According to statistics, 60% of the world's population is infected with parasites. These include protozoa, helminths, and microbes that feed on the host organism. Propagating inside, they lead to various diseases of organs and systems, can even cause death. Getting rid of them after diagnosis should begin immediately. Consider which worms can parasitize in the human brain.
Helminthiasis
Many people associate helminths with the intestines, but they can migrate to various organs: in the eyes, lungs, skin, muscles, liver, there are even worms in the brain. In this case, the pathological consequences can be very serious. The problem is complicated by the fact that the diagnosis in such cases is difficult, so treatment, as a rule, does not begin immediately.
Worms in the brain are a very unpleasant and life-threatening phenomenon. Other parasites that live in the central nervous system can be:
- Amoebas Entamoeba histolitica, Naegleria and Acanthamoeba. They cause amoebic meningoencephalitis.
- The simplest - Toxoplasma gondii, causing toxoplasmosis.
- Nematodes of the genus Dirofilaria from the class of roundworms causing dirofilariasis.
But these pathologies are uncharacteristic for the Russian region.
The most common parasites in the brain
These are 2 types of tapeworms (cestodes) - cysticerci and echinococcus. These worms in the brain are found most often. The phenomenon also takes place in Russia. Helminthiasis is characterized by its symptoms and treatment methods. They are not as rare as many people believe. Therefore, some of their properties must be known.
Cysticercosis
Pork tapeworm eggs enter the brain from the digestive tract. Their heads have sizes up to 2 mm, 4 suction cups and 22-32 hooks, with which the worm is attached to the intestinal wall. Each segment contains about 50 thousand eggs. The source of infection is the feces of a sick person, which contains segments of tapeworm and mature eggs.
For infection, it is enough to eat unwashed hands so that the eggs can enter the stomach. Poor thermally processed pork, for example, in barbecue, also matters.
In addition, with vomiting of the patient, reinfestation can occur - when eggs can enter the stomach of the patient with vomit. At risk are workers in pig farms.
An adult lives in the intestines and multiplies at high speed. When it enters the stomach under the influence of hydrochloric acid, the egg shell dissolves and the hatched small larvae (Finns), together with the bloodstream, begin to circulate throughout the body of their victim.
Penetration is possible in the duodenum 12 according to the same principle. In 80% of cases of extraintestinal invasion, they settle precisely in the brain. Here they can live for about 5-30 years. The disease they cause is teniosis.
A complication of larvae entering the brain is neurocysticercosis. This condition is more dangerous, as it can be treated worse.
In second place in the frequency of penetration of worm larvae are eyes. Pig tapeworm can be detected only in 5% of cases. When settling in the organ, the parasites turn into a cysticercus - form a bubble that ripens for 4 months. This is a transparent capsule filled with liquid, ranging in size from a pea to a nut (3-15 mm in diameter).
The larva in it can safely exist from 3 to 10 years. There may be hundreds, thousands, but there are isolated worms.
Another option for the ingestion of worms in the human brain is swimming in untreated reservoirs. For infection in this case, it is enough to dive a couple of times. Helminths penetrate the victim’s body through the ear holes. If pus comes out of your ears a few days after swimming in a pond or pond, they will hurt, be examined for parasites. On the inner surface of the cysticercus is the future head of the worm (scolex) with hooks and suction cups.
In the brain, the Finnish habitat becomes the soft meninges on the basis of the brain, the superficial parts of the cortex, the cavity of the ventricles, where they can freely swim. At its death, tapeworm calcifies, but chronic inflammation remains and maintains in the brain. Photos of worms in the human brain are presented below.
Echinococcosis
Echinococci are also tapeworms, but they parasitize in the intestines of dogs, wolves, jackals, less often cats. Mature individuals reach 7 mm in length and have from 2 to 6 segments. On the head there are 4 suction cups, a double crown, consisting of 35-40 hooks.
The main carriers are representatives of the Canidae family. Mature individuals live on the mucous membranes of their small intestines. They not only stand out with feces, but also freely creep along the wool of their wearer.
Intermediate owners - sheep, cows, goats. They become infected if they eat dirty grass.
A person also becomes a carrier of echinococcus by drinking milk and eating meat, cheese, sour cream of these animals. It is an intermediate host for parasites, here they go through their larval stage, which can last for decades, proceed without symptoms. A person will not even suspect the presence of helminths.
The disease caused is echinococcosis. You can get infected through unwashed hands and dirty water after contact with animals.
In the intestine, a larva (oncosphere) hatches from an egg. Thanks to its adaptations, it penetrates through the intestinal wall into the blood and is introduced into the liver, brain and other organs.
