Many will be surprised if they find out that a person constantly lives "not alone. "On himself, as well as inside his body, microorganisms constantly exist, and without this mutually beneficial cohabitation, a person would be seriously ill and could not survive. So, on the surface of healthy skin there is a normal microflora that protects it from the reproduction of harmful microbes. In the vagina in women, there are lactobacilli, or Dederlein's sticks, which form a normal acidic environment. Finally, in the large intestine and feces of a healthy person, there are hundreds of billions of microorganisms that are involved in the digestion of food, the production of vitamins, and the protection of a person from disease.
But,except microbes, all other random organisms - protozoa, as well as worms - are parasites. . . Some begin to multiply, "poisoning" our body. How to detect parasites in the human body?
This question is far from idle. Of course, if the doctor points his finger and says what parasites live in the body of a given person, then this patient will immediately go to take tests. The same will happen if, for example, small worms are accidentally found in fresh feces. The question is clear: helminthic invasion is evident. It remains only to clarify the diagnosis and start treatment.
But parasites have learned to "keep their nose out, " and often their existence in the body causes incomprehensible changes that the sick person does not associate with the presence of parasites at all. What are these symptoms? How can one suspect, for example, chronic helminthiasis?
Common signs of parasites
The whole variety of parasitoses, ranging from accidental (transient), and ending with those parasites that live in the human body constantly, are manifested by some symptoms. They can be divided into two groups:
- specific(characteristic of a particular type of parasite), for example, puffiness and muscle pain with trichinosis, the development of acute appendicitis when crawling into the ascaris appendix, or excruciating itching in the perianal region in the presence of pinworms.
But it is good if there is such a symptom that accurately indicates the cause of the invasion (in medicine it is called pathognomonic). But how to determine the presence of parasites in the human body if there are no such direct signs?
To do this, check whether there are other symptoms common to parasitoses - nonspecific.
- non-specificsymptoms are signs that indicate the poisoning of the body with the waste products of worms and protozoa.
In turn, these signs most often appear in the form of two syndromes:
- an allergic reaction of the body to a parasite;
- intoxication syndrome, or poisoning.
How to identify parasites in the human body, and what symptoms do they cause?
The most common symptoms of parasitosis
- gradual, but steadily progressive decrease in body weight, not associated with chronic stress, increased level of physical activity;
- the appearance of insomnia. It can be caused by both itching of the skin and the release of toxins, for example, during the migration of larvae. In this case, the person simply experiences a deterioration in well-being in the evening and at night.
- the appearance of nausea and vomiting, sometimes due to aversion to food;
- anorexia, or a marked decrease in appetite, up to and including its complete absence. For example, with giardiasis, children often have morning aversion to food;
- there is pronounced weakness, weakness, decreased performance;
- daytime sleepiness appears;
- the temperature rises to subfebrile numbers (37. 1-37. 5);
- there is a cephalgic syndrome: a headache appears that is not associated with physical and mental stress.
Allergic manifestations of helminthiasis can be different. Urticaria may occur, causeless skin itching may appear and disappear, allergic Quincke's edema, bronchospasm may occur.
In that case,if you or your loved ones have the above symptoms, then consult a doctor. . .
Of course, this does not limit the range of symptoms, but these are the most common.
About laboratory signs
How to identify parasites in the human body using simple tests? For example, when studying the result of a general blood test, the following findings indicate a helminthic invasion:
- anemia, or a decrease in the level of hemoglobin and color index;
- eosinophilia. . . Normally, the number of eosinophils does not exceed 5%, and their number increases with parasitic diseases.
Of course, you should not take all the tests in a row on your own, the doctor knows better what to prescribe in each specific case.
About accidental finds
Sometimes an accidental finding helps to identify the presence of parasites in the human body. How does this happen?
- for example, with fluorography, an unusual darkening in the pulmonary field is found, which may turn out to be a parasitic cyst;
- during an MRI of the brain, it is also possible to detect single or multiple cysts, often without any symptoms.
In conclusion, it must be said thatafter the detection of these symptoms, a specific diagnosis is carried out: immune reactions are set, feces are analyzed, if necessary, duodenal contents are taken. Of course, life history is very important. So, if a person rested the day before in the hot countries of Asia and Africa, and swam where it is not recommended, or used water of dubious quality, or unwashed fruits, then the presence of helminthic invasion is more than likely.
In the same way, if a child has similar symptoms after attending school, kindergarten, and the parents are sure that the cause is not a stressful state due to the influence of an organized team, then there is more than enough reason to visit a pediatric infectious disease specialist.
Treatment of identified helminthiasis is carried out in a special helminthological (parasitological) room, which usually exists in each regional center at the main infectious diseases hospital.