Subcutaneous parasites in humans: symptoms and treatment

Photos and videos of subcutaneous parasite symptoms in humans are not a pleasant sight. Unlike intestinal worms, whose existence a person may not even know, epithelial infections are easy to spot. In this case, the person feels constant discomfort due to the symptoms that accompany the lesion. This helps in diagnosing the disease and starting treatment as early as possible. Photography of subcutaneous parasites in humans causes emotions close to disgust, but the symptoms of the infection are much more unpleasant. The image does not convey a person's sensations from the knowledge that someone is crawling on her body. But epithelial infections do not only represent discomfort, but also a significant danger to the health of the whole organism. Toxins secreted by the body of the parasite can affect all organ systems, and the helminths themselves like 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, visual organs or heart.

Which parasites live in the skin?

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

Each of these types of infections has its own ways of entering the human body. The symptoms and effects of the infection are also very different. Accordingly, the treatment of the disease will take place in different ways. But in order to distinguish one parasitic infection from another and determine who lives in the body, it is necessary to go through a long diagnosis. The doctor, knowing the characteristics and habitats of different parasites, will tell you the most probable possibility even before the start of the tests, focusing only on the symptoms and the 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 types of flies. Pathogenic microorganisms do not survive in a temperate climate, so you can become infected with leishmaniasis only after a vacation in hot countries with a tropical climate.

When infected, the infection creates sores at the site of the insect bite. Over time, it heals and leaves a messy 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, the parasites live inside the cells, so the immune bodies do little to fight the protozoa. But after one experience of fighting leishmaniasis, immunity is formed.

Insects among subcutaneous parasites

Diseases caused by such an invasion are called entomoses. There are several types of these subcutaneous parasites in humans:

1. Sarcopsilosis (tungiosis).It is called a tropical sand flea. It is enough to walk barefoot on the beach or lie down sunbathing to crawl on the body. It hides imperceptibly under the outer layer of the epithelium until the blood is absorbed. Then the flea "fattens up" and begins to press on the surrounding tissues, causing discomfort. When it dies, it is excreted from the body with dead peeled skin. If this does not happen, the tissue can become infected and abscess.
2. Dermatobia.A South American human gadfly injects larvae under human skin. When they are fully developed, they tear the tissue and leave the body, leaving the wound open. In case of damage to the eyelid and skin over the cartilage, dangerous health consequences are possible.

3. Acariasis.These diseases are caused by ticks. The most famous scabies, which lives and multiplies under the skin, feeds on its cells. The symptoms of scabies can be easily distinguished from urticaria by itching using filamentous stripes - channels in the epithelium chewed by a female parasite. Another mite, Demodex, causes dermatitis and baldness.

Most insects that occur in the human body live in southern countries, because their development requires a stable hot climate. But in some cases it is enough to visit the sea in summer to fight subcutaneous parasites for several months.

Parasitic roundworms and more

Subcutaneous worms in humans are not difficult to detect. They usually show their place in the same way as other infections - redness, itching and burning. But in some cases the epithelium is only a temporary cell, and the main development of the pathology continues in the internal organs:

1. Heartworm disease.There are several species of these helminths. Some prefer to settle in the internal organs, but there are those that affect the skin and eyes. The larvae of the parasite are transmitted by mosquitoes and are found in warm regions. A painful, soft, mobile lump swells at the site of the lesion. It is not dangerous if the infection does not affect the organs of vision. But treatment requires surgery.
2. Dracunculiasis.The Rishta worm enters the body with water containing small crustaceans that keep larvae in the stomach. Through the intestines, helminths penetrate the abdominal cavity, where they steam and lay eggs in the muscle tissue in the area of ​​the joints and bones of the legs. When the new worm matures, the larva breaks through the skin and emerges. The only way to relieve the burning sensation and pain is to put the limb in water. Other ways to remove parasites that have settled in the body have not yet been invented.

3. Schistosomiasis.Not all worms under human skin get there with food. To become infected with schistosomes, it is enough to swim in the fresh waters of tropical countries of South America, the Caribbean, Africa or Southeast Asia. The skin lesion resembles scabies and is accompanied by tingling. But after a while, the larvae break deep into the body, after which the epithelial symptoms disappear and the next stage of the disease develops.
4. Gnathostomosis.Humans are not the natural hosts of this parasite. Therefore, worms cannot reproduce in the body. Thus, the Asian parasite, entering the body with fish, frogs or insufficiently heat-treated bird. The larvae begin to migrate after a month. Moving under the skin causes itching, redness and pain. The appearance on the abdomen is accompanied by edema.

Once the first signs of worm life appear under the skin, the patient should be examined and treatment started. Many parasites can significantly worsen health, including disability, if not removed in time.

Diagnostic Procedures

Given all the diversity of parasites that live under human skin, there is no universal method to help determine the cause of the disease. Also, 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 phase of looking for parasites on human skin begins with an examination. The doctor conducts a survey, examines the affected areas and looks for other symptoms. Thus, they will be able to narrow the search area and in some cases, for example in dracunculiasis and heartworm disease, prescribe treatment immediately.

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

1. Blood test.General analysis reveals a picture of the body's reactions to the infection. Thus a specialist can determine the nature of the disease. When conducting 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. It will help you determine 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 found inside the gut. By examining the feces you can find helminth eggs and start treatment.

3. Biopsy.Analysis of affected tissues, contents of purulent abscesses and blisters, swollen lymph nodes can also reveal the picture of the disease.
4. Ultrasound, X-ray, CT and MRI.Various hardware methods of "scanning" the body will help localize the source of infection under the skin and in the 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 under the skin.

Treatment of parasitic diseases

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

1. The simplest microorganisms are destroyed by a course of antibiotics. It must be accompanied by symptomatic treatment.
2. You can get rid of ticks with specialized ointments and tablets. At the same time, dermatobia can only be cured by surgery by removing the larvae under the skin.
3. The method of treatment of helminthiasis directly depends on the type of parasite. Thus, heartworm disease is treated only surgically. Anthelmintics will help you get rid of schistosomes and intestinal parasites. And treatment of dracunuliosis is not envisaged at all. 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 undergo a thorough examination by a doctor and begin treatment under his guidance to ensure complete removal of the parasite.