Today, helminthiasis is the most common parasitic diseases, the causative agents of which are helminths - two types of worms: flat and round.A characteristic feature of helminthic infestation in the human body is the non-specificity of symptoms, that is, the signs of the disease correspond to many other pathologies.People are interested in the questions: "How to determine the presence of parasites in the body and can I recognize helminths in my intestines at home?"
Signs of helminthiasis
The clinical course of the disease is divided into two stages - acute and chronic.The acute phase begins from the moment helminths enter the human body and lasts from several weeks to several months.Symptoms of the acute stage develop due to sensitization of the body - an allergic reaction in response to the introduction of a foreign agent (parasite) and include:
- Increased body temperature.
- Violation of general health.
- Dyspeptic symptoms – diarrhea, constipation, nausea and vomiting.
- Pain in joints and muscles.
- Abdominal pain in various places.
- Apathy, loss of appetite, constant fatigue.
- Rashes, itching of various parts of the body.
- Enlarged lymph nodes.
The chronic stage is characterized by a wide variety of symptoms, which depend on the species of helminths, its localization and the intensity of reproduction.Characterized by increasing disorders in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, weakening of immunity, frequent allergic reactions, nervousness, irritability, weight loss and sleep disturbances.Patients often complain: “I am often bothered by diarrhea and abdominal pain, I feel exhausted” - such symptoms should prompt the doctor to think about helminthic infestation.
Even the most experienced doctor cannot make a correct diagnosis based on symptoms alone, so it is hardly possible to detect worms at home.
Scatological methods for diagnosing the disease
All methods of diagnosing helminthiasis can be divided into two types of studies:
- Direct - allows doctors to directly detect the helminth itself, fragments of its body, as well as eggs or larvae.The infected person's stools, urine, bile, sputum or blood, as well as scraped tissues and materials are examined.
- Indirect – identify pathological changes in the human body that result from the presence of helminths.The method allows the doctor to check the blood analysis, the state of the immune system, structural and functional disorders of the affected organs.Among indirect methods, doctors often use radiological and immunological diagnostic methods, as well as morphological blood tests.
A common direct method for diagnosing helminthiasis is scatological examination, which can be micro- and macrohelminthoscopic.
Macrohelminthoscopy diagnosis allows you to detect a whole helminth or its parts - segments, cestodes, scolex.Such a study is prescribed by a doctor if the eggs of the parasite are not excreted with the stool or their number is insufficient for detection, for example, when identifying pork or cattle tapeworm, segments of helminths are visible in the stool, and in case of enterobiosis, whole pinworms are visible.
You can detect parasites or their parts by examining the stool with the naked eye.If it is necessary to differentiate the diagnosis or there are doubts about the reliability of the results, the stool is also examined under a magnifying glass or microscope.
The microhelminthoscopy examination is so called because of the use of a microscope.It helps identify larvae or eggs of parasites in stools, which are prepared in a special way on a glass slide before microscopy.The study is quite reliable and allows the doctor to differentiate certain types of helminthiasis from each other.
Special diagnostic methods for various forms of helminthiasis
You can find out if you have certain types of parasites in your body using specific diagnostic methods.The choice of method is made by the doctor based on clinical data.
Diagnosis of taeniadoses
Detection of pork or cattle tapeworm today is quite difficult, because segments of the parasite are often not excreted from the body in feces.The doctor can use the method of scraping the perianal area and microhelminthoscopic examination of stools.
Diagnosis of enterobiasis
How can I identify the parasites in my body that cause enterobiasis?The study is carried out in the morning, without washing the perianal area.The simplest method is perianal scraping using a wooden spatula or a cotton swab dipped in a glycerin solution.The resulting material is transferred to a glass slide, which is then examined under a microscope.
A modern type of scraping involves taking material using adhesive tape, for example, scotch tape, cut into strips 9-10 cm long.The tape is applied with the sticky side to the perianal folds and smoothed with a spatula, after which it is carefully peeled off and moved to a glass slide.It is important to stick it carefully, without air bubbles, to avoid distortion of the search results.
Microscopy of intestinal contents makes it possible to identify not only intestinal parasites, but also those localized in the liver and gallbladder during opisthorchiasis, fascioliasis and other invasions.
Sputum examination for the diagnosis of pulmonary forms of helminthiasis
To identify parasites localized in the lungs and trachea, sputum is examined, applied to a plastic plate or special glass and covered with another glass on top.First, the material is examined with the naked eye, then a microscope is then used.
Muscle tissue studies in trichinosis and cysticercosis
To identify larval forms of Trichinella, a small piece of the gastrocnemius or biceps muscle is surgically removed, which is divided into individual fibers in the laboratory and placed between two glass slides with the addition of glycerol.When microscopying a tissue sample, Trichinella larvae are clearly visualized.
The identification of cysticerci is also carried out after sampling muscular or subcutaneous tissue.With the naked eye, you can see a small bubble measuring up to 2 cm.This bubble is crushed, its contents placed between glasses and examined under a microscope to determine the viability of the resulting parasites.
Diagnosis of schistosomiasis
To detect schistosomes, urine collected in the middle of the day is used as material.
In addition to urine, the material can also consist of feces, which are subject to certain treatments and microscopic examinations.
Immunological methods for diagnosing helminthiasis
The most modern methods for identifying helminths today are various immunological studies.Similar diagnostic methods are suitable for helminthiasis, the causative agents of which are localized in the tissues themselves or are at an early stage of development and spread throughout the human body through the bloodstream.Skin and intradermal tests are considered an informative method, allowing to reveal the presence of parasitic antibodies.
Direct immunological diagnostic methods include:
- Immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) reaction for the detection of cysticercosis and trichinosis.
- Annular precipitation reaction in the diagnosis of trichinosis.
- Latex agglutination reaction for the diagnosis of alveolococcosis and echinococcosis.
- Immunoenzymatic reaction in the diagnosis of echinococcosis, opisthorchiasis, trichinosis and alveolococcosis.
Self-diagnosis of helminthiasis – is it possible?
Is it possible to test for the presence of parasites in the body at home, without the help of specialists?The answer to this question is unequivocal: no.All existing methods of computer diagnostics of the body, advertised on the Internet, as well as other uncertified and scientifically unfounded methods, are not able to identify the pathogen and make a correct diagnosis.In addition, refusal of medical care in favor of "non-traditional" methods of diagnosis and treatment can lead to dangerous consequences, including disability and death of the patient.You should not neglect scientific advances and try to make a diagnosis yourself, this can be dangerous.At the first suspicious symptoms, it is best to consult a doctor.