The problem of infection by parasites is not sufficiently addressed in society, so people start to become interested in the question of how to identify parasites in the body, only after the worms have already caused serious damage to health.
People are used to not realizing the problem that has arisen until the effects of helminths begin to affect their well-being.
To start treatment in a timely manner, it is important to know how to determine the presence of parasites in the body - it is the symptoms of helminthiasis that we will talk about in the article.
Parasites, its types
Parasites are inferior life forms that exist at the expense of the host organism. They can exist on the skin surface, affect internal organs, tissues, mucous membranes.
By consuming nutrients that enter the host's body, protozoa poison the human body with the products of their vital activity.
Depending on the location, there are several main types of parasites:
- endoparasites exist within the human body (equinococci, lamblia, toxoplasma, as well as viruses, bacteria, fungi);
- ectoparasites live on the surface of the body, they can exist in the external environment. Its vital activity is based on the absorption of blood cells and tissues in the host's body. This group includes lice, fleas, ticks, bed bugs.
Most often, pinworms, ascaris, pig tapeworm, bovine tapeworm, lamblia, alveococci, echinococci, and large tapeworm are found in worms.
The adult body, along with all functional systems, is able to prevent some parasite attacks.
In the oral cavity, along with saliva, enzymes are produced that are fatal to worm eggs. The acidic environment of the stomach also serves as a protective system.
The next protective barrier - especially for persistent representatives of helminths - is the immune system.
However, in the immature bodies of children, protective barriers may not work, which can lead to parasite infection.
In the process of evolution, endoparasites learned to survive in incredible conditions, adapt to any changes and asymptomatically destroy the body, practically without betraying its presence.
According to studies, it can take several months or even years from the time of infection until the first signs of helminthiasis appear.
To detect infection at an early stage, you need to know how to identify parasites in the human body.
You must carefully monitor changes in your own body and its signs in order to notice early symptoms of poisoning with helminth waste products and to identify if there are parasites in the body.
Signs of worm infestation
The presence of parasites in the body always affects the state of human health. But the signs that indicate the defeat of protozoa are similar to the symptoms of common diseases.
To find out if the parasites are present in the body, a medical examination will allow it.
There are the following groups of signs that indicate the organism's infection:
- body intoxication;
- nervous system damage;
- gastrointestinal tract disorder;
- skin problems.
Systematic exposure to toxic substances produced by parasites can cause headaches, weakness, nausea and increased fatigue.
There is a slight increase in temperature to 37, 5 for no apparent reason. The functioning of the immune system is disrupted, which is a consequence of the occurrence of colds, intestinal disorders, allergies.
A clear sign of parasite infestation is irrational weight loss due to the body's struggle with the worms for nutrients.
Children are more susceptible to this symptom. If the child has drastically lost weight in the normal way of life, it is urgent to check the child for helminthiasis.
As a result of prolonged poisoning with worm toxins, nervousness, depressive states and irritability occur.
Sleep disturbances can be triggered, especially in the middle of the night. At this point, according to human biorhythms, the liver is more active and an irrational awakening may be the result of the body's attempts to rid itself of toxic substances.
According to some sources, the nervous system's reaction to parasitic intervention is bruxism - grinding your teeth during sleep. Many consider this a sign of the presence of parasites in a child, which has not been scientifically proven.
The presence of parasites has a negative impact on the functionality of the gastrointestinal tract. Worms act on the intestinal wall, causing irritation and inflammation.
As a result, the absorption of nutrients and fatty compounds is reduced. Moving to the large intestine, the worms cause cramps. During their vital activity, many types of parasites secrete specific substances that cause diarrhea.
Worms come in different shapes and sizes, so they can be the cause of blockage of some organs, bile, and intestinal ducts, which leads to constipation.
Located in the small intestine, the parasitic creatures cause flatulence, bloating, and inflammation. Frequent swelling indicates the presence of microorganisms in the system.
The disturbance of the gastrointestinal tract, in turn, leads to changes in the skin: acne, acne, spots of unknown origin, baldness, papillomas, dermatitis.
Parasites are often the cause of allergic reactions: hives, rash, eczema. This is because the worms produce a poison that activates the immune system, which leads to a response from the body.
If you notice several of the changes listed above in yourself or your child, you should immediately contact a doctor for a parasite test.
A qualified parasitologist will conduct understandable and accessible instruction (explain how to take the test, which tests to take) and, based on the test results, prescribe treatment.
Laboratory methods for diagnosing helminthiasis
In the human body, parasites, their larvae and eggs can be located in different organs. The ability to move within the body and, as a result, be in all of the body's systems makes identifying helminthiasis difficult.
At an early stage, parasites can be detected in no more than 15% of patients out of the total number of infected.
How to know if there are helminths in the body? To detect all clinical forms of parasites, complex studies are performed, combining several methods.
To detect worms in the laboratory research process, the following biological materials are used:
- feces;
- bile;
- urine;
- sputum;
- blood;
- muscle;
- perianal and rectal mucus.
The traditional method by which you can check for the presence of protozoa in a child or adult is to study the patient's stool.
To do this, you must go through the proper analysis. This proven method allows you to determine the presence of protozoan bodies, larvae and eggs to reveal their type.
The immunological method consists of a blood test that detects antigens and antibodies to certain types of microorganisms.
Antigens are directly represented by the parasites and toxins they produce, and antibodies (immunoglobulins) are produced against antigens in human blood.
This method is informative, with its help more than 90% of parasitic microorganism species can be detected.
As a result of a blood test, it is possible to recognize the parasitic organism and discover the dynamics of disease development.
The serological method is used in the acute phase of the disease. For this analysis, you must donate blood.
The biofluid will serve as a material in which antibodies against a certain type of parasite can be found.
This method is often used in combination with X-ray, ultrasound and endoscopic examinations.
You can check the body for the presence of parasites through PCR diagnostics. The method allows detecting a specific parasitic organism through specific DNA analysis.
With the help of PCR diagnosis, one can detect the parasites in the test material and project the subsequent development of the disease.
Less commonly in modern medicine, parasites are detected through bioresonance studies, histological coprograms, hemoscanning and electroacupuncture.
Every year, new, existing and studied diagnostic methods are being developed and improved. This allows you to identify the parasites at a stage where the worms have not yet caused any changes in the body's functioning.
Modern medicine recommends prophylaxis of parasite infestation twice a year. There are many pharmaceuticals for this.
Before using medications, one should consult a physician, as anthelmintics are toxic not only to helminths but also to the human body.