even before receiving the results of a full medical examination. The survey aims not only to confirm its presence, but also to determine its exact location, as well as the approximate number of individuals.
Symptoms
What symptoms appear depends on what parasites the person is infected with. There are significant differences, but most of the symptoms are typical for subcutaneous worms. Let's highlight the main symptoms:
- Skin lesion. It can manifest itself in the form of a severe rash, redness, acne, severe itching, in some cases traces of worms are visible.
- General malaise. Not only toxic waste products can affect the general condition of the patient, it should be understood that the worms feed on nutrients from the carrier's body, while the carrier's body does not receive useful substances. In this regard, weakness increases, a person quickly gets tired, fever and insomnia can be observed.
- Often, worms penetrate other vital organs, thereby disrupting their work.
- Among subcutaneous helminths, individuals are quite often found, the movement of which is well felt by the carrier.
Filariasis
Primary symptoms, which may last for the first few years, include:
- urticaria, with the appearance of extensive red spots;
- severe itching;
- temperature rise;
- feverish state.
After a certain time, the primary symptoms are replaced by more serious manifestations, such as:
- eczema, warts, ulcers;
- sleep disturbance (increased drowsiness, insomnia);
- continuous migraine;
- subcutaneous nodes;
- some individuals become noticeable when examining the patient's eye.
For your information.Such a condition requires serious medical intervention, since the prolonged presence of the pathogen can lead to loss of vision, the development of a tumor.
Scabies
Accompanied by the following symptoms:
- the appearance of a rash and redness;
- bubbles may appear in the affected areas;
- when applying iodine to the affected area of the skin, the passages of the worm become noticeable;
- constant itching;
- severe peeling of the skin.
Schistosomiasis
Accompanied by the following symptoms:
- skin rash;
- persistent itching;
- increased sweating, especially at night;
- hyperthermia;
- the size of the liver increases.
dirofilariasis
Accompanied by the following symptoms:
- allergic reaction of the body;
- temperature rise;
- severe fatigue, weakness;
- nausea.
demodicosis
Accompanied by the following symptoms:
- severe acne;
- loss of eyelashes.
Dracunculiasis
Accompanied by the following symptoms:
- there is inflammation of the joints of the lower extremities;
- gangrene;
- blood poisoning.
The appearance of such a disease carries a considerable threat to human life and health. Many pathogens are carefully hidden for several years after infection, but then their size increases markedly and the manifestation under the skin becomes noticeable.
The location of the subcutaneous worm can be not only the upper layers of the epithelium and the sebaceous glands, it is much more dangerous when the helminths move freely through the body, since vital organs can be affected.
Treatment
To date, there are many effective recommendations for the treatment of such diseases. It is important to understand that the doctor should prescribe the treatment, after receiving the necessary results of a complete medical examination of the patient. In some cases, complications and the appearance of side diseases caused by helminths are observed.
Important.As a treatment, complex drug therapy can be prescribed, but you should be aware that most drugs are very toxic, so you can observe a significant deterioration in the condition caused by the treatment.
Often, surgical intervention is required to get rid of subcutaneous helminths. Most often, hydrochloric acid and sulfuric soap are used for scabies.
Treatment for subcutaneous worms can cause a lot of problems, spend a lot of time and money. Therefore, it is easier to prevent infection, for this it is only necessary to adhere to the rules of personal hygiene. It is recommended not to have physical contact with an infected person.
