Types and symptoms of subcutaneous parasites in humans

There are several parasites that can inhabit human skin. Such worms were first found in India, but are now found in other latitudes. Parasites under the skin cause a lot of discomfort to a person and require treatment. They are not as dangerous as worms in other organs, but with a long course of the disease can lead to serious complications. In our article we will list all types of subcutaneous parasites, the symptoms of the diseases they provoke.

Varieties of subcutaneous parasites and methods of infection

If you want to know who crawls under the skin, then the following subcutaneous parasites are found in humans:

1. Heartworm disease. This disease provokes the larval stage of the nematode. Infection occurs when bitten by a mosquito (lice, fleas or ticks), which is a carrier of the disease. A sexually mature individual reaches a length of 30 cm, and the larva of this parasite is microscopic. After the infection develops under the skin of a person for 3 months. Domestic cats and dogs can also transmit the infection.
2. If we list what parasites live under the skin, we can not fail to mention filariasis. The infection is caused by some types of nematodes. In this case, various diseases occur: onchocerciasis, dipetalonematosis, loaza and mansonellosis. Carriers of worms and their intermediate hosts are insects (mosquitoes, flies, horseflies, etc. ). They infect human filariasis with larvae, resulting in worms appearing in the skin.
3. Another skin parasite in humans is the larvae of the cysticercus. They provoke cysticercosis. The invasion occurs through the intestines, where the worms enter with dirty hands, water or food. The cysticercus is an oval vesicle containing the scolex of the parasite inside. Subcutaneous worms can vary from round to spindle-shaped. Man acts as an intermediary master.
4. Schistosomiasis is a disease that is caused by worms in humans from the order of trematodes. These are brooms up to 2 cm long. The larvae of this parasite, which can swim in water, are cercariae. They can penetrate the human body directly through the skin. This infection can live in any organ, including under the skin.
5. Rishta is another worm under the skin. These white worms cause dracunculiasis and are classified as large nematodes. Their intermediate hosts are copepods inhabiting water. First, the parasite enters the human stomach, and then from the retroperitoneal space penetrates the skin. Males reach a length of 10 cm and females - 120 cm.

Symptoms of heartworm disease

The larvae of this parasite with the bloodstream can spread throughout the body and settle in the eyes, pulmonary artery, heart, serous cavities, adrenal adipose tissue and under the skin. If there is a worm infestation called Dirofilaria repens, the conjunctiva or subcutaneous fat is affected.

The signs and symptoms of this disease are as follows:

• painful seals appear at the site of insect bites;
• within a few days in one third of patients there is a displacement of the seal by 20-30 cm from the bite site;
• a person may feel swelling, burning and itching at the site of the bite;
• there is a feeling of crawling and moving under the skin;
• periods of remission are followed by episodes of exacerbation;
• the subcutaneous worm provokes the appearance of abscesses and boils (inside them the worm lives in the connecting capsule);
• sometimes the abscesses open on their own and white parasites crawl out of the skin.

If the conjunctiva is damaged, then the following symptoms are present:

• swelling, itching and watery eyes;
• feeling that there is a foreign body in the eye or eyelid;
• one cannot fully open the eyelid;
• vision deteriorates;
• a worm can be seen under the conjunctiva;
• a knot is visible under the skin of the eyelid;
• the person has a feeling of crawling under the skin or in the eye;
• if the parasite enters the eyeball, diplopia and bulging of the eye appear.

Important! Heartworm disease is accompanied by neurosis, fears and insomnia. Also, the patient develops irritability, headache, general weakness and other signs.

Symptoms of filariasis

After invasion, filariasis can develop over several years. Depending on the form of the disease, different symptoms and signs may develop. Common to these parasitic diseases will be the appearance of ulcers and skin rashes, damage to the eyes and lymph nodes, fever, the development of elephantiasis of the scrotum and limbs, as these are muscle parasites.

