The problem of parasitic infections has not been fully reported in society, so people began to be interested in how to identify internal parasites, only after the worms have caused serious health hazards.
People are accustomed to noticing problems that have arisen before the effects of worms begin to affect their well-being.
In order to start treatment in time, it is important to know how to determine whether a parasite is present in the body-we will discuss the symptoms of helminthiasis in this article.
Parasites, their types
Parasites are lower life forms that exist at the expense of host organisms. They can exist on the surface of the skin and affect internal organs, tissues, and mucous membranes.
The protozoa consumes the nutrients that enter the host's body, and poisons the human body with the products of their life activities.
Depending on the location, there are several main types of parasites:
- Endoparasites exist in the human body (Echinococcus, Lanseria, Toxoplasma gondii, and viruses, bacteria, and fungi);
- Ectoparasites live on the surface of the body, and they can exist in the external environment. Their life activities are based on the absorption of blood and tissue cells of the host body. This group includes lice, fleas, ticks, bed bugs.
In most cases, pinworms, roundworms, pork tapeworms, bovine tapeworms, lanschi tapeworms, alveolar cocci, Echinococcus tapeworms, and tapeworms are found in worms.
The adult body, together with all functional systems, can prevent certain attacks by parasites.
In the mouth, the enzymes produced with saliva are lethal to worm eggs. The acidic environment of the stomach also acts as a protective system.
The next protective barrier—represented by particularly stubborn worms—is the immune system.
However, in a child's immature body, the protective barrier may not work, which may lead to parasitic infection.
In the course of evolution, endoparasites learned to survive under incredible conditions, adapt to any changes and destroy the body asymptomatically, without actually betraying their existence.
According to research, it may take months or even years from infection to the first signs of helminthiasis.
To detect an infection early, you need to know how to recognize the parasites in the human body.
You should carefully monitor your body's changes and their signals in order to detect the symptoms of worm excretion poisoning in time and determine whether there are parasites in the body.
Signs of worm infection
The presence of internal parasites always affects human health. But the signs of failure of protozoa are similar to the symptoms of common diseases.
In order to find out whether there are parasites in the body, a medical examination can be performed.
The following sets of signs indicate that the organism is infected:
- Body poisoning;
- Damage to the nervous system;
- Destruction of the gastrointestinal tract;
- Skin problems.
Whole body exposure to toxic substances produced by parasites can cause headaches, weakness, nausea and increased fatigue.
For no obvious reason, the temperature rose slightly to 37. 5. The work of the immune system is disrupted, which is the result of colds, intestinal diseases, and allergies.
An obvious sign of a parasitic infection is an unreasonable weight loss due to the competition between the body and the worms for nutrients.
Children are most prone to this symptom. If the child loses weight significantly in the usual way of life, it is imperative to check whether the child has helminthiasis.
Due to long-term poisoning of worm toxins, neuroticism, depression and irritability can occur.
May cause sleep disorders, especially in the middle of the night. At this time, according to the body's biological rhythms, the liver is most active, and unreasonable awakening may be the result of the body's attempts to get rid of toxic substances.
According to some sources, the nervous system's response to parasite intervention is bruxism-teeth grinding during sleep. Many people think this is a sign of parasites in children, but it has not been scientifically proven.
The presence of parasites has a negative impact on the function of the gastrointestinal tract. Worms act on the intestinal wall, causing irritation and inflammation.
As a result, the absorption of nutrients and fatty compounds is reduced. Worms cause cramping pain when they enter the large intestine. During their life activities, many types of parasites secrete specific substances that cause diarrhea.
Worms come in different shapes and sizes, so they may be the cause of blockages in certain organs, bile, and intestines, leading to constipation.
Parasites located in the small intestine can cause flatulence, bloating and inflammation. Frequent bloating indicates the presence of microorganisms in the system.
In turn, the interruption of the gastrointestinal tract can cause skin changes: acne, acne, spots of unknown origin, baldness, papilloma, dermatitis.
Usually, parasites are the cause of allergic reactions: hives, skin rashes, eczema. This is because the worm produces a poison to activate the immune system, which causes the body to react.
If you notice any of the above changes in yourself or your child, you should contact your doctor immediately to check for parasites.
A qualified parasitologist will give easy-to-understand and easy-to-understand instructions (explain how to check and which tests to perform), and prescribe a treatment plan based on the test results.
Laboratory methods for diagnosing helminthiasis
In the human body, parasites, their larvae and eggs can be located in different organs. The ability to move within the body and therefore in every system of the body makes it difficult to identify helminthiasis.
In the early stages, no more than 15% of the total number of infected patients can be detected as having parasites.
How to judge whether there are parasites in the body? In order to detect all clinical forms of parasites, complex studies have been carried out, combining various methods.
In order to detect worms during laboratory research, the following biological materials were used:
- shit;
- bile;
- Urine;
- phlegm;
- Blood;
- muscle;
- Perianal and rectal mucus.
The traditional way to check for the presence of protozoa in children or adults is to study the patient’s feces.
To do this, you must pass proper analysis. This proven method allows you to determine the presence of protozoan carcasses, larvae and eggs to reveal their types.
Immunological methods include blood tests that detect antigens and antibodies of specific types of microorganisms.
Antigens are directly represented by parasites and the toxins they produce, which produce antibodies (immunoglobulins) against antigens in human blood.
This method is very informative. With its help, more than 90% of parasitic microorganisms can be detected.
As a result of the blood test, the parasites can be identified and the dynamics of the disease development can be found.
Serological methods are used in the acute phase of the disease. For this analysis, you must donate blood.
Biological fluid will serve as a material in which antibodies against certain parasites can be found.
This method is usually combined with X-ray, ultrasound, and endoscopy.
You can check the body for the presence of parasites through PCR diagnosis. This method can detect specific parasites through specific DNA analysis.
With the help of PCR diagnosis, people can not only detect the parasites in the test material, but also predict the subsequent development of the disease.
Less common in modern medicine is the use of bioresonance studies, histological coordination procedures, blood scans, and electroacupuncture to detect parasites.
Every year, new and existing and researched diagnostic methods are being developed and improved. This allows you to identify the parasite at a stage when the worm has not caused a change in the work of the body.
Modern medicine recommends preventing parasitic infections twice a year. There are many drugs used for this.
Before using the medicine, you should consult a doctor, because anti-worm medicine is not only toxic to worms, but also to the human body.