Subcutaneous parasites can cause a lot of trouble and cause serious complications that are dangerous to health. Parasites can enter the human body and live anywhere - in internal organs, muscles, skin. An extremely common option is parasites that burrow under the skin. What diseases do subcutaneous parasites cause in humans, what complications can they cause and how to get rid of them - let’s try to figure it out.
The invisible enemy
There are a lot of parasites that affect the skin. They can be cutaneous or subcutaneous. Cutaneous lice include common lice, bedbugs, and fleas. But parasites living on human skin do not cause disease and simply feed on human blood.
Much more unpleasant and dangerous are those parasites that penetrate into the thickness of the skin. At the same time, they not only feed on it, but also use it to breed offspring. Getting rid of them is much more difficult than getting rid of cutaneous ones.
It is very important to diagnose the disease as early as possible and begin its treatment.
Such creatures living under the skin lead to the development of parasitic dermatoses.
These include:
- filariasis;
- scabies;
- dracunculiasis;
- hookworm disease;
- schistosomiasis;
- cysticercosis.
Some protozoa, such as Trichomonas, can also cause skin lesions. Such dermatoses have to be treated long and hard - the main problem here is to make the correct diagnosis. And diagnosis is often difficult, since the symptoms of diseases may resemble damage to internal organs or an allergic reaction.
Description of domestic insects
To prepare for destruction, you should consider representatives of the main species often found in human homes. If you understand what types of domestic insects there are, why they are born, and what they eat, it will be easier to fight them. Living conditions attract moths, ants, flies, silverfish, woodlice and borers.
More about moths
In human homes you can find different representatives of this species:
The clothes pest destroys wardrobe items made of natural and semi-synthetic material. The preferred food of the fur moth is natural fur and wool.
Food brethren grind off cereals and other groceries. An adult may not feed at all, but the young generation after emerging from the cocoon poses the greatest danger. This means that it is the larvae that destroy supplies, spoil clothes, and flying insects do not pose a danger, they only lay eggs.
Officially they represent a group of crustaceans, but are often called insects. Woodlice can live on the first floors of apartment buildings, next to a source of dampness and moisture (basement). In their lifestyle, these pests are more similar to cockroaches. Representatives of the rough woodlice species are found much more often in apartments.
As you can guess from the name, pests need the main source of life - water. This means that it is easier to deal with them; you just need to block access to moisture. These creatures pose a danger to stocks of vegetables and plant shoots.
It attacks wood materials without being noticed. It should be clarified that the damage is caused by the insect larvae, and not by the beetle itself. Almost the entire tree is damaged. The insect gnaws through it, forming long passages. However, pests do not scratch the surface, thereby creating the illusion of the integrity of a piece of furniture or wooden structure. At one stage of development, the larvae pupate, which usually occurs in areas immediately under the bark. Then the beetles appear.
These insects are more common in the home where you can access the sewer system. This means they inhabit bathrooms and toilets. The development of larvae occurs in sewers and garbage. Flies are small in size, with the wings being much larger than the body. This is the main criterion by which house flies differ from butterflies.
Representatives of two varieties can live on the territory of a human house/apartment: the pharaoh ant (also known as the brownie ant), and the thief ant. The fight against them is usually ineffective, since insects establish nests in different areas, which are sometimes located outside the apartment. Ants cause damage to food and are a source of pathogenic microbes. To destroy these insects in an apartment, you need to act together with your neighbors.
They can appear in places with high levels of humidity, where it is also quite dark. Insects do not pose a serious danger, although they feed on grocery products. Representatives of the sugar variety of silverfish love sugar. However, the diet is based on organic scales, which pests find in dust deposits in cracks, on the floor, and baseboards. They crawl out of hiding at night.
Dracunculiasis - unpleasant cyclops
This parasite is otherwise called Guinea worm. Dracunculiasis is caused by round subcutaneous helminths, which in adulthood can be frightening in size. Females of Dracunculus medinensis grow to 32–120 cm as adults.
In addition to humans, they can parasitize dogs and cats. In Eurasia, guinea worm is found in Central Asia. But most often it is typical for countries with a tropical climate. This is where tourists get infected.
This parasite is otherwise called Guinea worm. Dracunculiasis is caused by round subcutaneous helminths, which in adulthood can be frightening in size
They enter the body along with raw water. After 1–2 weeks, the larvae begin to move through the body and after 48 days they enter the subcutaneous areas. Full development of individuals occurs after a year. Most often, these parasites settle in the leg area.
