Gastrointestinal parasites are still not uncommon. Infections with gastrointestinal parasites are most often associated with insufficient hygiene - especially too rare washing of hands and insufficient washing of fruits and vegetables. Parasites also attack us because of the culinary fashion to eat raw meat and fish. What are the symptoms of gastrointestinal parasites?

Parasites of the digestive tracthe althy people will not cause much harm. On the other hand, for people with weakened immunityparasitescan be dangerous, because they more easily penetrate the body and cause complications.worms- tapeworms, i.e. flat worms and roundworms, i.e. round worms, settle in our digestive tract. Infection can often be seen as an unclear allergic rash, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, anemia, and nervous irritability and hyperactivity.

Gastrointestinal parasites - tapeworms

There are several types of tapeworms. Armed, up to 4 m long, can settle us after eating infected pork, unarmed, up to 10 m long, is in beef, an equally long furrowthorn can be in caviar and fish.

The way to avoid these parasites is to avoid eating undercooked (bloody steaks) and raw (tartare) meat. Unless we are sure that the meat comes from an absolutely reliable, tested source.

What about trendy sushi? The safest is deep-frozen fish meat (i.e. at least - 20 degrees Celsius). At this temperature, fish parasites die.

Symptoms of a tapeworm infection are:

  • headache,
  • weariness,
  • insomnia,
  • excessive nervous excitability,
  • general weakness,
  • lack of appetite or ravenous appetite,
  • weight loss,
  • rashes,
  • nausea,
  • vomiting,
  • diarrhea,
  • stomach pains,
  • anemia.

Infection with broad knotworm leads to vitamin B12 deficiency and anemia caused by this deficiency.

In order to find tapeworm infection, the faeces are first tested for the presence of larvae and tapeworm fragments. It is necessary to collect several samples at different times. Tapeworms are treated with antiparasitic drugs.

Parasites of the gastrointestinal tract - roundworms

  • Ascaris human

Infection occurs by eating food contaminated with eggs with roundworm larvae (e.g. unwashed vegetables). The eggs enter the intestine, then break into the bloodstream and travel to the bronchi and then back to the intestines.

Symptoms of human roundworm infection are: bronchitis, bronchopneumonia when the larvae migrate. On the other hand, the presence of roundworms in the intestines causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and weakness, lack of appetite, headaches, irritability and insomnia.

Some people also experience itchy skin, rashes, hives, and even bouts of breathlessness. A stool test is also needed to detect human roundworm. It is treated with antiparasitic drugs.

  • Pinworms

Infection occurs also through contact with contaminated food, but also with everyday objects (that's why you need to wash your hands often, and certainly before you start preparing food and before a meal).

Symptoms of pinworm infection include: red skin and itching around the anus that make it difficult to fall asleep, nervous excitability, headache, weakness, lack of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain and anemia.

Pinworms can enter the vulva and vagina, causing inflammation of the reproductive organs. The so-called strip test. The so-called perianal swab, which may contain pinworm eggs.

  • Wąsogłówka

The infection is also related to the lack of compliance with the rules of hygiene. A quarter of people do not have any symptoms of a whiskers' intrusion.

Some people may experience: diarrhea, sometimes mucous-bloody, abdominal pain, weight loss and anemia as well as itching, rashes and hives on the skin, as well as lack of appetite, irritability, insomnia, headaches and weakness.

  • Intestinal nematode

The larva penetrates the skin. Initially, it causes redness and swelling at the site of the intrusion. The larva then travels to the respiratory system and the throat, and then to the intestines. The presence of larvae in the lungs is accompanied by inflammation of the trachea, bronchi and lungs.

When they nest in the intestines, they develop: insomnia, irritability, lack of appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea, anemia, weight loss.

The larvae can also nest in the gallbladder, heart, kidneys and brain. Echinosis is diagnosed by examining the presence of larvae in feces, saliva, urine or in the contents of the duodenum. Nematode eggs may be present in the stool.

Gastrointestinal parasites - protozoa

The most common protozoan infection is giardiasiscaused by the intrusion of Lamblia intestinalis, or intestinal flagellar. The infection occurs through eating food contaminated with lamblia and anal sexual contact.

In some patients, giardiasis is asymptomatic and the parasite is fought by the immune system. Others may develop diarrhea and malabsorption of fats, vitamin B12 and vitamin A, folic acid and lactose, because the protozoan damages the intestinal mucosa.

There may also be inflammation of the bile ducts or pancreatic irritation and jaundice. The disease is diagnosed by examining the faeces for the presence of parasite cysts and the blood for antibodies. Treatment consists of administering anti-parasitic drugs.

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Parasitic diseases