You always hear terrifying stories about what a parasite can do to your body, and the worst of all is that -normally- we are not even able to see them.
Anquilostoma
These worms penetrate the body through the skin, then move to the lungs, larynx and later to the intestine, producing a wide variety of diseases where they pass. From dermatitis to pneumonia, through anemia and chronic hemorrhages.
Their eggs are expelled through the feces and hatch happily in tropic climates, giving rise to the birth of larvae that will wait for patients to enter the skin of their next host. They are common in humid and disadvantaged areas where it is common for people to walk barefoot and where sewage systems are not developed.
Arador of mange
It is an eight-legged mite that has a predilection for mammals. As its name suggests, it produces scabies, an extremely contagious skin disease (even between species) that causes itching, rashes and crusty ulcerations because the body produces an allergic response.
One of the clearest characteristics of being infected is the appearance of grayish and sinuous lines on the skin, fruit of the groove excavated in the epidermis by the female when she is ready to place the eggs.
The mange of scabies is an obligate parasite, which means that it needs the host to survive; out of it, he dies in a few days.
Nemátodos
This generic name groups more than 25,000 species of life forms, part of which are parasitic. They are roundworms with a wide variety of habitats and hosts.
In the case of humans, they can cause a large number of diseases, among which are the anisoquiosis (caused by the dreaded anisakis), trichinosis (trichinella) or dracunculiasis (dracunculus medianensis, also known as the worm of Guinea) .
It is common for them to reach our bodies through the ingestion of water or contaminated food. The consequences of becoming their guests are dangerous and generally painful, and may cause the chronification of some diseases. One thing is for sure, you do not want them in your life.
Bilharzia
These are flatworms responsible for one of the most important infections in humans: schistosomiasis. After malaria, it is the most prevalent disease in humans in Africa.
Although it does not have to be fatal, this disease has a varied clinical picture ranging from high fevers known as Katayama fever to myelitis or paraplegia. Diarrhea and hemorrhagic vomiting, cystitis and pulmonary hypertension are some of the consequences that the host of this parasite can have.
Tenia
The tapeworm is one of the most known parasites. It reaches our body through the ingestion of water or food contaminated with its larvae.
When it comes to an adult form, the disease caused is taeniasis. Due to the large size that can reach the worm, from 2 to 10 meters, causes changes in the functioning of the intestine, inflammation, irritation and even nervous disorders. The tapeworm subtracts the nutrients that we ingest which can lead to a severe malnutrition picture. In addition, the waste produced by your metabolism is poured into our intestine can cause allergic reactions and toxic alterations.
As a curious fact, the tapeworm can live years in our body without us knowing.
Oxiuro
The females of this nematode can measure up to 1 cm long and move through the large intestine towards the anus to deposit the impressive amount of up to 1,000 eggs before dying. The presence of eggs generates intense itching and can cause sleep disturbances and weight loss.
The itching produced by the eggs favors reinfestation due to scratching. The nails are contaminated, which facilitates the intake if a strict and conscientious hygiene is not followed. The disease caused is called enterobiasis.
Giardia Lamblia
It is a protozoan that can inhabit the small intestine of humans and other mammals. It is transmitted through feces and it is common for it to reach our body through the ingestion of contaminated water or poorly washed fruits and vegetables, from dealing with people who do not wash their hands well or from anal sex without protection.
It causes giardiasis, a disease that may not present symptoms, but when it occurs is reflected through sudden diarrhea of very specific appearance, nausea, loss of appetite and a consequent loss of weight. In children, it can lead to growth problems and to suffer malabsorption syndrome.
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