The term "allergy" refers to a change in the body's response to repeated exposure to a specific irritant.Allergic diseases have become common, especially recently.Almost half of the world's population is believed to suffer from some type of allergy.Its manifestations can be seen in people of all ages.
What causes allergies?
Heredity is very important in the development of allergic diseases, but it is important to understand that it is not the disease itself that is inherited, but the characteristics of the immune response that, under certain conditions and influences, lead to the development of allergies.
Rashes, severe itching, and bronchiectasis spasms are considered the most common symptoms of parasitic allergy.
Some factors that lead to allergies:
- Pathology of maternal pregnancy.
- Bad habits such as smoking.
- Malnutrition.
- Frequently suffer from respiratory diseases.
- There are chronic infectious lesions in the body.
- From the digestive system: biliary dysmotility, reflux, and helminthiasis.
So the question is: “Can worms cause allergies?” The answer is yes.
What parasites can cause allergic reactions?It turns out that many worms exhibit this, including roundworms, pinworms, and echinococci.
What happened?
The negative impact of parasites is due to their direct impact on the intestinal mucosa and their impact on the immune system.During the acute phase of a parasitic infection (the first few weeks), the body's response to the parasite is nonspecific; in the future, the body's response may vary depending on the type of worm, its location, and the intensity of the invasion.
Worm waste products and toxins lead to activation of immunocompetent cells, overproduction of immunoglobulins (especially IgE), and formation of immune complexes.
They cause mechanical damage directly at the site of the worm and cause a local inflammatory response through attachment organs (hooks, suckers).Parasitic cysts, cysticerci - worm larvae - lodge in internal organs and can mechanically compress the latter.As the worms consume the host's nutrients, metabolic processes in the body are disrupted.Worms can neutralize digestive enzymes and interfere with absorption.
Allergies are caused by the parasite's toxic waste products, which have a suppressive effect on the body's immune system.
Parasites have a suppressive effect on the immune system, releasing enzymes that break down antibodies or disrupt immune-active cell interactions.Immunosuppression, in turn, can lead to chronicity of this process and even more pronounced debilitation of the body.
In this case, the parasite avoids the host's immune response in every possible way.For example, certain worms exploit the phenomenon of antigenic mimicry when they have antigens on their surface that are similar to those of the affected organism.The immune system then stops detecting the presence of foreign genetic material.It can also cause the immune system to attack one's own body, causing a person to develop an autoimmune disease.
Immunological details
In the acute phase, the immune system response is dominated by immediate hypersensitivity reactions (atopic reactions).Occurs immediately upon contact with antigen.
First contact with worms results in the production of IgE by B lymphocytes.These immunoglobulins have high affinity for receptors located on the surface of mast cells and basophils.The latter contains a large number of particles containing histamine (one of the main mediators of allergic reactions) as well as other biologically active substances: tryptase, chymase, heparin.Immunoglobulin E attaches to the surface of mast cells and basophils, sensitizing them.This happens not only at the site of invasion (in the case of worms, the intestines), but also throughout the body as the antibodies enter the bloodstream.
Upon next contact with an allergen, mast cells and basophils degranulate, releasing their granular contents.
The main biological effects produced are as follows:
- Smooth muscle contraction.
- Dilate blood vessels and increase their permeability.
- Cell damage.
As large amounts of these mediators rapidly enter the bloodstream, the following may occur:
- Itchy skin.
- edema.
- diarrhea.
- Bronchospasm.
- Blood pressure drops.
The influence of these mediators leads to the appearance of symptoms of various allergic diseases.As helminthiasis progresses into the chronic stage, the worms change their antigenic structure.Not only is IgE produced, but a large number of other classes of immunoglobulins are produced, which mediate other types of body responses, including immune complex responses - in which damage to the body's cells is caused by immune complexes circulating in the blood.The same mechanism may underlie the development of autoimmune processes.
Expression
In addition to the characteristic symptoms of parasitic infection, there are also symptoms of allergies:
- Increased body temperature.
- rash.
- edema.
- Swollen lymph nodes.
- Joint and muscle pain.
- Blood tests showed leukocytosis, eosinophilia, and basophilia.
- Immunological studies: Increased IgE and other immunoglobulins.
- Pulmonary system: cough, pneumonia, pleurisy, bronchospasm.
- Digestive organs: abdominal pain, indigestion.
- Enlarged spleen and liver
diagnosis
If you suffer from allergies or an autoimmune disease, you must remember that this may be caused by a worm infection.For a correct diagnosis, it is important to collect a thorough allergy history as well as the following information:
- Fecal cystoscopy.
- Stool bacteriological examination.
- Serological studies looking for antiparasitic antibodies.
- Intradermal diagnostic testing using parasitic allergens (e.g., Kasoni intradermal test for diagnosis of hydatid disease).
Treatment and Prevention
Eliminating parasites can completely eliminate allergic diseases or slow down their course.
Therefore, if the cause of your allergy is worms, antiparasitic treatment is very important.It is part of elimination therapy – eliminating allergens from the body.The following groups of medications can be used to stop the disease from getting worse, move it into remission, and maintain it:
- Glucocorticoids.
- Antihistamines.
- Beta agonists.
- Membrane stabilizer.
Exactly what product is needed and the dosage depends on the type of allergy and its severity.
At the same time, it is important to correct the changes in the body that accompany parasitic diseases: vitamin deficiencies, hypovitaminosis, anemia, etc., as well as to follow a hypoallergenic diet.The latter includes the exclusion of highly allergenic foods: milk, eggs, bacon, citrus fruits, coffee, alcohol, sweets, etc… The characteristics of the diet are determined by the clinical situation of the allergy.
Preventing allergies caused by parasitic infections starts with preventing, identifying and treating helminthiasis infections.