Unfortunately, parasites can live and feed not only in the internal organs of a person, but also penetrate under the skin. This causes a number of diseases that have their own specifics. It is important to diagnose the cause of unpleasant symptoms in time and start treatment before the parasitic worms cause great harm to the body. Most of the parasites that live under the skin can only be infected in tropical latitudes: by swimming in a stagnant pond, drinking unboiled water or falling victim to a bloodsucking insect. But some individuals "settle down" in their body without leaving home.
Varieties of diseases and parasites.
Medicine distinguishes a number of diseases, the diagnosis of which indicates subcutaneous worms in humans.
- Cysticercosis. Its causal agents are the larvae of pork tapeworms. Most often they enter the body with unboiled water or food. These worms are located in the internal organs, eyes, brain, muscles and under the skin (seen on the shoulders, palms, chest). Such parasites can live in a person for years, thickenings and swellings are formed under the epidermis, thickening over time. Diagnosis is slightly facilitated by urticaria, which is constantly manifested by rashes on the skin.
- Schistosomiasis. This disease is caused by helminths that live in the waters of Africa and Asia. The worms affect the genitourinary system and the skin. The main symptoms are itching, skin rashes, dermatitis, profuse sweating at night, kidney damage, liver enlargement.
- Filariasis. These are threadlike nematodes that live in South America, Asia, and Africa. They are transmitted by blood-sucking insects. The disease develops for a long time (up to seven years), but provokes a number of skin pathologies: ulcers, eczema, nodules, papules, rashes. If a person does not pay attention to constant headaches, drowsiness, sleep disturbances and general weakness, complications in the form of arthrosis, glaucoma, cataracts can develop.
- Scabies. The scabies mite half a century ago was quite common. It settles in the deep layers of the epithelium, feeding on it and laying eggs there. The female parasite lives about two months, but she manages to lay several dozen eggs under the skin. The tick goes through passages in the epithelium, and this is what causes severe itching. Places of localization: folds on the body, sides of the thighs, mammary glands, armpits, genitals and hair. Human skin is covered with blistering rashes, pimples, boils and other complications.
- Dirofilaria. These are parasites that can exist not only subcutaneously, but also affect the eyeball. Females of these worms reach a length of up to 30 cm, and males - up to 10. Carriers of worms of this species are dogs and cats, and by biting them, mosquitoes carry microfilariae larvae to humans. In this case, the development of an adult in the body can take years. According to statistics, most of the removal of the eyeballs falls precisely on the diagnosis of dirofilaria, after a total deterioration of vision, up to blindness. Seals form under the skin, which are itchy, red and can reach the size of an egg. It is in them that the adult worm is found.
- Dracunculiasis (Guinea worm). These are roundworms, reaching a length of up to 120 centimeters. More common in tropical climates. In addition to humans, cats and dogs are also affected. You can get infected with them by drinking unboiled water, swimming in contaminated reservoirs. Once in the body in the form of a larva, the worm reaches adulthood only after a year of living in a person. Most often, the legs suffer from this disease - they are the ones that are prone to such complications as the development of contractures, inflammation of the joints. Also, the presence of the guinea worm inside a person is fraught with gangrene and blood poisoning.
- Hookworm. The causative agents of worms live in places of tropical and subtropical climate. Hookworms burrow under a person's skin through the slightest break in the skin (usually the legs), where they stay to parasitize. The disease manifests itself with symptoms such as severe itching, sometimes there is a cough, anemia, there are signs of damage to internal organs.
- Demodicosis. This is one of the most common dermatological ailments. It occurs due to the penetration of the causative agent of the subcutaneous tick. This is a non-helminthic disease, but the plague also lives in the layers of the epidermis (in the meibomian ducts and sebaceous glands). Symptoms of parasites: abundant and pronounced acne on the face, cheeks, forehead and around the eyes, sometimes there is loss of eyelashes.
Diagnosis, symptoms and signs.
If subcutaneous worms and parasites are suspected, it is necessary to see a doctor as soon as possible, because some people live in people for several years before "liking" symptoms. Therefore, at the time of detection, the parasites already have time to cause damage to health.
Since the clinical picture of worms and other subcutaneous inhabitants is quite ambiguous and many symptoms appear individually, there is usually no unambiguous list of signs. There are a number of indicators that can indicate subcutaneous parasites: constant itching, skin irritation, seals of various sizes, skin rash, small blisters on the surface of the epithelium, indirectly - sleep disturbances, fatigue. To find out the etiology of such manifestations and exclude helminthic invasion, you need to visit a number of specialists, including:
- dermatologist;
- neuropathologist;
- allergist;
- infectious disease specialist;
- psychologist (if the previous specialists did not find pathologies in your profile).
Diagnosis is carried out in several ways, depending on the symptoms:
- blood tests for antigens;
- examination of the epidermis sample;
- smear;
- taking a secret;
- scraped off.
It is these indicators that can detect the presence or absence of parasites on the skin of a person.
Traditional methods of pest control.
Treatment directly depends on the type of parasitic worm. In each individual case, a suitable therapy is selected, taking into account the age and stage of abandonment of the problem. Most drugs are quite toxic not only to the worm, but also to the human body.
- get rid of dracunculiasis is only possible through a surgical operation;
- the scabies parasite is effectively expelled with hydrochloric acid and sulfuric soap;
- with schistosomiasis, an antimony drug will help;
- the body is relieved from demodicosis with a cosmetic line for facial skin care (special washing soap, cream).
Along with traditional drug treatment, the patient must strengthen hygiene procedures, carefully monitor the cleanliness of the body, facilities, clothing, and avoid unnecessary contact with people. In some cases, you will need dietary food, skin care cosmetics.
Prevention of subcutaneous worms.
With helminthic invasions, you need to be very careful, since it is quite simple to install parasites in the body, and it can take years for a correct diagnosis and cure.
To minimize the risk of infection with subcutaneous worms, doctors recommend remembering the following rules:
- before traveling to countries with a tropical climate, you must be vaccinated;
- always follow the rules of hygiene: wash your hands after contact with a large number of people, money, after going to the toilet, before eating;
- women should not use someone else's cosmetics, as there is a high risk of getting parasite larvae (or a tick) on their skin;
- fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed before use, but it is better to pour boiling water, subject meat to prolonged thermal effects, boil water for drinking;
- carefully treat any skin damage with antiseptics, especially in the tropics;
- do not swim in dirty and questionable waters.
If the parasites have settled under the skin, this is a reason to contact a dermatologist as soon as possible. He will be able to determine the type of worm and prescribe the appropriate treatment. In most cases, the patient expects conservative therapy, which includes taking anthelmintic drugs and other drugs that relieve symptoms of the disease in humans.