They wreak havoc on our body. They can hide their presence for many years

Parasitic diseases are associated with the tropics for many of us. In fact, in warm countries it is much easier to get infected than in our own backyard. In addition, parasites occurring in the hot climate zone usually cause diseases much more serious than the parasitic diseases we encounter in Poland. However, it should be remembered that parasites are present almost all over the world and you can get infected with them even in your own home. Therefore, it is worth being aware of the dangers and taking the necessary precautions.

Cat lovers, beware! You can get infected with this protozoan from your pets. It causes toxoplasmosis – one of the most common parasitic diseases in the world. Infection can occur in several ways, including by contact with cat faeces containing Toxoplasma gondii oocysts. However, this parasite can also enter the human body through food, e.g. by eating undercooked meat (including beef and sheep) or by droplets. Fortunately, in most cases, the infection is harmless and does not lead to disease. When it does happen, the consequences can be serious. This starts with ‘flu-like’ symptoms such as fever, enlarged lymph nodes or muscle aches (these can last up to a month). Then there are visual disturbances and pain in the eyeballs. Untreated toxoplasmosis can damage the brain, eyes, and other organs. People with weakened immune systems, the elderly and pregnant women are the most vulnerable to the disease.

We should actually talk about tapeworms. There are many species of this parasite and each of them causes different symptoms. The echinococcal tapeworm is considered the most dangerous. Unfortunately, it is relatively easy to get infected with it, e.g. by eating unwashed forest fruits with echinococcus eggs from fox droppings. Once the parasites cross the gut barrier and enter other internal organs, most often the livers, they begin to develop, leaving the host blissfully unaware. The first symptoms of echinococcosis may appear after many years. They often resemble the symptoms of … cancer. Even when properly diagnosed, the disease is difficult to treat and usually requires surgery. It is a little easier to deal with the unarmed and armed tapeworm. The former can be infected by eating undercooked beef containing its larvae (so-called blackheads), the latter – by eating undercooked pork. The tapeworm disease caused by these parasite species can be cured by pharmacological agents.

One of those “creatures” whose effects induce a gag reflex. Under this Latin name are the larvae of the human throat, a representative of the flies inhabiting areas of Latin America – from southern Mexico to Uruguay. As the name suggests, this insect affects people, although it also does not spare cattle. However, its eggs are also spread by mosquitoes, ticks and other species of flies. And eggs are the biggest problem. When they reach the subcutaneous tissue, larvae hatch and mature for several weeks. Although they do not pose a significant health risk, they guarantee a terrifying experience for the host. The risk is related to possible bacterial contamination that may occur during brood removal. However, dermatobia hominis can be dangerous for newborns – when it gets through the fontanel into the brain …

Imagine a parasite several centimeters long that inhabits the human eye. Actually, you don’t have to imagine – if you have the courage, all you need to do is search for the appropriate photos on the Internet. This “picture” is a special – though not so rare – case of loajosis, a disease caused by the presence of the loa loa filaria in the human body. Loa loa is a nematode, a small invertebrate found in western and central Africa. Its larvae are transmitted by female Chrysops, which feed on the blood of humans and animals. When the parasite gets under the skin, it develops to a length of several or even several centimeters. The nematodes cause inflammation in the tissues through which they ‘travel’. They often settle in the eyeball – hence their common name: “eye worm”. The infection can be treated pharmacologically, but often requires surgical intervention.

The very wording of its name makes you feel disgusted. Even more disgusting is the fact that this parasite can reach 40 cm in length in the human small intestine – and there it reproduces by laying about … 200 thousand eggs a day. It gets even worse. After hatching from the eggs, some of the larvae enter the blood vessels and travel to the lungs where they can meet their oxygen requirements. From there, through the bronchi and trachea, they enter the larynx, where… they are swallowed and returned to the stomach, and then to the intestine. To avoid such a perfidious intruder in your body, you should carefully wash the vegetables (in case they are fertilized with human excrement) and avoid accidentally swallowing water when swimming in closed waters, e.g. in a lake. Ascariasis often does not have characteristic symptoms. In some cases, it can cause abdominal pain, fever, as well as agitation and nervousness. In the event of massive infection, roundworms can block the intestinal patency. The disease is treated pharmacologically.

