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Parasitology is a branch of science that deals with the study of parasites and the relationships of parasites and their hosts. Parasitology also deals with the diagnosis of diseases caused by parasites and zoonoses.
Types of parasitology
Parasitology is a science that combines knowledge in the fields of biology, medicine, veterinary medicine and agriculture. It was initiated in the XNUMXth century by research on a group of parasitic worms. Currently, there are several areas or types of research in the field of parasitology. These are: ecological parasitology, evolutionary parasitology, medical parasitology, general parasitology and veterinary parasitology.
What diseases does parasitology deal with?
Parasitology deals with all diseases and infections caused by parasites. A parasitologist diagnoses and treats the following parasitic diseases:
- tapeworm infection, i.e. tapeworms caused by various species of tapeworms, which most often nest in the digestive system, but can also affect other internal organs,
- skin diseases caused by parasites such as lice and mites
- Trichinella infection, i.e. trichinosis that primarily affects the muscles,
- a parasitic disease called ascariasis caused by infection with human roundworm,
- fasciolosis – this is a disease caused by a parasite called hepatic fluke,
- Lyme disease, a serious disease caused by ticks,
- toxoplasmosis – a severe parasitic disease caused by infection by a protozoan called Toxoplasma gonidii,
- pinworm infections that inhabit the large intestine and cause pinworms,
- clonorchosis, a disease caused by infection with flukes,
- staphylococcal infections,
- parasitic diseases caused by parasites found in tropical countries such as amoebiasis, malaria, leishmaniasis, filariosis and schistosomiasis.
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With what ailments should you see a parasitologist?
Infection with parasites often causes symptoms similar to food poisoning – vomiting, indigestion, diarrhea and stomach pain. Untreated or improperly treated parasitic infection can lead to very dangerous complications and life-threatening conditions. There may be problems with many internal organs, those colonized by parasites. They can affect the lungs, gut, liver, brain, muscles, joints, heart, uterus, kidneys, bladder, blood vessels, digestive system and skin. Parasites cause a variety of ailments such as muscle aches, fever or low-grade fever, digestive problems, skin problems, and even allergies and asthma. There may also appear insomnia, a feeling of general breakdown, brittle nails, hair loss and digestive system disorders. In the case of such symptoms, you should consider visiting a parasitologist who will order tests to detect parasites in the patient’s body. If a parasite infection is suspected, first of all a stool examination should be performed. If a parasitologist suspects Lyme disease or trichinosis, he or she orders serological tests. In order to detect some parasitic infections, an ultrasound scan of the abdomen, blood tests, duodenal content tests (such tests are performed when lamblia is suspected, i.e. lamblia infection), cerebrospinal fluid tests and skin ulcers tests should be performed.
What methods of therapy are used by parasitology?
When the parasitologist’s suspicions are confirmed, he or she implements appropriate treatment. Pharmacological treatment involves the patient taking anthelmintics and antihistamines. This is important as the body may respond to shock therapy. Parasitology also uses high-energy, full-spectrum carbon arc light to treat parasitic infections. This kind of light destroys some parasites, such as tapeworms. In some cases of infections, it may be necessary to undergo surgery to remove the parasite from the body.