As a result of the vital activity of the larvae, a swollen ridge in the form of a cord forms on the skin, and then a bubble that can grow up to 7 cm. It can burst if it comes into contact with water, and then new larvae appear.
Complications of the disease are:
- development of contractures (immobility) of joints;
- joint inflammation;
- gangrene;
- blood poisoning - sepsis.
Due to the spread of infection, abscesses and phlegmons can form on the skin, which easily lead to general blood poisoning.
Treatment: to get rid of guinea worm, you need to remove the parasite from the skin tissue. However, it can be removed in several stages if its length is very large. The main thing is not to tear the parasite.
How to avoid getting sick: do not drink from open sources of water and avoid swimming in ponds.
Parasites of the insect class
BELARUSIAN STATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
ABSTRACT
ON THE TOPIC OF:
Parasites of the insect class
MINSK, 2009
Introduction
The class unites more than 1 million species. The body of insects is clearly divided into head, thorax and abdomen. On the head there is a pair of antennae (sensory organs), mouthparts and a pair of compound or simple eyes. The thoracic region consists of three segments carrying a pair of walking legs. The second and third segments on the dorsal side may have one or two pairs of wings. The abdomen consists of 6-12 segments.
The outside of the body is covered with chitin, under which is the hypodermis - a single-layer epithelium. It is rich in various glands: odorous, waxy, molting, etc. Chitin is inextensible, so the growth of the insect occurs during molting - shedding the “old” chitinous cover. The muscular system is highly differentiated and specialized.
The digestive system consists of the foregut, middle and hindgut. It begins with the mouth opening. The ducts of the salivary glands open into the oral cavity. Insects have a complex oral apparatus: the upper jaws, lower jaws and lower lip are derivatives of the limbs, the upper lip is an outgrowth of chitin. The oral apparatus includes the tongue (hypopharynx), which is a chitinous protrusion of the floor of the oral cavity.
Depending on the food consumed, the following types of oral apparatus are distinguished: gnawing (beetles), piercing-sucking (mosquitoes, fleas), licking (flies), sucking (butterflies). Among insects there are omnivores, herbivores and predators.
The oral cavity is followed by the pharynx and esophagus, the lower section of which in a number of representatives expands and forms a goiter. Digestion and absorption of food in insects occurs in the midgut, which passes into the hindgut, which opens outward through the anus.
The excretory system is represented by the Malpighian vessels and the fat body, which performs the function of a “storage kidney”.
Respiratory organs - trachea. They perform the function of the circulatory system in supplying tissues with oxygen. Breathing openings - stigmas are located on the sides of the body (up to 10 pairs).
The circulatory system, due to the structural features of the respiratory organs, is relatively poorly developed. The multichamber tube-shaped heart and the aorta extending from it are located on the dorsal side. The fluid circulating through the circulatory system, called hemolymph, contains white blood cells and takes part in the transport of nutrients and dissimilation products.
The nervous system reaches a high level of development. It consists of the “brain” (cephalic ganglion), represented by three sections - anterior, middle and posterior. Social insects (ants, bees, termites) have well-developed mushroom bodies in the anterior part of the brain, which are responsible for reflex activity. The abdominal nerve cord has a strong tendency to merge ganglia; for example, in flies, all ganglia of the thoracic region merge into one large node. Insects are characterized by complex forms of behavior, which are based on instincts - chains of sequential unconditioned reflexes.
The sense organs of insects are well developed. The organs of touch are represented by sensitive hairs scattered throughout the body. The olfactory organs are located on the antennae and mandibular palps. Taste buds are located on the mouth limbs and on the segments of the paws. Insects have simple or compound (compounded) eyes. In grasshoppers, hearing organs are located on the legs of the third pair of legs. They also have organs that produce sound (the friction of the thighs of the hind limbs against the denticles of the upper wing).
All insects are dioecious and have well-defined sexual dimorphism. Development is direct or with metamorphosis (complete or incomplete).
The medical importance of insects is that many of them are carriers of vector-borne diseases and pathogens (fly larvae, lice), ectoparasites and poisonous animals. The class of insects includes a large number of orders. We will consider representatives of units of medical importance.
Order Cockroaches (Biattoidea)
There are three species of cockroaches found in human homes that are mechanical carriers of pathogens: the black cockroach (Blatta orientalis), the red cockroach, or Prussian cockroach (Blattella germanica) and the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana). The latter is found mainly in the tropics.
