Parasitic diseases are a large group of diseases caused by helminths, certain arthropods and protozoa.
Despite all the achievements of modern medicine and developed hygiene, according to statistics, about 90% of people in the world encounter these pathologies at least once in their life. How to suspect a disease and what tests for parasites to take, you can learn from this article.
Types of parasites
Parasites are organisms that survive thanks to the vital activity of living things. Settling in the human body, during 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 by themselves cause damage to internal organs.
The following types of parasites can cause disease in humans:
- protozoa (amoeba, lamblia);
- pathogenic microorganisms (chlamydia, mycoplasmas and others); helminths
- (roundworms, pinworms, tapeworms from cattle and pork, etc. );
- parasitic arthropods (mange mite, demodex).
The main characteristic of the pathologies they cause is an asymptomatic or low symptom long term course. Parasites skillfully hide their existence, trying to "get everything out of the host's body" until their reserves are exhausted and the organ or tissue is severely damaged.
Symptoms of parasitic diseases
Parasitic pathologies most often mean helminthiasis - diseases caused by the presence of worms in the body. In most cases, they are found in children, however, they can develop in adults if proper hygiene rules are neglected. For a long time after infection, they do not manifest themselves in any way or are accompanied by subtle symptoms 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 resulting from poisoning with parasite waste.
- Exacerbation of bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis, dermatitis, urticaria. They arise as a result of increased sensitivity to helminth cells and their excretion products.
- Disturbance of the digestive system (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, constipation and diarrhea). Helminths parasitizing the intestinal lumen cause inflammation, intestinal obstruction due to blockage of the intestinal lumen.
- Anemia, vitamin deficiency, weight loss. This happens due to a deficiency of proteins, 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 a stool test or blood donation for the presence of specific antibodies. You can follow a study at the clinic where you live, when you are admitted to the hospital, as well as in one of the private laboratories. Some medical centers offer to undergo a comprehensive 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 done if a parasitic disease is suspected, the attending physician will tell based on the complaints, history and clinical manifestations of the disease.
Diagnosis begins with a complete blood count. The most typical changes in helminthiasis will be:
- Decreased hemoglobin level and decreased number of red blood cells (due to protein and iron deficiency).
- Increased white blood cell count, increased ESR (these are signs of inflammation of internal organs, especially the gastrointestinal tract).
- An increase in eosinophils (a characteristic symptom of allergy that occurs in response to the irritating effect of helminth waste).
For a more accurate diagnosis, fecal analysis for helminth eggs and scrapings is used. When examining feces, it is possible to detect the causative agents of enterobiosis, ascariasis, hymenolipedosis, and also to detect the presence of protozoan microorganisms (lamblia).
It is important to remember that with a single study, the probability of detecting worm eggs in the stool 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 prepare carefully 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.
Immunological test
Using ELISA in adults and children, it is possible to detect antibodies produced by the human body in response to the presence of foreign bodies. For this, blood is taken from a vein in which, under laboratory conditions, specific IgG antibodies against lamblia, trichomonads, pig and bovine tapeworm, trichinella, echinococcus, toxocara, roundwormsand pinworms can be detected. With the help of this study, you can detect the presence of almost any parasite in the human body.
Preparing for research is not difficult. It is necessary to do 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 antibacterials 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 waiting room of the laboratory for 10 to 15 minutes.
Search results are known after 1 to 2 days. These studies are performed both as a primary diagnosis and as a control of ongoing treatment.
Timely detection and modern and effective treatment of parasitic diseases prevent dangerous health complications.