Subcutaneous parasites, which live in the thickness of human skin, damage it and cause inflammation. They can penetrate from the main site of "placement" to other organs and provoke serious diseases. Most subcutaneous helminths are found in southern countries, and an ordinary person can become infected with them during a vacation or a business trip there.
The risk of subcutaneous helminthic invasion is that it is asymptomatic during the incubation period, which can last for years. This then interferes with the treatment and reduces its effectiveness.
What are subcutaneous parasites
Helminths affect not only a person's internal organs, but also his skin. Entering its thickness, they damage the epidermis, feed on its cells and defecate. The remnants of subcutaneous worms cause intoxication, as they contain toxic substances. And the longer the worms are under a person's skin, the more pronounced the symptoms of the invasion.
Subcutaneous worms cause many diseases, as they affect the immune and lymphatic systems of the human body. For example, parasites can provoke the development of elephantiasis - elephantiasis. Interferes with lymph circulation in the body. This leads to an increase in the volume of the limbs and their disfigurement. In the last stage, the affected organ is covered with ulcers, necrosis develops.
Human helminths that live under the skin include:
- Nematodes of the genus Dirofilaria. Causes dirofilariasis. Infection of the body occurs through the bite of blood-sucking insects: lice, fleas, ticks, which are carriers of larvae from one host to another. An adult dirofilaria can reach 30 cm in length. The process of reproduction occurs in the thickness of the skin, then the female places microfilariae in the bloodstream.
- Filariae. Causes filariasis. They are round parasitic worms. An adult can reach almost half a meter, while the body diameter is not more than 0. 3 mm. Carriers of filariasis are blood-sucking insects that transmit parasite larvae from one host to another.
- Bullworm larvae. A person provokes the development of cysticercosis. Infection occurs through the intestines, where parasite eggs penetrate along with water, food, impurities. Then, under the influence of gastric juices, their shell disperses - the larvae emerge. They are then carried throughout the body along with the bloodstream.
- Blood flow from the genus Schistosoma. It is called schistosomiasis. An adult can reach 2 cm in length. Reproduction occurs through the penetration of larvae into the body - cercariae along with water.
Main manifestations and treatment
If a person has parasites under the skin, then first of all this is reflected in his condition: weakness appears, color changes, wounds and microcracks appear. This is due to the fact that "guests" damage the skin, feed on its cells and poison the waste.
Subcutaneous parasites in humans cause symptoms of helminthic infestation:
- Allergic rash;
- Cough;
- Decreased immunity;
- Itching;
- Peeling, redness of the skin;
- Problems with appetite;
- Pain in joints and muscles;
- Sleep disorder;
- Irritability;
- Apathy.
Skin parasites in a patient cause malfunctions of the whole organism: anemia develops, dysbacteriosis, etc.
The treatment of a parasitic disease is chosen individually. The choice of method is influenced by the degree of damage to the body, the symptoms and the type of pathogen. In some cases, in addition to drug treatment, surgery may be needed to remove the helminth from under the skin or even the entire affected organ.
Along with anthelmintic drugs, antihistamines, vasoconstrictors are used. If the inflammation has started due to worms living under the skin, then antibiotic therapy is required.
You should not try to get rid of helminths that live under the skin with the help of traditional medicine - as practice shows, they are ineffective and can harm human health.
Symptoms of filariasis
The subcutaneous worms that cause this disease - filariae - appear in the human body after the bite of an infected insect that sucks blood. The largest number of cases is recorded in tropical and subtropical countries.
These subcutaneous worms in humans are able to live in the human body and not manifest for a long time: the incubation period of the disease can last up to 7 years. This makes the diagnosis difficult.
The symptoms and manifestations of the invasion appear gradually, as the parasite grows under a person's skin and its effect on the surrounding tissues. The most common manifestations of filariasis include:
- Kosheret;
- Itching;
- lythat;
- eczema;
- Small strong lumps under the skin.
As the disease worsens, fever, general weakness, headache, and drowsiness may occur.
Treatment of filariasis should be done in a hospital setting. Antiparasitic drugs are used to remove drug worms. The effectiveness of therapy is monitored by a blood test. In cases where it does not help, a patient undergoes surgery to restore lymph flow from the affected organ.
Cysticercosis and schistosomiasis
Tapeworm larvae cause cysticercosis. This type of helminth is distinguished by survival: it is enough for a parasite to enter the human body and it will quickly develop into an adult, which will then begin to multiply.
This feature makes it difficult to treat the disease - if the head segment remains after surgical removal of the worm, the parasite will grow again. Despite the fact that the tapeworm is located in the human intestine, its larvae spread throughout the body through the bloodstream, including under the skin. Afterwards, they can stay there for a long time - from 5 to 30 years.
If, with cysticercosis, the worms are injured under the skin or in muscle tissue, then for a person the disease is asymptomatic. However, the location of the parasite can be determined by tumor-like neoplasms that will rise to the skin. On palpation of the tubercle, it can be determined that the inside is hollow. The skin of the shoulders, upper half of the chest and palms usually become a favorite spot for tapeworm larvae.
With subcutaneous cysticercosis, treatment is not performed, the patient should be under the supervision of a physician. This is due to the fact that when the parasite dies after using antiparasitic agents, toxins begin to enter the body. They, in turn, can give a strong allergic reaction.
Schistosome larvae, cercariae cause schistosomiasis in humans. Infection occurs through water. The first symptoms of worms under the skin appear 10-15 minutes after the invasion. This is due to the fact that worms under the skin secrete a large amount of their secretory fluid, which causes a toxic-allergic reaction in a person.
First manifestations:
- Intense itching;
- Kosheret;
- Redness.
Then there is a calm, after which (after 1-2 months) begins the acute phase of schistosomiasis, which shows the negligence of the disease:
- Ethe;
- Nocturnal hyperhidrosis;
- Kosheret;
- Dry cough;
- Changes in the qualitative composition of blood.
At present, treatment of schistosomiasis is limited to the use of 2 anthelmintic drugs. In the acute phase of the disease, steroids, antihistamines, anti-inflammatory drugs are also used.
Dirofilaria and Morgellon virus
These two diseases have similar symptoms, with some differences. With dirofilariasis, a patient finds in his body a small tubercle under the skin, which moves during palpation. This is what indicates that a subcutaneous worm has been injured in the body. The same manifestation of invasion is observed with the Morgellon virus.
The essential difference between these two parasites is that dirofilaria does not bother their host: the blister under the skin does not cause discomfort, it can appear and disappear from time to time. Worms parasitize on the arm, leg, near the eyes, nose, chest, in men - in the genitals. If dirofilaria is under a person's skin for a long time, then under the influence of toxins, his body temperature rises and he feels weak.
With Morgellon virus, severe itching is felt on the skin of the helminth invasion. In the absence of medical help, a bleeding wound, eczema, soon appears. This increases several times the risk of infecting the body with other diseases.
The best treatment for the parasite is surgical removal.