Human life activities are associated with many types of microorganisms that not only live in the external environment but also live directly inside them.
According to some studies, each of us is home to about 100 trillion.all types of single-celled organisms.
In medicine, all organisms that live through a host are classified as parasites, with fungi, bacteria and viruses being distinguished separately.
Pests in the human body can be divided into types:
- protozoa - amoeba, plasmodia, pneumocystis, lamblia, trypanosomes and others;
- Helminths – parasitic worms;
- pathogenic microorganisms;
- various arthropods - ticks, insects and others.
Their original mission was considered a secret existence.That's why many of them are difficult to detect immediately;Sometimes an illness caused by a parasitic organism can last for years without obvious signs or complications.
According to some studies, about 85% of humanity is infected with worms and many people do not even know about it.
Therefore, every adult should be tested for parasites once a year.
A variety of signs and symptoms are caused by parasitic organisms
First of all, the presence of parasites in the human body is indicated by:
- Any disorder in the digestive tract can be a sign of worms.
- Susceptible to infectious diseases and general fatigue, due to the lack of essential trace elements that are sucked out by pests.
- Allergic manifestations - runny nose, rash, cough caused by unreasonable factors (the cause will often be called parasitic waste).
- Lose weight with a complete nutritional diet.
- Dull skin is caused by lack or deficiency of essential vitamins due to absorption by parasites.
- Itching in the anus (a sign of ascariasis caused by pinworms).
- Problems with cracked nails and heels.
Individual cases do not always mean the presence of harmful organisms in the body, but if there are several signs in combination, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible for advice and to conduct appropriate studies of dysfunction.
Test to detect parasites in adults
It is not possible to capture the entire spectrum of parasitic organisms with a specific and inexpensive survey method.Therefore, a comprehensive parasitological analysis is usually performed.
Furthermore, the following can be diagnosed: urine, stool, sputum, blood and tissue areas of the human body.
Let's look at the types of research used in modern medicine.
co-histology program
Fecal parasite testing involves using a microscope to examine the patient's stool for the presence of larvae, eggs, or fragments of adult parasites.
Using this method can identify many types of worms but is most effective when detecting harmful organisms living in the intestinal tract.
Allows you to diagnose ascariasis, hookworm, bristleworm, intestinal helminth and other diseases.
For detailed stool analysis to identify parasites, stool is collected in hospital-issued vials or purchased at a pharmacy.This container is filled to one third, taking into account the fact that foreign substances (blood, urine) should not get into it.
The collection is carried out until 11 am.If stool is stored in the refrigerator, it can be tested within 8 hours.But ideally, the collected material should be delivered to the laboratory within an hour.When donating poop, you need to sign your jar.
Before donating stool, patients need to prepare in advance.To do this, you need to stop taking anthelmintic drugs, special drugs to normalize digestion and antibiotics for a week.It should be remembered that before performing the collection procedure, both rectal suppositories and various types of enemas are prohibited, and the consumption of fatty foods should be eliminated four days before the procedure.
This type of diagnostics is one of the cheapest, but the information content of the examination often does not reflect the true picture after an examination.
Helminth egg laying does not occur every night, so this test is performed 2-4 times with an interval of 3-5 days.If several tests come back negative then you can be 99% sure that there are no parasitic worms in the intestines.
shave
The main and simplest test for intestinal worms.Its meaning is to detect pinworm eggs, which are laid in large numbers in the anus at night.
A smear is done with a special spatula or an ordinary damp cotton swab.An alternative option is to carefully apply the tape to the anal and perineal area, then apply it to a specially prepared clean glass plate.
Before being tested for parasites, they must be sealed in a clean bag and shipped to the laboratory as soon as possible.When stored in the refrigerator, the material remains suitable for five hours.
Scraping, like testing stool for parasites, is an inexpensive screening method but only detects one type of worm.
Types of blood tests
Each type of blood test gives reliable information about the presence of a specific pest in humans.During activities harmful to life, microorganisms release various toxins, and our body reacts with antibodies.
Usually the parasite lives in the liver and lungs and cannot be detected any other way.
The following blood tests are distinguished:
- for the causative agent of trichinosis;
- enzyme immunoassay (ELISA);
- overview;
- on Giardia;
- for Echinococci pathogens;
- about the causative agent of ascariasis;
- for the causative agent of opisthorchiasis;
- about the causative agent of toxocariasis.
Each of these studies accurately determined the presence of harmful organisms and the extent of organ damage when using antibodies.But to choose which parasite test you need to have, you always need to see your doctor.
Even a general blood test can accurately indicate the presence of pinworms or parasitic roundworms.And, for example, detection of increased amounts of immunoglobulin antibodies by ELISA for parasites allows diagnosing 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 identify parasites.
Before donating blood for analysis, you must first stop taking all medications that could have a negative effect on the study.It is advisable to consult your doctor about this.
The day before the exam, be sure to exclude fatty foods, alcohol, carbonated drinks and all kinds of sweets from the diet.The procedure itself takes place in the morning, on an empty stomach.
Donate blood in an amount of about 4 ml from the ulnar vein.Research results are usually available in 2-3 days, but identification of some parasitic organisms will take up to 9 days.
How to identify parasites using other methods
In rare cases, to get an accurate picture of the development of the disease, the specialist prescribes:
- chest x-ray- there are signs of calcification in the lungs, shoulders and liver, meaning there is pork tapeworm;
- chest computed tomography scan— will show calcifications, as well as areas of atherosclerosis;
- supersonic- allows you to see round cysts.
prevent
Infection with harmful organisms always brings many health problems.
Therefore, as in the fight against other diseases, it is better to fight pests by prevention, which includes simple actions:
- wash your hands more often;
- eat proven foods;
- thorough heat treatment of meat and fish;
- Keep your private area clean regularly.
But even following all the rules does not guarantee 100% safety.That is why you should not ignore the symptoms, but immediately contact a specialist and conduct the necessary studies.