Arachnoentomoses
The content of the article:
- Causes and risk factors
- Forms of the disease
-
Symptoms
- Linguatulidoses
- Myriapodiases
- Arachnoses and acariases
- Entomoses
- Diagnostics
- Treatment
- Possible complications and consequences
- Prevention
Arachnoentomoses are a large group of heterogeneous parasitic diseases caused by hymenoptera insects and arachnid mites. These diseases are widespread among animals, people suffer from them much less often.
Arachnoentomoses are caused by spider mites and hymenoptera
Causes and risk factors
The source of human infection with arachnoentomoses is the external environment. Failure to comply with personal hygiene measures is a predisposing factor for the development of diseases of this group in people.
Forms of the disease
Arachnoentomoses are divided into three large groups:
- Superficial. They are caused by temporary (fleas, mosquitoes) or permanent (scabies, lice) ectoparasites of the skin.
- Deep. The causative agents are arthropods parasitizing in the internal tissues and organs of humans (lingvatulids, endoparasitic mites, beetle and fly larvae).
- Toxic and allergic. They occur as a result of an allergic or toxic reaction to the bites of arthropods (for example, scorpions).
Depending on the causative agent, arachnoentomoses are of the following types:
- lingvatulidoses (caused by crustaceans);
- acariasis and arachnoses (caused by arachnids);
- myriapodiases (caused by millipedes);
- entomoses (caused by insects).
Symptoms
Due to the huge variety of parasites that cause the development of arachnoentomoses, the clinical picture of each group has its own characteristics.
Linguatulidoses
This group of arachnoentomoses is caused by parasitic crustaceans, which, due to their lifestyle, have lost certain features inherent in arthropods.
Crustaceans of the lingvatulid family are capable of causing porocephalosis, linguatulosis, and armilliferiosis in humans. Their signs:
- pharyngitis;
- swelling of the vocal cords;
- lymphadenitis;
- allergization of the body;
- pneumonia;
- liver damage with the development of jaundice;
- intestinal obstruction.
Pharyngitis and lymphadenitis can be symptoms of arachnoentomosis
Myriapodiases
Myriapodiases are a group of arachnoentomoses caused by parasitizing millipedes.
Centipedes are trapped in the nasal cavity, sinuses, or mouth when a person sleeps outdoors or while eating. The invasion causes the patient serious suffering. It is characterized by:
- acute inflammation of the mucous membrane at the site of the lesion;
- bleeding;
- unbearable itching;
- profuse flow of mucus;
- burning sensation;
- strong pain;
- severe nervous disorders;
- convulsive seizures.
Centipedes come out when bleeding or are removed by an ENT doctor, after which the symptoms quickly subside.
Together with vegetables and fruits, centipede larvae can enter the human digestive tract. In rare cases, they survive in the aggressive environment of the stomach and penetrate into the intestines, where they develop into sexually mature adult forms. Intestinal invasion of millipedes is manifested by:
- severe pain in the abdomen;
- stool disorders;
- intestinal bleeding.
When intestinal arachnoentomosis is affected, severe abdominal pain and stool disorders occur
Symptoms disappear shortly after the parasite leaves.
Arachnoses and acariases
Arachnoses are a type of arachnoentomoses caused by the bites of scorpions and poisonous spiders. These arthropods, when bitten, inject poison into the human body, which can cause severe intoxication.
The patient's bite site begins to hurt unbearably. Local edema develops rapidly, soft tissues become tense. As the poison is absorbed, systemic manifestations of intoxication also occur:
- pain throughout the body;
- lacrimation;
- sweating;
- increased body temperature;
- cramps in the abdomen;
- seizures;
- breathing disorders.
With a bite of poisonous spiders and scorpions, patients need urgent medical attention, as acute respiratory failure may develop, up to and including death.
Arachnosis: the site of the bite of a poisonous spider or scorpion
Acariases are diseases caused by parasitic mites. This group includes over 20 diseases. In humans, scabies and demodicosis are most common. Many species of dust mites are not pathogenic, but if they enter the respiratory tract, they can cause allergization of sensitive people and the development of bronchial asthma in them.
