Diphyllobothriasis - symptoms

Everyone knows that fish is a source of useful fatty acids and phosphorus. But its use is fraught with danger under the name of diphyllobothriasis - the symptoms of the disease are not always clearly expressed, while the activity of parasites continues around the clock, causing irreparable harm to the digestive system, especially the intestines.

The causative agent of diphyllobothriasis

This invasion is provoked by a worm, which is called a wide ribbon - Diphyllobothrium latum. Its life cycle occurs with the change of three hosts. First the eggs of the parasite enter the reservoir from the external environment, where progression to the coradice. This form lives from 1 to 12 days, depending on the temperature of the water. After swallowing, the first host (intermediate), the crustacean of the order of copepods, the parasite develops to the next larval stage - procercoid. During the existence of this worm penetrates into the tissues of the crustacean and the cavity of its body. Crayfish, in turn, are the ration of some predatory fish (pike, burbot, perch, pike, zander and others). In their organism, the causative agent of helminthic invasion develops to the final larval stage - the plerocercoid. The maturity of the specimen of worms is reached already in the body of the third host, carnivores or humans.

How can a person become infected with diphyllobothriasis?

There are two ways of infection with the described organism. Most often, infection occurs orally, with the use of raw, insufficiently thermally processed fish, as well as freshly salted caviar. It is also possible to infect through knives, hands and utensils, which was used to cut or prepare contaminated fish.

It is important to note that domestic animals, particularly dogs, are very susceptible to diphyllobothriosis, and very rarely cats. But a person can not get infected from them, since the pathogen must pass through all the indicated stages of development with intermediate hosts.

Diagnosis of diphyllobothriasis in humans and signs of disease

The main informative method of investigation is the analysis of feces for the presence of broad-taped eggs. It is important to remember that they appear in the fecal masses 5-6 weeks after direct infection, so it is better to carry out the diagnosis twice.

Also, with diphyllobothriasis, a blood test is performed. This disease provokes the following changes in the biological fluid:

As for clinical manifestations of pathology, they are rarely clearly pronounced. As a rule, the symptomatology is weak or absent, especially during the incubation period (from 20 to 60 days).

With the progression of the disease, the following symptoms can be observed:

In the absence of timely treatment, diphyllobothriosis leads to a strong vitamin B12 deficiency in the body, which is fraught with such symptoms:

Also affects the nervous system: