The most unpleasant symptoms in the form of itching and rashes can cause subcutaneous parasites at any age. Any invasion causes many health problems due to complications. Worms with a long incubation period of several months are particularly dangerous.
Types of parasites living under the skin
The subcutaneous worm can enter the human body: in tactile contact with infected people; from blood-sucking insects that carry parasitic larvae of animals.
The main feature of such an invasion is the difficulty in recognizing the pathology, as the infection may initially be disguised as another somatic disease.
A parasite caught under the thickness of the skin can pass through any internal organ over time and cause its dysfunction. Helminth samples feed on blood and are used to hatch larvae.
The main signs of the presence of these types of parasites in the body are severe weakness, decreased performance, and a constant desire to scratch the skin. When these signs appear, it is advisable to consult a specialist: a therapist, dermatologist, allergist, infectious disease specialist. The joint work of doctors and the diagnostic methods used in their work help to detect subcutaneous invasion under the body in time.
Among the diagnostic methods, examination of scraping of stool, blood, scalp, and epidermis is mandatory.
The most common infection of subcutaneous helminths occurs in countries with very warm climates - Central Asia, Africa, South America. Therefore, when returning from tourist trips across continents, you should pay special attention to your health.
Important! It is strictly forbidden to treat yourself with medical and folk remedies - this can aggravate the situation and poison the body. It is important that you do not delay your visit to the doctor and strictly follow the prescribed medication.
There are many types of worms that live in the skin. The invasive species listed below are the main ones.
Filariasis
The subcutaneous helminths of this species are represented by filamentous nematodes common in tropical states. This type of parasite can live in the skin for several years in a row and, after its own adaptation, migrates through the body and seeks other habitat.
Initial signs of the disease are skin rashes in the form of hives and spots, accompanied by itching. The temperature is then added.
Severe symptoms of filariasis include eczema, ulcers and warts, subcutaneous nodules, severe headache, drowsiness, subcutaneous nodules, and increased fever.
The parasite can often be found during an ophthalmologist’s examination because it is very fond of living in the mucous membranes of the eye.
Important! With early medical visits, filariasis contributes to the onset of eye diseases and leads to complete loss of vision.
Schistosomiasis
The parasite of this species lives in warm freshwater rivers and lakes in countries with hot climates. Infection can occur while bathing or drinking raw water.
The parasite affects the skin and urinary system at the same time. Toxic substances entering the blood are highly toxic to the body and this leads to various disorders of the work of many organs and systems.
Signs of infection with the parasite: rash and rash in the form of redness, unbearable itching, night sweats, enlarged liver, functional disorders of the kidney system, sudden rise in temperature.
Schistosomiasis, which occurs with damage to the urogenital system, clogs the outgoing and incoming channels of the bladder.
Important! In order not to become infected with this helminth, it should not swim in the stagnant water bodies of the tropics and should not drink raw water from unknown natural sources.
Dracunculiasis
The disease is caused by rishta - round worms-parasites that reach a length of 80 cm. Infection with worms in countries with tropical climates and Central Asia can be caused by the use of raw water or contact with cats. dogs that are carriers of the worm.
The incubation period is 1. 5 months from the moment of infection with the parasite's eggs and migration through the body. Parasites develop and grow throughout the year.
Dracunculiasis primarily affects the skin of the lower extremities. The parasite is able to twist and unfold, forming a long bulge on the skin and then a centimeter bubble. As soon as the bubble comes in contact with water, it ruptures immediately, releasing larvae that cause symptoms of severe internal itching.
Important! If the therapy and the fight against these types of parasites are not carried out, the person will start to develop sepsis, gangrene inflammation or immobility of the joints.
Scabies
The cause of cancer is the type of mites up to 0. 4 mm. Parasites can become infected in contact with a patient's body or belongings if the person's immunity is severely reduced. Infection occurs when hygiene rules are not followed.
The tiny parasites that get on the skin are first introduced into the epidermis and then into the deep layer and can infect the whole body with toxins. The parasites chew through the passages into which they lay eggs.
Clinical symptoms of the pathology appear in the form of red rash, tiny blisters, and exfoliation of the skin: hands, thighs, elbows, knees, and hair. If you treat the rash sites with iodine solution, you can see the ticks.
Due to the active development and multiplication of the parasite, a person suffers from unbearable itching, which intensifies at night, after the desire to scratch the skin, as well as after contact with water.
Complications of scabies include furunculosis, eczema, dermatitis, and blistering lesions of the skin.
Important! In order to avoid scabies, you should follow hygiene rules and avoid contact with those infected with scabies.
Demodecosis
This microscopic mite disease is seasonal in nature and occurs more frequently in the fall. Excess fat formation on the skin in summer and the negative effects of ultraviolet rays undermine local immunity, contributing to the spread of the mite species.
Parasites can become infected through tactile contact with a sick person and the use of their personal belongings and care items.
