Throughout his life, a person is faced with many parasites. The most unpleasant and dangerous are helminths. This variety of parasites is able to settle in many internal organs, contributing to the development of serious diseases. The most dangerous ailment is dirofilariasis. Heartworms develop very quickly. If the disease is not diagnosed in time, then a fatal outcome is possible.
What is this ailment?
Heartworms are the most dangerous to humans. However, derofilariasis is extremely rare. As a host, helminths usually choose a pet. In this case, the worms settle in the heart muscle and parasitize there. This disease is most often found in southern Russia, as well as in Asian countries.
The danger of the disease lies in the fact that it is not possible to identify it at the initial stage. In this case, only one parasite can be in the patient's body. The activity of one worm does not greatly affect the functioning of the immune system. It is rather difficult to notice any deviations in this case.
Description of parasites
Heartworms are a type of dirofilaria repens. These parasites belong to invisible nematodes. Their larvae have very small sizes - 320 microns. The back of their body is pointed, and the front is blunt.
As for adults, they can reach a length of 30 centimeters. The structure of females is different from the structure of males. They have an oral cavity, oviducts, ovaries, uterus, intestines and esophagus. The males have spicules and papillae.
Causes of the disease
How does a heartworm enter the body? The causes of this disease have long been established. Most often, these parasites infect pets and especially cats and dogs. Carriers are also mosquitoes. These insects can carry larvae.
Parasites can enter the human body through an insect bite. Handlers, horseflies, lice, ticks and fleas should be referred to peddlers. Usually heartworms enter the human body by accident. For this reason, dirofilariasis is a rare disease.
At risk are those people who:
- Engaged in fishing and hunting.
- They carry out agricultural activities, as well as summer residents and gardeners.
- They work in fishing or forestry.
This list should also include those who live close to stagnant water bodies and lakes. Any person can hit such a disease. It does not depend on gender or age.
Main symptoms
How long can heartworms survive in humans? Symptoms of this disease can be completely different. It is proved that the female parasitizes. 6 months after infection, the parasite reaches its maximum size. The pest lives inside the heart for about 2 years, and then dies and begins to gradually collapse. Around the parasite, as a rule, a capsule is created, created from connective tissues.
As for the main symptoms, then they include:
- Pain in the chest area.
- Rapid pulse.
- Nausea.
- Nervousness.
- Irritability.
- Headache.
- Fever.
Often the presence of a parasite in the heart causes tachycardia. If a person has similar symptoms, then he should immediately seek the advice of a specialist.
For a long time, heartworms in humans may not appear. This largely depends on the human immune system, as well as on the number of parasites inside the heart.
Diagnostics
To determine the disease, the doctor should prescribe a set of studies. First of all, laboratory diagnostics should be carried out, which includes:
- Sonography of the heart.
- Tests for a specific type of parasite.
- ECG.
- Ultrasound
- Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography.
After a thorough examination, specialists should prescribe adequate treatment. The presence of worms in the heart is well defined through an x-ray. As for the blood test, it is possible to determine the presence of parasites in only 70% of all cases.
Treatment of ailment
After identifying parasites in the heart, specialists should determine the degree of the disease. Only then will the treatment method be chosen. Typically, studies show that there is only one worm. For this reason, no toxic effects occur. In such situations, the treatment of dirofiriosis is carried out without the use of antiparasitic drugs.
In most cases, this ailment requires surgery. A similar method is to remove nodes. Before the operation, the patient is prescribed a drug that ensures the success of the surgery. If this is not done, then the parasites can move to another organ. After taking such a drug, the worm will not go anywhere, as its muscle tissue will be completely paralyzed.
Adjunctive therapy
Before administering a drug against parasites, doctors may prescribe additional therapy. If there is a heartworm in a person, then specialists can prescribe:
- A sedative that allows you to lower your pulse.
- Antihistamine.
- Medicines that have anti-inflammatory effect. Most often these are steroid drugs.
- Glucocorticosteroids.
With dirofilariasis, you can use not only pharmacy sedatives, but also herbs that can not cause complications. It is worth considering that the patient can not refuse the operation, since after some time his condition can greatly deteriorate.