Most often, various parasitic organisms affect the organs of the digestive tract - the stomach or intestines.But these organs are not the only place where worms and other parasites live.they can also affect other areas of the body, including the liver.
The symptoms of infection are the same for all infections - pain in the side, itching, skin rash, jaundice of the skin and mucous organs, etc.So identifying parasitic infections is not easy as 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:
- Roundworms– these parasites enter the liver through the bile ducts from the intestines.The disease is caused by ascariasis, which is characterized by itching and rash on the skin, discomfort in the liver area and in some cases nausea and vomiting.
- Giardia- another common type of parasite that affects the liver.With yardiasis, the patient experiences pain in the hypochondrium, nausea and vomiting, yellow skin color, itching and rash.
- Echinococcus– these organisms cause echinococcus disease, in which several cysts containing worms form in the affected organ.The disease is accompanied by nausea and vomiting, yellowing of the skin, and as the disease progresses, the cysts begin to increase in size.
- Backward– this type of parasite is common in South Asian countries, so it is recommended to get vaccinated before visiting them.Opisthorchises parasitize the ducts of the liver and gall bladder and cause serious diseases of these organs.
- Schistosomes– also common in South Asian countries, they live mainly in the aquatic environment, so they can be infected by swimming in a lake.Schistosomes cause the dangerous disease schistosomiasis, which often causes cirrhosis and other diseases.
- Round– when ingested, they contribute to the development of hypochondriasis, characterized by pain in the hypochondrium, lack of appetite, yellowing of the skin and a bitter taste in the mouth.
- Amoeba– with amoeba, the liver increases in size several times, abscesses form.An infected person experiences severe flank pain, nausea and vomiting, and fever.
- Kiliates– when swallowed, they cause the disease valantidiasis, which is rarely diagnosed, but is very dangerous.With valantidiasis, painful sensations appear in the affected area, aggravated by palpation, the presence of bloody stools, dryness and a yellow tint to the skin.
- Liver failure– a worm that invades the liver ducts and causes biliary system dysfunction, including a disease such as cholangitis.A sick person loses appetite, loses a lot of weight, feels pain in the abdomen and hypochondrium, increased body temperature, rash and itching on the skin.
Routes of infection
Worms can enter the body in the following ways:
- When you eat dirty vegetables and fruits.
- When you eat raw, undercooked meat.
- When you drink raw and unboiled water.
- In contact with an infected person.
- Through the faeces of infected animals.
- Through dirty hands.
- When playing with pets (or street) animals.
- Upon contact with the soil, the soil contains a huge number of parasitic worms and their larvae.
- When swimming in a stagnant body of water.
The main way worms enter the body is through the mouth.some types penetrate the skin.
Diagnostics
To detect parasitic infections in the liver, you need to undergo several tests:
- General blood test.
- Biochemical blood test.
- Urinalysis.
- Bile analysis.
- Biochemical analysis of feces.
- A blood test for the presence of antibodies to parasites - their increased content indicates that the body is trying to fight the worms themselves.
- Scatological analysis of feces.
- Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and liver will show the presence of cystic formations, abscesses, the size of the liver 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 treatment is prescribed only by a doctor, based on the type of parasites, the degree of damage and other indications.Self-medication is fraught with serious complications and death.
Treatment for helminthiasis aims to:
- Elimination of the consequences of poisoning the body.
- Removal of parasites from the body.
- Improving enzyme activity of the liver and intestines.
- Prevention of subsequent infections.
Regardless of the type of disease, an infected person must follow a diet.Fatty, 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 meat, pre-heated processed, boiled vegetables and dairy products.Drink plain, clean, filtered or boiled water as much as possible.
The patient is prescribed drug therapy:
- Anthelmintics– kill and remove parasites from the body, preventing further infections.
- Enterosorbents– these products "collect" all the toxic substances that poison the body and remove them from the body.Thanks to this, the entire system of the gastrointestinal tract is completely cleaned, including the liver and its ducts.
- Antidiarrheal– Diarrhea often occurs with helminthic infestations, so antidiarrheal drugs are prescribed to eliminate it.
- Antiallergic drugs– when infected by parasites, various allergic reactions occur in the form of rash, burning, itching of the skin.To eliminate allergies, antihistamines are prescribed.
- Medicines that normalize liver function– consolidate the effect of cleansing the liver and promote the regeneration of the organ's damaged cells and normalize its function.
- Vitamin and mineral complexes - restore the balance of nutrients in the body.
Prevention of infection
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 dirt, after using the toilet and going outside.
- When working with soil, wear only protective gloves.
- Consume only well-washed fruits and vegetables.
- Do not drink raw water.
- Boil or fry the meat well.
- Do not swim in stagnant or unfamiliar bodies of water.
- Before visiting other countries, get vaccinated against parasites that are common in the area.