Cockroaches are large insects, their body length reaches 3 cm. The body is flattened in the dorsoventral direction. They have two pairs of wings: the upper ones are leathery, the lower ones are membranous. Female cockroaches have reduced wings. The mouthparts are gnawing type. Females lay eggs in cocoons, which they carry with them for 14-15 days. Development with incomplete transformation lasts several months. Cockroaches are typically active at night; during the day they hide in crevices. They feed on human food, human excretions and various waste. They are found everywhere - in human homes, in various institutions, in food industry and public catering enterprises.
Cockroaches mechanically carry pathogens of various infectious and invasive diseases (typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, dysentery, tularemia, diphtheria, tuberculosis, helminth eggs and protozoan cysts, etc.).
Cockroaches can attack sleeping infants, gnaw off the epidermis in the nasolabial triangle and introduce infection into the wound.
To combat cockroaches, insecticides (dichlorvos, karbofos) and baits with borax are used.
Order Bedbugs (Heteroptera)
Most representatives of this order feed on plant juices. There are two temporary ectoparasites of humans: the bedbug (Cimex lectularius) and the kissing bug (Triatoma infestans).
The bed clone measures up to 8 mm (males are slightly smaller than females). The chitinous cover is dark brown-red. Has a specific smell. Its body is flattened in the dorsoventral direction (Fig. 48). The outline of the bedbug's abdomen changes from elongated oval to almost round, depending on the blood saturation. During the day and under artificial lighting, bedbugs hide in cracks in the floor, in furniture grooves, behind curtains, etc. At night they come out of their shelter, attack humans and feed on blood. Very hungry parasites can attack humans during the daytime.
Females lay eggs in floor cracks, books, and linen. After 2-3 weeks (depending on the temperature), larvae emerge from them and also feed on blood. The larvae molt repeatedly and develop into adults. Adult bedbugs and larvae can starve for a long time (several months).
A bedbug's saliva is poisonous, making its bites painful. By attacking a person at night to suck blood, bedbugs disturb his sleep. The transmission of pathogens of any diseases by bed bugs to humans has not been established.
To combat bedbugs, insecticides are used, and rodents that feed bedbugs are fought.
The kissing bug is a temporary ectoparasite and a specific carrier of Chagas disease pathogens. Distributed in South American countries. It has large sizes (1.5-3.5 cm), an oval body, flattened in the dorso-ventral direction, and well-developed wings. The kissing bug lives in rodent burrows, adobe buildings and human huts. At night, it attacks a sleeping person and inserts its proboscis into the skin of the neck, arms, face (usually around the lips). Having drunk blood, the bug turns 180° and performs an act of defecation at the site of the bite. Trypanosomes from bedbug feces get into the wound from a bite or scratch. Bedbug saliva causes a severe allergic reaction in some people.
The main preventive measures are the use of insecticides, the construction of modern houses, and compliance with hygiene standards.
Order Fleas (Aphaniptera)
The most important medical fleas are the human flea (Pulex irritans) and rat fleas (Ceratophyllus fasciatus and Xenopsylla cheopis). Distributed everywhere. Fleas are temporary ectoparasites. Adults feed on human and animal blood, while larvae feed on organic debris. Fleas p.Oropsylla and Xenopsylla are specific carriers of plague; They also transmit tularemia and rat typhus, and are intermediate hosts of rat and dog tapeworms.
The flea's body has a dense chitinous cover, flattened on the sides. There are no wings. There are numerous hairs, bristles, and denticles on the surface of the body. The head bears short antennae and a pair of simple eyes. The last pair of legs is longer than the others and is used for jumping. The mouthparts are piercing-sucking type.
Fleas lay eggs in crevices and cracks in the floor, in dry garbage. Development comes with complete metamorphosis. The larvae are worm-shaped and have no limbs. After some time, the larva pupates. The minimum development period for a flea is 19 days.
Each type of flea has a specific host: rat fleas - rats, dog fleas - dogs, gopher fleas - gophers. But many types of fleas can feed on animals of different species. Fleas feed only on warm blood. They leave the dead owner and look for a living provider. This feature is important in the rapid spread of the plague.
