Man in his entire life has to face a huge number of parasites. The most unpleasant of them are helminths. They are able to settle in all internal organs, causing serious diseases.
Dirofilariasis is one of the most dangerous diseases that can be caused by parasites. With such a disease, worms choose their heart muscle for their reproduction.
For a person, heart dystrophy is a rare disease, as parasites are most often chosen as a host of pets. Such an ailment is found mainly in the southern regions of the country, as well as in the Asian countries. In this case, the disease in a person is difficult to identify in the early stages. In most cases, this depends on the fact that in the patient's body there is only one parasite that can not greatly affect the immune system.
Causes of dirofilariasis
Dirofilaria repens refers to filamentous nematodes. The larva of this parasite has a body length equal to 320 μm. The anterior part of the body is dull, and the posterior part is pointed.
Adult individuals grow to 30 centimeters. The females have an oral cavity, as well as the esophagus, intestine, uterus, ovary and oviducts. As for males, they have papillae and spicules.
Basically, the worms in the heart are from pets. Most often, the carriers are dogs, but sometimes a cat can become a bearer. The intermediate host of the parasites are mosquitoes. It is they who transfer the larvae to the patient. In addition to mosquitoes, parasites can enter the body through a bite of a flea, lice, mite or hindweed. Dirofilaria immitis in most cases accidentally gets to a person.
Infection is always mechanical, that is, the larvae get through an insect bite.
The most common infection is heartworm infection, the person who engages in the following activities:
- Hunters and fishermen;
- Dacha and agricultural workers;
- Pet owners;
- Tourists;
- Forestry and fisheries workers;
- A man living near stagnant lakes and rivers.
The disease affects people regardless of age category and gender. Among the patients most of all, it is fixed by patients aged 30 to 40 years.
The clinical picture of the dirofilaria
The probability of picking up the disease of dirofilariasis rises during a period of high mosquito activity. For worms, a person is a dead-end option, for this reason only the female parasitizes. However, it does not reach sexual maturity.
First of all you should answer the question, can worms live in the heart? The incubation period of diofilaria immitis in humans reaches 2 years. Everything depends on the immune system of the carrier. The maximum growth of the worm reaches as early as 6 months. A capsule of connective tissue forms around the parasite. Through time, the female will die and begin to deteriorate.
Many patients are wondering whether worms can cause tachycardia? As you know, any violations in the circulatory system, can provoke tachycardia.
When cardiac parasites appear in a patient, the following symptoms can be seen:
- Rapid pulse;
- Painful sensations in the chest;
- Febrile state;
- Headache;
- Irritability;
- Nervousness;
- Insomnia;
- Nausea.
If the worms in the heart provoked such symptoms, it is necessary to go to the hospital to undergo the examination. Only after diagnosis, the doctor will be able to prescribe the correct treatment. It is worth remembering that the symptoms of dirofilariasis may not appear for a long time. Everything depends on the number of parasites placed in the patient's body, as well as on the patient's immune system.
Diagnosis of worms in the heart
Once the dyrofilariasis caused the appearance of symptoms, you should visit the clinic for diagnosis.
First of all, the patient should tell about his complaints. Based on this, the doctor will collect an anamnesis. Also, the doctor needs to know whether the patient is at risk and has been in endemic regions where dirofilaria cases are common.
After this, a laboratory diagnosis of dirofilariasis will be carried out, which includes:
- ECG;
- ultrasound;
- Analyzes for dirofilariasis;
- Fluoroscopy and radiography;
- Heart echography for dirofilariasis;
- Computer, as well as magnetic resonance imaging.
If, after diagnosis, worms are confirmed in the heart, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment. Very good dirofilariasis can be determined from a photo taken on x-rays.
Pathology can also be identified after blood donation for analysis. Adult individuals are able to secrete larvae, called microfilariae, into the circulatory system. Unfortunately, it may not be enough to detect a blood test for dirofilariasis. In 30% of cases, worms can not be determined from it.
Almost all patients are interested in the question of whether dirofilariasis is contagious? Since it is transmitted only after the bite of insects, it is impossible to transmit directly from a dog or another member of the family.
After the diagnosis has been confirmed by the doctors after the testing, it is necessary to make the appropriate treatment. Otherwise, other serious illnesses with which it will be more difficult to cope than with dirofilaria can appear.
Treatment of dirofilariasis
After the test for dirofilariasis has been made, the doctor prescribes treatment. Elimination of the parasite directly depends on the form of the disease. In most cases, when a pathology is detected, a diagnosis is made, during which it is revealed that only one individual is in the body. Therefore, no toxic effects occur. In this case, the treatment of dirofilariasis does not require antiparasitic drugs.
Dirofilaria reps in humans in most cases, requires surgical intervention. The operational method is to eliminate the nodes. Before the operation, a special medication is prescribed to the patient, so that the operative treatment of cardiac worms is successful. If this is not done, the parasite can migrate elsewhere. After the patient takes the prescribed medication, the heart helminth will not go anywhere, since his muscles will be paralyzed.
Before the injection against heart worms is made, as a supplementary therapy the doctor can prescribe the following medicines to patients:
- Soothing. This is necessary in order to reduce the pulse;
- Antihistamines;
- Anti-inflammatory tablets, it is important that they are asteroid;
- Glucocorticosteroids.
As a sedative, it is not necessary to use medicines. With helminth of dirofilaria you can use herbs that do not cause complications to other organs.
If a surgical procedure is not performed, the patient's condition may deteriorate significantly.
Complications of dirofilariasis
Approximately in 15% of cases, the disease of dirofilariasis can cause a complication - allergic pneumonia. In this case, the doctor prescribes corticosteroids. As soon as there is a weakening of clinical signs, the treatment stops. This is due to the fact that corticosteroids reduce the effect of antiparasitic drugs. To eliminate helminths in the heart, it is necessary to conduct specific therapy.
Another serious exacerbation of dirofilariasis is eosinophilic granulomatosis. In this case, the patient is also given corticosteroids. Dosage depends on the patient's age and condition.
If embolism has occurred with dead worms in humans, the patient is prescribed aspirin. The dosage is 0.5 milligrams per kilogram. Use the drug should be 2 times a day, for one week.
Aspirin is not prescribed even in human embolism, if treatment can provoke gastrointestinal bleeding. In this case, the doctor should adjust the intake of drugs and therapy.
Such an ailment as dirofilariasis, even knowing how to treat, is not so easy to eliminate. That is why it is recommended to undergo an annual examination, and if you show any signs of pathology, you should go to a polyclinic.
Prevention of dirofilariasis
It is best to ensure that the disease does not appear in the adult, as worms affect the internal organs and the general condition of a person.
It is necessary that the prevention of dirofilariasis consisted of several directions:
- Extermination of mosquitoes;
- Identification and preventive measures against dogs;
- Elimination or isolation of stray dogs and cats, as there is a possibility that infected parasites are located on them.
In order to make it clearer, what consequences can the dysrophylaria of imitis in a person need to look at the corresponding photos. After that everyone will think about preventive measures.
Residential and non-residential buildings are best treated with insecticides. This will eliminate the cause of the appearance of dirofilariasis, and prevent the infection of humans and animals.
It is important to carry out water treatment to reduce the mosquito population and prevent the emergence of diofilaria in the population, as treatment can complicate many lives.
In the summer and autumn it is recommended to check your animals for worms in the body, as it is done, it is better to look at the video.
In houses it is better to use spirals or other mosquito remedies. Thanks to prevention, the probability of helminths in the heart of the patient will be minimized.
It is better to prevent the appearance of parasites, than in the aftermath to fight it.