Today, helminthiases are the most common parasitic diseases, the causative agents of which are helminths - two types of worms: flat and round.A characteristic feature of helminth infestation in the human body is the nonspecificity of symptoms, that is, the signs of the disease correspond to many other pathologies.People are interested in the questions: "How to determine the presence of parasites in the body? Can I recognize helminths in my intestines at home?"
Signs of helminthiasis
The clinical course of the 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.Symptoms of the acute stage develop due to sensitization of the body, an allergic reaction in response to the introduction of a foreign agent (parasite) and include:
- Increased body temperature.
- Violation of general health.
- Dyspeptic symptoms: diarrhea, constipation, nausea and vomiting.
- Pain in joints and muscles.
- Abdominal pain in various locations.
- Apathy, loss of appetite, constant fatigue.
- Skin rashes, 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 type of helminth, its location and the intensity of reproduction.It is characterized by increasing disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, weakened immunity, frequent allergic reactions, nervousness, irritability, weight loss and sleep disturbances.Patients often complain: "I am often bothered by diarrhea and abdominal pain, I feel exhausted."These symptoms should make the doctor think of a helminth infestation.
Even the most experienced doctor cannot make a correct diagnosis based on symptoms alone, making it almost impossible to detect worms at home.
Eschatological methods to diagnose the disease.
All methods for diagnosing helminthiasis can be divided into two types of studies:
- Direct: allows doctors to directly detect the helminth, fragments of its body, as well as eggs or larvae.The infected person's feces, urine, bile, sputum, or blood, as well as tissues and scrapings, are examined.
- Indirect: identifying pathological changes in the human body that are a result of the presence of helminths.The method allows the doctor to check the blood condition, the state of the immune system and the structural and functional disorders of the affected organs.Among indirect methods, doctors usually use immunological and X-ray diagnostic methods, as well as morphological blood tests.
A common direct method for diagnosing helminthiases is eschatological examination, which can be micro- and macrohelminthoscopy.
Diagnosis by macrohelminthoscopy makes it possible to detect a complete helminth or its parts: segments, cestodes, scolex.A doctor prescribes such a study if the eggs of the parasite are not excreted together with the feces or their number is insufficient for detection, for example, when identifying porcine or bovine tapeworm, segments of the helminth are seen in the feces, and in case of enterobiasis, entire pinworms are seen.
You can detect parasites or their parts by examining the stool with the naked eye.If it is necessary to differentiate the diagnosis or there are doubts about the reliability of the findings, the feces are additionally examined with a magnifying glass or microscope.
The microhelminthoscopy exam is so called because of the use of a microscope.It makes it possible to identify larvae or eggs of parasites in feces, which are specially prepared on a glass slide before microscopy.The study is quite reliable and allows the doctor to differentiate some types of helminthiasis from each other.
Special diagnostic methods for various forms of helminthiasis.
You can tell if you have certain types of parasites in your body using specific diagnostic methods.The choice of method is made by the doctor based on clinical data.
Diagnosis of taeniadosis
Detection of porcine or bovine tapeworm is quite difficult today, because the segments of the parasite are often not excreted from the body through feces.The doctor can use the method of scraping the perianal area and examining feces with microhelminthoscopy.
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 simplest method is perianal scraping with a wooden spatula or a cotton swab moistened with a glycerin solution.The resulting material is transferred to a glass slide, which is subsequently examined under a microscope.
A modern type of scraping involves taking taped material, for example, duct tape, cut into strips 9-10 cm long.The tape is applied with the adhesive side to the perianal folds and smoothed with a spatula, after which it is carefully removed and transferred to a glass slide.It is important to glue it carefully, without air bubbles, to avoid distortions of the research results.
Microscopy of intestinal contents makes it possible to identify not only intestinal parasites, but also those located in the liver and gallbladder during opisthorchiasis, fascioliasis and other invasions.
Sputum examination for the diagnosis of pulmonary forms of helminthiasis.
To identify parasites located in the lungs and trachea, sputum is examined, which is applied to a special plastic plate or glass and covered with another glass on top.First of all, the material is examined with the naked eye and only then a microscope is used.
Studies of muscle tissue in trichinosis and cysticercosis.
To identify the larval forms of Trichinella, a small piece of the gastrocnemius or biceps muscle is surgically removed, divided into individual fibers in the laboratory and placed between two glass slides with the addition of glycerol.When microscopying a tissue sample, Trichinella larvae are clearly visualized.
Identification of cysticerci is also performed after removing muscle or subcutaneous tissue.With the naked eye you can see a small bubble up to 2 cm in size.This bubble is crushed, its contents placed between vessels, and examined under a microscope to determine the viability of the resulting parasites.
Diagnosis of schistosomiasis
To detect schistosomes, urine collected in the middle of the day is used as material.
In addition to urine, the material may also be feces, which undergoes some processing and microscopic examination.
Immunological methods for diagnosing helminthiasis.
The most modern methods for identifying helminths today are various immunological studies.Similar diagnostic methods are suitable for helminthiases, the causative agents of which are localized in the tissues themselves or are at an early stage of development and spread throughout the human body through the bloodstream.Skin and intradermal tests are considered an informative method that can reveal the presence of parasite antibodies.
Direct immunological diagnostic methods include:
- Immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) reaction 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.
- Immunoenzymatic reaction in the diagnosis of echinococcosis, opisthorchiasis, trichinosis and alveolococcosis.
Self-diagnosis of helminthiasis: is it possible?
Is it possible to check the presence of parasites in the body at home without the help of specialists?The answer to this question is unequivocal: no.All existing methods of computer body diagnosis, advertised on the Internet, as well as other uncertified and unscientific methods, cannot identify the pathogen and make a correct diagnosis.In addition, rejection of medical care 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 neglect scientific advances and try to make a diagnosis yourself;this can be dangerous.At the first suspicious symptoms, it is better to consult a doctor.