How can you 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 "on their own. "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 a healthy life and the proper functioning of the body. Normal microflora is an 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, there may be dangerous protozoa or parasitic worms in the human body. As they develop 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 does not associate this in any way with the presence of parasites.

Symptoms of a dangerous neighborhood

Parasites in the human body, in most cases, are small in size and live all or part of their life cycle in the host's body. 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 appropriate treatment, serious health problems can be avoided: allergies, kidney and liver dysfunction. You can find out if there are unwanted people in the body using modern diagnostic methods. There are several symptoms that indirectly indicate 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 occurs due to the massive infestation of parasites and, consequently, the lack of nutrients in the human body.
3. Indigestion, the person notices frequent diarrhea, which alternates with constipation.
4. Development of problems associated with digestive tract dysfunction.
5. Constant discomfort under the ribs on the right.
6. Symptoms of arthritis, which manifests itself in the form of pain in muscles and joints.
7. Deterioration of appearance, skin lesions in the form of rashes, redness or peeling are observed.
8. Increase in the number of infectious diseases due to decreased immunity.
9. Allergic reactions due to parasite waste poisoning.
10. Deterioration of character, appearance of irritability, aggressiveness due to lack of important microelements and vitamins.
11. Decreased performance, feeling of constant tiredness, 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 examination.

How does parasitic infection occur?

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

1. Eat unprocessed 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 through contaminated soil. To protect yourself, it is important to handle vegetables and fruits carefully and wash your hands before eating.
2. Drinking dirty water. To reduce the risk of infection, it is important to drink only 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 bathing in certain sources by the health service.
3. Consumption of semi-raw meat and fish products. There are parasites that are transmitted this way. To protect yourself, it is important to avoid consuming poorly processed meats; Only consume products that have a quality certificate and have been tested by health services. During cooking, you must observe 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 that people become infected with from a sick person are pinworms. A disease such as cysticercosis is also widespread. To protect yourself from infection, you need to wash your hands before each meal or after visiting crowded places, and not eat food prepared by strangers in spontaneous markets or in questionable restaurants.
5. Contact with feces or skin parasites from infected animals. To protect yourself, it is important to carefully observe hygiene and systematically treat your pets against fleas.

Diagnostic methods: traditional methods

The classic way to diagnose parasites in the body is stool analysis. Collect in the morning, immediately before birth, in a glass container with an airtight lid. The maximum possible storage period for feces is no more than ten hours in a cold place. The analysis detects worms from different groups.

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

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

The presence of worms is diagnosed by nighttime itching. A scraping is used to diagnose enterobiasis. It is made with special adhesive tape. The effectiveness of the technique is very high, the main thing is to carry out the procedure correctly. A scraping is done by a medical professional before washing the genitals. To obtain an accurate result, it is recommended to repeat the test a few days after the initial collection.

Donating feces is not always effective, some people do not like this simple procedure, considering it extremely unpleasant. Therefore, it is necessary to know how to detect parasites in other ways.

Diagnostic methods: new options

If you notice the appearance of unusual symptoms, a person should visit a specialist and have an examination. This will help find the source of the problem and recognize the type of helminth. 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 through a stool sample. The method is simple and painless, but its accuracy is low. The result is often false negative and the person continues to suffer from helminthiasis or parasitic infestation. To obtain the most correct result, you will need to have a bowel movement at least ten times a month. Only in this case will you be able to get an accurate answer. This is due to the characteristics of the 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. PCR. A sample of saliva, blood or secretions is collected to determine the parasite's DNA. The analysis allows you to determine the type (type) of the parasite.
3. Linked immunosorbent assayallows you to identify antigens. The technique allows you to obtain very high results. In addition to identifying the parasite, the analysis helps to determine the type of parasite, the number and the developmental characteristics of the pathogenic individual.
4. Bioresonance research. The technique allows you to confirm the presence of parasites in the body, but cannot determine their type, location or number.

Correct behavior when infected

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 you to a parasitologist or infectious disease specialist to clarify the diagnosis. Self-medication is not only ineffective, but can also worsen the condition.

Medicines against parasites are characterized by high toxicity and have specific application. When diagnosing parasites, the doctor prescribes a medication that affects a specific type of helminth. Having no idea which organisms coexist with humans, it is prohibited to undergo therapy, as taking antiparasitic drugs will have no effect on the problem.

Thanks to the availability of various 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.