Among the organisms parasitizing in man, one of the most dangerous is echinococcus. He belongs to the genus of tapeworms, parasitizes in the intestines of dogs, sometimes - cats. The body length of the mature specimen reaches 3-5 mm. Larvae of the worm that hit the human body cause echinococcosis. Infection with echinococcus occurs in most cases through contact with a sick animal.
The causative agent of echinococcosis is the larva of echinococcus. Depending on the location of the larvae, these or other organs are affected, which provokes the formation of cysts in the liver, lungs or other tissues and organs.
Echinococcus in the heart is 0.2-2% of the diseases caused by this helminth, is diagnosed, as a rule, in people over 20 years old, is also possible in children.
Causes of echinococcus in the heart
The echinococcus larva reaches the heart either with venous blood, or with the breakthrough of the echinococcal cyst from the lung into the pulmonary vein. In the tissues of the myocardium, slowly, sometimes up to 1.5 years, the larva forms a cyst. In the case of multiple infections, several cysts of 3-9 cm are formed. The left ventricle is most often damaged. Less commonly, cysts are located in other parts of the heart, such as pericardium, left atrium and right atrium. Maturation of cysts is latent.
Having matured, the cyst provokes symptoms similar to heart disease.
Symptoms of echinococcus in the heart
Pain in the chest, signs of myocardial ischemia, heart failure , heart rhythm disturbances, including ventricular tachycardia, rhythm and conduction disorders. Complications of heart echinococcosis, as a rule, be fatal: a breakthrough of the cysts in the heart cavity can cause squeezing of the vessels.
The rupture of cysts in the left ventricle can provoke the stratification of the free ventricular wall, as well as acute arterial embolism.
With the rupture of cysts located in the right heart, embolism of the pulmonary arteries often develops, causing side effects such as coughing, pleural pain, hemoptysis and, in some cases, fever.
Echinococcus is diagnosed on the basis of epidemiological history, X-ray data, allergological and serological samples. Diagnostic methods are also used to detect the corresponding antibodies.
Antibodies to echinococcus
Analysis of echinococcus is not always reliable, and often gives false results, so additional research methods are needed: X-ray, radioisotope, ultrasound, computed tomography. In some cases, diagnostic laparoscopy is indicated. The choice of method depends on the localization and the stage of infection.
The most common methods for diagnosing antibodies to Echinococcus are RPGA, RSK, latex agglutination reactions, and ELISA, the latter method is perhaps the most effective. The use of this method does not give a 100% picture, since many carriers of echinococcal cysts do not develop an immune response, antibodies in the blood are not formed. For example, in the case of liver infection, a positive ELISA result will be obtained in 90% of patients, and only 50-60% with lung damage.
Treatment of Echinococcus
Depending on the location, you can consider different treatment options, including folk. It is worth noting that such a method
The most effective is, perhaps, surgical intervention, especially when finding a cyst is a direct threat to life. In such cases, the cyst is excised.
Benzimidazoles (albendazole, mebendazole) are also prescribed.