The term "enterobiosis" refers to a parasitic disease caused by pinworms. These are white worm-shaped organisms related to nematodes. According to statistics, enterobiosis accounts for at least 90% of cases of helminthic invasions. The disease is often called the "pathology of dirty hands." In other words, the disease develops when non-compliance with basic hygiene rules. That is why enterobiosis is most often diagnosed in children and adolescents.
Adults also need to undergo an annual medical examination to detect this parasitic disease. Below is information on how to take scrapings for enterobiosis in adults and children, how often to take an analysis, which allows to identify the study.
Indications
The disease has a high degree of contagion. In this regard, the study must be carried out in the following cases:
- At registration of children in kindergarten.
- When hospitalized in a hospital.
- As part of the medical examination.
- During training at school (most often the analysis is assigned to primary school students).
- When applying to any institution with a wellness profile.
- As part of the annual medical commission. Analysis is given to employees whose activities are related to food.
- At registration of the sanitary book.
If alarming symptoms occur, you can go to the doctor yourself. Signs of enterobiosis are the following conditions:
- Severe itching in the anal area. The intensity of sensations increases at night.
- Increased fatigue.
- Frequent episodes of headache.
- Irritability.
- Flatulence.
- Upset stool.
- A sharp decrease in body weight for no apparent reason.
- Nausea.
- Eczema.
- Hives.
- Bronchial asthma.
If any of the above symptoms occur, consult a doctor. He will draw up a direction for research and tell in detail how to take a scraping for enterobiosis.
Research results
Using this analysis, only pinworms can be detected. Moreover, it is more informative than the study of feces. This is due to the peculiarities of the life of pinworms. The peak of their activity falls on the night hours. At this time, they crawl out of the rectum, lay eggs and die. That is why at night the patient feels a pronounced itching, which does not allow to fully relax.
Where does scraping come from?
Pinworms are the only type of parasite that does not lay eggs in the intestines, or rather, not in the lumen of small blood vessels. At night, they crawl out of the body and lay their eggs in the area of the anus. Pinworms' favorite place is the perianal folds that surround the anus.
That is why the collection of biological material is carried out in this area. Then he goes to the laboratory, where he is carefully examined with a microscope.
Employees of a medical institution can take a scraping for enterobiosis (as is done, described below) from a patient. But in this case, the procedure is associated with a certain psychological discomfort. Most patients prefer to take biomaterial on their own at home, and then transfer it to the laboratory.
Training
The reliability of the results depends not only on well-organized work of medical personnel. Each patient should know not only how to take scrapings for enterobiosis in adults and children, but also how to properly prepare for the study. He is more dependent on the results of the analysis.
Features of preparation:
- It is recommended to take biomaterial immediately after waking up. The ideal option is if the person himself takes a scraping, without getting out of bed. In this case, the probability that most of the pinworms will remain on the underwear will be minimal.
- Before submitting biomaterial, it is forbidden to take a shower, wash yourself and change clothes.
- It is unacceptable to defecate on the day of the study. This is due to the fact that when feces exit outwards, laid eggs of pinworms can attach to feces. In addition, traces of helminths are easily destroyed with toilet paper.
- All tools designed for scraping should be clean. Their contamination with feces is unacceptable.
- It is forbidden to conduct a study in case of violation of the integrity of the skin in the area of the anus.
If the patient decided to take biomaterial in a medical institution, it is recommended to go to it immediately after waking up. The ideal option is one in which a person does not visit the toilet before the study. In most cases, when walking and after emptying the intestines (and the bladder, when it comes to women, since both exits are very close), most of the eggs remain on underwear or on toilet paper.
Laboratory biomaterial collection
The procedure is carried out by nursing staff or a laboratory assistant. How to take scraping for enterobiosis in adults:
- On the appointed day, the patient arrives at the medical institution with a pre-arranged referral.
- The nurse puts on sterile gloves and asks the subject to expose her buttocks, lowering her underwear to her knees.
- Then she takes a cotton swab and moistens it in a solution of glycerin. In some cases, you need to bring these medical supplies with you. They can be purchased at any pharmacy.
- The patient takes the most comfortable position. He can lean forward slightly or sit on the couch.
- The nurse hands spreads the buttocks of the patient and several times runs a cotton swab over the area of the anus. She then places the swab in a sterile container or tube.
- The patient gets up, gets dressed and leaves.
How to take scraping for enterobiosis in children:
- On the appointed day, parents bring the child to a medical facility. It is necessary in advance to draw up a referral for a study with a pediatrician.
- The nurse puts the baby on the couch and turns it on its side. If the child is very small, then his mother holds him in her arms. In this case, the baby should be facing her.
- A nurse puts on sterile gloves. Then she takes a glass slide and cuts off a small piece of tape, one side of which is sticky.
