The life activity of people is closely connected with a variety of microorganisms that not only inhabit the external environment, but also live directly inside them.
According to some studies, each of us harbors about 100 trillion.all kinds of unicellular organisms.
In medicine, all organisms that live through their host are classified as parasites, with fungi, bacteria, and viruses being distinguished separately.
Parasites in the human body can be divided into types:
- protozoa - amoeba, plasmodia, pneumocystis, lamblia, trypanosomes and others.
- helminths – parasitic worms.
- pathogenic microorganisms?
- various arthropods - mites, insects and others.
Their original duty is believed to be a secret existence.This is why many of them are hard to spot right away.Sometimes an illness caused by a parasitic organism can last for years without visible signs or complications.
According to some studies, about 85% of humanity is infected with worms and many do not even know it.
Therefore, every adult needs to be checked for parasites once a year.
A range of signs and symptoms caused by parasitic organisms
First of all, the presence of parasites in the human body is indicated by:
- Any disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract may indicate worms.
- Susceptibility to infectious diseases and general fatigue, as a result of the lack of the required trace elements absorbed by the parasite.
- All kinds of allergic manifestations - runny nose, rash, cough caused by irrational factors (the cause will often be called parasite waste).
- Weight loss with adequate nutrition.
- Dull skin due to absence or deficiency of necessary vitamins due to their absorption by parasites.
- Itching in the anus (sign of enterobiasis caused by pinworms).
- Problems with nails and cracked heels.
Individual cases do not always mean the presence of harmful organisms in a person, but if several signs are combined, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible for advice and carry out appropriate studies of malfunctions.
Tests to detect parasites in adults
It is impossible to capture the entire spectrum of parasitic organisms in a specific and inexpensive survey method.Therefore, a comprehensive pest analysis is often performed.
In addition, the following can be diagnosed: urine, feces, sputum, blood and tissue areas of the human body.
Let's consider the types of research used in modern medicine.
Histology companion program
Fecal parasite testing involves using a microscope to examine a patient's stool for the presence of larvae, eggs, or fragments of mature parasites.
Using this method, many types of worms can be detected, but it shows the maximum effectiveness when detecting harmful organisms that live in the intestines.
It allows you to diagnose ascariasis, hookworm, trichuriasis, enterobiasis and others.
For a detailed analysis of feces to detect parasites, feces are collected in a jar issued in a hospital or purchased at a pharmacy.This container is filled up to a third, taking into account the fact that no foreign substances (blood, urine) should enter.
The collection takes place until 11.00 am.If the stool is stored in the refrigerator, it can be examined within 8 hours.But in the best case, the collected material should be brought to the laboratory within an hour.When donating stool, you must sign your jar.
Before donating feces, the patient must be prepared in advance.To do this, you need to stop taking anthelmintic drugs, special tablets to normalize digestion and antibiotics for a week.It should be remembered that before the collection procedure, both rectal suppositories and various enemas are prohibited, and the consumption of fatty foods should be eliminated four days before the procedure.
This type of diagnosis is one of the cheapest, but the information content of the examination often does not reflect the real picture after a single check.
Helminth spawning does not occur every night, so this test is carried out 2-4 times with an interval of 3-5 days.If multiple tests give negative results, then you can be 99% sure that there are no worms parasitizing the intestines.
Scratching
The main and simplest test for enterobiasis.Its meaning is to detect worm eggs, which lay them in huge quantities in the anus at night.
The smear is taken with a special spatula or regular wet cotton.An alternative option is to carefully apply the tape to the anus and perineum and then stick it to a specially prepared clean glass.
Before testing for parasites, they must be sealed in a clean bag and delivered to the laboratory as soon as possible.When stored in the refrigerator, the material remains suitable for five hours.
A scraping, like a stool test for parasites, is an inexpensive test, but it only detects one type of worm.
Types of blood tests
Each type of blood test reliably informs about the presence of a specific parasite in a person.In the process of their harmful life, microorganisms release various toxins and our body responds with antibodies.
Often the parasites live in the liver and lungs and cannot be detected in any other way.
The following blood tests are distinguished:
- for the causative agent of trichinosis.
- enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA);
- general;
- in Giardia;
- for the causative agent of echinococcus.
- about the causative agent of ascariasis.
- for the causative agent of opisthorchiasis.
- about the causative agent of toxocariasis.
Each of these studies accurately determines the presence of harmful organisms and the degree of organ damage using antibodies.But to choose which parasite tests to do, you should always see a doctor.
Even a general blood test can accurately indicate the presence of parasitic worms or roundworms.And, for example, the detection of an increased amount of immunoglobulin antibodies using ELISA for parasites allows the diagnosis of any type of helminth in the human body with 90% accuracy.
The main thing is to contact an experienced specialist who will tell you what kind of analysis you need to detect parasites.
Before donating blood for analysis, you must first stop taking all medications that could have a detrimental effect on the study.It is recommended to consult your doctor about this.
The day before the test, be sure to exclude from the diet fatty foods, alcohol, carbonated drinks and all kinds of sweets.The procedure itself is carried out in the morning, on an empty stomach.
Give blood in an amount of approximately 4 ml from the jugular vein.The results of the study are usually ready after 2-3 days, but the identification of some parasitic organisms will take up to 9 days.
How to identify pests using other methods
In rare cases, to get an accurate picture of the progression of the disease, a specialist prescribes:
- chest x-ray- shows calcifications in the lungs, shoulder girdle and liver, indicating the presence of tapeworm.
- CT scan of the chest— will show calcifications, as well as areas of pneumosclerosis.
- Ultrasound- allows you to see round cysts.
Prevention
Contamination with harmful creatures always brings many health problems.
Therefore, as in the fight against other diseases, it is better to fight pests with prevention, which consists of simple actions:
- wash your hands more often.
- eat proven food.
- subject meat and fish to thorough heat treatment.
- Maintain intimate hygiene regularly.
But even following all the rules does not guarantee 100% safety.That is why you should not ignore the symptoms, but you should immediately contact a specialist and undergo the necessary research.