Parasites can very well be called natural companions of humans, as these creatures can not live outside the body of the host. It is believed that at least 70% of the world's population is infected with various species of helminths. Moreover, many people are home to them almost from birth. At the same time, he ponders the question of how to determine the presence of parasites in the body, about a third of all infected. The reason for this 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 know the infection in time.
According to statistics, more than 60% of people with parasitic infections learn about the problem by chance and only about 30% deliberately seek out the symptoms of helminthiasis and go to identify the problem to specialists.
Until recently, helminthiasis was commonly referred to as the disease of the poor, as hygienic skills were poorly introduced into these strata. However, with the growing interest in the problem by science, it was found that such a definition is fundamentally wrong, as worms can be found in both peasants and respected businessmen.
Why is coexistence with parasites dangerous?
Many people do not understand why they should be tested for parasites if there are no serious health problems? Why should you look for any interruptions in your state if they do not interfere with your usual lifestyle? Moreover, 8% of the population has a reasonable question - what if a person has learned to exist with parasites in his body? After all, evolution does not stand still, and what was once considered harmful may now be the norm.
Similar questions have been asked more than once, and every doctor, even the most inexperienced, means that a parasitic organism differs from a symbiont (a microorganism that exists peacefully in a person, which helps, for example, process and assimilate food more efficiently. ) into what it receives more than it gives. In the human body, parasites generally behave like highly unreliable and irresponsible hosts:
- block it with toxins and slag;
- destroy natural defenses (immunity);
- remove most nutrients;
- damages the internal organs on a physical level.
This is what is called parasitism, ie existence in the host body to extract the maximum benefit for itself, but without benefiting the host.
Early detection of parasites helps to avoid many problems, including severe endocrine and hormonal disorders, internal organ dysfunctions and even mental disorders.
What signs appear with parasites
Most forms of parasitic life dangerous to humans live in the intestines and internal organs. They rarely come out in their original form, and for this reason, during the preliminary diagnosis, the doctor takes into account only 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 worm infection can be a range of disorders of body functions, depending on the organ in which they live. Since parasites can be difficult to detect in their natural form, it is important to pay attention to the following symptoms:
- Sudden onset of digestive disorders. Most often, they indicate that the intestinal forms of helminths - roundworms, lamblias and protozoan organisms - have begun to parasitize. This group of symptoms can be expressed with sudden constipation or diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, bloating, poor digestion. Another sign of intestinal helminthiasis is vague abdominal pain, which may not have a clear localization.
- Allergic reactions in the form of rashes, skin rash, the appearance of spots. In most cases, it is impossible to discover the source of such a reaction, as 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 caused the atypical immune response.
- General deterioration of well-being in the form of febrile states, fatigue, deterioration of sleep quality. Similar clinical manifestations of helminthiasis appear immediately after the invasion, as well as with its prolonged course. Since it is not possible to immediately identify parasites, many patients try to cope with these unpleasant phenomena with the help of folk remedies and symptomatic medicines. As a rule, they bring only temporary relief.
A certain set of natural signs in diseases related to worm infection can only be found in women. Thus, their hair and nails become dull and brittle. The skin also suffers from parasites - it fades, pustules appear, age spots, skin.
A rare woman associates cosmetic problems with helminths. Most of them say to the latter: "I have a lack of vitamins, hormonal imbalance, not worms! "
If you have the slightest suspicion that there are parasites in the body, how do you know exactly what caused their appearance? There are many home self-diagnostic methods as well as specialized ways to identify worms.
How to identify helminthiasis at home
About 70% of patients who assume 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 health. Until now, people considered helminthiasis a shameful disease that can only occur in the lower strata of the population. However, experts say that quite prosperous people can earn an insidious column.
Since helminths are mostly deposited in the intestines, the only way to recognize their presence is to check the stools. This time-tested method formed the basis for microscopic examination of the stool, during which the doctor could detect worm eggs.
This is the most direct and inexpensive method, and can be done at home. However, it will not allow you to detect worm eggs due to their microscopic size.
How does the self-test work?
There are some rules on how to determine the presence of parasites in the human body this way:
- Stools need to be examined several times because the worms do not come out constantly but periodically. Since different types of worms are activated at different times of the day, it is worth collecting parts of the feces in the morning and in the evening. In the morning you can find worms, and in the evening you often encounter larger worms - roundworms and tapeworms.
- The person examining the feces for helminths should have disposable medical gloves on hand. Most helminths actively secrete eggs, which, if swallowed, can provoke re-infection. It is important to protect yourself from this, even if you already have symptoms of a worm infection. Discard them after using the gloves and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
- When examining the stool, it is worth using an object, as the parasites can be found not only on the surface but also in the center of the stool. It is advisable to discard the stick or shoulder after such use.
Finally, the most important rule for self-examination of feces for worms. It is advisable to collect the material in a separate bowl, as it is unlikely to be checked with special care in a toilet bowl or pot. As a last resort, you can cover the toilet bowl with plastic, empty it, and then carefully examine the stool.
Experts recommend applying a small amount of the material to the glass and then examining it from all sides in good lighting. So even the smallest parasites can be seen.
The result of self-examination of feces for worms
It is necessary to talk about the presence of 100% of helminthiasis if it is possible to find in the feces:
- small live or immobile worms;
- white or yellow slices that look like boiled noodles with a slightly wavy edge;
- fragments that look like grains of rice that may be mobile;
- large round worms white or pink in color.
All of these signs indicate infection with dangerous worms, which can lead to serious health problems, up to sudden death. But even if the stools turned out to be "clean" and there are symptoms of helminthiasis, you should urgently contact an infectious disease specialist or pediatrician (if signs of helminthiasis are noticed in a child).
Tests for worms in the clinic
Since it is very difficult to detect if there are parasites in the body itself, and the self-diagnosis results are not very accurate, you should entrust the diagnosis to professionals. A referral for the necessary tests is given by a doctor or infectious disease specialist. If signs of invasion bother the child, you can seek help from a pediatrician.
To make an accurate diagnosis, you must pass:
- microscopic analysis of feces (coproovoscopy) - preferably three times with an interval of one week;
- scraping for enterobiasis;
- a blood test for ELISA - a single birth is enough to make a reliable diagnosis;
- fecal analysis PCR - described when you get unclear microscopic examination results of feces.
The doctor may also prescribe additional instrumental diagnoses. Most 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. In the presence of worms, the tests 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 prescribed treatment, which can almost always be performed at home (not many parasitic infections require hospitalization). Therapy may be required for all members of the worm carrier family, as many species of these creatures are easily transmitted from person to person.