In the Rivne region, doctors removed a huge worm from the patient's head

In the Rivne region, surgeons removed a 9-centimeter helminth from a woman's head. Before that, the woman complained of a tumor located on the scalp. When the surgeon began the operation, he found a worm there. This was reported on the Facebook page of the Rivne Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

At the end of June, a woman went to the doctor with a tumor located on the scalp. When the patient began to undergo surgery, the doctor discovered the helminth of the species Dirofilaria repens. For the doctor, this was the first case in his practice.

The doctor suggested that the patient could "catch" the helminth through a mosquito bite.

Dirofilaria translated from Latin - an evil thread - a thin thread-like nematode of white color. In sick animals, the female helminth gives birth to live larvae - microfilariae, which, when bitten by a mosquito, enter the body of an insect, where they develop to an invasive stage and, during subsequent bites, enter other animals or people, in whose body they continue to develop and grow. Subcutaneous dirofilariasis is not transmitted directly from sick animals and people, the doctors said.

The risk of dirofilariasis especially increases during periods of high mosquito activity. In this connection, the preventive measures taken by the sanitary services to eliminate insects in the territory of reservoirs are important. It is known that the disease is seasonal, so the main number of cases is recorded in spring and summer. Peaks of incidence occur in the periods of June-July and October-November.

It is necessary to timely deworm your own pets. Also, insects in the premises can be protected by nets on windows and doors, experts recommended.

Dirofilaria repens is a filamentous nematode that infects dogs and other carnivores such as cats, wolves, coyotes, foxes and sea lions, as well as muskrats. Transmitted by mosquitoes.

Usually, only one parasite is found in a patient with dirofilariasis, and the development of this individual takes place within 8-9 months. Often, the helminth does not leave the place of introduction - it lives under the skin, where the mosquito left it after a bite.

The main danger of dirofilariasis is the primary reactions at the site of the introduction of microfilaria. A severe allergic reaction may occur. In addition, the skin becomes inflamed, seals (bumps) of a rather large diameter are formed. Inside these seals is a serous fluid and / or pus, and dirofilaria lives for some time inside this content. Often the parasite dies, then the seal can gradually resolve itself. More often, however, surgery is required.

Dirofilaria have favorite places on the human body - these are the organs of vision, legs and arms, neck, face, chest, scrotum. Symptoms such as weakness, passivity, nausea, nervousness, insomnia, fever, pain in the head and in the area affected by the parasite may appear. In 50% of cases, the organs of vision are usually affected. A person complains of a feeling of something crawling in the eye, he has redness of the eyelids and eyes, blepharospasm. When moving the helminth, pain, lacrimation and itching occur. Sometimes the helminth itself is visible through the conjunctiva.