How to identify parasites in the human body?

Parasitic organisms are not something abstract and distant. Many people don’t even think that they don’t live "alone. "Entire colonies of microorganisms live on the skin and inside the human body. Some of them are dangerous and harmful, while others are necessary for healthy living and the proper functioning of the body. The normal microflora constitutes armor against pathogenic proliferation; Beneficial microorganisms help create the necessary acidity of the environment and participate in many chemical processes in the body. In addition to microbes, dangerous protozoa or parasitic worms may exist in the human body. As they grow and multiply, they negatively affect human health, suppress the immune system and interfere with the proper functioning of all systems. How to identify parasites in the human body if parasitic infestations are often asymptomatic? Often a person gets sick and disappears, but this is in no way related to the presence of parasites.

Symptoms of a dangerous neighborhood

Parasites present in the human body are in most cases small and live all or part of their life cycle in the body of the host. Modern science has studied more than three hundred species of parasites that can live in the human body. Once inside, helminths affect the intestines, suppress the immune system and negatively affect vital organs. With timely detection of parasites and adequate treatment, serious health problems can be avoided: allergies, kidney and liver dysfunctions. You can find out if unwanted guests are present in the body using modern diagnostic methods. There are a number of symptoms that indirectly indicate an infection. If you pay close attention to your health, a person should notice new unpleasant changes and not ignore them. The main manifestations of a parasitic infection are the following symptoms:

1. A decrease in body weight often occurs against the background of a decrease in appetite, but often a person notices an increase in appetite while losing weight.
2. The development of anemia is due to a massive infestation of parasites and, as a result, a lack of nutrients in the human body.
3. Indigestion, a person notes frequent diarrhea, which alternates with constipation.
4. Development of problems related to dysfunctions of the digestive tract.
5. Constant discomfort under the ribs on the right.
6. Symptoms of arthritis, which manifest themselves in the form of muscle and joint pain.
7. There is a deterioration in appearance, skin damage in the form of rashes, redness or peeling.
8. An increase in the number of infectious diseases due to a decrease in immunity.
9. Allergic reactions due to poisoning by parasitic waste.
10. Deterioration of character, appearance of irritability, aggressiveness due to a lack of important microelements and vitamins.
11. Decreased performance, feeling of constant fatigue, drowsiness.
12. Sleep disorders, decreased ability to concentrate.

The mentioned symptoms are inherent in a large number of diseases, so it is impossible to say 100% that a person is infected with parasites. The diagnosis is made by a specialist after an examination.

How does parasitic infection occur?

A person can become infected with parasites in different ways. Knowing the routes of transmission, you can significantly reduce the risk of contracting a parasitic infection:

1. Eating under-processed vegetables, fruits and greens. A large number of parasites are transmitted to humans through the consumption of poorly processed plant foods. This happens due to the transmission of infection from contaminated soil. To protect yourself, it is important to handle vegetables and fruits carefully and wash your hands before eating.
2. Drink dirty water. To reduce the risk of infection, it is important to only drink boiled water. When visiting developing countries, you should only drink bottled water. You cannot swim in unfamiliar bodies of water, especially if there is a ban on swimming in certain water sources by the sanitary service.
3. Consumption of semi-raw meat and fish. There are parasites that are transmitted this way. To protect yourself, it is important to avoid eating under-processed meat and to only consume products with a quality certificate and tested by health services. During cooking, you must adhere to the temperature regime and fry (boil) the product well.
4. Contact with an infected person. Some helminthiases are transmitted through household contact. The most popular group with which people become infected from a sick person is pinworms. A disease such as cysticercosis is also very common. To protect yourself from infection, you should wash your hands before every meal or after visiting crowded places, and not eat dishes prepared by strangers in spontaneous markets or in questionable restaurants.
5. Contact with feces or skin parasites of infected animals. To protect yourself, it is important to scrupulously respect hygiene and systematically treat your animals against fleas.

Diagnostic methods: traditional methods

The classic method for diagnosing parasites in the body is stool analysis. Collect it in the morning just before delivery in a glass container with a tight-fitting lid. The maximum possible storage time of feces is no more than ten hours in a cold place. The scan detects worms from different groups.

The most effective method is considered to be used to identify parasites such as:

• roundworms;
• whipworms;
• tapeworm;
• tapeworms;
• paw;
• schistosomes.

The presence of pinworms is diagnosed by nighttime itching. A scraping is used to diagnose enterobiasis. It is made using a special adhesive tape. The effectiveness of the technique is very high, the main thing is to perform the procedure correctly. Scraping is performed by a healthcare professional before washing the genitals. To obtain an accurate result, it is recommended to repeat the test a few days after the initial sample.

Stool donation is not always effective; some people do not like this simple procedure, considering it extremely unpleasant. For this reason, it is necessary to know how to detect parasites by other means.

Diagnostic methods: new options

If you notice the appearance of unusual symptoms, a person should consult a specialist and undergo an examination. This will help find the source of the problem and recognize the type of helminths. There is a set of diagnostic measures that allow you to accurately identify the presence of parasitic organisms, determine their type, quantity and location.

Some time ago, the presence of helminths was diagnosed using a stool sample. The method is simple and painless, but its accuracy is low. Often the result is false negative and the person continues to suffer from helminthiasis or parasitic infestation. To achieve the most correct result, you will need to have a bowel movement at least ten times a month. Only in this case can you get an accurate answer. This is due to the characteristics of vital activity and development cycles of parasites.

Modern medicine offers more accurate ways to identify dangerous neighbors in the human body:

1. x-rayOrendoscopy (biopsy)helps identify parasites in internal organs.
2. RAP. A sample of saliva, blood or secretions is taken to determine the parasite's DNA. The analysis helps to determine the type (type) of the parasite.
3. Linked immunosorbent testallows antigens to be identified. The technique allows you to achieve very high results. In addition to identifying the parasite, the analysis makes it possible to determine the type of parasite, the number and the development characteristics of the pathogenic individual.
4. Bioresonance research. The technique makes it possible to confirm the presence of parasites in the body, but does not make it possible to determine its type, location or number.

Correct behavior in case of infection

If a person suspects that he is infected with helminths, he should not start self-medication, he should consult a specialist. The therapist will refer to a parasitologist or infectious disease specialist to clarify the diagnosis. Self-medication not only turns out to be ineffective, but can also worsen the situation.

Drugs against parasites are characterized by high toxicity and have specific application. When diagnosing parasites, the doctor prescribes a drug that affects a specific type of helminths. Having no idea about the organisms that coexist with humans, it is forbidden to undergo treatment: taking antiparasitic drugs will have no effect on the problem.

Thanks to the availability of many research methods, it is possible to easily determine not only the type of parasite, but also its location and the degree of infection of the body. Do not ignore the problem: timely and competent treatment guarantees recovery without serious consequences for the body.