How do parasites come about

Many diseases of the human body are caused by the food we eat. Snakes are creatures that live in damp and dark places, and they carry many pathogens in their bodies. People who eat snake meat are prone to parasitic infections. The snails, crabs, and prawns that we usually eat all live in water and carry many parasites in their bodies. We should eat less of these foods and make sure they are cooked before eating.

1. Are the snake gallbladder and snake blood mentioned in the news the cause of the patient's parasitic disease?

What foods may cause parasitic diseases?

Humans cannot live without animal food, but many meats, aquatic products and other foods carry parasitic pathogens. Medically, parasitic diseases caused by eating raw or undercooked foods containing infectious parasites are called foodborne parasitic diseases. The patient in the news said that he liked to eat raw snake gall and snake blood, which is also one of the high-risk foods that may cause parasitic diseases. In addition to snakes, river crabs, shrimps, snails, frogs, loaches and some freshwater fish, aquatic plants; pork, beef, mutton and other animal foods may carry parasitic pathogens. If you eat freshwater fish and meat carrying parasitic pathogens, you may get parasitic diseases.

2. Can plants be a source of parasites?

Water chestnut, one of the fruits we often eat, may carry ginger flukes. Some aquatic plants, such as water chestnuts, water caltrops, and wild rice stems, may also carry parasites, but compared with animals, parasites only attach to the surface of aquatic plants. It should be noted that some people are in the habit of biting off the skin of water chestnuts with their teeth when eating them. This bad habit poses a safety hazard. Soaking and washing these foods before eating is one of the effective ways to remove parasites, and eating them cooked is the safest approach. In addition, water sources, especially raw water in the wild, may also be contaminated by parasites. We remind you that wild water sources, especially those in tropical and subtropical areas, should not be consumed directly.

3. How do parasites get under the skin?

In which parts of the human body can it parasitize?

After food carrying parasites is eaten by humans, it enters the small intestine through the digestive system, and then penetrates into the human body's various organs, brain or epidermis through the capillaries of the small intestine. Some parasites, such as Paragonimiasis, are migratory and cannot develop into adults in the human body, but the larvae can migrate in the human body and cause tunnel-like changes. Parasites generally like to roam in soft, fatty subcutaneous areas such as the abdomen, chest, armpits, and genitals.

4. What kind of harm do parasites cause to the human body?

Parasites live in the cells, tissues or cavities of the host and cause a series of damage, which is seen not only in the adult parasites but also in the larvae. For example, the substances needed for parasites to grow, develop and reproduce in the human body mainly come from the host. The more parasites there are, the more nutrients they take away. Parasites can cause damage or compression to the areas where they parasitize and their surrounding tissues and organs, such as causing pleural effusion, peritoneal effusion, liver cirrhosis, etc. The secretions, excretions and decomposition products of dead parasites are all toxic to the host. In addition, parasites often induce hypersensitivity reactions in the host and cause tissue damage. This is also one of the pathogenic effects of parasites. Therefore, the parasites under the skin are not the most terrible ones. Some parasites can even reach the eyeballs and brain, endangering life.

5. How to avoid parasites in food?

Most of the parasites that live in foods such as meat are invisible to the naked eye. To avoid eating foods containing parasites, you must follow two principles: first, do not eat or eat less unfamiliar foods. Animal foods such as snakes and civets that are not on your daily table are more likely to carry parasites. It is recommended that you do not have a "curiosity mentality" in your diet, and do not choose "new", "strange" or "weird" foods. Common foods are enough to supplement your daily nutritional needs. Second, only eat "cooked food". Especially for animal foods such as meat, it is recommended to heat process them until they are thoroughly cooked before eating. Eating them raw or processing them until they are half-cooked are practices that pose safety risks. Whether raw food such as sashimi can be eaten depends on whether its breeding environment and processing process are safe and up to standard.

6. How to identify whether there are parasites in your body?

What to do if you have parasites?

After reading the above content, some readers may panic: I have also eaten sashimi and raw snails, so do I already have parasites in my body? This still depends on the clinical manifestations, that is, whether the corresponding symptoms appear.

For example, the patient in the news had subcutaneous masses, shortness of breath, or pain in the chest, abdomen, head, fever and weakness. Some patients with headache and fever may think they just have a common cold and miss the best time to see a doctor. Because different parasitic diseases have different clinical manifestations, it is recommended that you go to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment in time if you feel unwell. Moreover, treating parasitic diseases is not just about “taking two pills to kill the worms in your stomach.” You need to go to a specialized hospital such as Beijing Friendship Hospital for timely treatment and get examined and treated under the doctor’s advice.