Often, various parasitic organisms affect the organs of the digestive tract - the stomach or intestines.But these organs are not the only places where worms and other parasites live;They can also affect other areas of the body, including the liver.
Symptoms of infection are the same for all infections - pain in the side, itching, skin rash, jaundice of the skin and mucous membranes of organs, etc.Therefore, identifying a parasitic infection is not easy, because the symptoms are similar to other liver diseases.
What parasites can live in the liver
Most often, the following types of parasites settle in the liver:
- Round smallpox- This parasite enters the liver through the bile duct from the intestine.This disease is caused by ascariasis, which is characterized by itching and skin rashes, discomfort in the liver area, and in some cases nausea and vomiting.
- Giardia- Another common type of parasite that affects the liver.With giardiasis, patients experience pain in the hypochondrium, nausea and vomiting, yellow skin color, itching and rash.
- Echinococcus- This organism causes the disease echinococcosis, in which several cysts containing the form of worms form in the affected organs.The disease is accompanied by nausea and vomiting, excess skin, and as the disease progresses, cysts begin to increase.
- Opisthorchis- This type of parasite is common in South Asian countries, so it is recommended to be vaccinated before visiting them.Opisthorchises parasitize the liver and gall bladder and cause severe disease of these organs.
- Schistosomes- Also common in South Asian countries, they live mainly in aquatic environments, so they can be infected by swimming in pools.Schistosomes cause the dangerous disease schistosomiasis, which often leads to cirrhosis and other diseases.
- Strongyloides- When swallowed, they contribute to the development of strongyloidiasis, which is characterized by pain in the hypochondria, lack of appetite, skin stiffness, and a bitter taste in the mouth.
- Amoeba- With amoebiasis, the liver increases in size several times, an abscess forms.Infected people experience severe pain in the side, nausea and vomiting, and fever.
- Ciliates- When swallowed, they cause the disease Balantidiasis, which is rarely diagnosed, but very dangerous.With Balantidiasis, painful sensations occur in the affected area, aggravated by palpation, the presence of bloody stools, dryness and a yellow color to the skin.
- Coincidentally- Worms that affect the hepatic ducts and cause disorders of the biliary system, including diseases such as cholangitis.Sick people lose appetite, lose a lot of weight, experience pain in the stomach and hypochondria, increased body temperature, rashes and skin itching.
Route of infection
Worms can enter the body in the following ways:
- When eating dirty vegetables and fruits.
- When eating raw, undercooked meat.
- When drinking raw water and not enthusiastic.
- When in contact with an infected person.
- Through the feces of infected animals.
- Through dirty hands.
- When playing with domestic (or street) animals.
- When in contact with the soil, the soil contains a large number of parasitic worms and their larvae.
- When swimming in a stagnant body of water.
The main reason worms enter the body is through the mouth;Some types penetrate the skin.
Diagnostics
To identify a parasitic infection in the liver, you need to undergo several examinations:
- General Blood Test.
- Biochemical Blood Test.
- Urinalysis.
- Bile analysis.
- Biochemical analysis of feces.
- A blood test for the presence of antibodies to the parasite - their increased content indicates that the body is trying to fight the worm itself.
- Scatological analysis of feces.
- Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and liver will show the presence of cyst formation, abscess, liver size and other factors that indicate the presence of parasites.
Treatment
When getting rid of helminths, you need to remember one important rule:No self-medication!The necessary therapy is only prescribed by a doctor, based on the type of parasite, the level of damage and other indications.Self-transformation is fraught with complications and dire deaths.
Therapy for Helminthiases is aimed at:
- Elimination of body poisoning.
- Remove parasites from the body.
- Increase liver and intestinal enzymatic activity.
- Prevention of subsequent infections.
Regardless of the type of disease, the infected person must follow a diet.Fat, fried, spicy, very salty foods, flour, and sweets should be excluded from the diet.
You need to consume as much fiber as possible, which is found in cereals, lean meats, pre-treated vegetables, stews, and dairy products.Drink plain, clean, filtered or boiled water as much as possible.
Patients prescribed drug therapy:
- Anthelmintics- Kill and remove parasites from the body, preventing further infection.
- Enterosorbents- This product "collects" all the toxic substances that poison the body and removes them from the body.Thanks to this, the entire gastrointestinal system is completely cleaned, including the liver and its channels.
- Antidiarrheals- Diarrhea often occurs with Helminthic attacks, so antidiarrheal drugs are prescribed to eliminate them.
- Antiallergic drugs- When infected with parasites, various allergic reactions occur in the form of rashes, burning, itchy skin.To eliminate allergies, antihistamines are prescribed.
- Medicines that normalize liver function- They combine the effect of cleansing the liver and promote the regeneration of damaged cells from the organ and normalize its function.
- Vitamin and Mineral Complex - Restore nutrient balance in the body.
Infection prevention
It is very easy to get infected with parasites, so to avoid infection, you need to remember the following important rules:
- Wash your hands as often as possible, especially after playing with animals, working with the soil, after visiting the toilet and going outside.
- When working with soil, only wear protective gloves.
- Eat only fruits and vegetables that have been thoroughly washed.
- Do not drink raw water.
- Boil or fry the meat thoroughly.
- Do not swim in unstable or unfamiliar bodies of water.
- Before visiting other countries, get vaccinated against parasites that are common in that area.