How to understand that there are parasites in the body? Many people do not even think about such a question and, of course, in vain. It should be understood that those during their life in the human body can provoke the development of many quite dangerous diseases. It is for this reason that it is recommended to undergo preventive examinations and pass special tests.
General characteristics of parasites
The presence of such living organisms can be in any part of the body, and the more they become in a particular organ, the worse its general condition deteriorates. In addition to internal organs, the presence of parasitic vital activity can also be observed in the skin, tissues and mucous membranes. This type of pathogenic organisms feed on the food that a person consumes.
There are only 2 types of parasites, depending on their habitat in the human body:
- The vital activity of endoparasites is observed directly in the body itself, namely in internal organs and systems. These include echinococcus, Giardia, viruses, various types of fungi.
- The vital activity of ectoparasites is observed on the surface layer of the body, that is, on the skin. These absorb blood and human cells. Ectoparasites include lice, mites, bed bugs.
The body of an adult is designed in such a way as to prevent the penetration and eliminate the vital activity of certain parasites. For example, when saliva is produced in the mouth, enzymes are formed that prevent worms from multiplying and laying eggs.
The action of these enzymes in such cases is destructive. The protective function is provided by the gastric acid environment, as well as by human immunity. In a child, the protective barrier against parasites may simply not work, which can be explained by the not yet fully formed immune system. It is weak immunity that provokes the penetration and reproduction of pathogenic organisms.
According to numerous studies, some types of parasites do not yield to the protective barrier of the body, penetrate it and destroy it without obvious symptoms and signs. The duration of the incubation period (the moment when it enters the body - the first symptoms) can reach several years, during which a person leads a normal life, without knowing about the existence of parasites.
There are several ways to find out if there are parasites in the body, but first of all you need to carefully monitor your health, not losing sight of even the slightest changes and symptoms, immediately contacting a specialist.
Diseases and pathological conditions that indicate that there are parasites in the body
You can check for parasites in the body by the following signs and symptoms:
- stool disorder. This includes frequent constipation and diarrhea. If the parasites are localized in the bile or intestinal ducts and block them with their large size, this can cause a rare and difficult bowel movement. Some disease-causing organisms can produce a hormone-like substance that causes frequent diarrhea. Thus, diarrhea is considered not only a protective reaction of the body to the consumption of "bad" foods, but also a sign of the presence of a parasitic infection in the body.
- Flatulence. Increased gas formation and bloating are symptoms of the presence of parasites in the small intestine, which cause the development of the inflammatory process. Signs of flatulence will be observed until the person is cured of the worms.
- "Irritable Bowel". A similar syndrome is a consequence of the irritation of the intestinal walls by parasites and the resulting inflammatory process. At the same time, various symptoms of disruption of the gastrointestinal tract occur, the absorption of all nutrients, including fats, decreases. If it is impossible to assimilate the fats through the small intestine, they begin to enter the region of the thick, which causes cramps, constipation and diarrhea.
- Joint and muscle pain. Often the parasites are localized in the muscles and joints, thereby causing pain that a person confuses with arthritis.
- Allergic reaction. With the excessive release of toxic substances from worms, the immune response is activated in the body by the production of an increased dose of protective cells - eosinophils. These cells become the cause of the development of the inflammatory process in the tissues, thereby causing an allergic reaction.
- Skin pathologies. Symptoms in such cases can be expressed as hives, various types of rashes, eczema, wounds on the skin, tumors, papillomas. With worms found in the intestines, damage to the skin can occur with the appearance of acne, seborrhea, various spots, wrinkles.
- chronic fatigue. Symptoms in this case are: constant general malaise, apathy, depression, poor memory. Such signs can be explained by a violation of the absorption of nutrients from food.
Diagnosis of parasites in the body
It is not enough to determine the pronounced symptoms of the presence of parasites. It is also necessary to confirm their presence and therapeutic methods. How to identify parasites in the human body under stationary conditions? The determination of these can be both in the laboratory and with the help of equipment. Laboratory methods for diagnosing worms include:
- Microscopy. The most common method for detecting worms. During diagnosis, human feces are examined for the presence of eggs of such organisms. It is not always possible to identify worm eggs after the first analysis. In some cases, several steps are necessary.
- Serological study. This study, tested over the years, has become one of the most popular methods of examining blood for antibodies and antigens against various infections. In any case, human immunity will respond to pathogenic microorganisms entering it. This type of diagnosis includes tests such as immunofluorescence reaction, polymerase chain reaction, enzyme immunoassay.
Hardware methods for diagnosing parasites in the body include:
- Perform ultrasound to detect echinococcus in the body.
- X-ray examination to detect parasites, for example, in the lungs.
- Endoscopy and biopsy. Similar types of diagnostics are prescribed to detect helminths in internal organs, followed by tissue sampling for research.
Elimination of parasites from the body
How to determine the presence of parasites in the body, found out. Now it is worth considering ways to eliminate them. Therapy of a parasitic infection is carried out in 3 stages.
Step 1 - Preparatory
During this period, the human body should be prepared for the main treatment:
- sorbents are prescribed for taking, which help cleanse the body and reduce the manifestation of symptoms of intoxication;
- from choleretic agents, it is worth highlighting preparations based on an extract of the flowers of sandy immortelle and bovine bile;
- to eliminate spasms, you can drink decoctions of such herbs as St. John's wort, wild rose, valerian throughout the day;
- Enzyme preparations are also recommended.
Step 2 - Carrying out the deworming
The main antiparasitic therapy is taking a special drug prescribed by a specialist. The dosage should be determined only by a doctor, since these drugs are quite toxic and can be hazardous to health if the required volume is exceeded.
Often, biologically active additives are also used, the components of which contain bitter herbs that have an antihelminthic effect on the body. Supplements have fewer side effects and do not interfere with the functioning of an organ such as the liver.
Stage 3 - Recovery period
At this time, it is necessary to take probiotics and prebiotics in order to restore the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. It is also recommended therapy with vitamin complexes, enzymes, hepatoprotectors, which will help normalize the activity of organs such as the liver, gallbladder and pancreas.
Only complex treatment will help get rid not only of parasites in general, but also of the negative consequences of their vital activity.