Subcutaneous parasites in humans: symptoms and treatment

Photos and videos of symptoms of subcutaneous parasites in humans are not a pleasant sight. Unlike intestinal worms, whose existence a person may not even know, epithelial infections are easy to see. In this case, the person feels constant discomfort due to the symptoms that accompany the injury. This helps to diagnose the disease and start treatment as early as possible. A picture of subcutaneous parasites in humans causes emotions close to disgust, but the symptoms of infection are much more unpleasant. The image does not convey a person's sensations from the perception that someone is crawling over his body. But epithelial infections are not only uncomfortable, but also a significant danger to the health of the entire body. The toxins secreted by the parasite's body can affect all organ systems, and the helminths themselves love to spread throughout the human body. Thus, the manifestation of dermatological problems can be a sign of danger to the patient's life due to the presence of helminths in the brain, organs of vision or heart.

Which parasites live on the skin?

Dermatological problems can cause a wide variety of infections. If, during intestinal infection, the presence of worms is more frequently diagnosed, then insects and protozoa can also be found under the skin. Mosquitoes, ticks and other blood-sucking parasites usually feed and separate from a person imperceptibly, but there are those that continue to live and reproduce in the body.

Each of these types of infection has its own ways of entering the human body. The symptoms and effects of the infection also vary widely. Thus, the treatment of the disease will occur in different ways. But, to distinguish one parasitic infection from another and to determine who lives in the body, a long diagnosis is necessary. The doctor, knowing the characteristics and habitats of the different parasites, will tell you the most likely option even before the start of the tests, focusing only on the symptoms and the patient's travel map around the world.

Parasitic microorganisms

The most common disease of this type is leishmaniasis. It is caused by the simplest parasites, which gave the pathology its name. 9 out of 10 infections occur in only a few countries:

• Syria;
• Iran;
• Saudi Arabia;
• Afghanistan;
• Peru;
• Brazil.

The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes and some species of flies. Pathogenic microorganisms do not survive in temperate climates, so you can only become infected with leishmaniasis after resting in warm countries with a tropical climate.

When infected, the infection forms ulcers at the site of the insect bite. Over time, it heals and leaves a disorderly scar. With multiple foci, leishmaniasis can look like leprosy. The danger of this disease is that it passes from the skin to the lymphatic system and can affect the internal organs, gradually destroying them. At the same time, parasites live inside cells, so immune bodies are of little use in fighting protozoa. But after a single experience of fighting leishmaniasis, immunity is formed.

Insects among subcutaneous parasites

The diseases caused by this invasion are called entomoses. There are several varieties of these subcutaneous parasites in humans:

1. Sarcopsylosis (tungiasis).Called by the tropical sand flea. Just walk barefoot on the beach or lie in the sun for the insect to crawl over your body. It hides imperceptibly under the outer layer of the epithelium until blood is drunk. Then, the flea "gets fat" and begins to press the surrounding tissues, causing discomfort. When it dies, it is excreted from the body with dead peeling skin. If not, the tissue can become infected and abscess.
2. Dermatobiasis.The South American human gadfly injects larvae under human skin. When fully developed, they tear the tissue and leave the body, leaving an open wound. In case of damage to the eyelid and skin on the cartilage, harmful health consequences are possible.

3. Acariasis.These diseases are caused by ticks. The most famous is scabies, which lives and reproduces under the skin, feeding on its cells. Scabies symptoms can be easily distinguished from itchy urticaria by filamentous stripes - channels in the epithelium gnawed by the female parasite. Another mite, Demodex, causes dermatitis and baldness.

Most of the time, insects that settle in the human body live in southern countries, as their development requires a stable hot climate. But in some cases, it is enough to go overboard in the summer to later fight the subcutaneous parasites for several months.

