Infectious and parasitic skin diseases represent an extensive group in dermatology. It includes skin lesions caused by various pathogens - bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc. Skin diseases caused by parasitic microorganisms are referred to parasitic dermatoses. Some of them penetrate deep into the skin and spend their entire life there, other pathogenic organisms are external - lice, mosquitoes, bugs, fleas, some species of flies. Also included are ticks that live on birds and animals (cats, pigeons, rats, dogs), on cereals, in grass, feathers, pillows, and straw.
For the occurrence of any parasitic or infectious skin disease, only the appearance of a pathogen is not enough, certain conditions are necessary for its activation - the state of the body (trauma to the skin, weak immunity) and the external environment (contamination, dust, high temperature). We will talk more about the symptoms, treatment, and types of pathogens included in this group below.
What it is
Parasitic skin diseases are pathologies caused by bacteria, fungi and parasitic animals that penetrate the human skin. They can be under the dermis all the time or live outside. Most of them cause serious illness, because parasites live off the host’s body, absorbing its vitamins, nutrients and cells. At the same time, pathogens poison the host with the waste of their life. Symptoms of infection with a parasitic skin disease do not appear immediately. They are completely dependent on the life cycle of the pathogen. The waste of their life is negatively perceived by the human body. In this regard, when the parasite releases them on the surface of the skin or inward, an allergic reaction occurs. That is why itching or rash appears during infection.
How is transmitted
The main ways of transmitting parasitic diseases of the skin and hair are:
- Contact with the patient.
- Use of household items and personal hygiene products together with infected persons.
- Reduced immunity.
- From pets.
- Eating raw foods.
- Negative environmental conditions.
Signs
The first symptoms of infection with parasitic diseases of the human skin are similar to other diseases. They are manifested by the following symptoms:
- Allergic reactions. Pathogens that enter the human body can lead to malfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract. This leads to allergies.
- Malfunctioning immune system. Skin parasites reduce the production of immunoglobulin, the patient feels depression, fatigue, and flu symptoms appear.
- Skin reactions. Pathogens that enter the body cause hives, rashes, peeling, and other skin problems
- Joint and muscle pain. It arises as a result of the struggle of immunity with foreign microorganisms or due to trauma received from the parasites themselves.
- Teeth grinding during sleep. Parasitic skin diseases are periodically accompanied by severe friction and compression of the teeth.
- Trouble sleeping. The liver actively gets rid of toxic substances, which causes anxiety during sleep.
- Anemia. Pathogens, getting into the intestines, stick to the walls and get nutrients. This can lead to serious blood loss and a lack of iron in the body.
Associated diseases
Most experts agree that parasites, eating valuable substances, suck out the most useful from the human body. And the remaining empty calories are digested by humans, but do not give full saturation. In this regard, the body needs more food to feed both parasites and itself.
Parasites not only feed at the expense of humans, but are also considered pathogens of various pathologies. The most common ones are:
- Dysbacteriosis Fungi and bacteria are considered activators of this disease. Due to parasites, the proper functioning of the intestine and its microflora is disrupted, which leads to even more serious diseases.
- Pathology of the internal organs. Penetrating inside, parasites destroy the walls of blood vessels. This leads to genital inflammation, heart attack, and so on.
Patients infected with parasitic skin diseases and leading a healthy lifestyle will experience serious inconvenience. Therefore, anyone who decides to engage in active sports needs to cleanse their body of parasites, toxins, toxins and bacteria. Since it is they that will impede in obtaining the desired result.
Skin infections
There is a classification according to the type of pathogen causing the problem. Infectious diseases are divided into viral, bacterial and fungal parasitic skin diseases:
- Bacterial Characterized by suppuration of varying severity. These include folliculitis (inflammation of the hair follicles), carbunculosis and furunculosis (infections in the sebaceous glands), phlegmon, abscess, impetigo, erysipelas, erythrasma, papules, vesicles. Bacterial skin pathologies can develop both independently and as a result of parasitic pathogens.
- Fungal. These include candidiasis, lichen, dermatophytosis, bordered eczema. This includes all parasitic diseases caused by micro fungi.
