For one reason or another, each person had to take various tests. This procedure may not depend on whether the person is sick or healthy, since all, without exception, underwent medical examinations or needed medical examination.
Why is fecal analysis necessary?
A procedure such as fecal analysis can be performed to check a person for:
- detecting the development of dysbiosis;
- occult blood;
- enterobiosis disease;
- the presence of helminth eggs;
- digestive disorders (coprogram):
- impaired functioning of the stomach, pancreas, liver;
- accelerated passage of food through the digestive system;
- problems with absorption, which affect the duodenum and small intestine;
- inflammatory processes in the digestive tract;
- colitis ulcerative, allergic or spastic in nature.
Depending on what the feces analysis shows, the doctor makes a diagnosis and prescribes treatment.
Helminthiasis analysis
Analysis of feces for parasites is the most effective and affordable way to detect worms that live in the intestinal area. This type of study will easily help diagnose the presence of ascariasis, trichinosis, and hookworm in a person.
The causative agents of helminthiasis cause many diseases in the human body, the severity of which can be different. One of the most common effects of being in the body of parasites are:
- allergic reaction;
- avitaminosis;
- diseases caused by low immunity.
Pathologies that develop due to helminths are quite widespread. That is why such an analysis must be carried out by everyone, without exception, and not once, but regularly.
Analysis of feces for parasites can detect many different types of pathogenic microorganisms, including:
- pinworms;
- roundworms;
- tapeworms;
- whipworms;
- Giardia
- schistosomes and others
However, you should know that this analysis will be effective only for the detection of parasites that live in the gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, for complete reliability, it will be necessary to take feces three times. To identify other types of worms, a blood test for parasites will be effective.
Indications for analysis
The analysis of feces for parasites for both adults and children is mandatory if the following circumstances are present:
- there is a suspicion of infection with helminths;
- there is a specific labor activity involving frequent contact with animals (veterinarian, dog handler, etc.);
- dogs or cats are present in the house.
In addition, impaired functioning of the heart, liver, brain, bladder and lymph nodes are important symptoms that require such an analysis.
Symptoms that are the reason for the diagnosis
An analysis of feces for parasites should be given in the presence of the following symptoms:
- The stomach is very sore, while there is no clear localization.
- The abdomen swells regularly (flatulence).
- Often constipation or diarrhea occurs.
- Fatigue appears.
- Itching in the anus.
- The body weight decreases.
- There is gnashing of teeth during sleep.
- An allergic reaction occurs.
- SARS diseases are becoming more frequent.
- Frequent and painful urination begins.
Already the appearance of one of these symptoms is an indication for the analysis of feces for parasites.
This analysis is carried out in special laboratories. Medicine knows about 300 types of pathogens of helminthiasis and the most common this diagnostic method can be detected. After carrying out a study of the feces of the patient, in case of detection of parasites or their eggs, the doctor can make a diagnosis and prescribe a treatment regimen.
How to take a stool test?
There are a number of rules that you must follow when passing stool tests. The accuracy of the result depends on how well they are implemented. These include:
- Purchase of a special sterile container. Do not use other household containers.
- The collection of feces must be done in the morning. If this is not possible (for example, a person went to the toilet in the evening), collection is allowed in advance. However, this can be done no later than 8 hours before the analysis is submitted to the laboratory. In this case, the sample should be stored in the refrigerator, but not frozen.
- Before collecting a stool sample for analysis, all hygiene procedures included in the genitals toilet, as well as the anus, should be performed. All manipulations must be carried out with soap in warm water, and use a clean towel.
- Before collecting feces, you must definitely urinate in order to prevent urine from entering the stool.
- Defecation is carried out in a vessel or dishes, which must first be disinfected.
What can not be done before taking the sample?
In addition, there are some recommendations that say how to take a stool test should not be. These are very important nuances. These include:
- Do not take feces for analysis after an enema or x-ray of the intestine has been done.
- Three days before the study, the doctor should compile a list of medications that can affect the secretion processes, intestinal motility, as well as the color of feces. These include a laxative, drugs with enzymes, medicines containing barium, bismuth or iron, various sorbents and suppositories for rectal purposes.
- Violate the diet prescribed by the doctor if it has been prescribed earlier.
Many people ask how much feces are needed for the analysis of worm eggs? According to the recommendation of the laboratory assistants conducting the study, 1/3 of the special container for analysis is enough.
In addition to the stool test itself, it is also necessary to take the direction prescribed by the doctor to the laboratory.
How long does the study take?
The result of the study does not depend on how much fecal helminth analysis is done . In laboratories, all the conditions for finding samples in it are created.
After 6 days from the date of delivery of the stool sample, the results come to the study. However, to ensure the reliability of the result, a repeat analysis may be prescribed by the doctor.
You can find out exactly how long the analysis of feces for parasites will be done and when its results will come, directly from your doctor.
The norm of the result of the study is the complete absence of worms and their eggs in the patient's body. If parasites are still found in the sample, then the laboratory technician makes a mandatory note in the conclusion, which lists all the detected pathogens of helminthiasis.
Fecal examination
Fecal analysis of the baby is the most important tool in the study of digestive diseases. This study helps determine the status of organs such as the stomach, liver, pancreas, and intestines.
A sample of feces in a baby can be collected both in the morning and in the afternoon. The main condition is container sealing and a cold storage place (for example, a refrigerator).
