Parasites may well be called natural companions of humans, as these creatures cannot live outside the body of the host. It is believed that at least 70% of the world's population is infected with various kinds of helminths. Moreover, many people are at home for them almost from birth. At the same time, he considers 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 population's low awareness or lack of interest in their state of health.
To avoid complications caused by parasites, it is important to recognize the infection in time.
According to statistics, more than 60% of people with parasitic infections learn about the problem at random, and only about 30% purposefully search for symptoms of helminthiasis and go to identify the problem to specialists.
Until recently, helminthiasis was commonly called the disease of the poor, as hygiene skills are poorly instilled in these layers. But with the growing interest in the problem from the side of science, it was found that such a definition is fundamentally wrong, as worms can be found in both farmers and respectable 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 disorders in your condition if they do not interfere with your usual lifestyle? In addition, 8% of the population has a reasonable question - what if a person has learned to exist with parasites in his body? Evolution does not stand still, and what was once considered harmful may already be the norm.
Similar questions have been raised more than once, and any doctor, even the most inexperienced, would say that a parasitic organism differs from a symbiont (a microorganism that peacefully exists in a person who, for example, helps toprocess and assimilate food more efficiently) in that it takes more than it provides. In the human body, parasites generally behave like very unreliable and irresponsible hosts:
- clog it with toxins and slag;
- destroy natural defenses (immunity);
- remove most nutrients;
- damage internal organs at the physical level.
This is what is called parasitism, that is, existence in the body of the host in order to extract the maximum benefit for itself, but without giving any benefit to the host.
Timely detection of parasites helps to avoid many problems, including severe endocrine and hormonal disorders, dysfunctions of internal organs and even mental disorders.
What signs appear with parasites
Most of the parasitic life forms that are dangerous to humans live in the intestines and internal organs. They rarely go outside in their original form, and therefore the doctor during the preliminary diagnosis considers only the external signs of their stay. Their presence can be determined by a combination of clinical manifestations.
In 99% of cases, the host's body reacts violently to a dangerous neighborhood. Signals of worm infection can be a variety of disorders in the body's functions, depending on the organ they live in. As it can be difficult to detect parasites in their natural form, it is important to be aware of the following symptoms:
- Sudden onset of digestive disorders. Most often, they indicate that intestinal forms of helminths - roundworms, lamblia and protozoa - have begun to parasitize. This group of symptoms can be manifested by sudden constipation or diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, belching, indigestion. Another sign of intestinal helminthiasis is vague abdominal pain, which may not have a clear localization.
- Allergic reactions in the form of rashes, peeling of the skin, the appearance of spots. In most cases, it is impossible to find out the source of such a reaction, as tests for allergens show negative results. And only after the patient has passed 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 feverish 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 immediately possible to identify parasites, many patients try to cope with these unpleasant phenomena using folk remedies and symptomatic medications. As a rule, they bring only temporary relief.
A certain group of signs associated with diseases associated with worm infection 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 appears.
A rare woman associates cosmetic problems with helminths. Most of them say to the last: "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 what exactly caused them to appear? There are plenty of self-diagnosis methods at home, as well as specialized ways to identify worms.
How to identify helminthiasis at home
About 70% of patients who assume they have helminth 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. Until now, people consider helminthiasis to be a shameful disease that can only occur in the lower strata of the population. Experts say, however, that quite wealthy people can get an insidious settler.
Since helminths mostly settle in the intestines, the only way to recognize their presence is to check the stool. This thoroughly tested method formed the basis for microscopic examination of excrement, where the doctor can detect the worms' eggs.
This is the most straightforward and inexpensive method and it can be done at home. However, it will not allow you to detect eggs of worms due to their microscopic size.
How does the self-test work?
There are several rules for how to determine the presence of parasites in the human body in this way:
- The stool should be examined several times because the worms do not come out constantly but at regular intervals. As different types of worms become active at different times of the day, it is worth collecting both morning and evening portions of feces. In the morning you can find stick worms, and in the evening you often come across larger worms - roundworms and tapeworms.
- The person examining the stool for helminth should wear disposable medical gloves. Most helminths secrete active eggs, which, if ingested, can cause re-infection. It is important to protect yourself against this, even if there are already symptoms of worm infection. Throw them out after using gloves, and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
- During the examination of the stool, it is worth using an object, as parasites can be found not only on the surface but also in the middle of the stool. It is advisable to dispose of the stick or spatula after such use.
Finally, the most important rule for self-study of feces for worms. It is advisable to collect the material in a separate bowl, as it is unlikely that it will be possible to check it 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 100% presence of helminthiasis if it was possible to find in the stool:
- live or immobile small worms;
- white or yellowish slices resembling cooked noodles with a slightly wavy edge;
- fragments resembling rice grains that may be mobile;
- large roundworms of white or pink color.
All of these signs indicate infection with dangerous worms, which can lead to serious health problems, up to and including sudden death. However, even if the stool turned out to be "clean" and there are symptoms of helminthiasis, you should contact an infectious disease specialist or pediatrician immediately (if signs of helminthiasis are noticed in a child).
Tests for worms in the clinic
Since it is very difficult to find out if there are parasites in the body on its own and the results of self-diagnosis are not very accurate, you should leave the diagnosis to professionals. A referral for the necessary examinations is given by a doctor or infection 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 stool (coprovovoscopy) - preferably three times with an interval of one week;
- scraping for enterobiasis;
- a blood test for ELISA - a single delivery is enough to make a reliable diagnosis;
- stool analysis PCR - prescribed upon receipt of ambiguous results of microscopic examination of stool.
The doctor may also prescribe additional instrumental diagnostics. Most often this happens when the presence of helminths in the liver parenchyma and bile ducts or in other internal organs is suspected. In the presence of worms, the tests will be positive (parasite eggs, their DNA, antibodies and antigens against them will be found in the materials).
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 family members of the carrier of the worms, as many species of these creatures are easily transmitted from person to person.