Parasites can be called human natural companions, as these creatures cannot live outside the host body. It is believed that at least 70% of the world’s population is infected with various types of helminths. Moreover, many people are at home for them almost from birth. At the same time, he pondered the question of how to determine the presence of parasites in the body, about a third of all infected. The reason is the low awareness of the population or lack of interest in their health condition.
To avoid complications caused by parasites, it is important to recognize the infection in time.
According to statistics, more than 60% of people infected with the parasite find out about the problem by chance, and only about 30% intentionally look for symptoms of helminthiasis and go to identify the problem to a specialist.
Until recently, helminthiasis was commonly called the disease of the poor, because poor hygiene skills were applied to this layer. However, with the growing interest in the problem in the science section, it was found that such a definition was fundamentally wrong, as worms could be found in both farmers and respected businessmen.
Why live with dangerous parasites?
Many people do not understand why they need to be tested for parasites, if there are no serious health problems? Why should you look for any distraction in your state if it doesn’t interfere with your normal lifestyle? Moreover, 8% of the population has a reasonable question - what if someone has learned to exist with parasites in his or her body? After all, evolution is not silent, and what was once considered dangerous may already be the norm.
The same question has been raised more than once, and any doctor, even the most inexperienced, would say that parasitic organisms are different from symbionts (microorganisms that exist peacefully in a person, which help, for example, to process and assimilate food withmore efficient. ) because it requires more than it gives. In the human body, parasites usually behave like very unreliable and irresponsible hosts:
- clog it with toxins and slag;
- destroying natural defenses (immunity);
- take in most of the nutrients;
- damaging internal organs at the physical level.
This is what is called parasitism, which is the existence in the body of the host to extract maximum benefit for oneself, but without benefiting the host.
Timely detection of parasites helps prevent many problems, including severe endocrine and hormonal disorders, dysfunction of internal organs and even mental disorders.
What are the signs that appear with parasites
Most life forms of parasites are harmful to humans living in the intestines and internal organs. They rarely come out in their original form, and therefore, during initial diagnostics, doctors only consider the external signs of their stay. Their presence can be determined by a combination of clinical manifestations.
In 99% of cases, the host body reacts violently to a dangerous neighborhood. Signals of infection with worms can be a variety of functional disorders of the body, depending on which organ it lives. Since it is difficult to detect parasites in their natural form, it is important to pay attention to the following symptoms:
- Sudden onset of digestive disorders. Often, they show that the intestinal shapes of helminths - round and tapeworms, lamblia and protozoal organisms - have begun to become parasitic. This group of symptoms can be expressed by sudden constipation or diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, belching, poor digestion. Another sign of intestinal helminthiasis is unexplained abdominal pain, which may not have obvious localization.
- Allergic reactions in the form of rashes, peeling skin, the appearance of spots. In most cases, it is impossible to know the source of such a reaction, because tests for allergens show negative results. And only after the patient passes the test for the presence of parasites in the body, it becomes clear what causes the atypical immune response.
- General deterioration in well -being in the form of a state of fever, fatigue, deterioration in sleep quality. Similar clinical manifestations of helminthiasis appear immediately after invasion, as well as with its prolonged course. Unable to identify parasites immediately, many patients try to overcome this unpleasant phenomenon with the help of folk remedies and symptomatic remedies. As a rule, they bring only temporary relief.
A certain group of signs inherent in diseases associated with worm infections can be found only in women. So, their hair and nails become dull and brittle. The skin also suffers from parasites - it becomes pale, pustules, age spots, peeling appear.
A woman rarely associates cosmetic problems with helminths. Most of them said to the latter: "I have a vitamin deficiency, a hormonal imbalance, not worms! "
If you have the slightest suspicion that there are parasites in the body, how do you know what exactly is causing them to appear? There are many self -diagnostic methods at home, as well as specific ways to identify worms.
How to identify helminthiasis at home
About 70% of patients who think they have helminths do not want to go to the doctor with this problem. And the point here is not that a person does not care about his own health. To date, people regard helminthiasis as an embarrassing disease that can only occur in the lower strata of the population. However, experts say that people who are prosperous enough can acquire dangerous settlers.
Since helminths largely settle in the intestines, the only way to recognize their presence is by examining the feces. The time -tested method forms the basis for microscopic examination of feces, in which doctors can detect worm eggs.
This is the easiest and cheapest method, and it can be done at home. However, it does not allow you to detect worm eggs because of their microscopic size.
How does self -testing work?
There are several rules for determining the presence of parasites in the human body in this way:
- The stool should be checked several times, as the worms do not come out continuously, but periodically. Since different types of worms become active at different times of the day, it is desirable to collect portions of feces in the morning and evening. In the morning you can find pinworms, and in the evening you often come across larger worms - ringworms and tapeworms.
- People who check feces for helminths should have disposable medical gloves on their hands. Most helminths actively secrete eggs, which, if ingested, can trigger re -infection. It is important to protect yourself from this, even if there are already symptoms of infection with worms. Discard it after using gloves, and wash your hands with soap and water.
- When examining feces, it is worth using objects, because parasites can be found not only on the surface, but also in the center of the feces. It is advisable to discard a stick or spatula after such use.
Finally, the most important rule for self -study is feces for worms. It is advisable to collect the material in a separate bowl, as it is not possible to inspect it carefully in a toilet bowl or pot. As a last resort, you can cover the toilet bowl with plastic, empty it, and then thoroughly inspect the stool.
Experts recommend using a small portion of the material on the glass, and then inspect it from all sides in good lighting. So even the smallest parasites can be seen.
The results of self -examination of feces for worms
It is necessary to talk about the 100% presence of helminthiasis if it is possible to find in the feces:
- small worms live or do not move;
- white or yellowish slices that look like boiled noodles with slightly wavy edges;
- fragments that look like grains of rice that can move;
- large round worms are white or pink.
All of these signs indicate a dangerous worm infection, which can lead to serious health problems, up to and including sudden death. But even if the stool turns out to be "clean", and there are symptoms of helminthiasis, you should immediately contact an infectious disease specialist or pediatrician (if signs of helminthiasis are observed in children).
Tests for worms in the clinic
Since it is very difficult to know if there are parasites in your own body, and the results of self -diagnosis are not very accurate, you should entrust the diagnosis to a professional. Referral to the required tests is given by a physician or infectious disease specialist. If signs of aggression bother the child, you can seek help from a pediatrician.
To make an accurate diagnosis, you need to pass:
- microscopic analysis of stool (coproovoscopy) - preferably three times with an interval of a week;
- scraping for enterobiasis;
- blood tests for ELISA - one delivery is enough to make a reliable diagnosis;
- fecal PCR analysis - prescribed when receiving vague results of microscopic examination of feces.
Also, the doctor may prescribe additional instrumental diagnostics. Often this occurs when there is a suspicion of the presence of helminths in the parenchyma of the liver and bile ducts, or in other internal organs. With the presence of worms, the test will be positive (parasite eggs, their DNA, antibodies and antigens to them will be found in the material).
Based on the results of the diagnosis, the patient is given treatment, which can almost always be done at home (not many parasitic infections require hospitalization). Therapy may be needed for all family members of worm carriers, as many species of these creatures are easily spread from person to person.