Parasitic organisms are not something abstract and distant. Many people do not even think that they do not live "on their own". The entire population of microorganisms that live on the skin and inside the human body. Some of them are dangerous and harmful, while others are necessary for healthy life and normal functioning of the body. Normal microflora is armor against the development of pathogens, beneficial microorganisms help create the necessary acidity of the environment and participate in many chemical processes in the body. In addition to bacteria, dangerous protozoa or parasitic worms can exist in the human body. As they grow and multiply, they negatively affect human health, suppress the immune system and interfere with the smooth functioning of all systems. How to identify parasites in the human body if parasitic infections are often asymptomatic? Often a person gets sick and gradually dies, but there is no way to connect this with the presence of parasites.
Symptoms of a dangerous neighborhood
![Parasitic organisms](/images/articles/89/Parasitic%20organisms.jpg)
Parasites in the human body in most cases are small in size, they 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 will 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 prevented: allergies, kidney and liver dysfunction. You can find out whether uninvited guests are present in the body using modern diagnostic methods. There are several symptoms that indirectly indicate infection. If you pay attention to your health, a person will notice new unpleasant changes and not ignore them. The main manifestations of parasitic infection are the following symptoms:
- Reduced body weight, which often occurs against the background of decreased appetite, but often a person notices an increase in appetite when losing weight.
- The development of anemia occurs due to a large infestation of parasites and, as a result, a lack of nutrients in the human body.
- Indigestion, a person notes frequent diarrhea, alternating with constipation.
- Development of problems associated with malfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Constant discomfort under the ribs on the right side.
- Symptoms of arthritis, manifest in the form of pain in the muscles and joints.
- Deterioration in appearance, skin damage in the form of rashes, redness or peeling are noted.
- An increase in the number of infectious diseases due to reduced immunity.
- Allergic reactions due to parasitic waste poisoning.
- Personality declines, irritability and aggression appear due to lack of important trace elements and vitamins.
- Decreased work performance, constant feeling of fatigue, drowsiness.
- Sleep disorders, reduced ability to concentrate.
![One of the symptoms of parasitic infection is sleep disorders](/images/articles/89/One%20of%20the%20symptoms%20of%20parasitic%20infection%20is%20sleep%20disorders.jpg)
The above 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 examination.
How do parasitic infections occur?
A person can become infected with parasites in many different ways. Knowing the routes of transmission, you can significantly reduce the risk of parasitic infection:
- Eat unprocessed vegetables, fruits and greens. A large number of parasites are transmitted to humans through the consumption of poorly prepared plant foods. This occurs due to transmission of infection from contaminated soil. To protect yourself, it is important to handle vegetables and fruits carefully and wash your hands before eating.
- Drink 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 unknown waters, especially if there is a ban on swimming in certain water sources by the cleaning service.
- Consume semi-raw meat and fish products. There are parasites transmitted this way. To protect yourself, it is important to avoid eating unprocessed meat, and only eat products that have quality certification and have been inspected by sanitary authorities. During the cooking process, you should comply with the temperature regime and fry (boil) the product thoroughly.
- Contact with infected person. Some helminths are transmitted through household contact. The most common group that people get from sick people is pinworms. A disease such as cysticercosis is also common. To protect yourself from infection, you need to wash your hands before every meal or after going to crowded places, and do not eat food prepared by strangers at random markets or unclear restaurants.
- Contact with feces or skin parasites of infected animals. To protect yourself, it is important to observe careful hygiene and systematically treat your pets for fleas.
![Eating poorly processed fruits can cause helminth infection](/images/articles/89/Eating%20poorly%20processed%20fruits%20can%20cause%20helminth%20infection.jpg)
Diagnostic method: traditional method
The classic way to diagnose parasites in the body is by analyzing stool. Collect it in the morning just before delivery in a glass container with a tight lid. The maximum storage time for manure may not exceed ten hours in a cold place. Deep detection analysis of different groups.
The most effective methods are considered to be used to identify parasites such as:
- roundworms;
- roundworm;
- tapeworm;
- tapeworm;
- fluke;
- schistosomiasis.
The presence of pinworms is diagnosed by itching at night. Scraping is used to diagnose intestinal worms. It is made of special adhesive tape. The effectiveness of the technique is very high, the main thing is to follow the process correctly. A medical professional will scrape a scrape before washing the genitals. For accurate results, retesting is recommended a few days after the first collection.
Fecal donation is not always effective, some people do not like this simple procedure because they consider it extremely uncomfortable. For this reason, it is necessary to know how to detect parasites in other ways.
Diagnostic method: new option
If you notice the appearance of unusual symptoms, a person should visit a specialist and undergo an examination. This will help find the source of the problem and identify the type of worm. There is a set of diagnostic measures that help to accurately determine the presence of parasitic organisms, determine their type, quantity and location.
Some time ago, the presence of helminths was diagnosed by taking a stool sample. This method is simple and painless but has low accuracy. Often, the results are false negative and the patient continues to suffer from helminths or parasitic infections. To get the most accurate results, you will need to have a bowel movement at least ten times a month. Only in this case can you get the correct answer. This is due to the characteristics of the parasite's life activity and development cycle.
![Blood test enzyme immunoassay - method of diagnosing parasitic infections](/images/articles/89/Blood%20test%20enzyme%20immunoassay%20-%20method%20of%20diagnosing%20parasitic%20infections.jpg)
Modern medicine offers more accurate ways to identify dangerous neighbors in the human body:
- X rayorendoscopy (biopsy)helps identify parasites in internal organs.
- PCR. A sample of saliva, blood or secretions is taken to determine the DNA of the parasite. The analysis allows us to determine the type (type) of the parasite.
- Linked immunosorbent assayhelps identify antigens. This technique allows you to achieve very high results. In addition to identifying parasites, analysis also helps determine the type of parasite, quantity and development characteristics of the causative individual.
- Bioresonance research. This technique allows you to confirm the presence of parasites in the body, but cannot determine its type, location or quantity.
Correct behavior when infected
![If you suspect a parasitic infection, consult your doctor](/images/articles/89/If%20you%20suspect%20a%20parasitic%20infection,%20consult%20your%20doctor.jpg)
If a person suspects that he is infected with helminths, he should not self-medicate but should see a specialist. The therapist will refer to a parasitologist or infectious disease specialist to clarify the diagnosis. Self-medication is not only ineffective but can also make the condition worse.
Antiparasitic drugs have highly toxic properties and have specific applications. When diagnosing parasites, the doctor prescribes drugs that affect a specific type of helminth. It is not known which organisms coexist with humans, it is not allowed to undergo a treatment process, taking anti-parasitic drugs will not be effective in solving the problem.
Thanks to many research methods, it is easy to determine not only the type of parasite, but also the location and degree of infection in the body. Do not ignore the problem, timely and competent treatment ensures recovery without serious consequences for the body.