The term "allergy" refers to the body's altered response to repeated exposure to a specific irritant.Allergic diseases are especially widespread recently.Almost half of the world's population is believed to suffer from some type of allergy.Its manifestations can be found in people of all ages.
What causes allergies?
Heredity is of great importance in the development of allergic diseases, but it is necessary to understand that it is not the disease itself that is hereditary, but the characteristics of the immune response that lead to the development of allergies under certain conditions and influences.
Rash, severe itching and bronchodilator spasms are considered the most common symptoms of parasite allergy.
Some factors that contribute to the development of allergies:
- Pathology of pregnancy in the mother.
- Smoking and other bad habits.
- Poor nutrition.
- Frequent respiratory diseases.
- The presence of chronic infection centers in the body.
- From the digestive system: biliary dyskinesia, reflux, as well as helminthosis.
So, to the question: "Can worms cause allergies?"The answer is definitely yes.
What parasites cause allergic reactions?It has been proven that many helminths manifest themselves in this regard, including roundworms, pinworms and echinococci.
What's going on?
The negative effect of parasites is related to both the direct effect on the intestinal mucosa and the effect on the immune system.In the acute phase of a parasitic infection ─ the first few weeks ─ the body reacts non-specifically to the parasite;in the future, the reaction of the organism may change depending on the type of helminth, its location and the intensity of invasion.
Worm waste products and toxins cause activation of immunocompetent cells, excessive production of immunoglobulins, especially IgE, and formation of immune complexes.
Directly where the worms are located, they cause mechanical damage and cause a local inflammatory reaction through additional organs: hooks, suction cups.Parasitic cysts located in internal organs, cysticerci ─ helminth larvae can mechanically squeeze the latter.Metabolic processes in the body are disrupted due to the helminth's use of the host's nutrients.Worms can neutralize digestive enzymes and interfere with absorption.
Allergies are caused by the toxic waste of parasites, which has a depressing effect on the human immune system.
Parasites have a suppressive effect on the immune system, releasing enzymes that break down antibodies or disrupting the interaction of immunocompetent cells.Immunosuppression, in turn, causes the process to become chronic and weaken the body even more sharply.
In this case, the parasite avoids the host's immune response in every possible way.For example, some worms use the phenomenon of antigenic mimicry, when antigens on their surface are similar to those of the infected organism.After that, the immune system stops detecting the presence of foreign genetic material.It can also cause the immune system to attack its own body, causing a person to develop an autoimmune disease.
Immunological characteristics
In the acute stage, the reaction of the immune system is predominant in the form of immediate sensitivity (atopic reaction).It develops immediately after contact with the antigen.
The first contact with worms leads to the production of IgE by B lymphocytes.These immunoglobulins have a high affinity for receptors located on the surface of mast cells and basophils.The latter contains a large amount of granules with histamine - one of the main mediators of allergic reactions ─ and other biologically active substances: tryptase, chymase, heparin.Immunoglobulin E binds to the surface of mast cells and basophils, thereby sensitizing them.This happens not only at the site of invasion (in the case of helminths, in the intestines), but throughout the body thanks to the introduction of antibodies into the general bloodstream.
Upon further contact with the allergen, degranulation of mast and basophilic cells occurs - the release of the contents of their granules.
Among the main biological effects, the following can be noted:
- Smooth muscle contraction.
- Expansion of blood vessels, increasing their permeability.
- Cell damage.
With the rapid entry of these mediators into the blood in large quantities, the following is possible:
- Itching of the skin.
- Edema.
- Diarrhea.
- Bronchospasm.
- Drop in blood pressure.
The effect of these mediators causes the appearance of symptoms of various allergic diseases.As helminthosis passes into the chronic stage, the worms change their antigenic structure.Not only IgE, but also many other classes of immunoglobulins are produced that mediate other types of body reactions, including the immune complex response - when immune complexes circulating in the blood damage the body's cells.The same mechanism can be the basis of the development of autoimmune processes.
Manifestations
Allergy symptoms, in addition to the symptoms typical of parasitic infections:
- Increase in body temperature.
- Skin rashes.
- Edema.
- Lymphadenopathy.
- Pain in joints and muscles.
- Blood tests revealed leukocytosis, eosinophilia, basophilia.
- Immunological study: increased IgE and other immunoglobulins.
- Pulmonary system: cough, pneumonia, pleurisy, bronchospasm.
- Digestive organs: abdominal pain, dyspepsia.
- Enlarged spleen and liver
Diagnostics
If you have allergies or autoimmune diseases, you should consider that this can be caused by a helminthic infection.For a correct diagnosis, a well-collected history of allergies is important, as well as the following:
- Coproocystoscopy.
- Bacteriological examination of feces.
- Serological studies with the search for antiparasitic antibodies.
- Intradermal diagnostic tests with parasite allergens (for example, the Kasoni intradermal test for the diagnosis of echinococcosis).
Treatment and prevention
Getting rid of parasitism can completely eliminate allergic disease or ease its course.
So, if the cause of allergy is helminths, antiparasitic treatment is very important.It is part of elimination therapy - it removes the allergen from the body.The exacerbation of the disease is stopped, goes into remission and is maintained by the use of the following drug groups:
- Glucocorticosteroids.
- Antihistamines.
- Beta agonists.
- Membrane stabilizing agents.
Exactly what products are needed and in what doses depends on the type and severity of the allergy.
At the same time, it is important to correct the accompanying changes in the body accompanied by parasitosis: hypo- and avitaminosis, anemia, and others, as well as to adhere to a hypoallergenic diet.The latter consists in excluding highly allergenic foods: milk, eggs, smoked meat, citrus fruits, coffee, alcohol, sweets, etc. The characteristics of the diet are determined by the clinical picture of the allergy.
The prevention of allergies caused by parasitic infestation will be, first of all, the prevention of infection with helminthiasis, its identification and treatment.