Doctors recommend regular blood tests for parasites because it is not always possible to protect yourself from infections without following hygienic rules. For preventive purposes, this procedure should be performed on both children and adults. Helmet samples can be in the human body for more than a dozen years without showing any symptoms. A diagnosis should be made to detect the presence of parasites.
Infection Paths
Worms can enter the body in several ways. Doctors define four main paths:
- through the soil and then the water (helminth samples get into the soil along with feces);
- by person-to-person contact;
- through raw, poorly cooked meat or fish;
- using insects.
Reproduction of worms in the human body is excluded. Each type of helminth has a certain lifespan.
The growth of worms in the body only occurs when they become re-infected. To reduce the risk of infection, people need to follow good hygiene.
Symptoms of a worm infection
General signs of the presence of worms in the human body are expressed by sharp weight loss, pale skin, a person worried about itching of the anus. But there are other manifestations that are disguised as other diseases.
- Gastrointestinal disorders. The person is worried about stomach pain, nausea, vomiting. During vital activity, some worms secrete specific substances that cause diarrhea.
- Disruption of the normal functioning of the nervous system. Helmam samples emit toxins that can cause poisoning in the body. This in turn negatively affects the condition of the nervous system.
- Allergic reaction. A person infected with worms may have a rash on their body.
- Decreased immunity. As a result of the body’s weak defenses, comorbidities can develop in humans.
There is an opinion that if a person grinds his teeth or snores at night, his body is affected by helminths, but these data have not been scientifically confirmed.
In the presence of one or more of the listed symptoms, the presence of worms in the body should be diagnosed. You need to have a blood test for parasites.
Basic diagnostic methods
There are several main ways to diagnose helminths in the human body.
Stool analysis
Stool analysis is a traditional method of detecting worms. During the examination, doctors find the eggs of the worms. You will need to donate stools again to confirm the diagnosis. However, the analysis presented is not a reliable diagnostic method, as worms may not lay eggs for a long time.
Blood test
Blood testing for the presence of parasites is a more reliable method that allows early detection of worms. All the processes that take place in the human body are reflected in the blood. This type of diagnosis allows not only the identification of worms, but also their type. You can find their waste products in the presence of worms in your blood.
If there are parasites in the body, there are a large number of eosinophils in the blood. The diagnosis should be confirmed by further research methods. There are many types of blood tests and they can be called differently.
Scraping due to enterobiasis
To detect pinworms in the body, the doctor will prescribe a scratch for the patient due to enterobiasis. During the procedure, the doctor guides a cotton ball over the skin folds near the anus. The resulting sample is sent to the laboratory for further research. The same procedure is performed with tape glued to the folds. The tape is then placed on the glass, glued and removed, and the glass itself is taken to the laboratory.
Immunassay blood test
The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is a specific assay that allows accurate diagnosis of the presence of helminths in children and adults. With this method, both microscopic parasites and large ones can be detected. The analysis for parasites is based on the search for antibodies.
TheBlood is taken from a vein for immunoassay of the enzyme. The centrifuges are then centrifuged and examined.
ELISA results provide complete information on the presence and type of helminths in the body.
The enzyme immunoassay consists of two main components:
- immune response;
- enzymatic reaction.
The immune response can detect the presence of parasites and find out what types of worms have settled in the body. The enzymatic reaction allows a more detailed study of the type of helminth samples identified and a visual measurement of the data obtained.
In response to invasion by a foreign body, the body responds by producing antibodies.
In the event that worms in the blood damage the body, antibodies are formed against toxins and worm waste. This technique is based on the testing of these antibodies.
The blood test takes 2-4 days. It can be done at any public clinic. Private clinics can be subjected to a similar study.
What other analyzes are there?
In addition to the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, parasites can be identified in other ways.
The following blood tests are used in this test:
- indirect haemagglutination reaction;
- immunofluorescence reaction.
Both methods are also used to determine antibodies in blood serum.
You must donate blood from a vein to make a diagnosis. They are then transported to the laboratory immediately. These informative methods can show the extent of worm infection.
How to prepare for the test
The blood of the parasites should be given in the morning. It is advisable to eat nothing before the procedure - although food intake is insignificant, it can still affect the outcome of the test.
Only water intake is allowed on the day of the parasite test.
In order to achieve the most reliable results, in addition to these basic rules, you should pay attention to the following recommendations before submitting your ELISA analysis.
- You must stop taking your medication three days before the analysis. Take only medications that are vital to your body.
- Do not put in physical or emotional stress before the procedure.
- It is not recommended to drink alcoholic beverages and strong coffee the day before the procedure.
- If antiparasitic therapy was performed on the eve of the test, it is better to temporarily postpone the procedure.
- Physiotherapy procedures may affect the test result, so two procedures should be omitted before the ELISA blood test.
Properly performed analysis shows absolutely all parasites that are present in the human body.
How to protect yourself from worms
Worms enter the body with dirty hands in most cases, so their hygiene must be observed.
Vegetables and fruits purchased from markets should be washed thoroughly. Studies have shown that worm eggs often accumulate on vegetables and fruits.
Care should be taken when buying meat and fish. It is important that you only buy meat that has passed the veterinary inspection. Meat and fish must be cooked thoroughly.
If there are animals in the house, always wash your hands after them. Pets should regularly prevent worms.