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What is echinococcosis? What symptoms indicate the development of the disease? What ailments are worth paying attention to? What should worry you? The question is answered by the drug. Paweł Żmuda-Trzebiatowski.
What are the symptoms of echinococcosis?
Good day. Recently, a person close to me fell ill with echinococcosis. It manifested itself with very unpleasant ailments, such as chest pains, shortness of breath and even hemoptysis.
She delayed it for a long time, but finally went to the doctor and it turned out that she had a parasite in her. I know it might sound stupid, but I got really concerned about it and was scared that there might be something in my body as well. Especially since it happened that, for example, I drank water from the same bottle as her. Therefore, I would like to ask how to recognize symptoms of echinococcosis?
I tried to read a bit on the Internet on this subject, because I thought that if I do not have symptoms like a person close to me, I would be fine, but it turned out that the symptoms of echinococcosis can be very different. I decided that I would not understand it myself and I would better ask how to recognize the symptoms of echinococcosis. Are there any conditions that might indicate that I am developing this disease? I am fine, but on the other hand I am constantly worried that something is wrong. Please help.
- It is forbidden to eat straight from the bush. You catch the parasite
The doctor lists the symptoms of echinococcosis
Madam, echinococcosis is caused by echinococcosis, which we can become infected by eating products contaminated with feces of dogs or foxes with tapeworm eggs in them. Unfortunately, most cases of echinococcosis are asymptomatic, so it is detected only in the advanced stages of the disease. The target organ of the tapeworm is the liver where it forms echinococcal cysts reaching a diameter from a few to even 30 cm.
The symptoms depend primarily on the number of cysts, their size and where they are located in the liver. Echinococcosis can cause non-specific symptoms, such as abdominal pain, nausea, or flatulence, but also specific symptoms depending on the location. If the cyst presses the bile ducts, it can cause mechanical jaundice, and in the event of pressure on the blood vessels, it can manifest itself as organ ischemia or portal hypertension. Echinococcosis cysts can also undergo bacterial superinfection or rupture spontaneously, even leading to shock.
- It is a dangerous parasite. You get infected with it by eating fruit straight from the bush
In addition to the liver, cysts can also be found in the brain, lungs and bones. In the event of brain involvement, symptoms such as headaches or vomiting develop, and in the presence of numerous lesions, the disease can be fatal. The presence of a cyst in the lungs may show up as chest pain and a cough. If the cyst ruptures, hemoptysis may develop.
As you can see, the disease can manifest itself in many ways, if you suspect echinococcosis, please contact your doctor urgently.
– Lek. Paweł Żmuda-Trzebiatowski
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