Most often, various parasitic organisms affect the organs of the digestive system - the stomach or the 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.
The symptoms of infection are the same for all infections - side pain, itching, skin rash, yellowing of the mucous membrane of the skin and organs, etc.Therefore, identification of 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 from the intestines through the bile ducts.The disease is caused by ascariasis, which is characterized by itching and rashes on the skin, discomfort in the area of the liver, and in some cases nausea and vomiting.
- Giardia- another common type of parasite that affects the liver.In case of giardiasis, the patient experiences pain in the hypochondrium, nausea and vomiting, yellow skin color, itching and rash.
- Echinococcus- these organisms cause the disease echinococcosis, during which a cystic formation containing several worms is formed in the affected organ.The disease is accompanied by nausea and vomiting, yellowing of the skin, and as the disease progresses, the size of the cysts begins to increase.
- Opisthorchis– this type of parasite is common in South Asian countries, so it is recommended to get vaccinated before visiting.Opisthorchisis parasitizes the ducts of the liver and gall bladder and causes serious diseases of these organs.
- Schistosomes- They are also common in the countries of South Asia, they mainly live in aquatic environments, so they can become infected by swimming in lakes.Schistosomes cause schistosomiasis, a dangerous disease that often causes cirrhosis and other diseases.
- Strongyloides– if swallowed, they contribute to the development of strongyloidiasis, which is characterized by pain in the hypochondrium, loss of appetite, yellowness of the skin, and a bitter taste in the mouth.
- In Amoeba- in the case of amoebiasis, the liver multiplies in size and abscesses form.An infected person experiences severe flank pain, nausea and vomiting, and fever.
- Cilia– when ingested, they cause the rarely diagnosed but very dangerous balantidiasis.In case of balantidiasis, painful sensations appear in the affected area, which are aggravated by palpation, the presence of bloody stools, dryness and a yellow tint of the skin.
- Liver fluke- a worm that affects the ducts of the liver and causes disorders of the biliary system, including diseases such as cholangitis.The sick person loses his appetite, loses a lot of weight, feels pain in the abdomen and hypochondrium, the body temperature rises, rashes and skin itching appear.
Routes of infection
Worms can enter the body in the following ways:
- When eating dirty vegetables and fruits.
- When eating raw, undercooked meat.
- In case of consumption of raw and unboiled water.
- When coming into contact with an infected person.
- Through the feces of infected animals.
- Through dirty hands.
- If you play with pets (or street).
- In contact with the soil, the soil contains a huge number of parasitic worms and their larvae.
- When swimming in stagnant water.
The main way worms enter is through the mouth;some types penetrate the skin.
Diagnostics
To identify a parasitic infection of the liver, several tests must be performed:
- General blood test.
- Biochemical blood test.
- Urine test.
- Bile analysis.
- Biochemical analysis of feces.
- Blood test for the presence of antibodies against parasites - increased content indicates that the body is trying to fight the worms itself.
- Scatological analysis of feces.
- Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and liver shows the presence of cystic formations, abscesses, liver size and other factors indicating the presence of parasites.
Treatment
When getting rid of helminths, you need to remember one important rule:no self-healing!The necessary therapy is prescribed only by a doctor, based on the type of parasites, the degree of damage and other indications.Self-medication leads to serious complications and death.
The therapy of helminthiasis is aimed at:
- Eliminating the consequences of poisoning the body.
- Removal of parasites from the body.
- Improving the enzyme activity of the liver and intestines.
- Prevention of subsequent infections.
Regardless of the type of disease, the infected person must follow a diet.Fatty, fried, spicy, highly salty foods, flour and sweets should be excluded from the diet.
You should eat as much fiber as possible, which can be found in cereals, lean meats, preheated steamed vegetables and dairy products.Drink regular, clean, filtered or boiled water as much as possible.
The patient prescribes drug therapy:
- Anthelmintics– kills and removes parasites from the body, preventing further infections.
- Enterosorbents- these products "collect" all the toxic substances poisoning the body and remove them from the body.Thanks to this, the entire system of the gastrointestinal tract is completely cleansed, including the liver and its channels.
- Antidiarrheal drugs- Diarrhea is often associated with worm infection, so anti-diarrheal drugs are prescribed to eliminate this.
- Antiallergenic drugs– when infected with parasites, various allergic reactions occur in the form of skin rash, burning sensation, skin itching.Antihistamines are prescribed to eliminate allergies.
- Medicines that normalize liver function– they consolidate the liver cleansing effect and promote the regeneration of the organ's damaged cells, normalizing its functioning.
- Vitamin and mineral complexes - restore the balance of nutrients in the body.
Prevention of infection
It is very easy to become infected with parasites, so in order to prevent infection, you should remember the following important rules:
- Wash your hands as often as possible, especially after playing with animals, working with the soil, going to the toilet and going outside.
- When working with soil, wear only protective gloves.
- Only eat thoroughly washed fruits and vegetables.
- Do not drink raw water.
- The meat is thoroughly boiled or fried.
- Do not swim in stagnant or unfamiliar bodies of water.
- Before visiting other countries, get vaccinated against parasites that are common in your area.