The pathology is very similar to acne, which catches more and more areas according to clinical symptoms. Pink and red papules abound on the face and back, leaving rough scars after healing. An individual may develop inflammation of the eyelids, vasodilation and peeling eyebrows.
Important! Demodecosis develops over the years. To accurately diagnose a person, we get a scratch from the skin. The treatment can take up to 3 months.
Dirofilariasis
Invasion is considered a dangerous parasitic disease caused by dirofilaria worms, reaching 30 cm in adulthood. This type of parasite affects the subcutaneous areas as well as the eye tissue and can cause complete vision loss.
The incubation period for the development of dirofilariasis is several years. A person can become infected by biting mosquitoes that carry parasitic eggs from sick dogs and cats.
A seal grows in the skin, accompanied by pain, unbearable itching and hyperemia. The seal may grow to the size of an average egg in which the coiled helminth lives.
Basically, the parasite lives in the skin, but sometimes it can climb into the eye, leading to vision loss and vision loss.
In order not to become infected with these types of worms, you must fight mosquitoes by all possible means and use alarms in your daily life.
How to get rid of subcutaneous parasites?
The control of subcutaneous worms is based on superficial and medicinal methods as well as surgical interventions.
Antiparasitic therapy for each type of helminth can be presented in tabular form:
| Type of helminthiasis | Methods used |
|---|---|
| Filariasis | Anthelmintic drug for the treatment of filariasis. In severe cases, surgery. |
| Schistosomiasis | Antimony and surgical techniques are used. However, the organs involved need to be restored. |
| Dracunculiasis | Surgical clean worm removal. |
| Scabies | Topical remedies: salicylate ointments and sulfur soap; aqueous soap suspension; hydrochloric acid solution for 1 week. Immunological preparations. Thorough disinfection of the patient's clothing and household items. Sometimes antibiotics are used. |
| Demodecosis | External agents are used: camphor alcohol, as well as thorough cosmetic care (cleansing, masks, exfoliation), hyaluronic acid, use of alginates. Immunostimulants, vitamin complexes, anti-inflammatory drugs are used. Be sure to treat concomitant diseases of the digestive system and metabolic disorders. A healthy diet and physical therapy are essential. |
| Dirofilariasis | Surgical treatment. The eyeball may need to be removed. |
In most cases, you can get rid of subcutaneous-type helminth samples thanks to surgery and intensive chemotherapy.
Superficial treatment
Surface action methods are used to control helminths living in the epidermis (such as scabies and demodicosis).
External antiparasitic drugs are rubbed into the skin in scabies. These drugs are rubbed all over the body at night. The course lasts 2 weeks. Persons who have been in contact with an infected person should undergo the same procedures.
In the case of demodicosis, suspensions, ointments, solutions, gels, scrubs, cryotherapy are used, which reduce sebum secretion, deprive food and reduce the negative effects of the parasite.
With other types of helminth samples, external manifestations are removed using ointments with steroids and antibiotics.
All ointments specially selected by doctors relieve inflammation, deprive parasites of motor activity and kill them.
Local procedures should be applied sparingly, avoiding skin damage so as not to disturb the acid-base balance, and to rule out the binding of pathogenic microbes to the pathology.
Important! When you start a therapeutic treatment at a hot temperature, you should wash your clothes and warm up your pillows in the bright sunshine.
Medicines
Each type of helminth is given its own medicine, which is prescribed by a doctor according to the stage of the disease.
Some drugs completely kill parasites, others immobilize them and prevent them from multiplying.
When helminth dies, a person may experience signs of poisoning - headache, nausea, vomiting, so medications are carefully selected. The introduction of enterosorbents is permitted.
Major diseases are necessarily treated with pathologies of other organs. Symptomatic therapy is used.
Surgical methods
Surgeon removal is required to remove the parasite by incision.
The surgery is performed in the usual way, under local anesthesia. The surgeon must be virtuoso and crafty to completely pull out the helmin when removing it without splitting it into parts.
Postoperative rehabilitation methods include therapy with antibacterial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antiparasitic drugs.
Prevention of helminthiasis infection
Care can be taken to completely prevent subcutaneous worms from entering the body.
Mandatory:
- be subjected to an annual medical examination;
- consult a doctor for various diseases;
- wash your hands thoroughly after going to public places and making tactless contact with strangers and stray animals;
- boil raw water and do not drink from a natural source;
- do not swim in standing water bodies, especially in hot countries;
- control of blood-sucking insects by means of alarms and protective equipment;
- perform routine and general cleaning of the house, maintain order.
When traveling to epidemically dangerous states, you need to follow safety precautions and be sure to find all the information on how you can protect yourself while traveling.
Immunity needs to be improved by living a healthy lifestyle, eating well, hardening and taking vitamin complexes several times a year.
Fighting parasites under the skin requires patience and effort. If all the prescriptions of the doctor are followed, the person will fully recover.