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What is it about ?
Small parasites composed of a single cell (protozoa) can move around the body by means of vibratile cilia or pseudopodia. Parasites are organisms that live by taking advantage of a host. Here the host is the man. There are parasites that make you sick (pathogens) and harmless parasites. Some have a preference for the intestine, others for other parts of the body, such as the liver, lungs, lymph nodes, skin, blood, … The most important parasites are Entamoeba histolytica, Plasmodium ( responsible for malaria (malaria), Leishmania, Pneumocystis jiroveci, Toxoplasma gondii and Trypanosoma.
Parasitic contamination can occur in different ways. A person can be infected by being bitten by an infected fly or mosquito, by eating or drinking contaminated food, or by coming into contact with the feces of an infected animal or person.
This patient guide briefly discusses some of the major infections caused by parasites outside the digestive tract. Other patient guides provide more detailed information on these infections.
These diseases are responsible for a significant number of deaths around the world. They are found mainly in Asia, Africa, Central America and South America. You have to think about these diseases in travelers returning from countries where parasites circulate, migrants or people who have lived in these countries for a long time.
In people with weakened immune systems, these infections can be serious.
Amoebiasis
THE’amoebiasis is a disease caused by an amoeba, Entamoeba histolytica. It is contracted by eating contaminated food or water or by coming into contact with contaminated stool.
The parasite can pierce the lining of the intestines and end up elsewhere in the body. This can lead to an abscess, usually in the liver. The infected person has a fever and pain in the upper abdomen on the right side.
The diagnosis is made by means of imaging tests (ultrasound, CT scan) and tests for antibodies in the blood. The treatment is drug.
Leishmaniasis
The leishmaniasis is a disease caused by Leishmania. It is transmitted by the bite of a sand fly.
The manifestations of the disease depend on the severity of the infection and the type of Leishmania parasite. In one of its forms, ulcers appear on the skin at the site of the bite. In another form, ulcers appear both on the skin and on the mucous membranes, for example of the mouth or nose. In the case of an infection of the intestines, the spleen and liver become enlarged, with the addition of fever, a general feeling of being unwell, weight loss, diarrhea and bleeding. The blood test shows a decrease in the number of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
The diagnosis is made on the basis of a biopsy (taking a piece of tissue, which is then examined in the laboratory) and the detection of antibodies in the blood. The treatment is drug.
Malaria or malaria
The malaria (malaria) is a disease caused by a Plasmodium. It is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito.
The characteristic symptoms of malaria are flare-ups of high fever accompanied by chills and severe headache. Fever usually occurs cyclically, peaking every 3 days. The parasite multiplies in red blood cells and destroys them. This destruction causes a decrease in the number of red blood cells (anemia). The brain can also be affected. Malaria can lead to death.
The diagnosis is made on the basis of a direct microscopic examination of blood, preferably taken during an outbreak of fever. The treatment is drug.
Toxoplasmosis
The toxoplasmosis is caused by Toxoplasma gondii. It is transmitted through contact with the feces of contaminated cats or through the consumption of contaminated food, in particular raw meat (minced meat, American tenderloin, etc.), undercooked meat, and poorly washed raw vegetables.
Toxoplasmosis is usually a common infection except during pregnancy. It can cause miscarriage or damage to the nervous system and visual disturbances in the baby. During pregnancy, therefore, it is important to take into consideration the necessary preventive measures. In people with weakened immune systems, toxoplasmosis can lead to inflammation of the brain (encephalitis).
The diagnosis is made on the basis of a blood test. The treatment is drug.
African sleeping sickness (trypanosomiasis)
The sleeping sickness disease caused by Trypanosoma. It is spread by the bite of a tsetse fly.
This infection is found mainly south of the Sahara and goes through two stages. At first, an ulcer forms from which the parasite can spread to the blood and lymph. Then a fever develops and the lymph nodes swell. Later, disorders related to the attack of the nervous system can appear (decrease in the state of consciousness, tendency to constantly fall asleep). The consequences are often fatal.
The diagnosis is made on the basis of the detection of trypanosomes in the pus of the ulcer or in the blood. The treatment is drug.
American sleeping sickness (trypanosomiasis) or Chagas disease
The sleeping sickness American or Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma. It is spread by the bite of a bedbug (or kissing bug) infected. This infection is mainly found in Central and South America.
In most cases, the disease progresses without symptoms. Sometimes a small ulcer appears first at the bite site, often around the eyes. And the eyelid swells. This is followed by fever, swollen glands and muscle pain. Damage to the nerves can cause heart failure and dilation of the esophagus and large intestine.
The diagnosis is made on the basis of the detection of trypanosomes and / or antibodies directed against these parasites in the blood.
Want to know more?
- Healthy travel – IMT – Institute of Tropical Medicine
- Mosquito repellent measures – IMT – Institute of Tropical Medicine
- Good use of repellents – CBIP – Belgian Center for Pharmacotherapeutic Information (offers in particular a few names of specialties with a sufficient high concentration)
- Amoebic dysentery – IMT – Institute of Tropical Medicine
- Leishmaniasis – IMT – Institute of Tropical Medicine
- Malaria – IMT – Institute of Tropical Medicine
- Sleeping sickness – IMT – Institute of Tropical Medicine
Sources
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