Parasitic roundworms and more

Subcutaneous worms in humans are not difficult to detect. They usually reveal their location in the same way as other infections - through redness, itching and burning. But in some cases, the epithelium is just an intermediate stop, and the main development of the pathology continues in Organs internal organs:

1. Heartworm disease. There are several types of these helminths. Some prefer to settle in Organs internal organs, but there are those that affect the skin and eyes. The parasite's larvae are carried by mosquitoes and are found in warm regions. A painful, soft and mobile lump swells at the injury site. It is not dangerous if the infection does not affect the organs of vision. But it requires surgery for treatment.
2. Dracunculiasis.The Rishta worm enters the body with water containing small crustaceans that store larvae in its stomach. Through the intestines, helminths penetrate the abdominal cavity, where they mate and lay eggs in muscle tissue in the area of ​​the joints and leg bones. When the new worm matures, the larva breaks the skin and emerges. The only way to relieve the burning sensation and pain is to put the limb in the water. Other methods to get rid of the parasite that has installed itself in the body have not yet been invented.

3. Schistosomiasis.Not all worms under human skin arrive with food. To get infected with schistosomes, just swim in the fresh waters of tropical countries in South America, the Caribbean, Africa or Southeast Asia. The skin lesion resembles scabies and is accompanied by tingling. But after a while, the larvae penetrate deep into the body, after which the epithelial symptoms disappear and the next stage of the disease develops.
4. Gnatostomosis.Humans are not natural hosts for this parasite. Therefore, worms cannot reproduce in the body. Therefore, the Asian parasite, entering the body with fish, frogs or birds insufficiently thermally processed. The larvae begin to migrate after one month. Moving under the skin, they cause itching, redness and pain. The appearance in the abdomen is accompanied by edema.

After the first signs of helminth life appear under the skin, the patient should be examined and initiated treatment. Many parasites can significantly worsen health, including deficiencies, if not removed in time.

Diagnostic procedures

Given the variety of parasites that live under human skin, there is no universal method to help identify the cause of the disease. In addition, we must not forget that insects and worms are not the only possible sources of dermatological problems. Allergic reactions, fungal growth and bacterial infections are much more likely to cause hives and dermatitis.

The first stage of human skin parasite research begins with an examination. The doctor does research, examines the affected areas and asks for other symptoms. Thus, he may restrict the search area and, in some cases, for example, with dracunculiasis and heartworm disease, prescribe treatment immediately.

If the physical examination did not help to fully clarify the image, laboratory and hardware diagnostic methods are assigned:

1. Blood test.The general analysis reveals the picture of the body's reactions to the infection. Thus, a specialist can determine the nature of the disease. When doing biochemistry, it is worth paying attention to the indicators of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and eosinophil content. If they are elevated, it means that helminthiasis is very likely. ELISA analysis is the most accurate. This will help to determine by the presence of antibodies even the exact type of parasite, if it is present in the body.
2. Stool analysis.Many subcutaneous worms are initially based in the intestines. When examining stool, you can find helminth eggs and start treatment.

3. Biopsy.Analysis of the affected tissues, content of purulent abscesses and blisters, swollen lymph nodes can also reveal an image of the disease.
4. Ultrasound, X-ray, computed tomography and magnetic resonance.Various hardware methods to "scan" the body help locate the source of infection under the skin and internal organs. In some cases, this is the only effective diagnostic method.

Some infections can only be diagnosed after treatment, when the parasite is removed from the skin.

Treatment of parasitic diseases

Depending on the type of parasite, doctors need to use different methods to get rid of the infection:

1. The simplest microorganisms are destroyed with a series of antibiotics. It is mandatorily accompanied by symptomatic treatment.
2. You can get rid of ticks using specialized ointments and tablets. At the same time, dermatobiasis can only be cured with surgery by removing the larvae from under the skin.
3. The method of treating helminthiasis depends directly on the type of parasite. Therefore, heartworm is treated only surgically. Anthelmintics help to eliminate schistosomes and intestinal parasites. And treatment for dracunculiasis is not provided. The person must wait for the worm to leave the body on its own and fight the symptoms: pain and inflammation.

In any case, it is necessary to make a complete examination by a doctor and start the treatment under his guidance, in order to guarantee the total elimination of the parasites.