The secretion of the salivary glands of fleas when bitten causes itching and dermatitis in humans: when scratching the itchy areas, a secondary infection occurs. However, the main epidemiological significance of fleas is the transmission of pathogens of vector-borne diseases - plague and tularemia. The natural reservoir of plague is various rodents - rats, gophers, tarbagans, marmots, etc. Plague pathogens actively multiply in the flea's stomach and close its lumen, forming a so-called “plague block”. When sucking blood, the blood does not pass into the stomach and is regurgitated, carrying a large number of plague bacteria into the wound. Infection of a person with plague is also possible through flea feces when they come into contact with the plague bacillus on skin damaged by scratching. A person can become infected with the plague through contact with sick animals (skinning) or with a sick person. Human susceptibility to plague is absolute.
The tropical sand or earth flea (Sarcopsylla penetrans) is characterized by a transition to endoparasitism. Distributed in South America and Africa.
The flea measures up to 1 mm in length. The color is yellowish-gray. After fertilization, female fleas attack humans and penetrate the subcutaneous connective tissue, often between the toes or under the nails. They feed on the blood and lymph of the host and increase to the size of a pea due to the development of a large number of eggs (up to several hundred). There is tissue growth around the flea. Ripe eggs are thrown out, and the female dies and is rejected along with damaged tissues. The disease caused by the sand flea is called sarcopsillosis. The wounds at the sites of parasite penetration become inflamed and very painful; A secondary infection often occurs. Complications of sarcopsillosis can include gangrene and tetanus.
Insecticides are used to control fleas. Prevention measures include: maintaining cleanliness in the premises, wet cleaning, eliminating cracks and crevices in the floor and walls, rodent control (deratization). In tropical countries it is not recommended to walk on the ground without shoes.
Order Lice (Anopiura)
Lice are small, permanent ectoparasites that have lost their wings. Distributed everywhere. There are two species of lice in humans, belonging to the genera Pediculus and Phthirus. The genus Pediculus is represented by one species, Pediculus humanus, which includes two subspecies - head and body lice, which interbreed freely and produce fertile offspring, although they themselves differ somewhat in morphological and biological characteristics.
The head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis) lives on the scalp. The body length of the male is 2-3 mm, of the female - 3-4 mm. The rear end of the male's body is rounded, while that of the female is forked. The mouthparts are piercing-sucking type. It feeds only on human blood 2-3 times a day and can fast for several days. Eggs (nits) stick to the hair with a sticky secretion. A larva emerges from the egg and looks like an adult. After a few days, she turns into an adult. During her life (up to 38 days), the female lays about 300 eggs. The life cycle is 2-3 weeks.
The body louse (Pediculus humanus humanus) lives on underwear and bedding and feeds on humans. It is larger in size than the head one (up to 4.7 mm), has shallower notches along the edge of the abdomen and has weak pigmentation. Nits stick to the fibers of clothing. Life expectancy is up to 48 days, life cycle is at least 16 days.
Lice p.Pediculus, parasitizing humans, cause pediculosis (“tramp disease”). Feeding on blood, lice inject saliva into the wound, which causes burning and itching in humans; In the most sensitive people, body temperature rises. When scratching lice bites, the gates of secondary infection open. Pediculosis is characterized by pigmentation and roughening of the skin. A serious complication of pediculosis is matting - damage to the scalp.
Lice are the most important epidemiological significance as specific carriers of pathogens of relapsing and typhus. The causative agents of relapsing fever - Obermeyer's spirochetes - enter the louse's stomach with the patient's blood and from there into the body cavity (hemolymph). There is no exit gate from the carrier's body, so lice bites do not infect a healthy person. The pathogen is transmitted only when the louse is crushed and its hemolymph is rubbed into the skin by scratching (specific contamination).
The causative agents of louse-borne typhus, Provacek's rickettsia, multiply in the epithelial cells of the louse's stomach. The affected cells are destroyed, and the pathogen is released into the parasite's feces. Human infection occurs by rubbing insect feces or by crushing lice - the contents of the intestines - into bite wounds or into scratches and abrasions on the skin.
The pubic louse, or louse (Phthirus pubis), parasitizes areas of the body covered with sparse, coarse hair: the pubis, armpits, eyebrows and eyelashes, and beard. It measures up to 1.5 mm. The body is short and wide. Life expectancy is up to 26 days. The female lays up to 50 eggs during her life. Infection occurs most often through sexual contact, less often through underwear. Having immersed its proboscis in the skin, the parasite sits in one place for a long time, so the person constantly feels itching. In places of blood sucking, as a result of the action of the parasite's saliva, blue spots form. The pubic louse does not tolerate pathogens, but people with increased sensitivity to its bites develop phthiriasis (severe itching and roughening of the skin).
