People's life activities are closely related to many microorganisms that not only live in the external environment, but also live directly in them.
According to some studies, each of us is home to about 100 trillion.all kinds of single-celled organisms.
In medicine, any organism that lives through a host is classified as a parasite, and fungi, bacteria and viruses are 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 - mites, insects and others.
Their initial task is considered to be a secret existence.That is why many of them are difficult to detect immediately;sometimes a disease 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, all adults should be examined for parasites once a year.
Signs and symptoms caused by parasitic organisms
First of all, the presence of parasites in the human body is indicated by:
- Any disturbance in the gastrointestinal tract may indicate worms.
- Susceptibility to infectious diseases and general exhaustion due to the lack of necessary microelements sucked by the pest.
- All kinds of allergic manifestations - runny nose, rash, cough caused by unreasonable factors (the cause is often called parasitic waste).
- Lose weight with proper nutrition.
- Dull skin due to lack or absence of vital vitamins due to absorption by parasites.
- Itching in the anus (a sign of enterobiasis caused by lumps).
- 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 and conduct appropriate tests for functional disorders.
Tests for parasites in adults
The entire spectrum of parasitic organisms cannot be captured by a single specific and inexpensive survey method.Therefore, a comprehensive analysis is often performed to detect parasites.
In addition, the following can be diagnosed: urine, feces, sputum, blood and tissue areas of the human body.
Consider the types of research used in modern medicine.
Histology co-program
Examination of fecal parasites means examining the patient's stool under a microscope for the presence of larvae, eggs or fragments of adult parasites.
A wide variety of worms can be identified with this method, but it shows maximum efficiency when detecting harmful organisms living in the intestines.
It allows the diagnosis of ascariasis, hookworm disease, trichuriasis, enterobiasis and others.
For a detailed stool analysis to identify parasites, the stool is collected in a container issued at a hospital or purchased at a pharmacy.This container is filled up to a third, taking into account that foreign substances (blood, urine) do not enter it.
Collection lasts until 11:00.If the stool is stored in a refrigerator, it can be examined within 8 hours.But in the best case, the collected material should be delivered to the laboratory within an hour.When donating stool, you must sign the container.
Before donating stool, the patient must prepare in advance.To do this, you need to stop taking anthelmintic drugs, special tablets for normalizing digestion and antibiotics for a week.It should be remembered that both rectal suppositories and various enemas are prohibited before the collection procedure, and the consumption of fatty foods should be stopped four days before the procedure.
This type of diagnosis is one of the cheapest, but the information content of the test often does not reflect the real picture after a single check.
Egg-laying of helminths does not occur every night, so this test should be performed 2-4 times at intervals of 3-5 days.If several tests give negative results, you can be 99% sure that there are no intestinal worms.
Scraping
The main and simplest examination of enterobiasis.Its meaning is the detection of worm eggs, which are deposited in huge quantities in the anus at night.
The smear is taken with a special spatula or a regular moistened cotton swab.Another option is to carefully apply the tape to the area of the anus and perineum, and then stick it to a specially prepared clean glass.
Before carrying out parasite tests, they should be sealed in a clean bag and transported to the laboratory as soon as possible.When stored in a refrigerator, the material remains suitable for five hours.
Scraping, like stool for parasites, is an inexpensive test, but it only detects one type of worm.
Types of blood tests
All types of blood tests reliably inform about the presence of a specific pest in a person.Microorganisms emit various toxins during their harmful life activity, and our body reacts with antibodies.
Parasites often live in the liver and lungs and are otherwise undetectable.
The following blood tests are distinguished:
- to the causative agent of trichinosis;
- enzyme immunoassay (ELISA);
- general;
- on Giardia;
- to the causative agent of echinococcus;
- about the causative agent of ascariasis;
- to the causative agent of opisthorchiasis;
- about the causative agent of toxocariasis.
Each of these tests accurately determines the presence of harmful organisms and the extent of organ damage using antibodies.But to be able to choose which parasite tests to do, you should always consult a doctor.
Even a general blood test can accurately indicate the presence of parasitic nodules or roundworms.And, for example, the detection of an increased amount of immunoglobulin antibodies using the ELISA of parasites makes it possible to diagnose any type of intestinal worm in the human body with 90% accuracy.
The most important thing is to contact an experienced specialist who will tell you what analysis you need to identify parasites.
Before donating blood for analysis, you must first stop taking any medication that may have an adverse effect on the test.In this regard, it is advisable to consult your doctor.
The day before the examination, be sure to exclude fatty foods, alcohol, carbonated drinks and all kinds of sweets from your diet.The procedure itself is performed in the morning, on an empty stomach.
Give approximately 4 mL of blood from the cubital vein.The test results are usually ready after 2-3 days, but identification of some parasitic organisms may take up to 9 days.
How to identify parasites using other methods
In rare cases, in order to get an accurate picture of the development of the disease, the specialist prescribes:
- chest x-ray- shows calcification in the lungs, shoulder girdle and liver, which means the presence of pork tapeworm;
- computed tomography of the chest— visualizes calcifications and pneumosclerosis areas;
- Ultrasound- allows viewing of round cysts.
Prevention
Infection with harmful organisms always leads to many health problems.
Therefore, as in the fight against other diseases, it is better to fight pests with the help of prevention, which consists of simple actions:
- wash your hands more often;
- eat proven foods;
- meat and fish must be subjected 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 consult a specialist immediately and carry out the necessary tests.