Often, when we hear about parasites, we certainly imagine helminths, but in fact their number today is significant.
Many of them can exist in the upper layers of the epithelium and in the subcutaneous fat, remaining invisible to the wearer.
The subcutaneous worm can enter the human body: through tactile contact with infected people; blood-sucking insects carrying larvae of animal parasites.
The main feature of such an invasion is the difficulty in recognizing 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, decreased performance and a constant desire to scratch the skin. When these signs appear, it is advisable to go to specialists: a therapist, a dermatologist, an allergist, an infectiologist. The joint work of doctors and the diagnostic methods they use in their work help to recognize in time the presence of subcutaneous invasion in the body.
Types of helminths
There are a number of subcutaneous worms that can cause 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, it will be much easier to get rid of unwanted guests.
In order to get 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 collect it.
Pathogens are a great danger, since the duration of the incubation period can reach from 5 to 7 years, while they actively reproduce. They show no signs of their presence, continuing all these years to absorb nutrients and vitamins into the body.
Dracunculiasis
Parasitosis can overtake the future carrier in water infected with helminths. It is impossible to determine with the naked eye the presence of the larvae of this parasite in the water; moreover, neither the apparatus nor particular analyzes will be able to determine it. The danger lies in the fact that an inconspicuous larva can reach a meter in the mature state. Typically, dracunculiasis infection leads to death.
It should be understood that death is due to the fact that an adult helminth several meters long 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 common. It will not be exaggerated 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, 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 takes place 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 the irritation is explained by the fact that the parasitic mites penetrate under the epithelium, disturbing the upper layer of the epithelium, leaving visible 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 intensively the parasite develops, the more visible it is on the face. In addition to abscesses, it is worth mentioning another symptom that may seem even more unpleasant - the loss of eyelashes.
Warning.The diagnosis of this parasite is quite simple compared to other species. An experienced doctor will not even prescribe special tests to check for helminthiasis, he just needs to conduct a visual examination of the patient. The fact that the treatment is stretched over several years is also unpleasant. Getting rid of the disease is quite difficult, so even with constant treatment it can take more than a year.
heartworm disease
These parasites are transmitted to humans through physical contact with an infected animal, usually carried by our pets. Roundworms penetrate the human body quite quickly, one of the carriers can be a mosquito.
To notice it is quite simple, the bite becomes dense, inflammation and itching appear. The parasite settles in the body and begins an active life. The most important symptom that will allow you to immediately establish an accurate diagnosis is the feeling of restlessness.
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.
Strongyloides
The larvae of this parasite easily penetrate the epidermis, for this it is enough to walk barefoot on the ground.
In addition to severe itching, redness and noticeable inflammation, the skin of the infected person is covered with red blisters.
Schistosomiasis
The pathogen is found in Africa and Asia, lives exclusively in fresh water. Easily penetrates the human body. It prefers to be in human skin or in the genitourinary system. During its life, it releases toxic products for humans. Toxins seriously disturb 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 complete 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
The symptoms that appear depend on the parasites the person is infected with. There are significant differences, but most symptoms are typical of 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 can affect the general condition of the patient, it should be understood that the worms feed on the nutrients from the carrier's body, while the carrier's body does not receive useful substances. In this regard, weakness increases, a person gets tired quickly, fever and insomnia can be observed.
- Often the worms get into other vital organs, disrupting their work.
- Among the subcutaneous helminths, individuals are quite often found, the movement of which is well felt by the wearer.
Filariasis
Primary symptoms, which may last for the first few years, include:
- hives, with the appearance of extensive red spots;
- severe itching;
- temperature rise;
- feverish state.
After a while, the primary symptoms are replaced by more serious manifestations, such as:
- eczema, warts, ulcers;
- sleep disturbances (increased drowsiness, insomnia);
- continuous migraine;
- subcutaneous knots;
- some people 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 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:
- itchy skin;
- persistent itching;
- increased sweating, especially at night;
- hyperthermia;
- liver size increases.
heartworm disease
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 occurrence of such a disease poses a considerable threat to human life and health. Many pathogens are carefully hidden for several years after infection, but then their size increases significantly, 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 sebaceous glands, it is much more dangerous when helminths move freely in the body, since vital organs can be affected.
Processing
To date, there are many effective recommendations for the treatment of these diseases. It is important to understand that the doctor should prescribe the treatment after receiving the necessary results of a comprehensive medical examination of the patient. In some cases, complications and the appearance of secondary diseases caused by helminths are observed.
Important.As a treatment, complex drug therapy can be prescribed, but you should know that most drugs are very toxic, so you can observe a significant deterioration in the condition caused by treatment.
Often, surgery is required to get rid of subcutaneous helminths. Most often, hydrochloric acid and sulfuric soap are used for scabies.
Treatment of subcutaneous worms can cause a lot of trouble, spend a lot of time and money. Therefore, it is easier to prevent infection, for this you just need to observe the rules of personal hygiene. It is recommended not to have physical contact with an infected person.