Order Diptera (Diptera)
The order includes a large number of species of medical importance. Representatives of the order have one (front) pair of membranous transparent wings. The posterior pair has turned into small haltere appendages that serve as an organ of balance. The large head is connected to the thoracic region by a thin soft stalk, which ensures its mobility. There are large compound eyes on the head. The mouthparts are licking, sucking or piercing-sucking.
Family Flies (Muscidae)
Of medical interest are flies - mechanical carriers of pathogens (house flies, meat flies, cheese flies, zhigalka, etc.) and specific carriers (tsetse fly). The larvae of some flies (Wohlfarth flies, gadflies) can be causative agents of diseases in humans and animals, which are called myiases.
The housefly (Musca domestical) is distributed throughout the globe. Females measure up to 7.5 mm. The body and legs are dark in color and covered with hairs. The legs have claws and sticky pads that allow flies to move on any surface.
The oral apparatus is licking and sucking. The lower lip is transformed into a proboscis; at its end there are two sucking lobules, between which the oral opening is located. The fly's saliva contains enzymes that liquefy solid organic matter, which it then licks off. Flies feed on human food and various decaying organic debris.
4-8 days after mating, at an ambient temperature of at least 17-18°C, the female fly lays up to 150 eggs at a time. Common places for egg laying are rotting organic matter, kitchen waste, manure, human excrement, etc. At the optimal temperature (35-45°C), larvae emerge from the eggs within 24 hours and pupate after 1-2 weeks. Pupation usually occurs in the soil at a lower temperature (not higher than 25°C). A new generation of flies appears in about a month. Their lifespan is about one month.
On the integument of the body, on the legs, on parts of the oral apparatus, flies mechanically transmit pathogens of intestinal infections (cholera, dysentery, typhoid fever), as well as tuberculosis, diphtheria, paratyphoid fever, anthrax, helminth eggs and protozoan cysts. There are up to 6 million bacteria on the body of a fly, and up to 28 million in the intestine.
Flies are controlled at different stages of their life cycle. To combat winged flies, insecticides, Velcro, baits with poisons are used, and they are destroyed mechanically. To combat the pre-imaginal stages, the improvement of populated areas is of great importance: the presence of sewage systems, closed garbage containers, manure storage facilities, toilets, timely removal of waste, and the use of insecticides.
The autumn firefly (Stomoxys caicitrans) is ubiquitous. In morphology and biology, the firefly is similar to a housefly, but differs in its long, thin proboscis. It has a brown body color with dark stripes on the chest and spots on the abdomen. At the end of the proboscis there are plates with chitinous teeth. By rubbing the proboscis against the skin, the fly scrapes off the epidermis and feeds on blood; her saliva contains toxic substances that cause severe irritation. Its bites are painful. The population of flies reaches its greatest numbers in August-September.
The autumn fly is a mechanical carrier of anthrax and sepsis pathogens.
The tsetse fly (Gtossina palpalis) is distributed only in the western regions of the African continent. It lives near human habitation along the banks of rivers and lakes with high soil moisture, overgrown with shrubs and trees.
The fly is large in size (up to 13 mm), has a highly chitinized proboscis protruding forward and dark spots on the dorsal side of the abdomen. The body color is dark brown. Females are viviparous and lay only one larva on the soil surface. The larva penetrates the soil, pupates, and after 3-4 weeks the imaginal form emerges. Over the course of their entire life (3-6 months), females lay 6-12 larvae.
The tsetse fly feeds on the blood of animals and humans and is the main reservoir and specific carrier of the pathogens of African trypanosomiasis.
Measures to combat the fly consist of cutting down bushes and trees along the banks of rivers and lakes near settlements and along roads. Insecticides are used to control adult flies.
The Wohlfart fly (Wohlfahrtia magnifiea) is common in temperate and hot climates.
The body of the fly is light gray in color and has a length of 9-13 mm. There are dark longitudinal stripes on the chest.
