Many will be surprised if they discover that a person constantly lives "not alone. "On himself, as well as inside his body, microorganisms exist constantly, and without this mutually beneficial coexistence, 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 of women, there are lactobacilli, or Dederlein 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 against disease.
But,except microbes, all other random organisms (protozoa and worms) are parasites. . . Some begin to multiply, "poisoning" our body. How to detect parasites in the human body?
This question is far from vain. Of course, if the doctor points a finger and says which parasites live in the body of a certain person, this patient will immediately go for tests. The same will happen if, for example, small worms are accidentally found in fresh feces. The question is clear: the Helminthic invasion is evident. It remains only to clarify the diagnosis and begin treatment.
But parasites have learned to "stick their noses out" and their existence in the body often causes incomprehensible changes that the sick person does not associate at all with the presence of parasites. What are these symptoms? How can you suspect, for example, a chronic helminthiasis?
Common signs of parasites
All the variety of parasites, ranging from accidental (transitory), to 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, muscle swelling and pain with trichinosis, the development of acute appendicitis when crawling towards the ascaris appendix or excruciating itching in the perianal region in the presence of pinworms.
But it is good if there is a symptom that precisely 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 for other symptoms common to parasitic diseases, nonspecific.
- unspecificSymptoms are signs that indicate 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 or poisoning syndrome.
How to identify parasites in the human body and what symptoms do they cause?
The most common symptoms of parasitosis.
- gradual but progressive decrease in body weight, not associated with chronic stress, increased level of physical activity;
- the onset 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 afternoon and evening.
- 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 an aversion to food in the morning;
- there is pronounced weakness, weakness, decreased performance;
- daytime sleepiness appears;
- the temperature rises to subfebrile numbers (37, 1-37, 5);
- there is a cephalagic syndrome - a headache appears that is not associated with physical and mental stress.
The allergic manifestations of helminthiasis can be different. Urticaria may occur, itching of the skin may appear and disappear without cause, Quincke's allergic edema, bronchospasm may occur.
Then,If you or your loved ones have the above symptoms, see a doctor.. . .
Of course, this does not limit the variety of symptoms, but these are the most common.
About laboratory signs
How to identify parasites in the human body through 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 hemoglobin level 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 perform 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 did this happen?
- for example, with fluorography, an unusual darkening is found in the lung field, which can result in 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 made- immune reactions are established, feces are analyzed, if necessary, duodenal contents are taken. Of course, the history of life 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 doubtful 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 parents are sure that the cause is not a stressful state due to the influence of an organized team, then there is one more reason. than enough to visit a pediatrician. infectious disease specialist.
Treatment of identified helminth infections is carried out in a special helminthology (parasitological) room, which is usually located in each regional center of the main infectious disease hospital.