- The nurse gently opens the buttocks of the child. Then she glues the tape to the perianal folds. After a couple of seconds, the product is removed. The nurse sticks adhesive tape on a glass slide, avoiding the appearance of bubbles. Another option for taking biomaterial is with a cotton swab. The nurse pre-moistens it in water, an oil solution or glycerin. Then she passes them several times along the folds of skin surrounding the anus. After that, the swab is placed in a sterile tube and poisoned in the laboratory.
A few words about how they take scrapings for enterobiosis in adolescents. The biomaterial sampling scheme is completely similar to that applied to adult patients.
Carrying out scraping yourself with a cotton swab
As mentioned above, this is the most preferred method. This is due to the fact that with an independent sampling of biomaterial in the morning, the chances of getting the most reliable result increase. The only caveat - scraping should be delivered to the laboratory within 2 hours.
How to take scraping for enterobiosis at home:
- You must first purchase a disposable sterile container for stool and cotton buds at the pharmacy.
- Wear medical gloves immediately after waking up. Prior to the procedure, urinating and defecating is prohibited.
- Moisten a cotton swab in water, glycerin or saline.
- Take a comfortable pose, giving free access to the anus.
- Make a cotton swab a few circular movements in the area of the anus.
- Place the product in a sterile container and tightly close the container with a lid. After that, you can go to the toilet, wash yourself.
- Immediately deliver biomaterial to the laboratory.
Consider how to take scraping for enterobiosis in children with a cotton swab. The procedure is similar. It is important to carry it to the morning toilet. If we are talking about a baby, then you need to remove the diaper from it and immediately take the biomaterial.
Scraping at home with adhesive tape
In medical language, this method is called the Graham method. How to take scraping for enterobiosis with adhesive tape:
- You must first purchase a special kit at the pharmacy. It consists of a glass slide and a special adhesive tape.
- Wash hands thoroughly and put on medical gloves. It is forbidden to urinate and defecate before the procedure.
- Stand up and lean forward slightly. Peel off the tape from the glass.
- Spread your buttocks with your hands. Glue tape on the anal area. Press it tightly. After a few seconds, remove the product and stick it on a glass slide. Avoid the appearance of bubbles, as they significantly complicate the process of microscopic examination.
- Immediately deliver glass with tape to the laboratory.
How to take scraping for enterobiosis in infants with the help of these devices. The algorithm is similar, only the child needs to be laid on his side and raise his leg, bent at the knee joint. With one hand, the parent should push the buttocks to the baby, with the other - stick the tape.
Fence of biomaterial with a spatula
This method is considered the simplest. How to properly scrape for enterobiosis at home with a spatula:
- Purchase a special kit from a pharmacy. It is designed to collect biomaterial from perianal folds. The kit consists of a sterile container and a polystyrene spatula, on which a thin layer of glue has already been applied.
- Wash hands thoroughly and put on medical gloves.
- Lean forward slightly and push the buttocks with one hand.
- Press the sticky side of the spatula to the perianal folds for a few seconds.
- Place the product in a container. Close the container tightly with a lid.
As mentioned above, the biomaterial must be delivered to the laboratory within 2 hours.
How many days to get the result
In most cases, the intake of biological material is carried out in the morning. All collected containers and test tubes are stored in the refrigerator at temperatures up to +8 degrees. After completion of admission, they are transferred to the laboratory.
There, experts study biomaterial under a microscope. If pinworm eggs are present in the samples, they become noticeable almost immediately. In other words, the process of microscopic examination takes only a few minutes.
In budgetary institutions, the results are issued the next day. This is due to the large amount of work. In private clinics, you can get the result in half an hour after passing the sample to the laboratory.
How often to do scraping
It is important to understand that any motor activity can cause pinworm eggs to remain on their underwear and not fall on a stick, tampon or spatula. To obtain the most reliable results, you must responsibly follow the rules of preparation. Any violation can lead to erroneous conclusions. In this regard, it is advisable to take an analysis for enterobiosis 2-3 times with an interval of 2 days.
Validity
If the result is negative, a certificate of this must be provided at the place of demand within 7 days. Such a short period is due to the peculiarities of the pinworms life cycle. After a week, the study must be repeated.
Cost
Biomaterial can be handed over both in a state and private medical institution. The research cost is small, it averages 200 rubles. A little higher prices in the capital. In some institutions, the price is about 400 rubles.
Conclusion
One important study is enterobiosis analysis. How to take a scraping, the doctor first tells. The study must be properly prepared. Approximately the same take scraping for enterobiosis in adults and children. Before passing the analysis, nurses are required to wonder if the patient has performed water procedures. You can’t wash before research, so as not to distort the result.