Adult flies live in fields and feed on plant nectar. Female flies hatch from 120 to 150 larvae in open cavities (nose, eyes, ears), on wounds and ulcers on the body of animals, sometimes on humans (while sleeping in the open air). Larvae in humans live in the ears, nose, frontal sinuses, and eyes. Having quickly penetrated tissues, the larvae destroy them down to the bones mechanically and with the help of secreted enzymes. Parasitization of larvae is accompanied by severe pain, causes tissue necrosis and gangrenous processes. After 5-7 days, the larvae fall into the soil and pupate.
The disease caused by the larvae of the Wohlfarth fly is called myiasis. Children are especially affected by myiasis. With intense infection, complete destruction of the soft tissues of the orbit and head is possible; sometimes the disease ends in death. Occasional intestinal myiases can be caused by housefly and blowfly larvae.
Preventive measures are aimed at protecting people from attacks by flies.
Literature
1. Petrovsky A.V. Parasitology, Mn.: Svetach, 2007. 354s.
2. Askerko A.Ch. Fundamentals of parasitology Mn.: BSMU, 2008. 140s.
3. Selyavka A.A. General parasitology Mn.: Knowledge, 2007. 250s.
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Dirophyllaria: a ticking time bomb
Parasites that live under human skin are considered extremely unpleasant, capable of settling not only under the skin, but also in the eyes. This is the so-called dirofilaria, the females of which reach a length of 15–30 cm, and the males 5–10.
Infection occurs through mosquitoes. The fact is that the carriers of parasites are dogs and cats, and the carriers are mosquitoes, which, by biting dogs, transfer microfilariae larvae from them to humans. Full development already occurs under human skin, which takes a very long time - the incubation period can last several years.
Heartworms settle under the skin. But sometimes they can live in the eyes, leading to visual impairment and even blindness.
Heartworms settle under the skin. But sometimes they can live in the eyes, leading to visual impairment and even blindness. It is believed that in 1/6 of all cases of removal of the eyeball it is due to damage by this parasite. Under the skin, due to the penetration of the larva, a compaction is formed, which gradually grows and can take on the size of an egg. The seal turns red and itches. It contains a folded heartworm.
Treatment: the abscess is opened surgically.
How to avoid getting sick: you need to use repellents.
“Defend yourself, sir!”
“When a parasite penetrates the insect’s body through the cuticle (external skeleton) or through the intestines, a whole cascade of various protective processes is launched,” says Vadim Kryukov, head of the laboratory of environmental parasitology at the Institute of Animal Systematics and Ecology SB RAS (IS&E SB RAS), Doctor of Biological Sciences.
Thread-like formations (hyphae) and conidiospores formed by fungi on the surface of insects they kill. Conidiospores are able to spread passively by currents of wind, water, microarthropods (small soil arthropods), for example, soil mites and springtails, and infect new host individuals / ©Photo courtesy of Vadim Kryukov
“As soon as, say, mushrooms are “planted” on the cuticle, the insect’s body immediately begins to react—the process of melanization begins. Melanin, a high-molecular pigment of black or dark brown color, becomes a physical barrier for the parasite and prevents it from moving further, forming a melanin sheath around it.
Additionally, the parasite is weakened by toxic compounds produced during the formation of melanin. If the fungus was nevertheless able to penetrate through the cuticle into the body cavity of the insect, not only humoral but also cellular immunity is activated: blood cells (hemocytes) begin the process of phagocytosis, encapsulation of foreign bodies. The pathogen may no longer escape from such a capsule.”
The insect molts repeatedly, exchanging the old chitinous shell for a new one. Molting is a complex physiological process during which the body is often completely rebuilt. Thanks to molting, the insect can get rid of the parasite that has attached itself to the cuticle, but has not yet entered the body cavity.
The insect encounters the pathogen in full combat readiness, but the parasite is no worse a tactician. Its arsenal includes the production of enzymes that destroy the skeleton of the “victim,” the synthesis of toxins that can suppress the immune system, and much more. The outcome of this battle depends on the level of virulence (pathogenicity) of the pathogen, the dose of infection and the level of immunity of the insect.
But victory is not always clear-cut. It happens that an insect at the larval stage defeats the infection, but it persists (preserves in the body cavity) and can appear at the next stages of the life cycle if factors weaken the insect’s immunity. There are also other interesting cases: for example, an insect may not be able to withstand stress from the influence of various systems of its own body and die, in fact, from itself.
Scabies mite: a well-forgotten old thing
The scabies mite causes scabies, a disease that was well known 50 years ago.