The main symptoms of scabies are severe itching, worsening at night, and scratching marks that are clearly visible on the skin. In case of primary infection, itching with scabies occurs 7-10 days after the moment of infection. With repeated cases of the disease, itching of the skin is noted after a few hours. This is due to the fact that it is caused not by mechanical damage to the skin by mites, but by an allergic reaction to their excrement.
Acariasis: a group of diseases caused by parasitic mites
You can suspect demodicosis based on the following symptoms:
- swelling of the eyes;
- hyperemia of the eyelids;
- swelling of the edge of the eyelids;
- scales near the roots of the eyelashes;
- loss of eyelashes;
- constantly recurrent barley;
- rosacea.
Entomoses
The largest group of arachnoentomoses caused by insects. The most common diseases of this group in people:
- pediculosis;
- mosquito allergy;
- caterpillar dermatitis;
- allergy to stinging insect bites;
- cockroach allergy;
- phleboderma.
An allergy to insect bites is manifested by reddening of the skin at the site of the lesion, its swelling and severe itching.
Bites of stinging insects are dangerous. At the site of the sting, a toxin depot is formed, from where it enters the body with the flow of lymph and blood, sometimes causing damage to the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Such bites are accompanied by the development of allergic reactions from local to severe systemic (anaphylactic shock, Quincke's edema).
Phleboderma (mosquito dermatosis) is a skin disease caused by mosquito bites and is common in hot countries (found in the southern regions of Russia and the republics of Central Asia). It is characterized by the appearance of reddish papules on the skin, which subsequently transform into rashes resembling nodular pruritus.
Phleboderma or mosquito dermatosis
Mosquitoes are carriers of many types of infectious diseases (in particular, dangerous ones: plague, typhoid fever, tularemia).
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of superficial arachnoentomoses, such as mosquito allergy, head lice, scabies, demodectic mange, is usually straightforward. In the case of deep forms of the disease, diagnostic difficulties may arise.
Treatment
The choice of a therapy regimen is determined, first of all, by the type of pathogen.
In myriapodiasis, millipedes are removed from the mouth or nose with tweezers. They are removed from the paranasal sinuses by washing. In the intestinal form of the disease, patients are prescribed saline laxatives. To relieve pain, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is indicated.
Treatment of arachnosis caused by scorpion or poisonous spider bites should begin with immobilization of the limb and application of a tourniquet above the bite site. The victim is given plenty of drink. With a painful reaction, the use of non-narcotic (and with intense pain - and narcotic) analgesics is justified. In the hospital, the patient is injected with a specific antidote serum, and, if necessary, cardiovascular agents.
Acariasis therapy is carried out according to the following scheme:
- Destruction of parasites.
- Elimination of the manifestations of dermatosis.
- Examination for tick-borne infections.
An obligatory stage in the treatment of arachnoentomoses is the study of parasites for infections
Treatment of entomoses depends on the type of pathogen, the target organ and the intensity of the invasion.
Possible complications and consequences
The most frequent complications of arachnoentomoses are purulent-inflammatory skin diseases and systemic allergic reactions.
Prevention
In order to prevent arachnoentomosis, a number of rules must be observed:
- not sleeping on the ground or grass;
- carefully examine vegetables and fruits before eating;
- be careful in the habitats of poisonous spiders and scorpions;
- when going out into nature, protect open skin with repellents;
- carry out active destruction of parasites using disinsection, delarvation.
Elena Minkina Doctor anesthesiologist-resuscitator About the author
Education: graduated from the Tashkent State Medical Institute, specializing in general medicine in 1991. Repeatedly passed refresher courses.
Work experience: anesthesiologist-resuscitator of the city maternity complex, resuscitator of the hemodialysis department.
The information is generalized and provided for informational purposes only. At the first sign of illness, see your doctor. Self-medication is hazardous to health!
