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 infection in the human body is the non-specificity of the symptoms, that is, the signs of the disease fit with many other pathologies.People are interested in the questions: "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 the disease is divided into two phases - acute and chronic.The acute phase begins from the moment the helminth enters the human body and lasts from several weeks to several months.Symptoms of the acute phase 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.
- Joint and muscle pain.
- Abdominal pain in different places.
- Apathy, loss of appetite, constant fatigue.
- Redness of the skin, itching in different parts of the body.
- Enlarged lymph nodes.
The chronic phase 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 increased disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, weakening of immunity, frequent allergic reactions, nervousness, irritability, weight loss and sleep disturbances.Patients often complain: "I often suffer from diarrhea and abdominal pain, I feel exhausted" - such symptoms should prompt the doctor to think about a helminthic infection.
Even the most experienced doctor cannot make an accurate diagnosis based on symptoms alone, so it is hardly possible to detect worms at home.
Scatological methods for disease diagnosis
All methods for diagnosing helminthiasis can be divided into two types of studies:
- Direct - allows doctors to directly detect the helminth itself, fragments of its body, as well as eggs or larvae.Feces, urine, bile, sputum or blood of the infected person, as well as tissues and scraped materials are examined.
- Indirect - identify the pathological changes in the human body that are the result of the presence of helminths.The method allows the doctor to check the appearance of the blood, the state of the immune system, structural and functional disorders of the affected organs.Among the indirect methods, doctors often use x-ray and immunological diagnostic methods, as well as morphological blood analysis.
A common direct method for the diagnosis of helminthiasis is the scatological examination, which can be micro- and macrohelminthoscopic.
Diagnostic macrohelminthoscopy makes it possible to detect a whole helminth or its parts - segments, cestodes, scolex.Such a study is prescribed by a doctor if the eggs of the parasite are not excreted together with feces or their number is insufficient for detection, for example, when pork or cattle tapeworm is identified, helminth segments are visible in feces, and in case of enterobiasis, whole worms are visible.
You can detect parasites or their parts by examining feces with the naked eye.If it is necessary to differentiate the diagnosis or there are doubts about the reliability of the findings, the stool is additionally examined using a magnifying glass or microscope.
The microhelminthoscopy examination is called such because of the use of a microscope.It allows you to identify parasite larvae or eggs in feces, which are specially prepared on a glass slide before microscopy.The study is quite reliable and allows the doctor to distinguish several types of helminthiasis from each other.
Special diagnostic methods for different forms of helminthiasis
You can find out 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 pig or cattle worms is quite difficult today, because the segments of the parasite are often not excreted from the body with feces.The doctor can use the method of scraping from the perianal area and microhelminthoscopic examination of stool.
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 using a wooden spatula or a cotton swab 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 the material using adhesive tape, 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 peeled off and transferred to a glass slide.It is important to glue it carefully, without air bubbles, to prevent distortion of the research results.
Microscopy of intestinal contents makes it possible to identify not only intestinal parasites, but also those localized in the liver and gall bladder during opisthorchiasis, fascioliasis and other invasions.
Examination of saliva for the diagnosis of pulmonary forms of helminthiasis
To identify parasites localized in the lungs and trachea, sputum is examined, which is placed 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.
Muscle tissue studies in trichinosis and cysticercosis
To identify larval forms of Trichinella, a small portion of the gastrocnemius or biceps muscle is surgically removed, separated into individual fibers in the laboratory, and placed between two glass slides with the addition of glycerol.When you microscope a tissue sample, Trichinella larvae are clearly visualized.
Identification of cysticerci is also performed after taking muscle or subcutaneous tissue.With the naked eye you can see a small bubble up to 2 cm in size.This bubble is pressed, its contents are placed between glasses and a microscope to determine the viability of the resulting parasites.
Diagnosis of schistosomiasis
To detect schistosomes, urine collected during the day is used as material.
In addition to urine, feces can also be material, which are subject to certain processing and microscopic examination.
Immunological methods for the diagnosis of helminthiasis
The most modern methods for identifying helminths today are various immunological studies.Similar diagnostic methods are suitable for helminthiasis, 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, which can reveal the presence of parasitic 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 reaction in the diagnosis of echinococcosis, opisthorchiasis, trichinosis and alveolococcosis.
Self-diagnosis of helminthiasis - is it possible?
Can testing for the presence of parasites in the body be done at home, without the help of specialists?The answer to this question is unclear - no.All existing methods of computer diagnostics of the body, advertised on the Internet, as well as other uncertified and scientifically unfounded methods, are unable to identify the pathogen and make an accurate diagnosis.Moreover, the refusal 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.