Today, helminthiases are the most common parasitic diseases, the causative agents are helminths - two types of worms: flat and round.A characteristic feature of helminthic attacks in the human body is non-specific symptoms, that is, the signs of the disease correspond to many other pathologies.People are interested in the question: "How to determine the presence of parasites in the body, and can I recognize helminths in my intestines at home?"
Signs of helminthiasis
The clinical course of this disease is divided into two stages - acute and chronic.The acute stage begins from the moment the helminth enters the human body and lasts from several weeks to several months.Acute stage symptoms develop due to sensitization of the body - an allergic reaction in response to the introduction of foreign agents (parasites) and include:
- Increased body temperature.
- General health violations.
- Dyspeptic symptoms - diarrhea, constipation, nausea and vomiting.
- Pain in joints and muscles.
- Abdominal pain in various locations.
- Apathy, loss of appetite, constant fatigue.
- Skin rash, itching in various parts of the body.
- Enlarged lymph nodes.
The chronic stage is characterized by a wide variety of symptoms, which depend on the species of helminth, its location and the intensity of reproduction.Characterized by increased disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, weak immunity, frequent allergic reactions, nervousness, irritability, weight loss, and sleep disorders.Patients often complain: "I am often bothered by diarrhea and abdominal pain, I feel tired" - such symptoms should prompt the doctor to think about a helminthic attack.
Even the most experienced doctor cannot make a correct diagnosis based on symptoms alone, so it is difficult to detect worms at home.
Scatological methods for diagnosing diseases
All methods for diagnosing helminthiases can be divided into two types of studies:
- Direct - allows the doctor to directly detect the helminth itself, fragments of its body, as well as eggs or larvae.Feces, urine, bile, sputum or blood of an infected person, as well as tissues and scraped material are examined.
- Indirect – identify pathological changes in the human body that are the result of the presence of helminths.This method allows the doctor to check the blood picture, the condition of the immune system, structural disorders and the function of the affected organs.Among indirect methods, doctors often use x-ray and immunological diagnostic methods, as well as morphological blood tests.
A common direct method for diagnosing helminthiases is scatological examination, which can be micro and macrohelmintoscopic.
Diagnostic Macrohelminthoscopy makes it possible to detect the whole helminth or its parts - segments, cestodes, scolex.Such a study is prescribed by the doctor if the parasite eggs are not excreted together with the feces or their number is insufficient for detection, for example, when identifying pork or beef tapeworms, helminth segments are visible in the feces, and in the case of enterobiasis, the entire pinworm can be seen.
You can detect the parasite or its parts by examining the feces with the naked eye.If it is necessary to differentiate the diagnosis or there is doubt about the reliability of the findings, the feces are also examined using a magnifying glass or microscope.
Microhelminthoscopy examination is so called because of the use of a microscope.It allows you to identify parasite larvae or eggs in feces, which are prepared in a special way on a glass slide before the microscope.This study is quite reliable and allows doctors to distinguish several types of helminthiases from each other.
Special diagnostic methods for various forms of helminthiasis
You can find out if you have a certain type of parasite in your body using certain diagnostic methods.The choice of method is made by the doctor based on clinical data.
Diagnosis of taeniados
Detection of pig or cattle tapeworms is quite difficult today, because the parasite segments are often not removed from the body in the feces.Doctors can use the method of scraping from the perianal area and microhelminthoscopy examination of feces.
Diagnosis of enterobiasis
How can I identify the parasites in my body that cause enterobiasis?The study is carried out in the morning, without washing the perianal area.The easiest method is to scrape the perianal area using a wooden spatula or cotton dipped in a glycerin solution.The resulting material is transferred to a glass slide, which is then examined under a microscope.
A modern type of scraping is to take material using adhesive tape, for example scotch tape, cut into strips 9-10 cm long.The tape is applied with the sticky side to the perianal fold and smoothed with a spatula, after which it is carefully peeled off and transferred to a glass slide.It is important to paste it carefully, without air bubbles, to avoid distortion of the research results.
Microscopy of intestinal contents makes it possible to identify not only intestinal parasites, but also parasites localized in the liver and gall bladder during opisthorchiasis, fascioliasis and other invasions.
Sputum examination for the diagnosis of the pulmonary form of helminthiasis
To identify parasites that are in the lungs and trachea, sputum is examined, which is used on a special plastic or glass plate, and covered with another glass on top.First of all, the material is examined with the naked eye, and only after that the microscope is used.
A study of muscle tissue in trichinosis and cysticercosis
To identify the larval form of Trichinella, a small piece of gastrocnemius or biceps muscle is surgically removed, which is divided into individual fibers in the laboratory and placed between two glass slides with the addition of glycerol.When microscopy of tissue samples, Trichinella larvae can be clearly seen.
Identification of cysticerci is also carried out after taking muscle or subcutaneous tissue.With the naked eye you can see small bubbles up to 2 cm in size.These bubbles are crushed, the contents are placed between a glass and a microscope to determine the viability of the resulting parasite.
Diagnosis of schistosomiasis
To detect schistosomes, urine collected at noon is used as a material.
In addition to urine, the substance can also be feces, which is subject to certain processing and microscopic examination.
Immunological methods for diagnosing helminthiasis
The most modern methods for identifying helminths today are various immunological studies.A similar diagnostic method is suitable for helminthiasis, the causative agent is in the tissue itself or is in the early stages of development and spreads throughout the human body through the bloodstream.Skin and intradermal tests are considered informative methods, which can reveal the presence of parasite antibodies.
Direct immunological diagnostic methods include:
- Immunofluorescent antibody reaction (IFA) for the detection of cysticercosis and trichinosis.
- Ring precipitation reaction in the diagnosis of trichinosis.
- Latex agglutination reaction for the diagnosis of alveolococcosis and echinococcosis.
- Immunoenzyme reactions in the diagnosis of echinococcosis, opisthorchiasis, trichinosis and alveolococcosis.
Self-diagnosis of helminthiasis - is it possible?
Is it possible to test the presence of parasites in the body at home, without the help of a specialist?The answer to this question is clear - no.All existing body computer diagnostic methods, which are advertised on the Internet, as well as other unverified and scientifically unfounded methods, cannot identify the pathogen and make a correct diagnosis.In addition, the refusal of medical treatment in favor of "non-traditional" methods of diagnosis and treatment can lead to dangerous consequences, including disability and death of the patient.You should not ignore scientific progress and try to diagnose yourself - this can be dangerous.At the first suspicious symptoms, it is better to consult a doctor.