Parasitic diseases are a large group of diseases caused by helminths, some arthropods and protozoa.
Despite all the achievements of modern medicine and developed hygiene, according to statistics, about 90% of people around the world at least once in their lives are faced with these pathologies. How to suspect an ailment, and what tests for parasites to take, you can learn from this article.
Types of parasites
Parasites are organisms that survive due to the vital activity of living beings. Settling in the human body, in the process of their growth and reproduction, they lead to a deficiency of trace elements, vitamins, proteins and other nutrients. They can both lead to relapses and exacerbations of chronic pathologies, and cause damage to internal organs by themselves.
There are the following types of parasites that can cause disease in humans:
- protozoa (amoeba, lamblia);
- pathogenic microorganisms (chlamydia, mycoplasma and others);
- helminths (roundworms, pinworms, bovine and pork tapeworm, and so on);
- parasitic arthropods (scabies mite, demodex).
The main feature of the pathologies they cause is long-term asymptomatic or low-symptom course. Parasites skillfully hide their existence, trying to "squeeze everything out of the host's body" until its reserves are depleted and the organ or tissue is seriously damaged.
Symptoms of parasitic diseases
Parasitic pathologies most often mean helminthiases - diseases caused by the presence of worms in the body. In most cases, they are found in children, however, they can develop in adults in case of neglect of the rules of hygiene. For a long time after infection, they do not manifest themselves in any way, or are accompanied by subtle symptoms that are often left unattended.
Each disease is characterized by certain characteristics, but there are also common symptoms:
- Headache, dizziness, increased weakness and fatigue. These manifestations are the result of intoxication arising from poisoning by the waste products of parasites.
- Exacerbation of bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis, dermatitis, urticaria. They arise as a result of hypersensitivity to helminth cells and their excretion products.
- Disruption of the digestive system (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, constipation and diarrhea). Helminths parasitizing in the intestinal lumen lead to inflammation, intestinal obstruction due to blockage of the intestinal lumen.
- Anemia, vitamin deficiency, weight loss. It occurs due to a deficiency of protein, vitamins and minerals, a decrease in the production of hormones.
- Sleep disturbances, chronic fatigue, irritability, nervousness, muscle and joint pain.
Detection of most types of helminths requires stool analysis or blood donation for specific antibodies. You can take the study at the clinic at your place of residence, upon admission to the hospital, as well as in any of the private laboratories. Some medical centers offer to undergo an extended examination, during which it is possible to diagnose the presence or absence of several types of parasites in the body at once.
Parasite tests
What tests should be taken if a parasitic disease is suspected, the attending physician will tell based on complaints, anamnesis and clinical manifestations of the disease.
Diagnosis begins with a complete blood count. The most typical changes in helminthiasis will be:
- Decrease in hemoglobin levels and a decrease in the number of red blood cells (arises from a deficiency of protein and iron).
- Increase in the number of leukocytes, acceleration of ESR (these are signs of inflammation of the internal organs, in particular the gastrointestinal tract).
- An increase in eosinophils (a characteristic symptom of allergy that occurs in response to the irritating effect of helminth waste products).
For a more accurate diagnosis, feces analysis for helminth eggs and scrapings are used. When examining feces, it is possible to detect the causative agents of enterobiasis, ascariasis, hymenolipedosis, and also to detect the presence of protozoa microorganisms (lamblia).
It is important to remember that with a single study, the probability of detecting worm eggs in feces is 30%. Therefore, to clarify the diagnosis with the first negative result, the study is carried out two more times with an interval of 2-4 days.
To improve the accuracy of the study, it is important to carefully prepare for the delivery of feces for analysis. Collect biological material only in a special sterile container, which can be purchased at the pharmacy. A few days before the analysis, you should stop eating coloring products (beets, red berries, exotic fruits, sweets and drinks with dyes), do not use laxatives, as well as rectal suppositories.
Immunoassay
ELISA analysis in adults and children can detect antibodies produced by the human body in response to the presence of foreign objects in it. For this, blood is taken from a vein, in which, under laboratory conditions, specific IgG antibodies to lamblia, trichomonads, pork and bovine tapeworm, trichinella, echinococcus, toxocara, roundworm and pinworms can be detected. With the help of this study, you can detect the presence of almost all parasites in the human body.
Preparing for research is not difficult. It is necessary to take the analysis in the morning, on an empty stomach after 8-10 hours of fasting. On the eve of the study, it is advisable not to take antibacterial and antihistamines, and also not to eat allergenic foods (honey, seafood, exotic fruits and red berries, nuts). Immediately before donating blood, experts recommend relaxing in the laboratory waiting room for 10-15 minutes.
The research results become known after 1-2 days. These studies are carried out both as a primary diagnosis and as a control over the ongoing treatment.
Timely detection and modern effective treatment of parasitic diseases helps to avoid complications dangerous to health.