How to test for parasites in humans

According to research, about 70 - 80% of people are infected with at least one type of worm. Depending on the type of parasite and its location in the human body, there are different harmful effects. Many cases leave serious consequences, even causing death.

Causes of parasitic diseases

Parasites are often found in fruits, raw vegetables, fast food, undercooked food or raw dishes such as salads, blood pudding, and foods and drinks that have not been boiled or cooked thoroughly.

Eating and drinking are common routes of parasitic infection. Parasites can penetrate directly through the skin. Direct contact or some pets are also factors that cause some dangerous parasitic diseases in the human body.

Common parasitic diseases

There are many types of parasites, of which in our country there are usually the following 4 groups:

- Soil-transmitted helminths: Ascariasis, whipworm, hookworm.

- Group of intestinal worm diseases: Strongyloidiasis, pinworm disease.

- Food-borne fluke diseases: Liver fluke disease, lung fluke disease, intestinal fluke disease.

- Group of worm and parasitic diseases transmitted from animals to humans: Tapeworm/pork tapeworm larvae, dog and cat roundworm larvae, gnathostomiasis, trichinosis.

When should I get tested for parasites?

When to do a parasite test is a question that many people wonder. In fact, parasite testing is a way to diagnose microbiological and parasitic diseases, to help patients have the most accurate results about their current medical condition.

For those who are infected, if not detected and treated promptly, it will lead to unpredictable consequences, affecting health. Therefore, when there is a risk of infection, even the smallest sign, you should go for a parasite test to make sure you are sick or not. At the same time, there will be effective and timely treatment measures.

Some symptoms of diseases caused by parasites, patients need to go to reputable medical facilities for advice and examination are:

- Itching, discomfort and skin allergies.

- Abdominal pain, sometimes confused with stomach pain.

- Constipation or diarrhea, possibly with blood.

- Full stomach, indigestion.

- Nausea, vomiting.

- Anorexia and intestinal obstruction in children due to intestinal obstruction due to too many worms.

- Lower abdominal pain, epigastric pain, pain around the navel.

- Allergy (rash, hives).

- Anemia (pallor, fatigue).

- Neurological effects (poor concentration, memory loss, anxiety).

- Children have some symptoms such as: teeth grinding, crying at night, malnutrition, big belly, slow growth, anal itching, poor learning...

Some methods of testing for parasites

Many people think that diagnosing parasitic diseases is usually done by blood tests. However, it is not that simple. To know if the patient really has a parasitic disease and what the condition is, the doctor will order a number of different tests.

To determine the disease, there are usually two methods: clinical diagnosis and laboratory diagnosis.

- Through the manifestations of the body, the doctor diagnoses the disease. However, people infected with parasites do not have clear and specific symptoms. There are even conditions that are similar to other diseases, so clinical diagnosis is often difficult and not confirmed with certainty. To know if you have the disease or not, you need to perform a parasite test.

Through tests in some types of specimens can detect parasites such as:

– Fresh examination or PCR can detect some types of parasites in some types of specimens such as: biological fluids, waste, pus, vomit...

– Fresh smear test from keratinocytes (nails, skin scales…).

– Testing for intermediate hosts causing the disease. Through eating and daily living habits, there may be intermediate sources causing the disease for you such as shrimp, fish, crab, flies, vegetables, soil, water, etc.

– Examination on peripheral blood smears can detect blood parasites (if any) such as: Malaria parasites, lymphatic filariasis...

– Blood serum immunoassay.

– Examine the patient's stool to find protozoans, strongyloides, and parasites.

– Histopathological examination: Biopsy can detect some parasites such as pork tapeworm, beef tapeworm, etc.

In addition, there are a number of other tests that are very helpful in diagnosing parasitic diseases such as: Complete blood count to check for elevated eosinophils, liver enzymes, complete urine analysis, etc. Depending on each specific patient, doctors will prescribe appropriate tests. Therefore, when there are any suspicious symptoms, it is necessary to go to a medical facility for examination and appropriate diagnosis advice./.