Eye parasites are round and flat, less frequently annelids and worms with a spiny head, fly and mosquito larvae. Having penetrated the human body, they gradually spread through it, damaging tissues and organs. Most of them are able to parasitize human eyes, causing the development of ophthalmic helminthiasis.
Clinically, these serious pathologies are manifested by pain, burning, itching, visual disturbances, tearing. Immediately after diagnosis, surgical and (or) conservative treatment is performed.
Diseases caused by parasites in the eyes
More than 50 agents that cause ophthalmic helminthiasis in humans are known. Some penetrate directly through the mucous membrane, damaging the conjunctiva or the tear ducts. Others infect the eyeball from the inside, entering it with a flow of blood from the intestine or liver. The parasites begin to grow and multiply actively, laying eggs, which leads to partial or total loss of vision.
Ophthalmic helminthiasis most commonly diagnosed:
- onchocerciasis- helminthiasis caused by the parasitism of the Onchocerca nematodes (onchocerciasis) in the human body. Its specific symptom is the "turbidity" of the cornea;
- ophthalmomyasisis a parasitic disease of the eye and its appendages, which occurs when the larvae of flies or flies enter. In severe cases of myiasis, retinal detachment or atrophy of the optic nerve is possible;
- heartworm- helminthiasis that develops when the larva of the filamentous nematode invades the eyeball. The movements of the worms cause a burning sensation, severe pain and itching;
- sparganoseis a human disease of the cestodesis group caused by tapeworm larvae of the Spirometra genus. The infection occurs mainly when eating meat from wild animals;
- toxocariasisis a chronic infectious disease caused by larvae of the toxocara roundworm. The source of infection is a sick animal (usually a dog);
- Toxoplasmosisis a chronic parasitic invasion caused by intracellular protozoa (toxoplasma). Its vital activity is accompanied by the constant release of allergens and toxins;
- cenurosisis a predominantly chronic disease that occurs after infection by helminths from the group of cestodoses of the species Taenia multiceps. A person is infected by contact with dogs;
- cysticercosis- a disease caused by a pig tapeworm larva that can lead to decreased vision and blindness;
- gnatostomosis- the disease causes severe pain and often leads to death. The worms that cause this disease most often affect the skin, less often the central nervous system and the eyes;
- echinococcosis of the eyesis a very common disease. It is characterized by the formation of parasitic cysts in the orbital zone. Echinococcosis develops due to eating the parasite's eggs with food or water.
- ocular demodicosis, caused by the activation of mites that live in the sebaceous glands of the eyelashes.
- Trichinosisis a parasitic pathology that develops after the introduction of Trichinella spirali nematodes in the human body.
It is not the larvae and sexually mature individuals that are dangerous to the eyes, but the toxins that they release. They cause swelling of the eyelids and redness of the mucous membranes.
Eye parasite symptoms
Each helminthic invasion has its own specific symptoms. But they also have many common signs of damage to mucous membranes and deeper eye structures.
In the early stages of the development of the pathology, typical manifestations of conjunctivitis occur:
- redness of the outer shell of the eyeball;
- increased tearing;
- photophobia;
- swelling of the upper and lower eyelids;
- pain, itching, burning;
- headaches located at the temples and the back of the head;
- slight increase in local temperature.
Young children and weak people develop symptoms of general body poisoning. The temperature rises above subfebrile values (37, 1-38, 0 ° C), appetite decreases due to attacks of nausea and vomiting.
Unlike many infections caused by viruses, bacteria and fungi, the course of helminthic invasions is accompanied by signs of damage to other organs. These are migratory muscle pain, dry skin, delayed hair growth and indigestion.
How to get rid of eye parasites
Diptera larvae, protozoa, ticks and other pathogens of parasitic diseases can quickly destroy eye structures. Therefore, treatment is carried out immediately after diagnosis. When choosing therapeutic tactics, doctors take into account the type of infectious agent, the severity of the course of the disease and the severity of symptoms.
If an infected person seeks out doctors with advanced helminthic invasion, conservative treatment usually does not work.
Parasitic worms must be surgically removed - opening and draining abscesses according to generally accepted rules.
And a long period of rehabilitation follows with the use of anthelmintics.
Folk remedies
Even the long-term use of modern and powerful anthelmintic drugs is often ineffective for these diseases. Urgent surgical removal of larvae, eggs and sexually mature individuals is required.
And traditional medicine is completely powerless when the eyes are affected by helminths. Neither tansia, nor centaur, nor bitter wormwood are capable of dealing with ocular invasion.
The use of decoctions and infusions relieves symptoms a little, so the patient postpones the consultation with the doctor. Meanwhile, inflammatory and destructive processes intensify and spread in your eyes. They predispose to retinal detachment, complete or partial blindness.
Medicines
Various treatment regimens for ophthalmic diseases caused by worms have been developed. Individual therapy is performed only by specially trained parasitologists. The fact is that after helminths die and decompose, toxic intraocular allergic reactions can occur. Only an experienced doctor can minimize its consequences.
The following drugs are used to kill parasitic worms:
- antinematodic
- ; anti-estodial
- ;
- antitrematode;
- broad spectrum drugs.
For external agents, special solutions are used to rinse the eyes. Antihistamines should be included in therapeutic regimens and, if necessary, antibiotics and antimycotics.
Preventive measures
Myiasis infection occurs when the mucous membrane of the eyes comes into contact with flies, mosquitoes and flies. Therefore, infectious disease doctors advise the use of repellents in the form of aerosols, gels, ointments. Smoke bombs with insecticides scare nature's insects very well.
But parasitic worm eggs and larvae are introduced into the human body mainly with food. They are unstable to the effects of temperature - they die when heated and boiled. It is also necessary to wash fruits and vegetables brought from the market and store them well.
Parasitic eye diseases cannot be independently diagnosed and cured.
They often disguise themselves as bacterial, viral and fungal infections. And just as they progress, their distinctive features appear.
A timely visit to the doctor will help to save the vision, to prevent its loss.