Worms in the eyes: causes and diagnostics

Parasitic lesions are a fairly common problem. Pathological worms and other organisms often penetrate into human and animal tissues. In most cases, they parasitize in the intestine, but often spread to other organ systems. And sometimes, when examined, patients have worms in their eyes. Of course, it is worth to get acquainted with the causes and different symptoms of parasitic ailments, because the sooner they are diagnosed, the easier and faster the therapy will be. So in what cases is it possible to damage tissues and can one see worms in the eyes of a person with the naked eye? How do parasites get into the body and can they protect themselves from such infections? Answers to these questions are important for many patients who have faced a similar problem.

Worms in the eyes: photo and brief information

As you know, there are a lot of varieties of parasites. Most of them after entering the human body settle in the intestine. Nevertheless, these organisms multiply very rapidly, which means that eggs and larvae often migrate to other organs, in particular, the liver, lungs, and epithelial skin tissues. Sometimes, when the patient is examined, worms under the eyes are found - they live in the skin layers, since there are many small capillaries due to which the parasites receive a sufficient amount of nutrients.

Immediately it is worth saying that you can not see the worm( or another parasite) with the naked eye - as a rule, they can be considered after surgical removal.

Clinic of the disease and some additional information

Many patients are interested in the question of which worms in the human eye can live, because there are hundreds of varieties of these parasites. There are many species that can spread beyond the organs of the digestive tract, but some can be identified. In particular, in medical practice, invasion of tissues around the eyes with chains, echinococcus, opisthorchiasis, ascarids is often recorded.

It should be said that the skin in the visual field is not the most "favorite" habitat for parasites. Nevertheless, there are enough blood vessels and, consequently, necessary nutrients. Eggs of worms can enter directly into the eye tissues from the external environment( this is observed, for example, in fishermen, since fish are intermediate or final hosts of parasites).On the other hand, the larvae can be carried along with the blood flow. It should also be said that the source of infection can be pets - yes, worms in the eyes of a dog are also sometimes diagnosed. According to the research, most of the larvae are unable to complete the full course of development in the eye-eyes and die. Those who manage to survive provoke a long-term chronic disease.

Worms in the eyes: symptoms and signs

Of course, the first thing you need to figure out 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. Nevertheless, these symptoms quickly disappear, not causing any suspicion and the patient.

In a few weeks you can see changes in the work of the whole organism. Patients often complain of chills and general weakness, and on examination you can find an increase in lymph nodes.

When entering the field of vision, the worm begins to multiply and feed, thereby damaging the mucous membrane. There are also minor hemorrhages - one of the symptoms is red eyes. Worms in the tissues provoke an allergic reaction, which is accompanied by swelling, cutting, pain, increased sensitivity to light.

On the edge of the century, small scales are often formed, which in the absence of treatment are suppressed - in their place ulcers are formed, which can become a gateway for bacterial and fungal infection. Patients with similar parasitic invasions suffer from persistent conjunctivitis. The skin around the eyes also swells and often turns red. If you have such symptoms, you need to see a specialist as soon as possible.

Cysticercosis and its features

This disease develops on the background of penetration into the body of a pork chain. This is a small flat helminth, whose body length rarely exceeds 2-3 mm. The larva of the parasite, as a rule, gets into the body due to unwashed hands or the use of dirty fruits and vegetables. Under the influence of gastric juice, the larva shell is destroyed, releasing thousands of eggs, which along with the blood flow are carried throughout the body.

Despite the fact that most eggs are fixed in the nervous system, some of them penetrate into 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. In the absence of treatment, serious complications are possible up to the atrophy of the eyeball.

Eye defeat in the background of opisthorchiasis

Opisthorchiasis refers to a disease that is associated with ingestion of the hepatic trematode. This is a small nematode, the head and abdomen of which is equipped with special suckers. 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: a characteristic of the disease

This disease is associated with the invasion of the eye tissues of larvae of flies. It should be said that larvae rarely develop in human tissues, so, as a rule, they die quite quickly. Nevertheless, the development of insect larvae can provoke serious consequences and affect the eyesight.