Determining the cause of anxiety or weakness in the baby depends on what the feces analysis shows. Deciphering the results of the study is a pediatrician.
The answer to the question of how to collect fecal analysis for worm eggs in infants does not differ from the rules for adults. The exception is that the sample will need to be taken from different places of the "filled" diaper. Feces of infants can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 10 hours.
Preparation for the analysis of feces is the same as for everyone else: hygiene procedures, refusal of enemas and certain medications, disinfected dishes for bowel movements.
Conclusions on the study are made taking into account the color, smell and texture of feces. The norm for a newborn is feces of a mushy consistency, yellowish in color and with an acidic smell. Laboratory assistants, using a microscope, determine whether starch, iodophilic flora, muscle fibers and connective tissue are present in the sample. The stool sample should not contain mucus, blood, bilirubin or protein.
The study of biomaterial of small patients
Analysis of feces in a child for the presence of parasites that cause helminthiasis is a mandatory diagnostic procedure before identifying a baby in kindergarten, a school, a development center with various focuses, a sports section, and a swimming pool.
Referral to this analysis is given by the local pediatrician or family doctor. It is necessary to take this procedure with full responsibility, since there is no guarantee that the child is not susceptible to helminthiasis and does not infect other children with parasites in the process of communication or joint activities.
Comparing the results of the analysis of the child with the norm, you can determine:
- Does the pancreas, stomach, liver and intestines work without disturbances.
- Is it normal for a child’s body to digest fatty or carbohydrate foods?
- Are roundworms, lamblia, or other parasites present in the digestive tract.
- Which of the possible pathogens is the cause of infection in the intestines of the child, and what kind of antibiotics will help in the treatment.
The conditions and procedure for collecting feces does not differ from activities carried out with the baby.
The composition of the stool of a child normally contains microorganisms, epithelial cells and undigested food particles.
Norms of the results of the analysis of the child
The feces of a healthy child are as follows:
- the daily volume of feces should be from 100 to 250 grams;
- stools of a dense texture of brown color;
- the smell should be specific fecal, but not sharp;
- the reaction is normally slightly alkaline;
- there are no inclusions of blood and mucous clots, large particles of food should not be present;
- bilirubin and protein should not be detected in the sample.
- should be stercobilin with a volume of 75 to 350 mg;
- the presence of ammonia is not more than 40 mmol / liter;
- under the microscope, muscle fibers, neutral fat, soluble fiber, starch and fatty acids should not be detected.
- parasites, their eggs, protozoa, and also mushrooms should not be present.
If during the decryption process slight deviations from the norm are found, then the reason for this may be a change in the nutrition of the child. However, if the difference found is significant, this is an occasion to alert both the doctor and parents.
Decryption of a child's stool analysis
Possible deviations from the norms and their significance:
- If protozoa, helminths, or their eggs are found in feces, this indicates infection of the gastrointestinal tract with these pathogens.
- Increased stercobilin and detected bilirubin indicate that there is cholelithiasis and liver disease.
- Connective or muscle tissue in the feces indicates a problem in the functioning of the stomach.
- Fatty acids and neutral fat are characteristic for enteritis, hepatitis and dysbiosis.
- Starch indicates a problem in the pancreas.
- The presence of blood in a stool sample is a risk that the child has colitis or peptic ulcer disease.
Adult analysis
The preparation for stool analysis in adults is the same as in children. Also, you should not take all kinds of drugs and put an enema before taking the sample.
The indicators of the analysis are as follows:
- water volume - 80%;
- the amount should vary from 100 to 200 grams per day;
- the smell during a normal stool test should be determined by the food that the patient consumed on the eve of the analysis. The specificity of the odor may indicate the development of an anomaly;
- in addition, the color of feces depends on food and medications taken;
- lack of protein, blood, bilirubin, white blood cells, muscle fibers, neutral fat and fatty acids, as well as parasites.
Deviations associated with the presence of protein in the feces can be as follows: gastritis, ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract, cancers that develop in the stomach, duodenum, colon, rectum.
Deciphering adult analysis results
The presence of blood in a stool sample indicates the possible development of hemorrhoids, stomach ulcers, duodenal ulcers, hemorrhagic diathesis, polyps.
The presence of bilirubin indicates an increase in intestinal motility, accelerated evacuation of the entire contents of the intestine, and severe forms of dysbiosis.
A significant amount of muscle fibers in the feces is the result of disturbances in the functioning of the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine associated with digestion processes. In addition, the fibers enter the feces with insufficient secretion in the pancreas, ulcerative colitis or constipation.
White blood cells are present in the feces as a result of the development of ulcerative colitis, dysentery, colon tuberculosis, cancer and pararectal abscess.
The detection of neutral fat and fatty acids in the study of feces suggests that the secretory function of the pancreas is insufficient, digestion in the small intestine is impaired, the flow of bile is disturbed, and fermentation or putrefaction dispersion develops.
Helminths, their larvae and eggs are found in patients who are infected with helminthiasis.
Thus, it is safe to say that everyone should take an analysis of feces without exception. This is a very important diagnostic measure. Indeed, according to the results that the feces analyzes show, doctors can detect diseases even in the early stages, which will facilitate the process of their treatment. In addition, you can get rid of those unpleasant symptoms that cause helminths, protozoa and yeast.