Worms In The Human Head: Symptoms And Treatment

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Worms In The Human Head: Symptoms And Treatment
Worms In The Human Head: Symptoms And Treatment

Video: Worms In The Human Head: Symptoms And Treatment

Video: Worms In The Human Head: Symptoms And Treatment
Video: She Had a Worm in the Brain | Unbelievable Survivors | Only Human 2024, March
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  • 1 What are parasites and how do they get into the brain?
  • 2 Symptoms of cysticercosis

    2.1 Diagnosis of cysticercosis

  • 3 Symptoms of echinococcosis

    3.1 Diagnostics

If you are sure that all parasites in the human body live only in the digestive tract, then you are very mistaken. Sometimes the brain becomes the habitat of helminths. After entering the body, the larvae with the blood flow are carried through the body and affect various organs, so worms in the brain are not a myth, but a dangerous pathology that can lead to a lot of dangerous consequences and even death. In terms of symptoms, brain invasions differ from parasitic intestinal lesions. Often, this pathology becomes the cause of cancerous tumors in the brain.

What are parasites and how do they get into the brain?

echinococcus, which causes the disease echinococcosis
echinococcus, which causes the disease echinococcosis

Today it is known that two types of parasites can inhabit the human brain:

  • echinococcus, which causes a disease called echinococcosis;
  • cysticercus are larvae of tapeworm (pork tapeworm). The disease that they provoke is called cysticercosis.

The larvae and eggs of parasites live in soil, water, grass and fruits. They can exist under favorable conditions for a long time, waiting for the opportunity to enter the host's body. Helminth affects a person when he uses unwashed fruits, untreated water from natural reservoirs. Also, infection can occur:

  • in contact with domestic and wild animals with eggs on their fur;
  • when eating poorly fried fish and meat;
  • after working in the garden (if you do not wash your hands or use gloves);
  • when cutting carcasses of infected wild animals;
  • during the manufacture of items and clothing from fur;
  • hunters, sheared sheep, shepherds, shepherds and their families are also at risk of infection.

In a person's head, the parasite does not appear immediately. First, helminth eggs enter the digestive tract, where, under the action of enzymes, their shells dissolve and larvae are formed. First, they live in the intestines, where they are attached to the mucous membrane.

As for how parasites end up in the human brain, it happens as follows:

  1. Through the intestinal walls, the larvae of the worm easily penetrate into the bloodstream and can move through the body, settling in various organs.
  2. If the larvae are in the respiratory system, then here they can also enter the bloodstream through the lungs.
  3. In rare cases, the larva can enter the ear, and from there through the circulatory system to the brain.

Cysticercosis symptoms

severe headaches
severe headaches

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Cysticercus larvae can affect different organs, therefore the symptoms of cysticercosis depend on the location of the infection. All brain parasites in the human body do not reach the stage of sexually mature individuals, that is, not worms live in the head, but their larvae (Finns).

An adult cysticercus is a tapeworm. The parasites in the human head are the Finns of this helminth, which settle in the upper layer of the cerebral cortex. These are vesicular formations with worm cysts inside. After a certain period of time, the cysts die, and the Finns continue their existence in the form of a new formation. Due to the decomposition of dead parasites, symptoms of brain inflammation appear.

But most often, worms in the brain give the same symptoms as cancerous growths in this organ. The only difference is in the periods of remission, which are accompanied by prolonged subfebrile condition. For cysticercosis of the brain, the following symptoms are characteristic:

  • general deterioration of health;
  • severe headaches, accompanied by bouts of vomiting;
  • increased fatigue;
  • chronic serous meningitis;
  • feverish condition;
  • malfunctions of the central nervous system;
  • mental disorders;
  • depression;
  • epileptic seizures (Jacksonian type).

Due to the fact that bubbles form in the brain and an inflammatory process begins, the patient develops severe psychomotor disorders. As a result, changes in the psyche lead to neurotic inadequate reactions of the patient. The patient is in an agitated state. His mood changes from hallucinatory delusional to depressive. Often, worms in the brain lead to mental degradation.

Diagnosis of cysticercosis

MRI of the head
MRI of the head

If you conduct a study of the cerebrospinal fluid, then it is possible to identify only the inflammatory process, but not the presence of parasites in the human head. The color of the liquid is cloudy yellow. It contains leukocytes and proteins. In addition, there are many eosinophils in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid. With the Panda reaction and the Nonne-Apelta globulin reaction, the results are positive.

It is very difficult to identify worms in the head. Typically, the following diagnostic techniques are used to make a diagnosis:

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  1. Serological blood tests are performed to detect antibodies to the parasite antigens.
  2. When carrying out an X-ray examination of the soft tissues of the trunk and muscles of the extremities, it is possible to reveal traces of the presence of a helminth, namely its de-known remains.
  3. On CT and MRI of the head, you can see characteristic seals in the brain structures.

Symptoms of echinococcosis

epileptic seizures
epileptic seizures

Echinococcus is a tapeworm. With echinococcosis, parasites in the human brain are echinococcal cysts, namely, single-chamber vesicles in a multilayer membrane. The symptoms and treatment of echinococcosis are similar to those of cysticercosis.

The larvae of the worm, after entering the intestine with the bloodstream, penetrate into other organs. The liver is more often affected, but it is possible that the parasite settles in the brain. Forming single-chambered vesicles in this organ, the helminth lives in the brain for a long time. This contributes to the appearance of large cystic formations. The symptoms of the disease are as follows:

  • severe headaches;
  • vomiting;
  • epileptic seizures;
  • paralysis of the limbs in especially neglected forms;
  • mental disorders;
  • disturbances in the work of the central nervous system;
  • paralysis;
  • prostration;
  • general deterioration of health;
  • depressive conditions.

The cyst can spontaneously open, and its contents are poured into the skull. As a result, echinococcus scolexes can spread throughout the body, provoking infection of other organs.

Diagnostics

These parasites of the human brain provoke a protracted course of the disease, which is accompanied by periods of remission. On the roentgenogram, only hypertensive changes and signs of local damage to the box of the skull in the form of thinning of the bones can be detected.

The most informative in terms of diagnosis are ELISA, RNGA and RSK methods. Be sure to do ultrasound, MRI and CT of other organs, since echinococcal cysts can be found there, making it easier to make a diagnosis. It is also important to examine the cerebrospinal fluid using the chemiluminescence technique.

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