Parasitic lesions are a fairly common problem. Pathological worms and other organisms often penetrate the tissues of humans and animals. In most cases, they parasitize in the intestine, but often spread to other organ systems. And sometimes when viewed from patients, worms are found in the eyes.
Of course, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the causes and various symptoms of parasitic ailments, because the sooner they are diagnosed, the easier and faster the treatment will be. So in what cases tissue damage is possible and can worms be seen in the eyes of a person with the naked eye? How do parasites enter the body and is it possible to protect oneself from such infections? Answers to these questions are important for many patients who have encountered a similar problem.
Worms in the eyes: photo and brief information
As you know, there are a huge number of varieties of parasites. Most of them after entering the human body settle in the intestine. Nevertheless, these organisms multiply very quickly, which means that eggs and larvae often migrate to other organs, in particular, the liver, lungs, and epithelial tissues of the skin. Sometimes when examining a patient, worms are found under the eyes - they live in the skin layers, since there are many small capillaries, thanks to which the parasites receive a sufficient amount of nutrients.
Immediately it is worth saying that it is impossible to see the worm (or another parasite) with the naked eye - as a rule, they can be examined after surgical removal.
Clinic of the disease and some additional information
Many patients are interested in the question of what worms can live in the eyes of a person, because there are hundreds of varieties of these parasites. There are many species that can spread outside the digestive tract, but some can be distinguished. In particular, in medical practice, an invasion of tissues around the eyes by chain, echinococcus, opisthorchis, and roundworms is often recorded.
It is worth saying that the skin in the region of the visual organs is not the most “favorite” habitat of parasites. However, there are enough blood vessels and, accordingly, essential nutrients. Worm eggs can enter directly into the eye tissue from the external environment (this is observed, for example, in fishermen, since it is fish that are intermediate or final hosts of parasites). On the other hand, larvae can spread along with blood flow. It is also worth saying that pets can be a source of infection - yes, worms in a dog’s eyes are also sometimes diagnosed. According to studies, most larvae are not able to complete the full course of development in peri-ocular tissues and die. Those who manage to survive provoke a long-term chronic disease.
Worms in the eyes: symptoms and signs
Of course, first of all, you need to deal with the symptoms. Symptoms of the disease directly depend on the degree of invasion and the stage of development of the larvae. As a rule, a few days after the invasion, itching and burning in the eyes appear . Nevertheless, these symptoms quickly disappear, without causing any suspicion and the patient.
After a few weeks, you can notice changes in the work of the whole organism. Patients often complain of chills and general weakness, and upon examination, you can find an increase in lymph nodes.
Once in the region of the organs of vision, the worm begins to multiply and feed, thereby affecting the mucous membrane. Minor hemorrhages also occur - red eyes are considered one of the symptoms . Worms in the tissues provoke an allergic reaction, which is accompanied by swelling, pain, pain, and increased sensitivity to light.
Along the edge of the eyelid, small scales are often formed, which, if untreated, suppurate - ulcers form in their place, which can become a gateway for bacterial and fungal infections. Patients with similar parasitic infestations suffer from persistent conjunctivitis. The skin around the eyes also swells and often turns red. In the presence of such symptoms, you should consult a specialist as soon as possible.
Cysticercosis and its features
This disease develops against the background of the penetration of pork tapeworm into the body . This is a small flat helminth, the body length of which rarely exceeds 2-3 mm. The larva of the parasite, as a rule, enters the body due to unwashed hands or eating dirty fruits and vegetables. Under the influence of gastric juice, the larval membrane collapses, releasing thousands of eggs, which, together with the blood stream, spread throughout the body.
Despite the fact that most of the eggs are fixed in the nervous system, some of them penetrate the muscles and eyes. Such helminths live in the vitreous tissue of the eye. Symptoms, by the way, are very characteristic. Patients suffer from conjunctivitis, uveitis, and retinitis. If untreated, serious complications are possible, including atrophy of the eyeball.
Eye damage against opisthorchiasis
An opisthorchiasis is a disease that is associated with the ingestion of a hepatic trematode in the body. This is a small nematode, the head and abdomen of which are equipped with special suction cups. The intermediate hosts of the parasite are mollusks and fish, after which the larvae can enter the human body and large animals.
Flukes affect the choroid of the eye, which is accompanied by uveitis, chorioretinitis, keratitis. Often, against the background of invasion, inflammation of the optic nerve develops, which is very dangerous.
Ophthalmomiasis: characteristic of the disease
This disease is associated with invasion of fly larvae in the eye tissue. It is worth saying that larvae rarely develop precisely in human tissues, therefore, as a rule, they die quite quickly. Nevertheless, the development of insect larvae can provoke serious consequences and affect vision.
