Heart Worms: Diagnosis, Causes, Treatment

For all his life a person is faced with many parasites. The most unpleasant and dangerous are helminths. This variety of parasites can settle in many internal organs, contributing to the development of serious diseases. The most dangerous disease is dirofilariasis. Heartworms develop very quickly. If the disease is not diagnosed in time, a fatal outcome is possible.

What is this ailment

Heart worms are the most dangerous for humans. However, it is extremely rare to have dephylaxis. As a host, helminths usually choose a pet. In this case, worms settle in the heart muscle and parasitize there. This disease is most often found in southern Russia, as well as in Asian countries.

The danger of the disease lies in the fact that it is not possible to identify it at the initial stage. In this case, only one parasite can be present in the patient's body. The activity of one worm does not greatly affect the functioning of the immune system. To note any deviations in this case is quite difficult.

Description of parasites

Heart worms are a type of worm of the form "dirofilaria repens". These parasites refer to invisible nematodes. Their larvae have very small dimensions - 320 microns. The back part of their body is pointed, and the anterior part is dull.

As for adults, they can be as long as 30 centimeters in length. The structure of females differs from the structure of males. They have oral cavity, oviducts, ovaries, uterus, intestine and esophagus. The males have spicules and papillae.

Causes of the disease

How does the heartworm get into the body? The causes of this disease have long been established. Most often these parasites affect domestic animals and, in the first place, cats and dogs. The carriers are also mosquitoes. These insects are able to carry the larvae.

In the human body, parasites can get through an insect bite. Peddlers, lice, ticks and fleas should be referred to the carriers. Usually heartworms enter the human body by accident. It is for this reason that dirofilariasis is a rare disease.

Those at risk are those who:

1. They are engaged in fishing and hunting.
2. Carry out agricultural activities, as well as gardeners and gardeners.
3. They work in fishing or forestry.

This list should include those who live near stagnant reservoirs and lakes. Any person can infect such a disease. It does not depend on gender or age category.

Main symptoms

How long can heartworms live in humans? Symptoms of this disease can be completely different. It is proved that the female parasitizes. Six months after infection, the parasite reaches its maximum size. The pest is alive inside the heart for about 2 years, and then it dies and begins to gradually decay. Around the parasite, as a rule, a capsule is created, created from connective tissues.

As for the main symptoms, they should be referred to:

1. Pain in the chest area.
2. Rapid pulse.
3. Nausea.
4. Nervousness.
5. Irritability.
6. Headache.
7. Febrile state.

Often the presence of a parasite in the heart causes tachycardia. If a person has such symptoms, then he should immediately seek professional advice.

For a long time, heartworms in humans may not be manifested. This largely depends on the human immune system, as well as on the number of parasites inside the heart.

Diagnostics

To determine the disease, the doctor must assign a set of studies. First of all, a laboratory diagnosis should be carried out, which includes:

1. Echography of the heart.
2. Analyzes for a specific type of parasites.
3. ECG.
4. Ultrasound.
5. Magnetic resonance and computer tomography.

After a thorough examination, specialists should prescribe adequate treatment. The presence of worms in the heart is well defined through an X-ray. As for the blood test, it can be determined by the presence of parasites in only 70% of all cases.

Treatment of ailment

After identifying the parasites in the heart, specialists should determine the degree of the disease. Only then will the method of therapy be chosen. Usually studies show that the worm is only one. It is for this reason that there is no toxic effect. In such situations, the treatment of diorofiriosis is carried out without the use of antiparasitic drugs.

In most cases, this ailment requires surgery. A similar method is to remove nodes. The patient before the operation is prescribed a drug that ensures the success of the surgical intervention. If this is not done, the parasites can move to another organ. After receiving such a drug, the worm will not go anywhere, since its muscle tissue will be completely paralyzed.

Additional therapy

Before introducing a drug against parasites, doctors can prescribe additional therapy. If there is a heartworm in a person, then specialists can designate:

1. Soothing, which allows you to lower your heart rate.
2. Antihistamine.
3. Medicines that have an anti-inflammatory effect. Most often these are steroid preparations.
4. Glucocorticosteroids.

With dirofilariasis, you can use not only pharmaceutical sedatives, but also collections of herbs that are not capable of causing complications. It should be taken into account that the patient can not refuse surgery because after a while his condition can greatly deteriorate.