It turns out that the presence of parasites in the brain is not such a rare occurrence in medical practice as it might seem at first glance. The diseases they cause are considered especially dangerous, and the consequences are very sad. The success of treatment depends on the stage of the identified disease. The wrong therapy leads to the death of the individual.
How parasites get into the human brain
There is a whole chain that starts in the external environment and ends in the brain:
- The larva enters the intestine from the environment. Under the influence of enzyme substances, it is released from the shell and eats through the intestinal wall.
- Further, the parasite penetrates into the circulating blood and lymph.
- With the bloodstream, the helminth spreads throughout the body, including the brain.
Diseases caused by helminths
Unfortunately, pathologies caused by parasites in the human brain are diagnosed only in the later stages. Symptoms that bother the individual are manifested in the form of constant fatigue,headache. People simply do not pay attention to them and delay the visit to the doctor, losing precious time. Parasites do not travel chaotically in the brain; they form bubbles-foci, the size of which is no larger than the size of a walnut. They live in them. The following ailments are often diagnosed:
Cysticercosis - tapeworm larvae are considered the culprits of this condition. Parasites penetrate into the brain in seventy percent of cases of infection with this helminth. Parasites live in so-called blisters called cysticerci
They are located in the cortex, pia mater, and also in the cerebrospinal fluid of the ventricles. You can become infected by eating improperly cooked pork meat.
Echinococcosis or otherwise it is called alveococcosis of the human brain. According to medical statistics, such a pathology develops in only two percent of all cases of tapeworm infection. In a patient, capsules are formed in the brain, containing one or more compartments, in which the parasite lives. The formation of such capsules contributes to the occurrence of inflammatory and tumor processes. The medulla softens in places where there are capsules. Treatment is by surgical intervention. Otherwise, death occurs
Causes of diseases
The causes of cysticercosis and echinococcosis are different. The causative agent of the first disease is the larva of the tapeworm. The development of the disease occurs after the ingestion of eggsparasite in the digestive tract through unwashed food or dirty hands.
The occurrence of echinococcosis is provoked by tapeworms that have entered the body of an individual. The parasite enters through human consumption of infected meat.
Signs of cysticercosis
The parasites in the brain that cause cysticercosis cause the following syndromes:
- Mental - the patient has emotional instability, excitement is replaced by depression, frequent mood swings. Delusions and hallucinations occur with deep brain damage. Orientation and memory are disturbed in some cases.
- Toxic - intoxication is manifested by nausea, vomiting, fever, headaches and weakness.
- Bruns - it is characterized by a forced position of the head, vomiting, severe headache that occurs sporadically. Breathing and heartbeat are disturbed. In rare cases, the patient may lose consciousness.
- Neurological - cellular nerves are affected. As a result, there are paresis, impaired speech, convulsive epileptic seizures, a feeling of crawling all over the body. The development of status epilepticus is not excluded.
- Hypertensive-hydrocephalic - caused by the pressure of bubbles on the brain. As a result, the patient has tinnitus, impaired vision, strabismus, and headaches.
Symptoms of alveococcosis (echinococcosis)
The clinical picture of alveococcosis caused by parasites in the brain is as follows:
- vomit;
- vision problems;
- epileptic seizures;
- muscle weakness;
- depression;
- hallucinations;
- nonsense;
- dementia.
Other parasitic diseases
Neurological diseases, neoplasms in the spinal cord and brain are caused by the Toxoplasma parasite. The disease affects both the neurons of the spinal cord and the brain, causing their death. As a result, the individual has polyneuropathy. The growth of daughter Toxoplasma leads to the formation of a tumor.
Helminth larvae also contribute to the development of brain pathologies. With the penetration of parasites into the brain, the photo of which is presented in the article, the individual shows signs of damage to the central nervous system - paralysis, epileptic seizures, constant headaches. In the capillaries of the brain of people prone to neurological pathologies, larvae of parasites such as toxocara, roundworms, and stronglids were found. A cluster of them:
- near the outer membranes of the brain contributes to the development of meningoencephalitis;
- in the depths of the cerebral sulci - convulsions, seizures, paralysis, loss of consciousness;
- near the auditory or optic nerve - deafness and blindness.
Parasites in the human brain
The main part of helminths penetrates into the brain tissue by getting larvae or eggs with blood flow under the skull. Some parasites die immediately, while others develop and grow, causing serious abnormal processes in the human body. Among them:
- Amoeba - you can get infected not only by violating hygiene rules, but also while swimming in rivers and lakes. Without treatment, the disease caused by amoebas ends in death.
- Tape. With improper cooking of meat, worms enter the human body, including the brain. As a result, infection of the porcine-type tapeworm or echinococcus occurs.
- Toxoplasmosis - the full development of this microorganism is possible only in the body of a cat. An individual is an intermediate host. Infection is carried out when the rules of personal hygiene are not observed.
- Ascaris - These parasites usually attack the intestines.
However, they also feel good in other organs of the individual, including brain tissue.
Common symptoms of parasites in the brain
For a long period the disease is asymptomatic. The severity of the clinical picture depends on the damage to the brain of the individual. The following are the signs of the disease that appear when helminths penetrate the brain tissue:
- deterioration of visual acuity and hearing;
- epileptic seizures;
- apathy;
- disorders of a psychomotor nature;
- fatigue;
- depressive state;
- constant nausea, vomiting;
- hallucinations;
- hyperexcitability;
- drowsy.
In a neglected state, paralysis develops, paresis of the limbs, disorientation in space.
Pharmacotherapy
For the treatment of diseases caused byparasites living in the human brain, medicines are recommended that help to eliminate both helminths and toxic substances. According to practicing doctors, the following drugs are recognized as the most effective:
"Mebendazole", "Vermox" - have a wide spectrum of action. Deplete glycogen stores in the tissues of parasites, slow down the production of ATP, interfere with the synthesis of cellular tubulin
- "Praziquantel", "Biltricid" - contribute to the death of helminths.
- "Albendazole", "Nemozol" - inhibit egg-laying and development of parasite larvae.
All of the above antihelminthic drugs are toxic, destroying the individual's brain, liver and kidneys. After treatment with these drugs, rehabilitative therapy is required using natural remedies of the following drugs:
- "Vitanorm".
- Fomidan.
- Baktrum.
- Maxipharm.
- "Tsimed".
Natural preparations help cleanse the body, including the brain, from various parasites. As a result, the degree of intoxication decreases, stress resistance and efficiency increase, and the immune system strengthens. The doctor selects the course of treatment individually.
Prevention measures
In order to prevent the penetration of parasites into the human brain, precautions must be observed:
- Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating.
- Exposureregular check-ups of pets, as well as giving anti-helminths.
- Do not drink water without cleaning or boiling.
- Meat and fish should be cooked before being eaten.
- Wash hands with soap after visiting the sanitary room.
- Do not come into contact with stray animals.
- Regularly do wet cleaning.
Conclusion
The brain of an individual is considered the most impregnable place for pathogenic bacteria. There is a protector on the way to it - this is the blood-brain barrier. However, parasites that have entered the brain by detours are known to cause serious illnesses: neurocysticercosis (common in Asia, Latin America and Central Africa), primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (very rarely diagnosed), toxoplasmosis (especially dangerous for pregnant women and individuals with low immunity). For diagnosis, CT, MRI, allergological and serological blood tests are performed. Surgical treatment is used to remove foci of parasites.
