According to statistics, about 90% of people are infected with parasites, and most of them are not even aware of this. Many health problems, malaise, and digestive disorders are associated with parasitic diseases. Fecal analyzes that are done to diagnose such pathologies are not always informative. In addition, they can show the presence of parasites only in the late stages of the development of the disease. Therefore, it is often recommended to donate blood for helminths. Such an examination helps to determine the pathology already some time after infection, therefore, treatment begins on time.
Parasites in the human body
Not all people understand why they are recommended to donate blood for helminths. Namely, such an examination allows you to identify infection at the initial stage. Helminths are called parasites that live in the human body. Now, several dozens of such parasites have been discovered - from microscopic microorganisms to large worms. All of them cause serious harm to health. The most common parasites are several species.
- Roundworms are long roundworms. They live in the human intestines, causing various unpleasant symptoms. The eggs of these parasites are transmitted through unwashed hands, vegetables and fruits.
- Pinworms cause enterobiosis. These are small parasites that live in the intestines.
- Toxocars are transmitted from pets. Toxocariasis can affect not only the intestines, but also other internal organs, as well as the eyes.
- Trichinella can penetrate the muscles, causing serious pathologies.
- Echinococcus, entering the body, form a cyst. Especially dangerous is their penetration into the brain.
- Giardia enters the body through dirty hands and food. This is a very contagious disease that causes unpleasant symptoms.
The danger of helminthiasis
Despite the fact that the vast majority of the population is infected with parasites to one degree or another, for some reason these pathologies are not considered serious. Although helminthiases can actually cause quite unpleasant symptoms and lead to serious consequences. Their main danger is that often at the initial stage they are asymptomatic. And it is rather difficult to detect them, the diagnosis now widespread through the analysis of feces is not always informative. Moreover, parasites often live in other internal organs, the brain, and muscles. Therefore, a blood test for helminths will be most effective for diagnosis. It is recommended to do it not only according to indications, but also with a preventive purpose in order to prevent complications.
The presence of parasites in the human body greatly violates its vital functions. They take away nutrients, throw decay products into the blood, poisoning it, reduce immunity and disrupt metabolic processes. In people infected with helminths, vitamin deficiency and anemia, various digestive tract pathologies and decreased performance can be observed. Especially dangerous when parasites penetrate the brain, eyes or heart. However, they can cause serious illness. The consequences of helminthiases can be reduced vision, motor impairment, severe intoxication of the body. Serious complications arise when children are infected with parasites. They may slow down growth and development, disrupt the work of internal organs.
Symptoms of parasitic diseases
To prevent the serious consequences of parasitic diseases, many doctors recommend blood tests for helminths and giardia. This diagnosis is more informative than fecal tests. It allows you to identify pathology at the initial stage and detect those parasites that do not live in the intestines. Indications for the appointment of such a survey can be such problems:
- digestion disorder;
- alternation of constipation and diarrhea, flatulence, bloating;
- decreased or, conversely, increased appetite, weight loss;
- sleep disorders, decreased performance, drowsiness;
- enlarged liver, pain in the right side;
- decreased vision, brittle nails and hair;
- headaches, abdominal cramps;
- muscle pain, weakness;
- irritability, depression;
- decreased immunity, frequent colds;
- skin rash, allergic reactions;
- itching in the anus.
It is especially important to identify helminthiasis in a child in time. This is difficult, because children can not always talk about their feelings. Parents may suspect pathology due to the restless behavior of the baby, a decrease in appetite, excessive salivation, itching in the anus. Allergic reactions, diarrhea, frequent colds may appear.
Why do a blood test for helminths
Diagnosis of helminosis should be comprehensive. It is very important to accurately identify the type of parasite, so that treatment is more effective. Many helminths cause the appearance of the same symptoms, and in the initial stages, the disease may not manifest itself at all. If parasites live in internal organs or muscles, fecal tests will not be able to detect them. Therefore, it is recommended to donate blood for helminths - this is the most informative examination. It allows you to identify the disease at the initial stage and begin treatment on time.
The effectiveness of this analysis is explained by the fact that in the presence of parasites in the body, special substances, antibodies, begin to be produced. This occurs almost immediately after infection. And the isolation of worm eggs with feces occurs already in the late stages, when the parasites populated the intestines. In addition, this does not always happen. For such an examination to be informative, you need to pass feces at least three times.
Who needs blood donation
A blood test for antibodies to helminths is recommended to be taken when symptoms of malaise appear, which cannot be explained by other pathologies. This can be anemia, the occurrence of uterine fibroids, painful periods, causeless inflammation of the kidneys or bladder, prostatitis or prostate adenoma in men. In addition, a blood test is always prescribed for helminths in a child with signs of intoxication and a violation of the gastrointestinal tract. For preventive purposes, they are needed when a child enters a child care facility, before a visit to the pool, or during registration at a sanatorium.
