Most of today's parasitic infections help identify a well-timed worm test. Diagnosis is done in specialized laboratories using the latest equipment and reagents.
In addition, each parasite scan has specific requirements for its implementation. What tests should be passed for worms and how to do it correctly, as well as how to interpret them correctly, we understand below.
There are several types of analysis, all of the results of which may indicate a particular parasitic invasion. However, it should be remembered that only the attending physician can deal with the decoding of the results and diagnosis.
One of the most reliable and informative helminth diagnosis methods (with 93% accuracy) is a blood test for parasites. In medical circles, this test is called an ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detecting the presence of parasites in the human body). The study makes it possible to detect in the blood serum the presence of antibodies that have been formed in relation to antigens. That is, in relation to parasitic infections / individuals.
The advantage of such a blood test for parasites is the ability to detect helminth infestation in the early stages, when the helminth is not yet able to reproduce and does not lay eggs, which can be detected by a coprogram(a special analysis of the stool for the ovarian leaf).
It is important to understand that the following parasitic infections can be detected with this blood test for parasites:
Blood for parasites is drawn from a vein in the morning on an empty stomach. In this case, before conducting the study, it is worth taking preparatory measures.
In particular, for a blood test for parasites, follow these rules:
Important:Performing a blood test for parasites according to all the above rules allows you to get the most accurate result and excludes a false positive result. If the reader is interested in how long it takes to test for parasites, then the period for obtaining such a result will vary from 3 to 9 days.
In addition to donating blood for worms to obtain accurate information, feces can be donated for co-programming for the same purpose. This type of diagnosis allows you to identify helminth eggs in the feces during the period of their active reproduction. So if you don't know how to get tested for worms, but want to do it yourself and immediately, you can simply contact any commercial laboratory with stool samples for investigation. By the way, the GP will first give you a referral for such an examination if he suspects helminths.
It is important to understand that if a blood test for worms reveals the maximum number of parasites in the body, then the list of worms when examining the feces looks somewhat different.
In particular, when stool samples are checked for worms, eggs and individuals of the following worms can be identified:
It is worth knowing that such a study is not always informative, as the parasite may be in the maturation stage at the time of stool delivery and is not yet ready to lay eggs. Therefore, to obtain a reliable result, it is advisable to pass the stool analysis three times with a break of 2-3 weeks.
Those who are interested in how they are tested for parasites through a stool study should know that the stool should be collected in a sterile plastic container after the morning bowel movement. You do not need to wash before using the bathroom. At the same time, it is advisable to do your business not in the bathroom, but in a container devoid of particles of disinfectants or detergents.
It is important to ensure that urine and genital secretions do not enter the biomaterial. Collect samples from different parts of the stool (front, back, and sides). Stool collected in a container in a quantity of 2/3 should not be stored, but immediately sent for analysis. Since the eggs of parasites can live in the external environment for up to 10 hours. Storing the sample reduces the probability of obtaining a reliable result.
Important:The physician must also provide information on how to donate stool correctly when issuing a referral.
If the reader is interested in how many days such an analysis can be performed, then the diagnosis time here is much shorter than with a blood test for parasites. In most cases, the result is ready overnight and sent to the patient's email (if the diagnosis is made in a commercial laboratory). The maximum term to obtain the result of the coprogram is 1-2 days, subject to the weekend.
Important:For younger patients, an enterobiasis swab test is often performed. To do this, a piece of tape is applied to the skin folds of the baby's anus and pressed well. The sample taken is glued to a special beaker and sent for research. In this way pinworm eggs can be identified.
Testing for worms is primarily recommended for people who may be at higher risk of infection.
Medical practice shows that helminthic invasion is much more common in the following categories of people:
All of these people need to have a blood test for worms, or scrape their skin, and stool may also be present. The attending physician participates in the correct selection of the type of analysis, based on the symptoms that appear during the infection.
The symptoms can be different, let's see the main ones:
If you or your loved ones have health problems and at least 2-3 listed signs were recorded, then there is a high risk of having worms.
As the statistics show, most of the people on the planet are infected with helminths, but they do not suspect it, and they continue to be treated for the consequences of parasitizing helminths. So, ask the clinic what tests are done for worms and get tested to eliminate the root cause. Before wondering what tests to take for worms for an adult or a child, it is recommended to pay attention to the preparatory process.
Blood or stool tests must meet certain requirements, for which certain preparation rules must be followed:
With these simple but effective preparatory measures, the blood or fecal worm test will be the most accurate, which means you can start treatment quickly.
Ascariasis is also widespread in children and adults: it affects up to 20% of the world's population. Ascaris worms, like pinworms, belong to the group of nematodes, but they look much more terrible: their body length can reach 30-40 centimeters. Fresh vegetables and fruits are generally the source of the disease - pinworm eggs can survive in the ground for up to several years, reaching the table directly from the garden.
Symptoms of ascariasis are weakness, fatigue, itching in the anal area. Pinworms can spread throughout the body and cause damage to the liver, respiratory tract, and gallbladder. in this case, secondary signs caused by diseases of the organs are added to the primary signs.
The development of ascariasis can even lead to the death of the patient.
A blood test for antibodies is the most effective at detecting roundworms in the body.
It does not require any special preparation, but it is advisable to refrain from eating for four hours prior to testing.
Opisthorchiasis is caused by flatworms, feline parasites. The disease has a pronounced local distribution. You can get opisthorchiasis by eating infected fish, which is the parasite's intermediate host. The worms develop in the bile and pancreatic ducts, causing infections, allergic reactions, liver disease, flank pain, and fever.
Lack of prompt treatment can lead to central nervous system damage, chronic gastritis, stomach ulcers, and duodenal ulcers.
A blood test for specific IgG antibodies is most effective in detecting feline bereavement. A reliable result can be obtained by conducting a study in the period from the sixth to the eighth week after infection. With the transition to the chronic stage, the indicators can return to normal, in this case it will not be possible to determine opisthorchiasis with this method.
Trichinosis is caused by Trichinella, helminths that enter the human body with contaminated meat and lard. Food in department stores must be tested for the parasite, which is why private farmers, hunters, and people who buy meat from unverified places are often victims of Trichinella. The eggs of this parasite cannot be destroyed with ordinary heat treatment, and salting and smoking do not help either. A small piece is enough for infection.
Symptoms of the disease in the first two to three weeks are allergic reactions of the body, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting. Then there is a disease of the organ in which the worms have developed: parasites can select any part of the body and destroy it over the course of many years. Ultimately, trichinosis can cause the death of the patient or irreversible changes in the body.
If Trichinella is suspected, the patient is referred for a blood test to detect specific antibodies. With a negative result and continuous symptoms, it is recommended to undergo a second examination after a couple of weeks: in the early stages, the disease may not be detected, high precision is obtained by a blood test from the second tothe fourth week after infection.