Today, helminthiases are the most common parasitic diseases, the causative agents of which are helminths - two types of worms: flat and round.A feature of helminth infestation in the human body is the non-specificity of symptoms, that is, the signs of the disease fit into 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 of various locations.
- Apathy, loss of appetite, constant tiredness.
- Skin rashes, itching in various parts of the body.
- Swollen lymph nodes.
The chronic stage is characterized by a wide variety of symptoms, which depend on the species of helminth, its location and the intensity of reproduction.Characterized by increasing 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 am often bothered by diarrhea and abdominal pain, I feel exhausted" - such symptoms should make the doctor think of a helminth infestation.
Even the most experienced doctor cannot make a correct diagnosis based on symptoms alone, so it is hardly possible to detect worms at home.
Scatological methods for the diagnosis of the disease
All methods of diagnosing helminthiases 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.The infected person's stool, urine, bile, sputum, or blood, as well as scraped tissues and materials, are examined.
- Indirect: identifies pathological changes in the human body that are the result of the presence of helminths.The method allows the doctor to check the blood picture, the state of the immune system, structural and functional disorders of the affected organs.Of the indirect methods, doctors often use X-ray and immunological diagnostic methods, as well as morphological blood tests.
A common direct method of diagnosing helminthiasis is scatological examination, which can be micro- and macrohelminthoscopy.
Macrohelminthoscopy diagnostics allows you to detect a whole helminth or its parts: segments, tapeworms, 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 not sufficient for detection, for example, when identifying pork or bovine tapeworms, segments of the helminth are visible in the feces, and in case of enterobiasis, whole pinworms 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 results, the feces are additionally examined using a magnifying glass or microscope.
The microhelminthoscopic examination is so called due to the use of the microscope.It allows you to identify the larvae or eggs of the parasite in the feces, which are prepared in a special way on a 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 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
Today, the detection of porcine or bovine tapeworms is quite difficult, because segments of the parasite are often not excreted from the body with feces.The doctor may use the method of scraping the perianal area and microhelminthoscopy examination of feces.
Diagnosis of enterobiasis
How can I identify 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 ball soaked in a glycerin solution.The resulting material is transferred to a glass slide, which is subsequently 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 moved to a glass slide.It is important to glue it carefully, without air bubbles, to avoid distortion of the search results.
Microscopy of intestinal contents allows you 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 on top with another glass.First of all, the material is examined with the naked eye, and only then a microscope is used.
Studies on muscle tissue in trichinosis and cysticercosis
To identify larval forms of Trichinella, a small piece of the gastrocnemius or biceps muscle is surgically removed, broken down into individual fibers in the laboratory and placed between two glass slides with the addition of glycerol.When examining a tissue sample under a microscope, Trichinella larvae are clearly visualized.
The identification of cysticerci is also carried out 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 crushed, its contents are placed between glasses and analyzed 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 can also be feces, which are subjected to certain processing and microscopic examinations.
Immunological methods for the diagnosis of helminthiasis
The most modern methods of 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 in 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 (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 test for parasites in the body at home, without the help of specialists?The answer to this question is unequivocal: no.All existing methods of computerized diagnostics of the body, advertised on the Internet, as well as other uncertified and scientifically unproven methods, are unable to identify the pathogen and make a correct diagnosis.Furthermore, refusal of medical care in favor of “non-traditional” methods of diagnosis and treatment can lead to dangerous consequences, including patient disability and death.You should not neglect scientific advances and try to make a diagnosis yourself - this can be dangerous.At the first suspicious symptoms it is best to consult a doctor.