Onchocerciasis

In onchocerciasis, the parasites in human muscles are manifested by the following symptoms:

• itchy skin;
• fever;
• weakness;
• dryness and peeling of the skin;
• skin hyperpigmentation (genitals, legs, axillary and groin folds);
• papular rash;
• erysipelas;
• papules can form long-lasting ulcers;
• under the skin worms provoke atrophy of hair follicles, sweat glands and epidermis;
• painful fibrous nodules form under the skin;
• with eye damage develop glaucoma, iridocyclitis, conjunctivitis, corneal cysts, keratitis and other eye diseases.

Dipetalonematosis

These subcutaneous worms in humans provoke the following symptoms:

• enlarged lymph nodes;
• erythematous or maculopapular rash;
• dizziness;
• fever;
• swelling of the lower limbs, face and genitals;
• joint pain;
• heart pain;
• symptoms of meningoencephalitis.

Loyaza

The parasites living under human skin, with loaza, contribute to the appearance of the following clinical picture of the disease:

• skin rash;
• fever;
• parasites in human muscles can provoke muscle abscesses;
• limb pain;
• swelling of the skin in limited areas, which does not last long;
• if the parasites get into the eyes, blepharitis or conjunctivitis develops;
• urinary incontinence with localization of infection in the urethra.

Important! These subcutaneous parasites in humans can lead to complications in the form of meningitis, heart failure, encephalitis.

Mansonellosis

In this form of the disease, worms under human skin can provoke the following set of symptoms:

• itchy rash;
• joint pain;
• fever;
• swelling of the skin;
• hydrocephalus;
• tingling in the limbs;
• enlargement of the inguinal lymph nodes.

Symptoms of cysticercosis

These parasites on human skin can easily penetrate food into the digestive tract, where the embryonic membrane dissolves and the larva emerges. They enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body. After settling in certain organs, the larvae turn into cysticerci and cause the following symptoms:

• under the skin appear multiple or single tumor-like, painless oval-shaped formations (usually localized on the inside of the shoulders, upper chest and palms);
• you can feel the cavity in the seals;
• over time, these seals grow;
• new formations appear;
• when performing histology of education can be found cysticercus inside;
• hives;
• rarely the nodules fester, but more often they do not change for many years and sometimes resolve on their own.

Symptoms of schistosomiasis

Schistosome larvae can penetrate human skin directly from the aquatic environment. Within a few hours they can be in the bloodstream. In case of skin invasion, the following symptoms appear:

• hives;
• severe itching;
• spotty rashes appear during the day.

Then comes a period of calm for a few weeks. In the circulatory system, schistosomes reach the stage of sexually mature individuals and migrate into the vasculature of the genitourinary system. After a few months, the patient develops the following symptoms:

• dry cough;
• fever;
• hives;
• heavy sweating at night;
• enlargement of the liver;
• vaginal bleeding;
• blood in the urine;
• pathology of the prostate, kidneys and bladder;
• genital nodules;
• infertility.

Important! In childhood, schistosomiasis contributes to reduced learning ability, anemia, developmental delays and memory impairment.

Symptoms of dracunculiasis

If a person drinks water containing infected copepods, then after their death the helminth larvae are released into the patient's digestive system. They penetrate the retroperitoneal space and migrate through the lymphatic system into the soft tissues. Only after 3 months the female of this parasite can invade the skin or connective tissue for further development. As the female grows, the patient develops the characteristic symptoms of the disease:

• allergic reaction to infection occurs only after 10-14 months in the form of urticaria, seizures, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and suffocation;
• one year later on the skin appears rishtosis of the bladder (its diameter reaches 2-7 cm, but no signs of inflammation);
• you can see helminths in the bladder;
• after a few days the balloon itself opens and the necrotic masses are rejected;
• at autopsy, the patient experiences burning and sharp pain.

Worth to know! Rishtosis blisters are usually found on the skin of the feet, but can sometimes be on the abdomen, arms and other parts of the body. Also, the female can be found in the connective tissues of the joints. In this case, his immobility, contracture and inflammation of the bag appear.

In secondary infection, there may be phlegmon, abscess, sepsis and gangrene. If a patient with an open bladder falls into a reservoir, thousands of larvae will be swallowed again by the crustacean cyclops, which will lead to further spread of the infection.