Symptoms of the presence of parasites in the body can often seem incoherent and inexplicable, and although the thought is intimidating, they are more common than many believe. There are many organisms in the world - various types of worms, protozoa that can parasitize almost all internal organs of a person and cause symptoms of various diseases. What tests to take for parasites and when to do it, you can find out from this article.
When do you need to get tested?
Most often, infection with parasitic diseases occurs when eating poorly washed vegetables and fruits, poorly processed meat, fish, raw water, as well as through household contact when using common utensils, toys in children.
There are the following types of parasites:
- Protozoa (lamblia, amoeba, malaria plasmodium).
- Parasitic arthropods (demodex mite, the causative agent of scabies).
- Parasitic worms (helminths).
The most common parasitic diseases are caused by helminths (worms) and occur among young children, pet owners, and socially disadvantaged people.
The main feature of parasites is their inconspicuous existence at the initial stages. For a long time after infection, they do not manifest themselves in any way and cause pronounced symptoms already at advanced stages.
You can recognize the presence of parasites in the body by the following manifestations:
- Bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, pain in the stomach, intestines.
- Decreased or increased appetite, discomfort after eating.
- Unmotivated weight loss.
- Itching of the skin, incomprehensible rashes, dermatitis, urticaria.
- Pallor of the skin, increased fatigue, or diagnosed anemia (most often iron deficiency).
- Overwork, sleep disturbances (drowsiness, insomnia).
- Grinding of teeth in sleep, prolonged cough.
When these symptoms appear, you should consult a general practitioner and get tested for parasites.
What tests to pass on parasites
There are many studies to identify the presence of parasites (protozoa, arthropods, helminths) in the body.
Since the most common diseases are helminthiases, the best way to get tested for parasites is to have a stool test.
To conduct a standard study, the patient will need to collect three separate stool samples from different areas of the same portion into a sterile container and deliver the biomaterial to the laboratory as soon as possible. The doctor-laboratory assistant examines the obtained samples under a microscope and can identify both living parasites and from eggs.
A standard study of feces for eggs of worms is not always informative. Due to the peculiarities of the life cycle of parasites, in the test sample, instead of eggs or an adult, there may be dead helminths or their fragments, which cannot be used to diagnose the disease.
More informative is the extended stool analysis, which uses the polymerase chain reaction. This technology allows detecting the DNA of the helminth even if it is dead, in hibernation, or only fragments of the organism have entered the material under study.
In order to say with accuracy whether there are parasites in the body or not, the test must be carried out at least three times on different days. The accuracy of a single study, according to statistical data, is 50%, while with a threefold study, it increases to 99%.
Another, no less important analysis is serological reactions - determination of the level of antibodies to the parasite. They can identify acute (IgM) and chronic or postponed helminthic invasion (IgG). Also, they can determine the infection with parasites, which cannot be found in the feces.
Some helminths parasitize in the bile ducts, and can also form cysts in the lungs, liver and brain. They can be suspected by the corresponding clinical symptoms, and detected using serological tests, X-rays, CT or MRI, as well as with biopsy.
For the diagnosis of parasitic skin diseases (scabies, demodicosis, certain types of helminths), scraping and biopsy of the skin, specific tests (iodine) and serological tests are used.
What tests should an adult take for parasites?
Adults are less likely to suffer from helminthiasis, as they follow the rules of personal hygiene more closely, they eat unwashed fruits and vegetables from the garden less often, and also have less contact with street animals during games.
It is necessary to take tests for helminthiases for adults in the presence of certain nonspecific complaints (upset stomach and intestines, prolonged itching of the skin, rash, weakness, fatigue, anemia), for all patients before admission to the hospital, and also regularly as part of a preventive study for certain categories of workers.
These include employees of the food industry, persons working with children (caregivers and nannies in kindergartens, teachers, heads of sports sections). These persons should definitely be tested for enterobiasis and ascariasis.
Hunters and farmers should be regularly screened for trichinosis and strongyloidiasis; it is important for fishermen to undergo a serological examination to detect opisthorchiasis. More information about which tests should be taken in this or that case can be obtained from a therapist.
What tests to pass for parasites to a child
Each child should undergo a full diagnosis in order to identify worms and prescribe effective therapy against them before attending kindergarten and primary school (upon admission, after a long break or illness). Also, in preschool institutions and schools, there are mandatory regular preventive examinations to detect helminthic infestations in the early stages and prevent their spread.
To diagnose helminthiasis, children should undergo a general analysis of feces, as well as scraping from the perianal folds.
Scraping is recognized as the most effective and accurate method for diagnosing enterobiasis (a disease caused by pinworms). During it, before going to the toilet and the toilet of the perineum, a special cotton swab, a spatula, or a small piece of transparent tape is taken from the perianal folds, which is then applied to a glass slide and examined under a microscope. In the presence of a disease, the laboratory assistant will find pinworm eggs in the test material.
Treatment for parasitic diseases is prescribed by a physician or pediatrician, in difficult cases - by an infectious disease specialist. With skin lesions (some helminths, with scabies or demodicosis), the therapy is selected by a dermatologist.
It is important not to delay contacting a specialist if you suspect a parasitic disease, since a delay in treatment can lead to complications in the patient himself, and also increases the risk of transmission of the disease to others.