Here, a bubble forms from the oncosphere (the bubbly stage of the Finns). On its walls, secondary and even tertiary bubbles can form, on which future heads are formed. Echinococcus bladders grow slowly, but can reach the size of a child’s head. A photo of worms in the brain is presented below.
Common symptoms of tapeworm parasitism
Helminths in the brain can be in different numbers and in different places - the symptoms depend on this. It includes 4 main syndromes:
- Cerebral syndrome.
- Focal.
- Pressure Syndrome.
- Mental dysfunction.
Signs of cerebral worm symptoms in the brain are:
- Migraine pains of different intensity.
- Vomiting
- Impaired consciousness.
- Hyperhidrosis.
- Pallor of the skin.
- A blockage in the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid, which increases headaches and vomiting.
The pain often corresponds to the location of the parasites.
If the larvae of the worms in the brain are in the cavity of the 4th ventricle, dizziness is observed when the head is turned.
For focal symptoms are characteristic:
- Epileptoid seizures.
- Paresis of the facial muscles and tongue.
- Speech impairment.
- Body paralysis.
Seizures with cysticercosis are special - they are spasmodic, with an uneven frequency, tend to intensify and increase. The increase in pressure is accompanied by stagnation of the optic disc.
Mental disorders develop with any helminthiosis of the brain. First, the changes concern the mood: hypochondria, depression, tantrums. Then come sleep disturbances - insomnia. Later, nervous breakdowns become permanent.
Psychoses with delusions, hallucinations and dementia may develop, interruptions in the work of the cardiovascular system, and a sharp visual impairment are possible. Worms can lead to the development of tumors.
Signs of cysticercosis
Symptomatic manifestations of the disease are as follows:
- Fever.
- Migraines and vomiting.
- Weakness, malaise, constant lethargy.
- Inflammation of the meninges.
- Degradation and dementia are not ruled out.
When parasites live on the basis of the brain, meningitis develops.
In general, the symptoms of worms in the human brain are quite obvious. Parasites poison and sensitize the body, a growing worm begins to put pressure on surrounding tissues, causing a severe headache, with cysticercosis Bruns syndrome develops.
This phenomenon indicates the presence of the parasite in the 4th ventricle of the brain. A person occasionally experiences severe headache, vomiting. The patient is forced to keep his head in a constant position. Tachycardia and shortness of breath are noted. There may be a loss of consciousness.
Signs of echinococcosis
The disease begins with a headache, dizziness, vomiting, visual impairment and convulsive seizures, muscle weakness is superimposed. With diffuse lesions, dementia may also develop.
Diagnostic measures
Symptoms of worms in the brain cause changes in the composition of the patient’s blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Eosinophilia is noted in the blood - up to 12% of the norm. In the cerebrospinal fluid there is an abnormally increased number of lymphocytes with a predominance of eosinophils, protein and succinic acid.
On the roentgenogram of the head, small calcifications are observed. Also used for diagnosis of MRI and CT.
Research methods for echinococcosis are slightly different and include:
- Ultrasound of all internal organs of the abdominal cavity and pelvis.
- EEG.
- General blood and urine tests.
- Blood biochemistry and detection of antibodies to the parasite.
- Chest x-ray.
In most cases, echinococcosis is diagnosed by chance.
Treatment principles
Neurocysticercosis has been without symptoms for years. After clarifying the diagnosis, treatment can only be prescribed by a parasitologist or infectious disease specialist.
Therapy of neurocysticercosis is always individual, it is carried out medically and surgically. Drug treatment consists of the use of anthelmintic drugs, which include Nemozol, Azinox, Cestox, Parasiquantel, Sanoxal, Albendazole with analogues. The latter drug is especially effective. The action of all means is aimed at the destruction of parasites and their larvae.
Helminth decay products have a toxic and sensitizing effect on the surrounding brain tissue. After applying the medication, symptoms may intensify. Therefore, anti-inflammatory and hormonal drugs become an addition to treatment.
Diuretics are prescribed to relieve edema. If necessary, prescribe antiemetic drugs and analgesics for headaches.
With single blisters located in relatively easily accessible areas of the cerebral cortex, surgical removal of parasites is performed. This intervention provides a complete cure (with rare exceptions). With multiple lesions, this is impossible, and the prognosis is much worse.
With echinococcosis, surgical removal is preferable, here it is more effective. The treatment is supplemented by subsequent administration of drugs.
Previously, chemotherapy was used to treat inoperable patients.
Prevention
The simplest measures to help avoid the appearance of worms in the brain are compliance with hygiene and rules for working with animals. Meat should be well cooked. The same applies to other products.
Raw vegetables and fruits must be washed thoroughly under running water. You can not use well, spring and stream water without boiling as a drink.