There are a large number of protozoa that can only exist in the host's body.For most of them, the main carrier is people.And after penetrating the human body, these creatures can live anywhere, but subcutaneous parasites are considered the most common.They are the ones that cause the most unpleasant moments, including the development of complications, so at the first signs of infection, you should consult a doctor.
Types of parasites that live under the skin
Protozoa, whose main carriers are humans, are divided into two main groups:
- Leather
- Subcutaneously.
The first includes insects such as lice, fleas, bed bugs.They live in human hair and skin, feed on his blood and are capable of transmitting various dangerous diseases.But still, skin parasites are considered less dangerous than subcutaneous ones.The latter, living in human skin, not only feed on its cells, but also raise their offspring in it.Therefore, the fight against skin parasites in humans is much more difficult than the fight against skin parasites.
Many protozoa and helminths live under the human skin, which can lead to the development of various diseases, such as:
- Filariasis
- Dracunculiasis
- Schistosomiasis
- Hookworm disease
- cysticercosis
- Scabies.
And the most unpleasant thing is that establishing the correct diagnosis is often very difficult, because the symptoms of such diseases often resemble a common allergic reaction.Consequently, it takes a very long time to treat dermatoses.
To give you an idea of what subcutaneous parasites a person may have and how they manifest themselves, let's consider the signs of infection with each of the above.
Filariasis
This species does not live in our country, but it is easily infected when visiting Africa, South America and Asia.The infection occurs when a person is bitten by a blood-sucking insect, such as a mosquito.As for the incubation period, it can reach 7 years for this type of dermatosis.
Initial symptoms of this parasitic skin disease often include a mild fever and hives, so they are often overlooked.
And only after a few years do they start to appear on the skin:
- Ulcers
- Nipples
- Nodules
- Papules.
Eczema can develop over time.In some cases, they may be accompanied by mild weakness, headache and fever, which leads to the conclusion that the patient is infected with filariasis.This disease is caused by thread nematodes.
But if measures are not taken in time, parasitic skin diseases can lead to complications in the form of arthritis and vision problems.
Using mosquito repellants will help avoid infection.By treating exposed skin with it and thereby protecting yourself from the bites of blood-sucking insects, you will protect yourself from filariasis infection.
Dracunculiasis
This disease is caused by round subcutaneous helminths - Guinea worms.Adults of these parasites that live under human skin can reach a length of more than one meter.The peculiarity of this species is that not only people, but also pets: cats, dogs can serve as carriers for them.These parasites are most often found in Central Asia.
Guinea worm larvae enter the human body by eating raw, untreated water.After 2 weeks, they begin their journey through the host's body, and after 1.5 months, they penetrate into the subcutaneous area.The larva will develop into an adult only after one year.
Symptoms of guinea worm infection are difficult to confuse with other diseases.Initially, an elongated, swollen area resembling a small lace appears on the skin in the leg area.Then a bladder is formed in its place, inside which are helminth eggs.And when water enters, it bursts, allowing new larvae to emerge into the environment.
If the treatment of the disease is not started on time, complications occur in the form of:
- Inflammation of the joints
- Gangrene
- Sepsis, which is caused by abscesses forming on the skin.
As for the fight against this parasite of the human skin, it consists in its removal from the skin tissue.Moreover, this process can take several days if a large individual parasitizes the patient's body.The only condition is not to break the worm.
To avoid infection with dracunculiasis, you must drink only disinfected water and not swim in open water.
Schistosomiasis
This disease is also caused by helminths.They live in the waters of Asia and Africa, so swimming in them puts you at risk of getting infected.This type of helminth parasitizes not only the human skin, but also the genitourinary organs.In the initial stage of development, the disease manifests itself as rash, itching and dermatitis.After that, signs of kidney damage appear and the liver can become enlarged.
This disease is treated with antimony-based drugs.But it is better to avoid infection by following simple rules: avoid swimming in stagnant water and drink only boiled water.
Hookworm disease
These parasites enter the skin through cracks on the soles of the feet or wounds on other parts of the body.But most often they still affect the lower extremities and stay there, without migrating throughout the body.
Hookworm is expressed by the following symptoms:
- strong itching in the place where the parasite is located;
- skin changes;
- occurrence of anemia.
The most unpleasant thing about infection is the fact that this disease is quite difficult to treat and it is not always possible to achieve a positive result.
cysticercosis
Larvae of pork tapeworms can also parasitize under human skin.The main habitats of these parasites in the human body are the internal organs, where they penetrate through food or water contaminated with helminths.But there are still frequent cases of their development under the skin and they can live there for years.
Symptoms of cysticercosis infection are swelling and neoplasms in the area where the parasite has penetrated.They become denser over time.In rare cases, the infection may be accompanied by a rash.
The only way to get rid of them is surgery and taking antiparasitic drugs.
Scabies
Today this disease is quite rare, but literally 50 years ago it was one of the most common diseases caused by parasites.Its appearance is caused by the penetration of a microscopic mite under the skin of a person.Moreover, it prefers to settle in the deep layers of the skin, where it feeds on the epithelium and lays eggs in it.
The life cycle of an adult is no longer than two months.But during that time, the female manages to lay more than a dozen eggs.Most often, the tick affects the hands, folds, armpits and soles of the feet.But it can also be found on the mammary glands and genitals.
Infection with this parasite leads to the development of scabies, which is indicated by obvious signs, such as clearly visible passages, crusts at the places of scratching, rash and itching that worsens at night.If not treated in time, scabies can lead to the development of dermatitis and eczema, which worsen in autumn.
This disease is treated with sulfur ointment or hydrochloric acid solution and the use of sulfur soap.For extensive lesions, antibiotics may be prescribed.But in order to avoid re-infection, it is necessary to boil the patient's bedding and clothes and iron them with a hot iron on both sides.Therefore, it is easier to maintain personal hygiene and avoid contact with an infected person - this will help you not to get sick.
Detection and diagnosis of subcutaneous parasites
Most often, you can visually determine whether a person is infected or not.However, in any case, the patient will be prescribed an examination, which will more accurately help determine the location of the lesion and the number of parasites.
Parasitic skin diseases are diagnosed:
- Taking scrapings and smears from the mucous membrane;
- A blood test to check for the presence of antibodies.
And only after receiving all the results, the doctor can determine the treatment regimen and prescribe drugs that can destroy the parasite.
Treatment options depend on the type of disease.In some cases, even surgery may be required.But most often it is possible to get it by using various drugs.
Disease prevention
Since the elimination of some types of helminths from the human body can take several years, it is easier to prevent parasitic skin diseases.To do this, you must avoid drinking raw water, badly fried meat products and close contact with infected people.