Infection of a person with a dangerous parasite - Bancroft filament, occurs mainly in tropical countries. Previously, doctors came across this type of helminth quite rarely, but now cases of its detection have become more frequent. This is due to the fact that during the holiday season people tend to go on vacation to exotic countries, where Bancroft's nitrate is introduced into the body. The disease is treatable, but difficult to diagnose. At the first symptoms of the disease, the patient must consult a doctor.
Helminth description
Bancroft nitrate is a roundworm that infects the lymphatic system, skin, serous cavities, and other body systems. This ailment causes elephant disease - a condition in which severe edema of the lower extremities occurs. Filar parasites live in countries with a warm climate, so Bancroft filament is rarely detected in Russia.
Roundworms are capable of affecting both humans and animals. Bancroft nitrate is a thin helminth that looks like a thread. According to official figures, now in the world up to 120 million people are carriers of the parasite. But basically the disease is common in countries located in the tropics.
In the life cycle of Bancroft's fiber, 2 hosts participate: the main and the intermediate. In humans, larvae develop in the body and adult worms parasitize. There are several varieties of filarias. The helminth received its name in honor of a parasitologist from the UK by the name of Bancroft.
Filaria Life Cycle
The full development of the helminth passes through a rather complicated scenario. The main owners of Bancroft's fiber are people, cats, monkeys, dogs. They are the main carriers of helminthiasis, as adult roundworms parasitize in their body. Intermediate hosts of Bancroft's fiber are blood-sucking parasites, for example, mosquitoes, horseflies, midges, mosquitoes. They infect humans and animals with filarias.
Bancroft nitrate (wuchereria bancrofti) or vuchereria is introduced into the human circulatory system. Usually its concentration rises in the dark. In blood-sucking insects filar larvae parasitize. Mosquitoes and midges can be infected during the bite of a sick person. From his blood, Bancroft's larvae enter the digestive tract of the insect. When a person is infected, parasites rush into his blood. In it, larvae molt and turn into sexually mature individuals. Then the helminths migrate to the lymphatic system, where they can live up to 20 years. In the body of a sick person, colonies of male and female parasite occur. This is what the life cycle of Bancroft's fiber looks like.
The body structure of the parasite
Filaria lives in the human body for many years and during this time manages to lay millions of eggs. Roundworms are characterized by increased ability to reproduce. Bancroft nitrate is a thin filiform parasite. Females have a body length of 10 cm, and males only 4 cm. The diameter of the filaria is 0.1-0.4 mm.
The body of the parasites is covered with a cuticle on top - a dense shell to protect against adverse environmental influences. Bancroft's nits are white in color; they look very much like threads. Roundworms have internal organs, and the empty spaces in their body are filled with water. Under the cutaneous helminth are hidden muscle traction that allows them to move freely inside a person. Filarias feed on fats and proteins, which they produce in the body of the main host. Bancroft's digestive system consists of a mouth, tube, and anus.
Causes of infection
Human infection occurs through the bite of an insect vector. After introduction into the body, the pathogen settles in the lymph nodes of the axillary fossa or groin. Helminth interferes with the flow of lymph, which leads to serious consequences for the body. The disease usually affects the legs, chest, or scrotum in men. Due to a violation of lymphatic flow, the above organs swell to gigantic proportions.
The tropical climate is ideal for the reproduction and functioning of Bancroft's nitrate. The disease is common in the islands of the Indian Archipelago, in Central America and Africa. In Russia, the disease practically does not occur.
Helminthiasis transmission occurs through the bite of an insect carrier, a direct method of infection from person to person is impossible. Bancroft nitrate is detected in both children and adults. Low immunity, damaged skin and the habit of walking without clothes increase the likelihood of infection.
Symptoms
The disease can occur in 3 stages, so its symptoms can change. The faster a person realizes that he has helminthiasis, the less serious the consequences will be for the body. At an early stage, the disease usually proceeds in a mild form, but the infected person may already notice a painless swollen lymph nodes or an incomprehensible rash on the body.
At the stage of carriage, the manifestations of the disease become more serious. Lymph nodes become inflamed, new organs are involved in the process. The main symptom of the onset of stage 3 is elephantiasis. If the disease is not treated, then it can lead to irreparable health problems in humans. The disease can adversely affect the following organs:
- brain;
- genitals
- joints
- lungs;
- The lymph nodes;
- mammary gland;
- heart;
- skin integument;
- eyes.
Helminths are most often concentrated in the lower part of the body, so the main complication of the disease is elephantiasis of the legs. The structure of Bancroft's fiber allows it to migrate between the lymph nodes located near different organs.
Early stage
Some symptoms suggest helminthiasis in humans. If the disease is detected immediately, then complications will most likely be avoided due to an unreleased stage of development. Bancroft nitrate causes the following symptoms:
- redness of the eyes and lacrimation;
- incomprehensible skin rash;
- swollen lymph nodes;
- increase in body temperature;
- enlargement of the liver in size;
- allergic bronchitis;
- swelling of the skin;
- inflammatory processes in the pelvis;
- mastitis.
