The vital activity of people is closely related to a variety of microorganisms that not only inhabit the external environment, but also live directly inside it.
According to some studies, each of us harbors around 100,000 billion.all kinds of single-celled organisms.
In medicine, all organisms that live through their hosts are classified as parasites, with fungi, bacteria and viruses distinguished separately.
Parasites present in the human body can be divided into types:
- protozoa - amoebae, plasmodia, pneumocystis, lamblia, trypanosomes and others;
- helminths – parasitic worms;
- pathogenic microorganisms;
- various arthropods - mites, insects and others.
Their initial task is considered a secret existence.This is why many of them are difficult to detect immediately;Sometimes an illness caused by a parasitic organism can last for years without visible signs or complications.
According to some studies, around 85% of humanity is infected with worms and many don't even know it.
Therefore, every adult should have a parasite test 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 disorder of the gastrointestinal tract may indicate the presence of worms.
- Susceptibility to infectious diseases and general fatigue, due to the lack of necessary microelements sucked in by the pest.
- All kinds of allergic manifestations - runny nose, rash, cough caused by unreasonable factors (the cause will often be called parasitic waste).
- Weight loss with proper nutrition.
- Dull skin due to the absence or deficiency of essential vitamins due to their absorption by parasites.
- Itching in the anus (a sign of enterobiasis caused by pinworms).
- Problems with cracked nails and heels.
Individual cases do not always mean the presence of harmful organisms in a person, but if several signs combine, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible for advice and carry out appropriate studies of malfunctions.
Tests for parasites in adults
It is impossible to capture the entire spectrum of parasitic organisms using a single, specific, inexpensive survey method.This is why a comprehensive parasite analysis is often carried out.
Additionally, the following can be diagnosed: urine, stool, sputum, blood and tissues of the human body.
Let's consider the types of research used in modern medicine.
Histological coprogram
Fecal parasite testing involves using a microscope to examine a patient's feces for larvae, eggs, or fragments of mature parasites.
Thanks to this method, many types of worms can be identified, but it has maximum effectiveness in detecting harmful organisms living in the intestines.
Allows you to diagnose ascariasis, hookworm, trichuriasis, enterobiasis and others.
For a detailed analysis of stools to identify parasites, feces are collected in a jar issued in a hospital or purchased at a pharmacy.This container is filled to a third, taking into account that no foreign substances (blood, urine) should enter it.
Collection takes place until 11:00 a.m.If the feces are stored in the refrigerator, they can be examined within 8 hours.But in the best case, the collected material should be transferred to the laboratory within an hour.When you give stools, you must sign your jar.
Before giving feces, the patient should prepare 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 removal procedure, rectal suppositories and various enemas are prohibited, and the consumption of fatty foods should be excluded four days before the procedure.
This type of diagnostics is one of the cheapest, but the informative content of the examination often does not reflect the true picture after just one check.
The laying of helminths does not occur every night, so this test is carried out 2-4 times with an interval of 3-5 days.If several tests give negative results, you can be 99% sure that there are no worms parasitizing the intestines.
Scraping
The main and simplest examination for enterobiasis.Its purpose is to detect pinworm eggs, which lay them in large quantities in the anus at night.
A smear is made with a special spatula or a regular moistened cotton swab.Another option is to carefully apply the tape to the anus and perineum area, and then stick it on a specially prepared clean glass.
Before being tested 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 usable for five hours.
Scraping, like examining stool for parasites, is an inexpensive test but only detects one type of worm.
Types of blood tests
Each type of blood test reliably provides information about the presence of a specific harmful organism in a person.During their harmful vital activity, microorganisms release various toxins, and our body reacts with antibodies.
Parasites often live in the liver and lungs and cannot be detected otherwise.
The following blood tests are distinguished:
- for the causative agent of trichinosis;
- enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA);
- general;
- on Giardia;
- for the causative agent of echinococci;
- on the causative agent of ascariasis;
- for the causative agent of opisthorchiasis;
- on the causative agent of toxocariasis.
Each of these studies accurately determines the presence of harmful creatures and the degree of organ damage using antibodies.But when choosing which parasite tests to perform, you should always consult a doctor.
Even a general blood test can accurately indicate the presence of parasitic pinworms or roundworms.And, for example, the detection of an increased amount of immunoglobulin antibodies by ELISA for parasites makes it possible to diagnose any type of helminths in the human body with an accuracy of 90%.
The main thing is to contact an experienced specialist who will tell you what kind of analysis you need to identify pests.
Before donating blood for analysis, you must first stop taking any medications that could have a detrimental effect on the study.It is advisable to consult your doctor about this.
The day before the test, 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 approximately 4 ml from the cubital vein.The study results are usually ready in 2-3 days, but it can take up to 9 days to identify some parasitic organisms.
How to identify pests using other methods
In rare cases, to obtain an accurate picture of the course of the disease, a specialist prescribes:
- chest x-ray- has calcifications in the lungs, shoulder girdle and liver, which means the presence of pork tapeworm;
- CT scan of the chest— will display calcifications, as well as areas of pneumosclerosis;
- Ultrasound- allows you to see round cysts.
Prevention
Infection with harmful creatures always leads to many health problems.
So, as in the fight against other diseases, it is better to fight pests through prevention, which consists of simple actions:
- wash your hands more often;
- eat proven foods;
- 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 immediately contact a specialist and carry out the necessary research.