But such an examination is carried out not only in the presence of unpleasant symptoms. It is recommended to take a blood test for helminths in such cases:
- with a high level of leukocytosis or eosinophils in the blood;
- if worms are found in pets;
- women planning pregnancy;
- people living in areas unsuccessful in terms of infection with parasites;
- for workers of meat processing plants, farms and other enterprises where it is easy to get infected;
- at registration of the sanitary book.
In addition, such a prophylactic examination is often performed. This may be a planned medical examination or the patient's desire to prevent complications of helminthiases.
The benefits of such a study
To detect parasitic diseases, different methods are now used. Which one to choose, the doctor decides. But recently, it is more often recommended to donate blood for antibodies to helminths. This analysis has advantages over fecal examination. First of all, worm eggs are not always excreted in feces. Informative is only a three-time analysis. In addition, the laboratory assistant may simply not notice them in the collected samples.
And blood tests are not dependent on the human factor and identify parasites already at the initial stage. In addition, with their help it is possible to evaluate not only the presence of worms in the body, but also the severity of infection - while the number of antibodies increases. But there are also drawbacks to such an examination. First of all, it is not always available in state clinics, but for a fee they are quite expensive - about 400-500 rubles, the identification of each parasite. In addition, this is an invasive examination, and you need to donate blood from a vein, which is especially not pleasant for children.
Where to donate blood for helminths
Not all medical institutions have equipment for this kind of research. Therefore, it is usually recommended to take such tests in paid medical centers, which are in every city. But the features of such an examination are that tests are done separately for each type of parasite. Not all clinics conduct a comprehensive examination, although it will cost less. Usually, each type of parasite is estimated at 400-500 rubles. The timing of the availability of results is also different, depending on the institution. Assays are usually ready in 5-7 days.
Methods of such studies
Most often, an enzyme immunoassay is performed to detect parasites - ELISA. This is the most reliable survey. With it, the reaction of the immune system and the presence of antibodies in the blood are evaluated. They are produced in the presence of foreign substances in the body. Antibodies are needed so that the immune system receives information about the type of these microorganisms and is able to better deal with them.
Sometimes a more complex examination is also carried out - polymerase chain reaction - PCR. It allows you to detect DNA fragments of microorganisms and accurately identify their type.
Rapid tests
If suspected helminthiases, a patient may be prescribed a blood test. Blood for helminths in this case is also taken from a vein, but the analysis is carried out more quickly, by mixing with certain reagents. Such methods are used for express diagnostics:
- latex agglutination;
- indirect hemagglutination;
- antigen antibody test.
Sometimes also quick hemocanning is performed. In this case, blood is taken from a finger and examined on a glass slide under a microscope. So you can find the parasite larvae that live in the blood. In addition, the presence of certain types of worms may indicate a general blood test from a finger. This is determined by the number of eosinophils. If their level is elevated, this indicates the presence of toxins or foreign microorganisms. In this case, you can continue the examination for a more accurate diagnosis.
Blood analysis
So that when examining blood for helminths and giardia, the results are reliable, you need to properly prepare for the analysis. He gives up in the morning on an empty stomach. 12 hours before this, it is undesirable to eat anything, you need to stop drinking alcohol and taking medications in a few days, avoid stress and increased physical exertion. Do not smoke a few hours before analysis. The diet before the examination should exclude fatty, spicy dishes, smoked meats and pickles - this will help make the analysis more reliable.
Blood for helminths is given in the morning on an empty stomach. You need to properly prepare for the procedure, observing all the recommendations of the doctor. They take blood from a vein, filling the tube. Then she goes to the laboratory for analysis.
Test results
The information content of this examination is based on the identification of antibodies to different types of helminths. They begin to be produced within a few days after infection. The amount of Ig A, Ig M and IgG antibodies is estimated. Acute helminthiasis with a recent infection is manifested by a high level of Ig M. antibodies. For chronic long-term course of pathology, a large number of Ig G antibodies are detected. If there are many different types of antibodies in the blood, this indicates an exacerbation of chronic helminthiasis and the presence of an inflammatory process.
If the result of the analysis is borderline, that is, the number of antibodies at the normal border, it is better to retake it after 2 weeks. In addition, a negative result for the presence of some kind of parasite does not yet indicate the absence of infection. Other parasites may be present in the body.
Actions after detection of parasites
If the tests showed the presence of parasites, treatment is mandatory. It is necessary to do this under the guidance of a doctor, as there are different methods. Usually, the treatment is complex, involves the use of different groups of drugs:
- special anthelmintic - "Nemozol", "Dekaris", "Vermox", "Albendazole" and others;
- means for normalizing the intestinal microflora, for example, Linex;
- adsorbents for removing toxins and waste products of parasites;
- immunomodulators and vitamin preparations to increase the body's defenses.
Helminthiasis Prevention
It is advisable for the patient to eat properly, observe the regimen of the day, and avoid stress. After treatment, it is very important to follow preventive measures to prevent re-infection. First of all, thorough hygiene - washing your hands before each meal, after the street and going to the toilet. It is also important to properly process food, observe the duration of the heat treatment of meat and fish, use only purified water. In addition, it is advisable to undergo such an examination annually. The timely detection of parasites will help to avoid serious complications.