In women, the disease can affect the uterus and ovaries, and in men, genital dropsy often begins. Bancroft nitrate can cause lung complications. Usually on the diseased organ, seals begin to appear. A person can cough, experience chest pain, shortness of breath occurs. Symptoms are often complicated by allergic reactions. In patients, a rash appears, the skin may swell and redden.
Carrier Stage
The patient develops inflammation of the lymphatic vessels. Nodes can grow up to 7 cm, and in some cases even stronger. At this stage, periods of deterioration of the patient are replaced by temporary remission. An infected person has the following symptoms:
- hyperthermia;
- severe weakness;
- painful swelling near the lymph nodes;
- nausea, vomiting;
- headache;
- swelling;
- photophobia;
- inflammatory process of the organs of vision;
- change the color of the iris.
Sometimes this type of helminthiasis leads to complete loss of vision. Lymph nodes swell more and more, rupture of subcutaneous capillaries is possible. Parasites can accumulate, forming seals. Lymph enters the cavity of internal organs not intended for this. Seals with parasites inside are grouped in the head, back or under the ribs. In some cases, these subcutaneous bumps begin to fester and open.
Stage of blockage of the lymphatic ducts
If the disease is not treated, then a person begins elephantiasis. His organs increase in size, he has difficulty with movement and is very suffering. The main symptoms of the last stage, at which the ducts become obstructed:
- ascites, that is, the accumulation of lymph in the abdominal cavity;
- elephantiasis of any organs and parts of the body, most often the legs;
- purulent abscesses;
- pneumonia.
Dead helminths accumulate in the lymphatic ducts and clog them. Fluid can no longer circulate normally throughout the body, so it begins to collect in various parts of the body. Most often, people suffer from legs. On the skin, areas may appear that will have a different color. Often, papillomas and warts appear in patients. Over time, a person without treatment completely loses health and becomes disabled.
Primary and intermediate hosts filarias
The carriers of Bancroft's nitrate, the photo of which is presented in this article, are insects. Intermediate hosts of filarias are mosquitoes, midges, horseflies and other bloodsucking. Roundworms develop in them. The main hosts of the parasite are people, as well as animals: cats, dogs, monkeys.
Diagnostics
If infection with Bancroft filament is suspected, the doctor visually examines the patient. He interviews the patient and seeks indirect evidence of infection. To establish the correct diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment, the patient will have to undergo the following studies:
- provocative Mazotti test;
- dermatoscopy;
- blood test;
- ophthalmoscopy;
- general clinical tests;
- biopsy of lymph nodes and skin;
- detection of antibodies by ELISA.
Often, when diagnosing, the help of an infectious disease specialist is required. Sometimes the patient needs an ophthalmologist's consultation.
Treatment
There are several methods that relieve helminthiasis caused by Bancroft filament. The first is medical, the second is surgical. First, the patient needs to consult a doctor for an accurate diagnosis. If the presence of roundworms in the body is confirmed, then the patient is hospitalized. You should not refuse this offer, since only in the conditions of the hospital will it be possible to establish a normal lymph flow. If elephantiasis struck the lower limbs, then the patient will first need to buy compression stockings.
During drug treatment, patients are prescribed antibiotics "Albendazole", "Diethylcarbamazine", "Doxycycline." A good effect is given by preparations against helminths: "Nemozol", "Sanoxal". If the disease caused an allergy in a person, then antihistamines are also prescribed.
An ailment that has passed into stage 3 is difficult to treat. In this case, medications alone will not be enough, so the patient is undergoing surgery. Intervention is performed to remove roundworms from the patient's body. If the disease affects the organs of vision, then it is necessary to have an operation on the eyes. The consequences of infection with Bancroft's thread have not yet been fully studied by doctors, so in-patient treatment is recommended for patients.
Getting rid of elephantiasis of the lower extremities is impossible without reducing the load on the legs. If the patient can still work, then he is advised to take as often as possible small breaks for rest. If possible, the person should lie down and raise his legs above his head. During a night's rest, a special roller is placed under the lower limbs. Doctors recommend loose clothing and comfortable shoes to patients. It is very important for the patient to trust his doctor and not to self-medicate, decoctions and herbal ointments from this ailment will not help.
Infection prevention
People traveling on holidays to exotic countries should be very careful. There is no specific prophylaxis against Bancroft nitrate. Countries in which this ailment is common struggle with its carriers, but these actions do not bring much success.
People traveling to the tropics should take repellents and insecticides with them. If you could not take the drugs, then be sure to buy them on the spot. No remedy can fully protect against Bancroft's fiber, but it reduces the likelihood of infection.