Opisthorchiasis is a disease caused by parasitism in the body of flat worms of the genus Opisthorchis - Opisthorchis felineus and Opisthorchis viverrini. It is located on the territory of Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and in a number of Asian countries. Infectious opisthorchiasis can be caused by eating river fish that has not undergone sufficient heat treatment, most often, families of carp or fish products, as well as meat of fish-eating animals. As a rule, the ducts of the liver, gall bladder and pancreas are affected.
Common symptoms of opisthorchiasis
They start to manifest themselves in the course of the incubation period, which is 2 - 3 weeks, and begin, often, suddenly.
Here are the symptoms of opisthorchiasis observed at different stages of development:
- At an early stage, the symptoms can be erased: it is characterized first by a slight increase in temperature, with a rise to 38 ° C, the temperature can last for 1 to 2 weeks.
- With the course of the disease with moderate severity, the temperature rises to 39 ° C, and above, within 2-3 weeks. Urticaria eruptions, muscular and joint pains, sometimes vomiting and diarrhea.
- In an acute stage, headaches, insomnia, states of inhibition, or excitement begin. Symptomatology is similar to that of internal organs. Constant high temperature. In cases of liver damage, there may be pain in the liver, jaundice, enlarged lymph nodes, with damage to the digestive tract - nausea, vomiting, pain in the right upper quadrant, bloating, diarrhea.
Symptoms of opisthorchiasis in adults
Opisthorchiasis in adults takes place in a more acute form and manifests much more often, while in children the opisthorchiasis in the chronic phase affects the overall lag in physical development, and background signs: biliary dyskinesia, decreased appetite, poor sleep. Adults are more prone to infection, as we treat children's food more carefully. Also, opisthorchiasis is dangerous for all kinds of complications for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Signs of the opisthorchiasis
Opisthorchiasis causes chronic inflammation of the pancreas, gallbladder, and duodenum, which corresponds to the predominant zone of localization of the parasite. There is a symptomatology similar to that of the gallbladder:
- pain in the upper abdomen;
- nausea;
- intolerance to fatty foods;
- dryness and bitterness in the mouth.
With a prolonged course of the disease, depressive states, hypochondria, anxiety occur.
Opisthorhoz does not have specific characteristics inherent to him. Often they are confused with other diseases, or their seasonal exacerbations, for example, gastroduodenitis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis or hepatitis. Which, unfortunately, delayed the patient's visit to the doctor, and aggravated the transition of the disease to the chronic phase.
Chronic opisthorchiasis - symptoms
When the disease goes on for years, it can have a very diverse picture. Sometimes it lasts 10-20 years after infection, and causes chronic diseases of internal organs, for example, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatitis. Background features are:
- feeling of heaviness;
- decreased appetite;
- vomiting;
- pain in right side .
When there is a violation of gastric secretion, there are signs of gastritis, duodenitis, stomach and duodenal ulcers, in some cases - symptoms of cholecystitis, a variety of allergic reactions. Occasionally arise
Defeats of the nervous system provoke frequent depressive conditions, emotional disorders (frequent changes of mood), irritability, sleep disturbance.
Symptomatic signs of opisthorchiasis on the skin are also possible:
- hives;
- itching;
- angioedema;
- food allergy;
- rash.