The problem of parasitic infection has not yet received sufficient attention from society, so a person becomes interested in the question of how to identify parasites in the body, only after the worms have caused serious harm to health. strong.
People are used to not noticing a problem has arisen until the effects of the worms begin to affect their health.
To start treatment in time, it is important to know how to determine the presence of parasites in the body - these are the symptoms of helminthiasis that we will talk about in the article.
Parasites, their types
Parasites are lower life forms that exist under the destruction of the host organism. They can exist on the surface of the skin, affecting internal organs, tissues, mucous membranes.
Consuming nutrients into the host body, protozoa poison the human body with the products of their vital activity.
Depending on the location, there are several main types of parasites:
- endophytes that exist inside the human body (echinococcus, lamblia, toxoplasma, as well as viruses, bacteria, fungi);
- ectoparasites live on the surface of the body, they can exist in the external environment. Their vital activity is based on the absorption of blood and tissue cells of the host body. This group includes lice, fleas, ticks, bedbugs.
Usually, pinworms, roundworms, pork tapeworms, beef tapeworms, lamblia, pneumococcus, echinococcus, broad tapeworms are found from the worms.
The adult body, along with all its functional systems, is capable of preventing a number of attacks from parasites.
In the oral cavity, along with saliva, enzymes are produced that can be fatal to worm eggs. The acidic environment of the stomach also acts as a protective system.
The next line of defense - for particularly persistent representatives of helminths - is the immune system.
However, in a child's immature body, the protective barriers may not work, which can lead to parasitic infections.
In the course of evolution, endoparasites have learned to survive in incredible conditions, adapting to any changes and symptomlessly destroying the body, practically without betraying their presence. .
According to studies, it can take months or even years from the time of infection until the first signs of helminthiasis appear.
To detect an infection at an early stage, you need to know how to identify parasites in the human body.
You should carefully monitor the changes of your body and its signs to promptly notice the symptoms of intoxication with helminthic wastes and recognize whether the body has parasites or not.
Signs of worm infection
The presence of parasites in the body always affects the state of human health. But the signs of the failure of the protozoa are similar to the symptoms of common diseases.
To know whether parasites are present in the body, a medical examination will allow.
The following groups of signs indicate an organism's infection:
- intoxication of the body;
- damage to the nervous system;
- disruption of the gastrointestinal tract;
- skin problems.
Systemic exposure to toxic substances produced by the parasites can lead to headaches, weakness, nausea, and increased fatigue.
The temperature rose slightly to 37. 5 for unknown reasons. The work of the immune system is disrupted, which is a consequence of the appearance of colds, intestinal disorders, allergies.
A clear sign of a parasitic infection is unreasonable weight loss as the body struggles with the worms to find nutrients.
Children are the most susceptible to this symptom. If the child suddenly loses weight in the usual way, it is necessary to check the child for helminth infections.
As a result of prolonged worm toxin poisoning, nervousness, depressive states and irritability occur.
Sleep disturbances can be triggered, especially in the middle of the night. At this time, according to the human circadian rhythm, the liver is at its most active, and unreasonable awakening can be the result of the body trying to get rid of harmful substances.
According to some sources, the response of the nervous system to the intervention of parasites is bruxism - grinding teeth during sleep. Many consider this a sign of the presence of parasites in children, which has yet to be confirmed by science.
The presence of parasites has a negative impact on the function of the gastrointestinal tract. Worms act on the intestinal wall, causing irritation and inflammation.
As a result, the absorption of nutritional compounds and fats is reduced. Moving to the large intestine, the worms cause cramping pain. In the course of its life activities, many types of parasites secrete specific substances that cause diarrhea.
Worms have different shapes and sizes, so they can be the cause of blockage of some organs, bile ducts and intestinal tract leading to constipation.
Located in the small intestine, the parasites cause gas, bloating, and inflammation. Frequent flatulence indicates the presence of microorganisms in the system.
Disruption of the digestive tract, in turn, leads to changes in the skin: acne, acne, unexplained spots, baldness, papillomas, dermatitis.
Often, parasites are the cause of allergic reactions: urticaria, rash, eczema. This is due to the fact that the worms produce a toxin that activates the immune system, which leads to a reaction from the body.
If you notice in yourself or your child some of the changes listed above, you should contact your doctor right away to get checked for parasites.
A qualified parasitologist will conduct an easy-to-understand and accessible guide (explaining how to test, what tests to perform), and based on the results of the tests, will prescribe medication. treat.
Laboratory methods for the diagnosis of helminthiasis
In the human body, parasites, their larvae and eggs can be located in different organs. The ability to move through the body and, as a result, be present in every system of the body, makes the identification of helminthiasis difficult.
In the early stages, the parasite can be detected in no more than 15% of the total infected patients.
How to detect helminths in the body? To detect all forms of parasites clinically, complex studies are carried out, combining various methods.
To detect worms during laboratory studies, the following biological materials are used:
- feces;
- confidential;
- urine;
- spitting up phlegm;
- blood;
- muscle;
- mucus around the anus and rectum.
The traditional method by which you can test a child or adult for the presence of protozoa is by studying the patient's stool.
To do this, you must pass the appropriate analysis. This proven method allows you to determine the presence of the body, larvae and eggs of protozoa, to reveal their type.
Immunoassays include blood tests to detect antigens and antibodies to certain types of microorganisms.
The antigens are represented directly by the parasites and the toxins they produce, and antibodies (immunoglobulins) are produced against the antigens in the human blood.
This method gives a lot of information, with its help more than 90% of species of parasitic microorganisms can be detected.
As a result of the blood test, it is possible to recognize the parasite and find out the dynamics of the development of the disease.
Serological methods are used in the acute phase of the disease. For this analysis, you must donate blood.
Biofluid will act as a material in which antibodies to a certain parasite can be found.
This method is often used in conjunction with X-rays, ultrasound, and endoscopy.
You can check your body for parasites through PCR diagnostics. This method helps to detect a specific parasitic organism through specific DNA analysis.
With the help of PCR diagnostics, one can both detect the parasite in the test material and predict the further development of the disease.
Less common in modern medicine, parasites are detected using proprietary studies of biology, histological clones, blood scans, and electro-acupuncture.
Every year, new and existing and researched diagnostic methods are developed and improved. This allows you to identify the parasite at a stage when the worm has not yet caused changes in the work of the body.
Modern medicine recommends prophylaxis of parasitic infections twice a year. There are many medicines for this.
Before using the drug, you should consult a doctor, because anthelmintics are toxic not only to helminths, but also to the human body.