It comes from Central and South America, but has also reached sub-Saharan Africa thanks to man. It parasitizes humans and other mammals, causing a disease called tungiaza or tungosis – endemic in Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago, and Brazil. Tungiasis grows in areas with high population densities and low sanitary standards. In some poor communities, up to 50% of people suffer from it. residents, especially children. Sand fleas usually infest the area of ​​the toes where it lays eggs. In damaged tissues, larvae develop, feeding on fragments of the skin, which they break down with the help of enzymes secreted from the mouths. Tungosis manifests itself as pain in the infected area, itching, swelling and ulceration. It may also promote the development of a bacterial infection, which further complicates the patient’s condition. Tungosis is treated by cauterization, cryotherapy, or by mechanical removal of parasites.

There are so many names that it’s easy to get lost in them. The most suggestive are the usual ones: the Guinean worm, the dragon worm, the fire dragon, the Medina worm, and also rishta (from the Tajik language, in which the word means thread). It belongs to the genus Dracunculus, hence the name of the disease it causes: Dracunculosis. Subcutaneous floss is one of those parasites that hide their presence in the body for a long time. It may take up to a year from the time of infection, usually caused by drinking water containing tiny crustaceans that carry “dragon” larvae, to the appearance of the first symptoms. After this time, a blister appears on the skin of the infected person, usually on the leg, from which the parasite slowly emerges. The health risk associated with dracunculosis is associated, among others, with with the possibility of infection of ulcers caused by its presence. Unfortunately, there are no effective drugs for the adult parasite, it can only be removed by slowly removing it from the wound. Finally, there is good news: the Guinea worm is almost extinct. The number of registered cases of dracunculosis fell from 3,5 million in 1986 to 22 in 2015.

It is a variety of amoeba “specialized” in infecting the eyeball. It causes a disease called acanthambosis, which most often manifests as amoebic keratitis. More figuratively: the parasite “eats” the tissue of the eye. People who wear contact lenses and do not care for their hygiene are at risk. The threat is all the greater because amoeba occurs in many environments: both in fresh and salt waters, as well as in soils and air. It enters the body through the mouth or nose and then travels to internal organs. An efficient immune system is able to cope with the parasite, but if we introduce it into the eye through contaminated lenses – the uninvited guest will take the opportunity and begin to develop in a favorable environment. The initial symptoms of acanthamoebiasis are lacrimation, itchy eye, blurry vision, and pain in the eyeball. These symptoms cannot be ignored, because if the infection is neglected, it may cause permanent damage to the cornea and even loss of vision.

It also has a more “familiar” name: the gut tail. It is the culprit of one of the most common parasitic diseases in the world: giardiasis, also known as giardiasis. This protozoan from the group of flagellates occurs mainly in the temperate climate zone, both in developed countries and in those where sanitary standards leave much to be desired. Lamblia attacks people and animals, so it can be infected by contact with food, water or surfaces contaminated with animal or human faeces. The most common infection occurs through the consumption of water containing lamblia. The parasite was well prepared by nature to “fight for survival” – it is protected by a shell that makes it resistant to various forms of disinfection. After entering the body, the petiole travels through the digestive system until it reaches the intestine, where it attaches to the villi with suction cups. Giardiasis often manifests itself only a few weeks after infection: lack of appetite, nausea, flatulence, diarrhea, abdominal pain. The disease is treated pharmacologically.

As the name suggests, it only develops in humans. Children are particularly susceptible to pinworms caused by this parasite. Contrary to appearances, it is not a rare disease. In the United States, every tenth child suffers from pinworms, and more than 60% of children in India suffer from pinworms. toddlers. Even in European countries, the prevalence rate is around 30%. Pinworms can be infected through the ingestion, e.g. by eating a meal with dirty hands. Licking your fingers or biting your nails increases the risk of infection. It takes about four weeks from the time pinworm eggs enter the body until the parasite reaches its adult form. The intruder makes himself known in a number of ways. Its presence is manifested by itching around the anus, body weakness, anorexia, abdominal pain, insomnia, nervousness, problems with concentration. In the case of pinworms, pharmacological treatment is applied, which must be repeated after two weeks to prevent re-infection.