Unfortunately, parasites can live and feed not only in a person's internal organs, but also penetrate under the skin. This causes a number of diseases that have their own peculiarities. It is important to timely diagnose the cause of unpleasant symptoms and start treatment before parasitic worms cause great damage in the body. Most of the parasites that live under the skin can only be infected in tropical latitudes: when swimming in a stagnant pond, drinking unboiled water or falling victim to a blood-sucking insect. But some individuals "settle" in their bodies without leaving home.
Types of diseases and parasites
Medicine distinguishes a number of diseases, the diagnosis of which indicates subcutaneous worms in humans.
- cysticercosis. Its causative agents are the larvae of the pork tapeworm. Most often they enter the body with unboiled water or food. These worms are localized in the internal organs, eyes, brain, muscles and under the skin (they are observed on the shoulders, palms, chest). Such parasites can live in a person for years, thickenings and swellings are formed under the epidermis, which thicken over time. Diagnosis is easily facilitated by urticaria, which is constantly manifested by rashes on the skin.
- schistosomiasis. This disease is provoked by helminths that live in the waters of Africa and Asia. Worms affect the urogenital system and skin. The main symptoms are itching, rash, dermatitis, profuse night sweats, kidney damage, liver enlargement.
- filariasis. These are filamentous nematodes that live in South America, Asia, and Africa. They are spread by blood-sucking insects. The disease develops for a very 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 occur.
- Scabies. Scabies mite was widespread half a century ago. It settles in the deep layers of the epithelium, feeds on it and lays eggs there. The female parasite lives about two months, but manages to lay several dozen eggs under the skin. The tick breaks through passages in the epithelium, which 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.
- dirofillary. 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. The carriers of worms of this species are dogs and cats, and mosquitoes, biting them, carry microfilaria 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 at the diagnosis of dirofillaria, after a total deterioration in vision, up to blindness. Seals form under the skin, which itch, become red, and can reach the size of an egg. They contain the adult worm.
- Dracunculosis (seaworm). These are roundworms that reach 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 them from drinking unboiled water or swimming in polluted reservoirs. Once the worm is in the body in the form of a larva, it reaches adulthood only after a year of life in a person. Most often, the legs suffer from this disease: they are prone to such complications as the development of contractures and inflammation of the joints. In addition, the presence of the guinea worm in a person is fraught with gangrene and blood poisoning.
- ankylostomiasis. Worm pathogens live in places with tropical and subtropical climates. Hookworms are introduced under a person's skin through the slightest injury to the skin (usually the legs) and remain there to parasitize. The disease manifests itself with symptoms such as severe itching, sometimes coughing, anemia, signs of damage to internal organs.
- demodicosis. This is one of the most common dermatological diseases. It occurs due to the penetration of the subcutaneous tick pathogen. This is a non-helminthic disease, but the pest also lives in the layers of the epidermis (in the meibomian ducts and sebaceous glands). Symptoms of parasites: abundantly expressed 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 consult a doctor as soon as possible, since some individuals live in humans for several years before "delighting" with symptoms. Therefore, by the time of detection, parasites already have time to cause harm to health.
Since the clinical picture of worms and other subcutaneous dwellers is rather ambiguous and many symptoms occur individually, there is usually no clear list of signs. There are a number of indicators that can indicate the presence of subcutaneous parasites: constant itching, skin irritation, seals of different sizes, rash, small bubbles on the surface of the epithelium, indirect - sleep disturbances, fatigue. To find out the etiology of such manifestations and exclude a helminthic invasion, you need to visit a number of specialists, including:
- dermatologist;
- neuropathologist;
- Allergist;
- Infectious Diseases Specialist;
- Psychologist (if previous specialists did not find pathologies in their profile).
Diagnosis is made in different ways, depending on the symptoms:
- blood test for antigens;
- Examination of the epidermis sample;
- Smear;
- take a secret;
- scratch.
It is these indicators that can detect the presence or absence of parasites on a person's skin.
Traditional pest control methods
Treatment directly depends on the type of parasitic worm. A suitable therapy is selected in each individual case, taking into account age and the degree to which the problem is neglected. Most medicines are quite toxic not only for the worm, but also for the human body.
- Getting rid of dracunculiasis is possible only through surgical intervention;
- Scabies parasites are effectively driven out by hydrochloric acid and sulfuric soap;
- with schistosomiasis, an antimony drug helps;
- The body is freed from demodicosis with a cosmetic line for facial care (special soap for washing, cream).
In addition to traditional drug treatment, the patient must tighten hygiene procedures, carefully monitor the cleanliness of the body, premises and clothing, and avoid unnecessary contact with people. In some cases, you need diet food and skin care cosmetics.
Prevention of subcutaneous worms
You need to be extremely careful with helminthic invasions, as it is fairly easy for parasites to colonize the body and it can take years to diagnose and cure correctly.
To minimize the risk of subcutaneous infection with worms, doctors advise observing the following rules:
- before traveling to countries with a tropical climate, you must be vaccinated;
- Always follow the rules of hygiene: wash hands after contact with many people, money, after going to the toilet, before eating;
- Women should not use foreign cosmetics, since 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 over them, expose meat to prolonged thermal effects, boil water to drink;
- Carefully treat skin damage with antiseptics, especially in the tropics.
- do not swim in dirty and dubious waters;
If the parasites have settled under the skin, this is a reason to see a dermatologist as soon as possible. He can determine the type of worm and prescribe appropriate treatment. In most cases, the patient is waiting for conservative therapy, including taking anthelmintics and other drugs that relieve the symptoms of the disease in humans.