- Viral Herpes zoster and herpes. Do not belong to the group of parasitic infections.
Kinds
Doctors distinguish several main diseases caused by parasites:
- Scabies.
- Mycosis of smooth skin.
- Pediculosis.
- Worms under human skin.
- Demodecosis
Scabies
Scabies is a parasitic disease of the scalp or other part of the body. The causative agent is a scabies mite, the female of which gnaws the skin and lays eggs there. After a while, adults hatch from them. The main way to get scabies is through contact with the patient. Most parasites are active at night, so people who use the same bed become infected more often. In addition, infection can occur in public places, through a handshake, upholstery, locker room in the bath, etc.
The main symptom of the disease is itching, which is most felt in the evening and at night (during tick activity). A parasitic skin disease (scabies) is accompanied by a rash on the abdomen, hips, buttocks and between the fingers. Rashes appear in the form of small vesicles, interconnected by subcutaneous grooves. The first thing to do when detecting signs of scabies is to consult a dermatologist. After he diagnoses the disease, the patient will be assigned a treatment course. Most often, sulfur and benzyl benzoate are used for this.
Treatment and prevention of scabies
Therapeutic creams are applied to the skin, excluding the face and neck. Rub the medication immediately after the evening hygiene procedures, before bedtime. This procedure is repeated over the evening a couple of times in a row. Particular attention is paid to the fingers, toes, buttocks and hips. On the first day of treatment, bedding and clothing in which the patient is sleeping should be removed. In the following days, this is not necessary. On the fifth day of treatment, the patient thoroughly washes with soap and puts on new ironed clothes. Bed linen should also be replaced.
If the patient feels that the disease does not go away, it is not worth prolonging the course of treatment on his own, as this is unsafe for health. In this case, you need to visit your doctor. Relatives in contact with the patient need to prevent parasitic skin diseases. It consists in applying a therapeutic ointment, but the duration of the course is 2-3 days.
Bedding that is used before and during therapy should be boiled. The same thing needs to be done with clothes that touched the skin of the patient. For prevention purposes, you can iron and iron clothes or hang them in the fresh air for up to ten days. With the right treatment regimen, scabies disappears in five days.
Pediculosis
Pediculosis (lice) is a disease caused by bites of lice. To treat pathology, doctors prescribe special drugs that are used strictly for their intended purpose. There is a classification of lice depending on the habitat. Specialists divide these parasites into the head, pubic and clothes. Each type of lice has its own treatment characteristics.
Head
This type of parasite most commonly affects children and women. Lice lay their eggs on their hair. The main symptom of pathology is itching. After combing in the places of bites, small red spots are visible. In a severe stage of the disease, the hair tangles into a tangle and lose its shine. In infected children, an increase in the cervical and lymph glands is observed. To get rid of nits on the hair, you need to use a special comb on which the teeth should be close to each other. To increase efficiency, you can wrap cotton wool soaked in water, and comb your hair several times a day with such a comb.
Adult lice and nits can be in hats. To get rid of them, iron the products with a hot iron or boil them. An effective alternative method for the treatment of parasitic skin diseases is a solution of acetic acid, alcohol and water in equal quantities. This mixture is applied to the hair and scalp. After 30 minutes, it is washed off with warm water and soap. The procedure must be done twice a day. In addition to a solution with vinegar and alcohol, kerosene and vegetable oil can be used. This method has a strong odor, but it has an instant effect. The mixture is applied to the scalp and hair and covered with a towel or scarf. After a couple of hours, the solution is washed off with warm water and soap.
Clothes
Lice of this species live in lower and upper clothing, sometimes moving to the human body, clinging to cannon hairs. Eggs are laid along the seams, as in hard to reach places they are harder to detect. Crawling from clothes to the body, they bite a person. Prokus places turn red after 12 hours. Bites do not cause pain, but after them the skin itches. The person combs this area, and it is covered with a black crust. Body lice are most often found in prisons, kindergartens, dormitories and schools.
