Eye parasites are round and flat worms, less often annelids and spiny-headed worms, larvae of flies and mosquitoes. After entering 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 severe pathologies are manifested by pain, a burning sensation, 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 responsible for ophthalmic helminthiasis in humans are known. Some penetrate directly through the mucous membrane, damaging the conjunctiva or tear ducts. Others infect the eyeball from the inside, moving through it with a flow of blood from the intestines or liver. Parasites begin to grow and multiply actively, laying eggs, which leads to partial or complete loss of vision.
The most frequently diagnosed ophthalmic helminthiasis:
- onchocerciasis- helminthiasis caused by the parasitism of Onchocerca nematodes (onchocercias) in the human body. Its specific symptom is the "cloudiness" of the cornea of the eye;
- ophthalmomyasisis 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 cestodosis group caused by larvae of tapeworms of the genus Spirometra. The infection mainly occurs when the meat of wild animals is eaten;
- toxocariasisis a chronic infectious disease caused by the larvae of the Toxocara roundworm. The source of the infection is a sick animal (usually a dog);
- toxoplasmosisis a chronic parasitic invasion caused by intracellular protozoa (toxoplasm). Their vital activity is accompanied by the constant release of allergens and toxins;
- coenurosisis a predominantly chronic disease that occurs after infection with helminths of the cestodosis group of the species Taenia multiceps. A person is infected through contact with dogs;
- cysticercosis- a disease caused by a pork tapeworm larva which can lead to reduced vision and blindness;
- gnatostomosis- the disease causes severe pain and often results in death. The worms that cause this disease more 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 area. Echinococcosis develops due to ingestion of 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 which develops after the introduction of Trichinella spirali 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 puffiness of the eyelids and redness of the mucous membranes.
Symptoms of the ocular parasite
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 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 intoxication of the body. The temperature exceeds 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, stunted hair growth and indigestion.
How to get rid of parasites from your eyes
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 agents, the severity of the course of the disease and the severity of symptoms.
If an infected person sees a doctor for an advanced helminthic invasion, conservative treatment often does not work.
Parasitic worms should be removed surgically - opening and draining abscesses according to generally accepted rules.
And then a long period of rehabilitation with the use of anthelmintic drugs follows.
Folk remedies
Even long-term use of modern strong anthelmintics is often ineffective for such diseases. Urgent surgical removal of larvae, eggs and sexually mature individuals is required.
And traditional medicine is totally powerless when the eyes are affected by helminths. Neither tansy, nor knapweed, nor bitter wormwood are able to cope with eye invasion.
The use of decoctions and infusions slightly alleviates the symptoms, so the patient postpones the visit to the doctor. During this time, inflammatory and destructive processes intensify and spread to his eyeballs. They predispose to retinal detachment, total or partial blindness.
Drugs
Different treatment regimens for ophthalmic diseases caused by worms have been developed. 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-nematodic;
- anti-cestodial;
- antitrematode;
- broad spectrum drugs.
For external agents, special solutions for rinsing the eyes are used. Antihistamines should be included in treatment regimens and, if necessary, antibiotics and antimycotics.
Preventive measures
Myiasis infection occurs when the mucous membrane of the eyes comes into contact with flies, midges and horseflies. Therefore, doctors specializing in infectious diseases advise the use of repellents in the form of aerosols, gels, ointments. Smoke bombs with insecticides scare off insects in nature quite well.
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 when heated and boiled. It is also necessary to wash the fruits and vegetables brought from the market and to preserve them well.
Parasitic eye diseases cannot be diagnosed and cured 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 the vision, prevent its loss.