Most often, various parasitic organisms affect the organs of the digestive tract - the stomach or intestines.But these organs are not the only places where worms and other parasites live;they can also affect other parts of the body, including the liver.
Symptoms of infection are the same for all infections - pain in the side, itching, rash, jaundice of the skin and mucous membranes of the organs, etc.Therefore, identifying parasitic infections is not easy as the symptoms are similar to other liver diseases.
What parasites can live in the liver
Most often, the following types of parasites settle in the liver:
- Roundworms– these parasites enter the liver through the bile ducts from the intestines.The disease is caused by ascariasis, which is characterized by itching and rash, liver discomfort, and in some cases nausea and vomiting.
- Giardia- another common type of parasite that affects the liver.With giardiasis, the patient experiences pain in the hypochondrium, nausea and vomiting, a yellow tint of the skin, itching and rashes.
- Echinococcus– these organisms cause the disease echinococcosis, in which several cystic formations containing worms form in the affected organ.The disease is accompanied by nausea and vomiting, yellowing of the skin, and as the disease progresses, the cysts begin to enlarge.
- Opisthorchis– this type of parasite is common in South Asian countries, so it is recommended to be vaccinated before traveling there.Opisthorchis parasitize the ducts of the liver and gallbladder and cause serious diseases of these organs.
- Schistosomes– also common in South Asian countries, they live mainly in the aquatic environment, so they can become infected by swimming in a pond.Schistosomes cause the dangerous schistosomiasis, which often causes cirrhosis and other diseases.
- Strongyloides– when ingested, they contribute to the development of strongweed, characterized by pain in the hypochondrium, lack of appetite, yellowing of the skin and a bitter taste in the mouth.
- Amoeba– with amoebiasis, the liver enlarges several times, abscesses form.An infected person experiences severe side pain, nausea and vomiting, and fever.
- Ciliates– when ingested, they cause balantidiasis, a rarely diagnosed but very dangerous disease.With balantidiasis, painful sensations occur in the affected area, aggravated by palpation, the presence of bloody stools, dryness and a yellow tint of the skin.
- Liver fluke– a worm that affects the hepatic ducts and causes dysfunction of the biliary system, including a disease such as cholangitis.A sick person loses his appetite, loses a lot of weight, experiences pain in the abdomen and hypochondrium, an increase in body temperature, rashes and itching of the skin.
Routes of infection
Worms can enter the body in the following ways:
- By eating dirty vegetables and fruits.
- By eating raw and undercooked meat.
- By drinking raw, unboiled water.
- In contact with an infected person.
- By the feces of infected animals.
- By dirty hands.
- When playing with pets (or street animals).
- In contact with the soil, the soil contains a large number of parasitic worms and their larvae.
- While swimming in a body of stagnant water.
The main reason worms enter the body is through the mouth;some types penetrate the skin.
Diagnosis
To identify parasitic liver infections, you must undergo a number of tests:
- General blood test.
- Biochemical blood test.
- Urinalysis.
- Bile analysis.
- Biochemical analysis of feces.
- A blood test to detect the presence of antibodies to parasites - their increased content indicates that the body is trying to fight worms itself.
- Scatological analysis of stools.
- Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and liver will show the presence of cystic formations, abscesses, liver size and other factors indicating the presence of parasites.
Treatment
When getting rid of helminths, you need to remember one important rule:no self-medication!The necessary treatment is prescribed only by a doctor, depending on the type of parasites, the degree of damage and other indications.Self-medication leads to serious complications and death.
Treatment of helminthiasis aims to:
- Elimination of the consequences of poisoning of the body.
- Eliminate parasites from the body.
- Improve enzymatic activity of the liver and intestines.
- Prevention of subsequent infections.
Regardless of the type of disease, an infected person must follow a diet.Fatty, fried, spicy, very salty foods, flour and sweets should be excluded from the diet.
You need to consume as much fiber as possible, which is found in cereals, lean meat, pre-processed vegetables, compotes and dairy products.Drink plain, clean, filtered or boiled water as much as possible.
The patient is prescribed drug treatment:
- Anthelmintics– kill and remove parasites from the body, thereby preventing new infections.
- Enterosorbents– these products “collect” all the toxic substances that poison the body and eliminate them from the body.Thanks to this, the entire gastrointestinal system is completely cleansed, including the liver and its ducts.
- Antidiarrheals– Diarrhea often occurs during helminthic infestations, so antidiarrheal medications are prescribed to eliminate it.
- Antiallergic medications– in case of infection with parasites, various allergic reactions occur in the form of rashes, burning, itching of the skin.To eliminate allergies, antihistamines are prescribed.
- Drugs that normalize liver function– they consolidate the cleansing effect of the liver and promote the regeneration of damaged cells of the organ and normalize its functioning.
- Vitamins and mineral complexes - restore the balance of nutrients in the body.
Infection prevention
It is very easy to become infected with parasites, so to prevent infection, you need to remember the following important rules:
- Wash your hands as often as possible, especially after playing with animals, working with dirt, using the bathroom, and going outside.
- When working with soil, wear only protective gloves.
- Only eat carefully washed fruits and vegetables.
- Do not drink raw water.
- Boil or fry the meat thoroughly.
- Do not swim in stagnant or unfamiliar bodies of water.
- Before visiting other countries, get vaccinated against parasites common in the area.