When implanting an egg in a tissue( usually on the eyelids) a bulge is formed that resembles a furuncle. The skin in this place swells and turns red, and as the disease develops inside a solid knot forms. Symptoms include allergic reactions and conjunctivitis. If in the human tissues there is a full development, then patients can feel the movement of the 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 intestine. Nevertheless, in some cases, his eggs with blood flow are carried throughout the body, often reaching the eye tissues. Here the echinococcus forms around itself a kind of cyst, within which the main stages of development of this organism pass.

Symptoms depend on the area in which the parasite has settled. Sometimes on the tissues of the century you can see the appearance of a tumor - patients complain of discomfort when blinking and the inability to completely close eyelids. As a result, dryness of the mucous membrane of the eye is observed, which leads not only to discomfort, but also to inflammation and secondary infection. Sometimes the cyst, growing stronger, presses on the eyeball.

Eye defeat in filariasis

Dinofilaria is a rare disease for our region. Residents of tropical regions are exposed to it. It is believed that the larva of the filaria falls under the skin during a mosquito bite. Further, it begins to migrate - for 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 a mild skin itch, while others note the appearance of a small "pimple" and the sensation of a foreign body. Sometimes the parasite stops in the eyes. Symptoms of infection appear, as a rule, in the event that the larva perishes - in the subcutaneous or ocular tissues begins suppuration and inflammation. 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 do you need?

Of course, in this case, a thorough diagnosis is necessary. Based on the patient's complaints, the physician can presume the presence of helminthic invasion, but a complete examination is necessary in order to make a definitive diagnosis and to determine the species of the parasite.

After physically examining and collecting an anamnesis, the doctor recommends that the patient be given samples of stool and blood for analysis( if a person has worms in his eyes, there is a high probability that they live in other organ systems, in particular, the digestive system).Dermatological examinations of the skin are carried out in those places where parasites presumably live. Sometimes microscopic examination of samples of skin tissue helps to detect the larvae.

Modern methods of treatment

After a thorough diagnosis, a doctor can make an effective treatment regimen, because everything depends on the type of pathogen, the patient's condition, the presence of complications and other diseases.

If a person has worms in his eyes, then anthelminthic drugs are needed. Such medicines give almost immediate results - parasites begin to die. On the other hand, these funds are often poorly tolerated by the body, so with the possibility of developing adverse reactions it is worth accepting.

Quite often the patient has an allergy, the appearance of which is associated with the vital activity of parasites, and with the use of powerful drugs. Therefore, in the treatment plan, the doctor necessarily includes antihistamines. With intensive allergic reactions, it may be expedient to take hormonal means.

The treatment scheme is supplemented with antibacterial drugs that adversely affect the vital activity of worms, while simultaneously destroying pathogenic bacteria( often their activity increases against parasitic infestation).

In the most severe cases, surgical intervention is indicated. The purpose of the operation is to remove parasites, purify tissues from purulent masses and restore normal lymph flow. The procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia.

Preventive measures: how to avoid invasion?

The worms in the eyes, as well as in any other part of the body - an unpleasant phenomenon. Of course, with properly conducted treatment, the outcome of the disease is favorable. Nevertheless, it is much easier to avoid infection than to undergo prolonged and severe therapy. Specialists recommend to follow simple rules:

• Of course, the main means of prevention is the observance of personal hygiene rules. This is especially true for toddlers who do not always wash their hands before eating, rub their eyes with dirty hands, contact toys, etc. Glistes in the eyes of children, according to statistics, are diagnosed quite often.
• As parasites enter the human body together with food, do not forget that before eating vegetables and fruits should be thoroughly washed, and meat and fish - products that require appropriate heat treatment.
• Pets are often carriers or intermediate hosts of parasitic organisms, and sometimes human infection 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 funds.
• If the patient is diagnosed with a helminth disease, anthelmintic drugs should be taken not only to him, but to all people living with him in the house( for prevention).