There are a lot of congenital malformations . They can be very different. Some of them are not dangerous or harmful. Others are considered very difficult and even incompatible with life. One of the developmental anomalies is the so-called twin parasite. This phenomenon is extremely rare, therefore, the mechanism of its development is not fully understood. This anomaly is not only a pronounced cosmetic defect, but also can greatly harm the baby's health. Therefore, it is so important to diagnose this dangerous phenomenon in time. The treatment of this defect is carried out only surgically.
What are twin parasites?
Such a phenomenon as the twin parasite occurs only with multiple pregnancy. In this case, the embryos develop in one child's place and are formed by dividing a single cell - zygotes. Another name for this defect is the fetus in the fetus. The frequency of occurrence of such an anomaly is 1 newborn per 500 thousand. This phenomenon is considered more common among males. The ratio of boys and girls who have a twin parasite is 1.3: 1. As a result of incorrect division and intrauterine development, one of the embryos is not fully formed, but only partially. As a result, fragments of his body or internal organs merge with a full-fledged fetus.
Due to the fact that this violation looks creepy, these children are called mutants and monsters. Uneducated people also describe this phenomenon with the phrase "pregnant newborn." In fact, children with this defect are normal and do not have any chromosomal abnormalities. The need to get rid of the parasite does not always arise. This is required only in cases where there is a pronounced violation of vital functions.
Why does the fetus develop in the fetus?
Everyone knows such a thing as Siamese twins. It implies two people fused together in the process of impaired intrauterine development. One of the varieties of this anomaly is the Siamese twin parasites. They form in the early stages of pregnancy when cell division and tissue laying occurs. In most cases, this defect can be detected already at the first ultrasound of the fetus. The main reason for this anomaly is the incorrect formation of the vascular system of the embryo. In the organ, which exists only at the beginning of pregnancy - the yolk sac - there are many anastomoses, which should not be normal. As a result of this, one of the fruits loses blood supply and ceases to develop. Since the second fetus continues to grow normally, it grows in size and, as it were, absorbs the defective embryo.
The location of the twin parasite in the body of the child
The location of the parasite fetus in the body of a normal twin can be different. Most often it is located in the abdominal cavity. Cases of the formation of twin parasites in the chest and even in the brain are also known. Sometimes parts of a defective fetus extend beyond the body cavity. Then they stick out from the torso of a normal child. There may be a twin parasite visible to the naked eye in the abdomen, on the back, etc. Despite the fact that this pathology is a terrible picture, most often the child has no other abnormalities and is healthy. Sometimes a defective fetus is located deep in the abdominal cavity and is closed by the intestine and other organs. Therefore, it can be found already in adulthood.
What do parasitic pancakes lead to?
Despite the fact that at the initial stage of pregnancy, it was established as multiple, the twin parasite is not a viable embryo. Its development is disrupted already at 3 weeks. Therefore, he does not have time to fully form. Most often, parasitic embryos develop only some rudiments and parts of the body. Brain matter and internal organs are usually absent. In some cases, rudiments of bone tissue, lower or upper limbs are found. However, it is associated with the normal fetus through blood vessels. After absorption, the fetus-parasite stops developing and can only gain mass. Due to the blood supply to the defective embryo, a normal fetus can tolerate oxygen starvation. The result is a reverse arterial perfusion syndrome. If the parasite continues to gain mass, then this can be dangerous to the health of the child. In children with this anomaly, there is often a circulatory failure syndrome, or heart failure.
Parasite twins: cases in world history
The appearance of the fetus in the fetus is rare, however, there are data on several known cases. This phenomenon was first discovered at the beginning of the 19th century. Currently, this phenomenon is diagnosed using ultrasound in the first months of pregnancy. Cases of the appearance of twin parasites in the body are found throughout the world. Examples are: a boy from Peru (at the time of surgery, the child was 3 years old), a 9-year-old girl from Greece. Similar cases were recorded in India. Among them - the detection of a twin parasite in the body of a 36-year-old man.
How to get rid of the fetus in the fetus?
Treatment of this defect is possible only with the help of surgery. As a rule, surgical intervention allows you to completely remove the fetus-parasite. The operation is considered complex and has risks. Therefore, they resort to it only when necessary, when the parasite poses a danger to life. You can also remove the fetus if it is small and not attached to vital organs and vessels. The medical literature describes an operation performed in India (2005), which lasted 27 hours.