Today, helminthiases are the most common parasitic diseases, the causative agents of which are helminths - two types of worms: flat and round worms.A characteristic feature of helminthic infestation in the human body is the non-specificity of the symptoms, that is, the signs of the disease match many other pathologies.People are interested in the questions: “How can I determine the presence of parasites in the body and can I detect helminths in my intestines at home?”
Signs of helminthiasis
The clinical course of the disease is divided into two stages - acute and chronic.The acute stage begins with the penetration of the helminth into the human body and lasts from several weeks to several months.Symptoms of the acute stage develop due to sensitization of the body - an allergic reaction in response to the introduction of a foreign substance (parasite) and include:
- Increased body temperature.
- Violation of general health.
- Dyspeptic symptoms – diarrhea, constipation, nausea and vomiting.
- Pain in joints and muscles.
- Abdominal pain in various places.
- Apathy, loss of appetite, constant fatigue.
- Rashes, itching in various parts of the body.
- Enlarged lymph nodes.
The chronic stage is characterized by a variety of symptoms that depend on the type of helminth, its location and the intensity of reproduction.Characterized by increasing dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, weakened immunity, frequent allergic reactions, nervousness, irritability, weight loss and sleep disturbances.Patients often complain: “I often have diarrhea and stomach pain, I feel exhausted” - such symptoms should prompt the doctor to think about helminthic infestation.
Even the most experienced doctor cannot make a correct diagnosis based on symptoms alone, so it is almost impossible to detect worms at home.
Scatological methods for diagnosing the disease
All methods for 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 feces, urine, bile, sputum or blood of the infected person as well as tissue and scraped material are examined.
- Indirect – identify pathological changes in the human body resulting from the presence of helminths.The method allows the doctor to check blood counts, the state of the immune system, and structural and functional disorders of the affected organs.Among indirect methods, doctors often use X-ray and immunological diagnostic methods, as well as morphological blood tests.
A common direct method for diagnosing helminthiases is scatological examination, which can be micro- and macrohelminthoscopic.
Macrohelminthoscopy diagnostics allows detecting a whole helminth or its parts – segments, cestodes, scolex.Such an examination is prescribed by a doctor if the eggs of the parasite are not excreted in the feces or their number is insufficient for detection.For example, when identifying pork or cattle tapeworms, helminth segments are visible in the feces, and in enterobiasis, whole pinworms are visible.
You can detect parasites or their parts by examining feces with the naked eye.If a differentiation of the diagnosis is necessary or if there are doubts about the reliability of the statement, the stool is also examined with a magnifying glass or a microscope.
The microhelminthoscopy examination is so called due to the use of a microscope.It allows identifying parasite larvae or eggs in feces, which are prepared on a slide in a special way before microscopy.The study is quite reliable and allows the doctor to distinguish some types of helminthiasis from each other.
Special diagnostic methods for various forms of helminthiasis
Using specific diagnostic methods, you can find out whether certain types of parasites are in your body.The doctor chooses the method based on clinical data.
Diagnosis of Taeniadoses
Detecting pork or beef tapeworms is quite difficult these days because the parasite segments are often not excreted from the body in the feces.The doctor can use the method of scraping from the perianal area and microhelminthoscopy examination of the stool.
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 with 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 way of scraping is to cut material into strips 9-10 cm long using adhesive tape, for example scotch tape.The sticky side of the adhesive tape is applied to the perianal folds and smoothed with a spatula, then carefully peeled off and placed on a glass slide.It is important to insert it carefully and without air bubbles to avoid distorting the research results.
Microscopy of the intestinal contents makes it possible to identify not only intestinal parasites, but also those localized in the liver and gallbladder in opisthorchiasis, fascioliasis and other invasions.
Sputum examination for the diagnosis of pulmonary forms of helminthiasis
To identify parasites localized in the lungs and trachea, sputum is examined, which is applied to a special plastic plate or glass and covered with another glass on top.First, the material is examined with the naked eye and only then is a microscope used.
Examinations of muscle tissue in trichinosis and cysticercosis
To identify larval forms of Trichinella, a small piece of the gastrocnemius or biceps muscle is surgically removed, split into individual fibers in the laboratory and placed between two glass slides with the addition of glycerin.When microscopy of a tissue sample, Trichinella larvae are clearly visible.
Identification of cysticerci also occurs after the removal of muscle or subcutaneous tissue.With the naked eye you can see a small bubble up to 2 cm in size.This blister is crushed, its contents placed between jars, and examined under a microscope to determine the viability of the resulting parasites.
Diagnosis of schistosomiasis
Urine collected in the middle of the day is used as material to detect schistosomes.
In addition to urine, the material can also be feces, which is subjected to certain preparation and microscopic examination.
Immunological methods for diagnosing helminthiasis
Today, the most modern methods for identifying helminths are various immunological studies.Similar diagnostic methods are suitable for helminthiasis, the pathogens 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 intracutaneous tests that can reveal the presence of parasitic antibodies are considered a meaningful method.
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.
- Immune enzyme reaction in the diagnosis of echinococcosis, opisthorchiasis, trichinosis and alveolococcosis.
Self-diagnosis of helminthiasis - is it possible?
Is it possible to test for the presence of parasites in the body at home without the help of specialists?The answer to this question is clear: 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 a correct diagnosis.In addition, denial of medical care in favor of “non-traditional” methods of diagnosis and treatment can have dangerous consequences, including disability and death of the patient.You should not neglect scientific progress and try to make a diagnosis yourself - this can be dangerous.At the first suspicious symptoms, it is better to consult a doctor.