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.
Symptoms of infection are the same for all infections: pain in the side, itching, rash, jaundice of the skin and mucous membranes of organs, etc.Therefore, identifying parasitic infections is not easy, since the symptoms are similar to those of other liver diseases.
What parasites can live in the liver?
Most often, the following types of parasites settle in the liver:
- intestinal worms– 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, discomfort in the liver area, and in some cases, nausea and vomiting.
- giardiana- another common type of parasite that affects the liver.With giardiasis, the patient experiences pain in the hypochondrium, nausea and vomiting, yellow skin, itching and a rash.
- echinococcus– these organisms cause the disease echinococcosis, in which various cystic formations 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.
- Opisthorchis– this type of parasite is common in South Asian countries, so it is recommended to get vaccinated before visiting them.Opisthorchisis parasitizes the ducts of the liver and gallbladder and causes serious diseases of these organs.
- schistosomes– also common in South Asian countries, they live mainly in the aquatic environment, so they can become infected by swimming in a pond.Schistosomes cause the dangerous disease schistosomiasis, which often causes cirrhosis and other diseases.
- strongyloids– when ingested, they contribute to the development of strongyloidiasis, characterized by pain in the hypochondrium, lack of appetite, yellowing of the skin and a bitter taste in the mouth.
- Amoeba– with amebiasis, the liver increases several times in size and abscesses form.An infected person experiences severe flank pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever.
- ciliates– when ingested they cause the rarely diagnosed but very dangerous disease balantidiasis.With balantidiasis, painful sensations occur in the affected area, aggravated by palpation, the presence of bloody stools, dryness and a yellow tint to the skin.
- liver fluke– a worm that affects the liver ducts and causes disruption of the functioning of the biliary system, including a disease such as cholangitis.A sick person loses appetite, loses a lot of weight, experiences pain in the abdomen and hypochondrium, increased body temperature, rash and itchy skin.
Infection routes
Worms can enter the body in the following ways:
- When eating dirty vegetables and fruits.
- By eating raw and undercooked meat.
- When drinking raw and unboiled water.
- Upon contact with an infected person.
- Through the feces of infected animals.
- Through dirty hands.
- When playing with domestic (or stray) animals.
- Upon contact with the soil, it contains a large number of parasitic worms and their larvae.
- When swimming in a body of stagnant water.
The main reason worms enter the body is through the mouth;some types penetrate the skin.
Diagnosis
To identify parasitic infections in the liver, it is necessary to undergo a series of examinations:
- General blood tests.
- Biochemical blood test.
- Urine analysis.
- Bile analysis.
- Biochemical analysis of feces.
- A blood test for the presence of antibodies against parasites: their increased content indicates that the body is trying to fight the worms on its own.
- Eschatological analysis of feces.
- Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and liver will show the presence of cystic formations, abscesses, liver size and other factors indicating the presence of parasites.
Treatment
When getting rid of helminths it is necessary to remember one important rule:No self-medication!The necessary therapy is prescribed only by a doctor, depending on the type of parasite, the degree of damage and other indications.Self-medication is fraught with serious complications and death.
Therapy for helminthiases is aimed at:
- Elimination of the consequences of poisoning of the body.
- Elimination of parasites from the body.
- Improvement of the enzymatic 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.
It is necessary to consume as much fiber as possible, which is found in cereals, lean meats, pre-processed stewed vegetables and dairy products.Drink plain, clean, filtered or boiled water as much as possible.
The patient is prescribed drug therapy:
- Anthelmintics– kill and eliminate parasites from the body, preventing new infections.
- enterosorbents– these products “collect” all the toxic substances that poison the body and eliminate them from the body.Thanks to this, the entire system of the gastrointestinal tract is completely cleansed, including the liver and its ducts.
- Antidiarrheal– Diarrhea usually occurs with helminth infestations, so antidiarrheal medications are prescribed to eliminate it.
- Anti-allergy medications– When infected with parasites, various allergic reactions occur in the form of a rash, burning and itching of the skin.To eliminate allergies, antihistamines are prescribed.
- Medicines that normalize liver function.– They consolidate the cleansing effect of the liver and promote the regeneration of damaged cells in the organ and normalize its functioning.
- Vitamin and mineral complexes - restore the balance of nutrients in the body.
Infection prevention
It is very easy to become infected with parasites, so to prevent infection it is necessary to remember the following important rules:
- Wash your hands as often as possible, especially after playing with animals, working in the dirt, after using the bathroom, and going outdoors.
- When working with dirt, use only protective gloves.
- Eat only well-washed fruits and vegetables.
- Do not drink raw water.
- Boil or fry the meat well.
- Do not swim in stagnant or unknown bodies of water.
- Before visiting other countries, get vaccinated against parasites that are common in the area.