When an egg is introduced into the tissue (usually on the eyelids) a bulge is formed that resembles a boil. The skin in this place swells and turns red, and as the disease develops, a solid nodule forms inside. Symptoms include allergic reactions and conjunctivitis. If complete development takes place in human tissues, then patients can feel the movement of larvae under the skin, and sometimes even observe it in the mirror.
Echinococcosis: how the disease proceeds
Echinococcus is a small parasite that lives in the human intestines. Nevertheless, in some cases, his eggs with blood flow spread throughout the body, often reaching the eye tissues. Here, echinococcus forms around itself a kind of cyst, inside of which the main stages of development of this organism go.
Symptoms depend on which region the parasite has settled in. Sometimes the appearance of a tumor can be seen on the tissues of the eyelids - patients complain of discomfort during blinking and inability to fully close the eyelids. As a result, dryness of the mucous membrane of the eye is observed , which leads not only to the appearance of discomfort, but also to inflammation and secondary infection. Sometimes a cyst, growing, presses on the eyeball.
Eye damage in filariasis
Dinofilariasis is a rather rare disease for our region. Residents of tropical regions are exposed to it. It is believed that the filar larva gets under the skin during a mosquito bite. Then it begins to migrate - in a day the microorganism under the skin overcomes from 10 to 15 cm.
In the early stages, the symptoms are not too pronounced. Some people report mild skin itching, while others report a small “pimple” and a foreign body sensation. Sometimes the parasite stops in the tissues of the eyes. Symptoms of infection appear, as a rule, in the event that the larva dies - in the subcutaneous or ocular tissues, suppuration and the inflammatory process begin. If the parasite has managed to penetrate deep into the eyeball, then there is a risk of completely losing the eye.
Diagnosis of the disease: what examinations should be carried out?
Of course, in this case, a thorough diagnosis is necessary. Based on the patient's complaints, the doctor may suggest the presence of helminthic invasion, but a full examination is necessary in order to make a final diagnosis and determine the type of parasite.
After a physical examination and medical history, the doctor recommends that the patient pass stool and blood samples for analysis (if the person has worms in the eyes, it is highly likely that they live in other organ systems, in particular the digestive system). Dermatological examinations of the skin are carried out in those places where the parasites are supposed to live. Sometimes microscopic examination of skin tissue samples helps to detect larvae.
Modern treatments
After a thorough diagnosis, the doctor can draw up an effective treatment regimen, since it all depends on the type of pathogen, the patient’s body condition, the presence of complications and other diseases.
If worms in the eyes were found in a person, then the use of anthelmintic drugs is necessary. Such drugs give almost instant results - parasites begin to die. On the other hand, these drugs are often poorly tolerated by the body, so you should come to terms with the possibility of developing adverse reactions.
Quite often, the patient has an allergy, the appearance of which is associated both with the vital activity of the parasites and with the use of powerful drugs. Therefore, the doctor must include antihistamines in the treatment regimen. With intense allergic reactions, hormonal agents may also be appropriate.
The treatment regimen is supplemented with antibacterial drugs that negatively affect the vital activity of worms, while destroying pathogenic bacteria (often their activity increases against the background of parasitic invasion).
In the most severe cases, surgical intervention is indicated. The purpose of the operation is the removal of parasites, the purification of tissues from purulent masses and the restoration of normal lymph flow. The procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia.
Preventive measures: how to avoid invasion?
Worms in the eyes, as well as in any other part of the body, are an unpleasant phenomenon. Of course, with proper treatment, the outcome of the disease is favorable. Nevertheless, it is much easier to avoid infection than to undergo lengthy and difficult therapy. Experts recommend following simple rules:
- Of course, the main means of prevention is to observe the rules of personal hygiene. This is especially true for babies who do not always wash their hands before eating, rub their eyes with dirty hands, come into contact with toys, etc. Worms in the eyes of children, according to statistics, are often diagnosed.
- Since parasites enter the human body along with food, you should not forget that vegetables and fruits must be thoroughly washed before eating, and meat and fish - products that require appropriate heat treatment.
- Pets are often carriers or intermediate hosts of parasitic organisms, and sometimes infection of a person can occur due to contact, for example, with a cat or dog. Therefore, it is important to monitor the cleanliness of pets and periodically give them preventive anthelmintic agents.
- If a patient is diagnosed with a helminthic disease, then anthelmintic drugs should be taken not only to him, but also to all people living with him in the house (for prevention).