Symptoms of parasites under the human skin

26 February 2022

Usually, when we hear about parasites, we will definitely imagine worms, but today their number is very large.

Many of them can exist in the upper layers of the epithelium and in the subcutaneous fat, invisible to the carrier.

Subcutaneous worms can enter the human body: through tactile contact with an infected person; from blood-sucking insects that carry parasitic larvae from animals.

The main feature of such an invasion is that it is difficult to recognize the pathology, since at first the infection can be disguised as other somatic diseases.

The main signs of the presence of this parasite in the body are severe weakness, decreased performance and frequent urge to scratch the skin. When these signs are present, it is advisable to consult a specialist: a therapist, a dermatologist, an allergist, an infectious disease specialist. The joint work of doctors and the diagnostic methods used by them in their work help to recognize the presence of subcutaneous invasion in the body in a timely manner.

Types of worms

There are certain types of worms under the skin that can leave a lot of trouble in terms of their appearance. Their presence can be detected if you pay attention to certain symptoms. With timely disease diagnosis, it is a lot easier to get rid of unwanted guests.

To get an idea of how to quickly recognize their presence, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the most common representatives:

Heartworm disease

This type of helminth is found only in tropical areas. So when traveling, be as careful as possible, it won't be difficult to pick it up.

Pathogens are a great danger, as the incubation period can be up to 5 to 7 years, while they are actively reproducing. They do not show any signs of their presence, continuing throughout these years to absorb nutrients and vitamins in the body.

Dracunculiasis

Parasites can overtake a future carrier in water contaminated with helminths. It is not possible to determine the presence of larvae of this parasite in water with the naked eye, moreover, neither equipment nor special analyzes can determine it. The danger lies in the fact that an inconspicuous larva can grow up to a meter in length in the adult state. As a rule, infections caused by worms lead to death.

It must be understood that death is caused by an adult helminth measuring meters in length that occupies most of the stomach and easily penetrates the lungs, thereby impeding access to the oxygen supply. But, as a rule, the pathogen is located in the lower intestine, so deaths are quite rare in modern medicine.

Scabies

This type of disease is by far the most common. It will be no exaggeration that, perhaps, every second inhabitant of the planet suffers from this unpleasant disease. The main symptom of this disease is constant itching on the skin.

If you look closely, you can determine the exact location of the worms, at their location, you can observe a marked redness and irritation of the skin. Apart from intense itching, no unpleasant symptoms were observed in the infected person.

On a note.Transmission is carried out from sick person to healthy person, through physical contact, as well as by sharing objects.

Diagnosis is almost impossible without special equipment; as mentioned earlier, only the location of their mass accumulation can be determined. The cause of the irritation is explained by the fact that the mites get into the subepithelial area by disturbing the upper layer of the epithelium, leaving noticeable marks.

demodicosis

The causative agent prefers the sebaceous glands as a place of residence. Their appearance is accompanied by purulent formations on the face, which are easily confused with acne. The stronger the growth of the parasite, the easier it is to notice on the face. In addition to the abscess, it is necessary to mention another symptom that seems more unpleasant - loss of eyelashes.

Attention.Diagnosis of this parasite is quite simple compared to other species. An experienced doctor will not even prescribe special tests to definitively determine the presence of helminthiasis, it is enough just to visually examine the patient. The fact that treatment lasts for several years is also unpleasant. To get rid of this disease is quite difficult, so even with continuous treatment it can take more than a year.

symptoms of subcutaneous parasitic demodicosis

dirofilariasis

These parasites are transmitted to humans through physical contact with infected animals, usually carried by our pets. Roundworms penetrate the human body quite quickly, one of the carriers of the disease can be mosquitoes.

To notice this is quite simple, the bite becomes dense, inflammation and itching appear. The parasite settles in the body and begins an active life. The most important symptom that allows you to make an accurate diagnosis immediately is the sensation of stirring.

This is due to the fact that adults can move freely. Cases have been reported where infected people have seen a worm under the skin, and it can also come out through the mucous membranes of the eye.

Eelworms

The larvae of this parasite easily penetrate the epidermis, so walking on the ground barefoot is enough.

In addition to intense itching, redness and inflammation, the patient's skin also develops red blisters.

Strongyloidiasis parasitic under the skin

schistosomiasis

The pathogen is found in Africa and Asia, living only in freshwater. Easily penetrate into the human body. It prefers to be in the human skin or in the genitourinary system. During its operation, it emits products that are toxic to humans. The toxin breaks down the body severely and causes severe poisoning.

The presence of one or the other is accompanied by certain symptoms, so an experienced doctor will often diagnose it even before a complete physical examination is received. The survey aimed not only to confirm its presence, but also to determine its exact location, as well as the approximate number of individuals.

schistosomiasis with subcutaneous parasites

Symptom

What symptoms appear depends on which parasite the person has. There is considerable variation, but most symptoms are typical for subcutaneous worms. Let's highlight the main symptoms:

Skin damage. It can manifest in the form of an intense rash, redness, acne, intense itching, in some cases traces of worms can be seen.
General unrest. Not only can toxic waste products affect the general condition of the sick person, it should be understood that worms feed on nutrients from the body of the carrier, while the body of the carrier does not receive useful substances. In this regard, weakness increases, a person quickly gets tired, fever and insomnia can be observed.
Usually, the worms get into other vital organs, thereby disrupting their work.
Among the subspecies of helminths, quite common individuals are often found, the movement of which is well felt by the carrier.

Heartworm disease

Key symptoms, which can last for the first few years, include:

urticaria, with the appearance of large red spots;
intense itching;
increased temperature;
feverish state.

After a certain time, the main symptoms are replaced by more serious manifestations, such as:

eczema, warts, ulcers;
sleep disorders (increased drowsiness, insomnia);
ongoing migraines;
subcutaneous lymph nodes;
Some individuals become noticeable when examining a patient's eyes.

For your information.Such a condition requires serious medical intervention, as the prolonged presence of the pathogen can lead to loss of vision, development of a tumor.