Pubic
In another way, this type of lice is called a ploschita. She has six legs and moves easily through the hairs. As a rule, the parasite lays eggs at the root of the hair. Visually, the nits look like a dark dot and are almost invisible. The habitat of the platform is the pubis, but it can also move to other areas of the skin with hair - for the armpits, beard, mustache, eyebrows, but never on the head. The first symptom of pubic lice is pruritus. 12 hours after infection, bite marks appear - small spots of blue.
Demodecosis
Demodecosis is a skin disease caused by a parasite tick. Once in the human body, the pathogen damages not only the skin, but also the internal organs. The habitat of the tick is the sebaceous glands and the mouth of the hair follicles. The life cycle of the parasite is 15 days. In most cases, tick infection is asymptomatic. But if an infected person has abnormalities in the work of the gastrointestinal tract, neuroendocrine and immune systems, then when a tick enters the body, they become aggravated.
Most often, the parasite is found on the face, a little less often - on the chest and back. It is problematic to get rid of a tick without visiting a doctor. The specialist will determine the degree of disease, the form of parasites and their number. Based on this, the doctor will prescribe the necessary course of treatment. Therapy is carried out both externally and internally. Sulfur-based creams, ointments and gels are used for external treatment, and acaricidal agents for internal treatment. The duration of treatment is determined by the doctor. For preventive purposes, you must follow the rules of nutrition, monitor hygiene and have a good rest.
A photo of a parasitic skin disease (demodicosis) is presented below.
Worms under human skin
Depending on the pathogen, the following pathologies that cause worms are distinguished:
- Dracunculiasis. The parasite enters the human body through water that has not undergone treatment. The individual prefers to be under the skin of the legs. The infected person feels a severe itch. Under the skin, a swelling roller forms, bubbles appear. The disease is characterized by phlegmon and abscesses.
- Another parasitic skin disease characterized by severe itching is called schistosomiasis. This type of pathogen lives in open reservoirs of Africa and Asia. Individuals enter the body while swimming. In addition to the itching, the infected person manifests profuse sweating at night and dermatitis. Late treatment to the doctor can lead to inflammation of the urinary system and intestines.
- Cysticercosis. Pathology is caused by pork tapeworms. Infection occurs when eating raw meat, lard. The parasite penetrates under the skin and into almost all vital organs. The course of the disease is accompanied by the appearance of tumors and mild itching.
- Hookworm. The causative agent enters the human body through cracks and minor injuries on the feet. Propagated not far from the place through which it penetrates. The main symptoms are anemia, unbearable itching.
- Filariasis Insects carry this parasite. When infected, a person's body temperature rises, the lymph nodes become inflamed, a rash and ulcers appear. The skin is very flaky.
Mycosis of smooth skin
This disease is caused by yeast-like fungi. It refers to parasitic pathologies and often flows into a chronic form due to the fact that the patient does not pay attention to the symptoms and consults a doctor late.
The disease is transmitted through contact with infected animals or people, as well as when using other people's personal belongings. In addition, you can get infected in beauty salons, in which masters work with unsterilized instruments.
The main signs of mycosis are:
- peeling;
- red spots;
- itching in the feet, the appearance of vesicles on them;
- diaper rash;
- exfoliating nails;
- irritation of the skin between the fingers.
The disease can affect:
- torso;
- nails
- feet;
- face;
- arms;
- scalp.
Other pathologies
Parasitic and pustular skin diseases are called pyoderma. They are a group of infectious diseases that cause staphylococci and streptococci. On a healthy body, parasites exist in small quantities and do not manifest themselves. But with skin damage, a decrease in the body's defenses, exacerbation of chronic ailments, increased sweating, and a change in the composition of sweat, they begin to develop rapidly.
Depending on the type of pathogen, a rash, itching, the formation of pustules, peeling of the skin, and pain are caused. These include:
- furunculosis;
- phlegmon;
- abscesses;
- ostiofolliculitis;
- carbuncles and others.
Prevention of parasitic skin diseases
Any pathology is easier to prevent than to treat. And in order not to become a carrier of a parasitic disease, the following rules should be observed:
- It is good to wash hands after visiting the street, toilet, and also before eating.
- Once a year, take tests for parasites.
- Maintain immunity.
- Eat well and get enough sleep (positively affects the immune system).
- Use personal hygiene products.
- Do not wear other people's clothing and shoes.