Eye parasites are round and flat worms, less often annelids and spiny worms, fly larvae and mosquito. Having penetrated the human body, they gradually spread through it, damaging tissues and organs. Most of them are capable of parasitizing in human eyes, provoking the development of ophthalmic helminthiasis.
Clinically, these serious pathologies manifest themselves with pain, burning sensation, itching, visual disturbances and tearing. Immediately after diagnosis, surgical and (or) conservative treatment is performed.
Diseases caused by parasites in the eye
More than 50 causative agents of ophthalmic helminthiasis in humans are known. Some penetrate directly through the mucosa, damaging the conjunctiva or tear ducts. Others infect the eyeball from the inside, entering it with a flow of blood from the intestine or liver. Parasites begin to actively grow and multiply, laying eggs, which leads to partial or complete loss of vision.
The most commonly diagnosed ophthalmic helminthiasis:
- onchocerciasis- helminthiasis caused by parasitism in the human body of Onchocerca nematodes (oncocercias). Its specific symptom is the "cloudiness" of the cornea of the eye;
- ophthalmomiasisis a parasitic disease of the eye and its appendages, which occurs when the larvae of flies or horseflies enter. In severe cases of myiasis, retinal detachment or optic nerve atrophy is possible;
- heartworm- helminthiasis that develops when the filamentous nematode larva invades the eyeball. The movements of the worms cause a burning sensation, severe pain and itching;
- sparganosisis a human disease of the group of cestodoses caused by tapeworm larvae of the genus Spirometra. Infection occurs mainly through the consumption of meat from wild animals;
- toxocariasisis a chronic infectious disease caused by the larvae of the toxocara nematode. The source of the infection is a sick animal (usually a dog);
- toxoplasmosisis a chronic parasitic invasion caused by intracellular protozoa (toxoplasma). Their vital activity is accompanied by the constant release of allergens and toxins;
- coenurosisis a predominantly chronic disease that occurs after helminth infection of the cestodosis group of the multi-headed Taenia species. A person becomes infected from contact with dogs;
- cysticercosis- a disease caused by a pig tapeworm larva that can lead to decreased vision and blindness;
- gnathostomosis: 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 eyes;
- echinococcosis of the eyesis a fairly common disease. It is characterized by the formation of parasitic cysts in the orbital zone. Echinococcosis develops as a result of ingesting the parasite's eggs with food or water.
- ocular demodicosis, caused by the activation of mites living in the sebaceous glands of the eyelashes.
- Trichinosisis a parasitic disease that develops after the introduction of spiral Trichinella nematodes into the human body.
It is not the sexually mature individuals and larvae that are dangerous to the eyes, but the toxins they release. They are the ones that cause swelling of the eyelids and redness of the mucous membranes.
Symptoms of the ocular parasite
Each helminth invasion has its own specific symptoms. But they also have many common signs of damage to mucous membranes and deeper eye structures.
In the initial 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;
- headache localized in the temples and back of the head;
- slight increase in local temperature.
Young children and weak people develop symptoms of general body intoxication. The temperature rises above subfebrile values (37, 1-38, 0 ° C), the appetite decreases due to bouts of nausea and vomiting.
Unlike many infections caused by viruses, bacteria and fungi, the course of helminth invasions is accompanied by signs of damage to other organs. These are migratory muscle pains, dry skin, retarded hair growth, and indigestion.
How to get rid of parasites from the eyes
Diptera larvae, protozoa, ticks and other pathogens of parasitic diseases can rapidly destroy eye structures. Therefore, treatment is carried out immediately after the diagnosis. When choosing therapeutic tactics, doctors take into account the type of infectious agents, the severity of the course of the disease and the severity of symptoms.
If an infected person goes to doctors with advanced helminthic invasion, conservative treatment often does not work.
Parasitic worms must be removed surgically, opening and draining the abscesses according to generally accepted rules.
And then follows a long period of rehabilitation with the use of anthelmintic drugs.
Folk remedies
Long-term use of powerful modern anthelmintic drugs is also often ineffective in such 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 tansy, nor centaury, nor bitter wormwood are capable of dealing with eye invasion.
The use of decoctions and infusions slightly relieves the symptoms, so the patient postpones the visit to the doctor. Meanwhile, the inflammatory and destructive processes intensify and spread in his eyes. They predispose to retinal detachment, total or partial blindness.
Drugs
Various treatment regimens have been developed for ophthalmic diseases caused by worms. Individual therapy is carried out only by specially trained parasitologists. The fact is that after the death of helminths and their decomposition, intraocular toxic-allergic reactions can develop. Only an experienced doctor can minimize their consequences.
The following drugs are used to kill parasitic worms:
- anti-nematode;
- anti-cestodial;
- antitrematode;
- broad spectrum drugs.
For external agents, special solutions for rinsing the eyes are used. Antihistamines should be included in therapeutic regimens and, if necessary, antibiotics and antifungals.
Preventive measures
Myiasis infection occurs when the mucous membrane of the eyes comes into contact with flies, midges, horseflies. Therefore, infectious disease doctors recommend using repellents in the form of aerosols, gels, ointments. Smoke bombs with insecticides scare off insects quite well in nature.
But the eggs and larvae of parasitic worms are introduced into the human body mainly with food. They are unstable to the effects of temperature: they die if heated and boiled. It is also necessary to wash the fruits and vegetables brought from the market and store them well.
Parasitic eye diseases cannot be diagnosed and treated independently.
They are often disguised as bacterial, viral and fungal infections. And only as they progress, their distinctive features appear.
A timely visit to a doctor will help save sight, avoid loss of it.