How to identify parasites in the human body?

Parasitic organisms are not something abstract and distant. Many people do not even think that they do not live "on their own". A whole colony of microorganisms lives 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. The normal microflora armor against the proliferation of pathogens, beneficial microorganisms contribute to the creation of the necessary acidity of the environment and participate in many chemical processes in the body. In addition to microbes, dangerous protozoa or parasitic worms can also occur in the human body. During their development and reproduction, they negatively affect human health, suppress the immune system, and disturbthe smooth functioning of all systems. How to identify parasites in the human body when parasitic infections are often asymptomatic? A person often gets sick and faints, but does not in any way associate this with the presence of parasites.

Signs of a hazardous area

In most cases, the parasites in the human body are small in size, and they spend all or part of their life cycle in 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. Serious health problems can be prevented by timely recognition of parasites and appropriate treatment: allergies, kidney and liver dysfunction. With modern diagnostic methods, you can find out if there are uninvited guests in the organization. There are several symptoms that indirectly indicate an infection. If you pay close attention to your health, a person should notice unpleasant new changes and not ignore them. The main manifestations of parasitic infection are the following symptoms:

1. A decrease in body weight, often on 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 mass infection of parasites and, as a result, the lack of nutrients in the human body.
3. Indigestion, the person experiences frequent diarrhea alternating with constipation.
4. The development of problems related to digestive system dysfunctions.
5. Constant discomfort under the ribs on the right side.
6. Symptoms of arthritis, which manifests itself in the form of muscle and joint pain.
7. Deterioration of appearance, skin changes in the form of rashes, redness or peeling can be observed.
8. An increase in the number of infectious diseases due to reduced immunity.
9. Allergic reactions due to poisoning caused by waste products of parasites.
10. Deterioration of character, appearance of irritability, aggressiveness due to lack of important microelements and vitamins.
11. Reduced performance, constant feeling of fatigue, sleepiness.
12. Sleep disturbance, reduced ability to concentrate.

The mentioned symptoms are inherent in many 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 transmission routes can significantly reduce the risk of parasite infection:

1. Eating less processed vegetables, fruits and greens. A large number of parasites are transmitted to humans through the consumption of poorly processed plant foods. This is due to the transmission of infection from contaminated soil. To protect yourself, it is important to handle vegetables and fruits with care and wash your hands before eating.
2. Drinking dirty water. To reduce the risk of infection, it is important to drink only boiled water. If you are visiting developing countries, you should only drink bottled water. You cannot swim in unfamiliar water, especially if the health service has prohibited swimming in certain water sources.
3. Consumption of semi-raw meat and fish products. There are parasites that spread this way. In order to protect yourself, it is important to avoid the consumption of under-processed meat, to consume only products that have a quality certificate and have been inspected by health services. During cooking, the temperature regime must be observed and the product must be fried (boiled) thoroughly.
4. Contact with an infected person. Some helminthiasis are transmitted through household contact. The most popular group that people get infected with from a sick person are the fungi. A disease such as cysticercosis is also widespread. To protect against infection, wash your hands before every meal or after visiting crowded places, and do not eat food prepared by strangers in spontaneous markets or in dubious restaurants.
5. Contact with faeces or skin parasites of infected animals. To protect yourself, it is important to follow good hygiene and regularly treat your pets against fleas.

Diagnostic methods: traditional methods

The classic way to diagnose parasites in the body is to analyze the stool. Collect in the morning, just before delivery, in a glass container with an airtight lid. The excrement can be stored for a maximum of ten hours in a cold place. The analysis detects worms belonging to different groups.

It is considered the most effective method for identifying parasites such as:

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

The presence of pinworms is diagnosed by itching at night. A scraping is used to diagnose enterobiasis. It is made with a special adhesive tape. The efficiency of the technique is very high, the most important thing is the correct execution of the procedure. Before washing the genitals, a healthcare professional performs a scraping. For accurate results, it is recommended to repeat the test a few days after the first test.

Donating feces is not always effective, some people do not like this simple procedure, as they find it extremely unpleasant. For this reason, it is necessary to know how to detect parasites in other ways.

Diagnostic methods: new possibilities

If unusual symptoms appear, a person should visit a specialist and undergo an examination. This helps to find the source of the problem and to recognize the type of helminth. There are a number of diagnostic measures that allow the precise identification of the presence, type, quantity and location of parasitic organisms.

A few years ago, the presence of helminths was diagnosed by taking a stool sample. The method is simple and painless, but its accuracy is low. The result is often false negative and the person still suffers from helminthiasis or parasitic infection. For the best results, you should 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 peculiarities of the life activity and development cycle of the parasites.

Modern medicine offers more accurate methods of identifying dangerous neighbors in the human body:

1. X-rayobsessionendoscopy (biopsy)helps identify parasites in internal organs.
2. PCR. To determine the DNA of the parasite, a sample of saliva, blood or secretions is taken. The analysis makes it possible to determine the type (type) of the parasite.
3. Linked immunosorbent assayallows antigens to be identified. The technique allows you to achieve very high results. In addition to identifying the parasite, the analysis helps to determine the type of parasite, the number of pathogenic individuals and their developmental characteristics.
4. Bioresonance research. The technique allows you to confirm the presence of parasites in the body, but cannot determine its type, location or number.

Correct behavior when infected

If someone suspects that they are infected with worms, they should not start self-medication, they should consult a specialist. The therapist makes a referral to a parasitologist or infectious disease specialist to clarify the diagnosis. Self-medication is not only ineffective, but can also cause the condition to worsen.

Antiparasitic drugs are characterized by high toxicity and have specific applications. When diagnosing parasites, the doctor prescribes a drug that affects a specific type of helminth. If we have no idea what kind of organisms live together with humans, it is forbidden to subject them to a therapeutic course, taking antiparasitic drugs does not affect the problem.

Thanks to the availability of numerous research methods, not only the type of parasite, but also its location and the degree of infection of the organism can be easily determined. Do not ignore the problem, timely and competent treatment guarantees recovery without serious consequences for the body.