The Sarcoptes scabiei mite, with a microscopic size of 0.3–0.4 mm, settles in the deep layers of the skin. He begins to eat through the passages in it, thereby causing unbearable itching.
He doesn't like the top layer of skin because it is too dense and hard. The tick feeds on human epithelium and lays eggs in it. During her two-month life, the female lays dozens of eggs.
The favorite places for these subcutaneous parasites to be affected are the hands, soles of the feet, buttocks, folds, sides of the thighs, mammary glands, armpits, and genitals. In children, mites often settle in the hair.
The scabies mite causes scabies, a disease that was well known 50 years ago.
It is easy to identify scabies: scabies in the form of lines are visible on the skin (they are clearly visible after treatment with iodine solution), itching and crusts appear at the scratching sites, blisters-papules, rashes, especially in the elbow area. The itching is worse at night. Complications of scabies - the appearance of boils, dermatitis, eczema, impetigo (blistering rashes). Exacerbations occur in the autumn months.
Infection occurs through direct contact, use of shared hygiene items, and through clothing.
Treatment: you can get rid of scabies mites using sulfur ointment, which should be used for a week. Good results are obtained by using sulfur soap and hydrochloric acid solution. This procedure is repeated every three days. To cleanse the skin, take soap and soda baths and use salicylic ointment.
Antibiotics are used only in cases of extensive lesions and infection of the skin.
It is important to carry out complete disinfection - boil all bedding and clothing. Then you need to iron everything on both sides.
How to avoid getting sick: Practice good hygiene, wash your hands regularly and avoid contact with infected people.
Filariasis: southern guest
These parasites under human skin - thread nematodes - are common in Africa, Asia, and South America. You can become infected after being bitten by bloodsucking insects. The disease takes a long time to develop (up to 7 years).
Initially, urticaria and fever may appear, which are almost never paid attention to. After a few years, skin lesions appear - eczema, ulcers, papules, warts, rashes, nodules. If drowsiness, malaise, fever, and headache are observed, then the diagnosis becomes easier.
These parasites under human skin - thread nematodes - are common in Africa, Asia, and South America
Complications of the disease can include arthrosis, vision problems (including glaucoma and cataracts).
Treatment: ditrazine (hetrazan) is used.
How to avoid getting sick: protect yourself from insect bites.
Schistosomiasis: skin at risk
Schistomatosis is caused by helminths that live in water. You can become infected with it by swimming in rivers and lakes, mainly in Asian and African countries.
Urogenital schistosomiasis affects the skin and genitourinary organs. The main manifestation is dermatitis, itching, rashes. Schistomatosis can be indicated by night sweats and an increase in the size of the liver, signs of kidney damage.
Urogenital schistosomiasis affects the skin and genitourinary organs
Treatment: antimony preparations are successfully used.
How to avoid getting sick: do not swim in stagnant bodies of water in tropical countries and drink unboiled water.
Cricket exterminator
Article on the topic
The fly is a source of infection. What will help in the fight against dangerous insects The species of worms Paragordius tricuspidatus from the group of hairworms can grow up to 10–15 cm in length, but at the initial stage of its development it has microscopic dimensions. It is formed in water. Its final stage of development also takes place there. However, in the interval between birth and death, the parasite manages to attach itself to the mosquito and take over the consciousness of the cricket. The worm uses the mosquito as an intermediate host, since the insect larvae are unable to survive without water. Usually, after a mosquito leaves a pond, it is eaten by a cricket. Since the worm can only reproduce in water, it manipulates the insect's central nervous system to make it jump directly into the water. As a result, the cricket drowns, and the worm continues to reproduce.
Cysticercosis: pork tapeworms
Cysticercosis is caused by helminths - the larvae of pork tapeworms. These skin parasites in humans develop as a result of ingestion of parts of the tapeworm with food or water.
They can settle in different parts of the body - in the brain, eyes, internal organs, muscles and skin.
Parasites living under the skin develop over the years. Their presence may be indicated by painless swellings and neoplasms that become dense over the years.
Their location is in the area of the shoulders, chest, and palms. Sometimes urticaria develops.
Treatment: surgical removal and use of antiparasitic drugs.
How to avoid getting sick: do not eat raw meat, do not swim in contaminated bodies of water, follow the rules of hygiene.
Subcutaneous parasites can cause a lot of trouble and cause serious complications that are dangerous to health. Therefore, it is very important to diagnose the disease as early as possible and begin its treatment.
