In the event that a person has a suspicion of toxocariasis, information on what tests must be submitted in order to identify the disease with the greatest accuracy are of the greatest interest to him. This issue becomes the main one, since it is common knowledge that the helminths that cause this disease in humans never live to the full sexual status and do not lay eggs. That is why, according to the results of the analysis of feces, they can not be detected as other parasitic worms. To identify the invasion of a mandatory procedure, a blood test for toxocarp, which is performed by the ELISA method, should be performed. It is the presence in the patient's blood of antibodies to these worms, which is a positive result, shows the possible development of the disease. In the same case, when the antibodies are completely absent or are present only within the permissible norm, it is a question of whether the person is either completely healthy or has been ill with this disease earlier.
Questions about what indications are required for carrying out an ELISA, which specialists refer to it, and where to pass tests for toxocariasis to get the most accurate answers are also of interest to many patients. Referral to it can be given by doctors with a specialization in the therapist, pediatrician, allergist, infectious disease specialist, ophthalmologist or gastroenterologist. The analysis of the blood by the ELISA method is mandatory if the patient has the following clinical indications:
- Recurrent pain in the head or abdomen;
- Fever of unknown origin with chills and fever above subfebral;
- The appearance of a long-lasting urticaria rash against the background of eosinophilia of blood also serves as a good reason for carrying out the toxocarosis analysis.
If a positive result of the study is obtained, the final diagnosis is not immediately made by specialists, since the findings do not exclude the possibility of infection of humans with organisms that have a similar symptomatology. All clinical manifestations depend on the degree of immune response of the organism, the intensity of the lesion and the localization of parasites.
Analysis of toxodiosis
The main purpose of the study of blood for antibodies to toxocaram causing this dangerous disease is to confirm their presence in the human body. Patients who have a symptom that indicates a possible development of the disease are usually interested in deciphering the analysis for toxocar. What norm of indicators should be to completely exclude their presence, and what figures of titles correspond to a positive result. The plus of this study is that thanks to it you can predict the course of therapy, and at any time evaluate the effectiveness of the activities for a particular patient. To do this, it is sufficient to receive blood test values during the course of the therapeutic course. Data from such analyzes will show how much the level of toxocar larvae in the body has changed. The interpretation of the information of the ELISA entered by the specialist into the outpatient card is as follows:
- The titer is less than 1/100 negative, that is, the antigens of toxocar larvae were not detected in the blood test;
- From 1/200 to 1/400 - weakly positive. Such data indicate either their minimum content, or the ocular form of the disease, or that the disease was previously transferred by the patient;
- Above 1/600 indicates the clinical form of helminthiosis, which requires immediate treatment.
Weak positive and positive blood test results without additional studies can not 100% indicate the presence of a person with toxocariasis. This is due to the fact that there are factors that influence the false positivity of the data. The main of them are oncology of internal organs, liver disease and tuberculosis. Also, autoimmune pathologies, antiphospholipid syndrome and pregnancy can provoke a positive dynamics in the analysis of antibodies to toxocars.
This study gives a simple answer positively or negatively, that is, whether there are antibodies to the antigens of the corresponding pathogen in the patient's blood or the readings are normal. But since the testimony of laboratory analysis for toxocarosis depends on various circumstances, many medical institutions use reference values. Their range is normal for most people research data. The values of the patient's blood are indicated next. The difference is called the coefficient of positivity and allows you to identify with the greatest accuracy the presence or absence of pathology. The data received during the delivery of the toxocarosis analysis are given as follows:
- The patient's blood test positivity coefficient( CP) is less than 1,1 - the norm, i.е.toxocarosis is absent;
- Weakly positive CP from 1.1 to 4.1.According to such data, experts assume the alleged carriage of this species of helminths or the onset of the development of the infectious process. In this case, the blood for analysis is given again after 2 months;
- The coefficient of positivity above 4.2 is positive. It indicates a recent invasion or current infection.
Analyzes for toxocariasis in children
Among the younger age group, especially between the ages of 2 and 11, the highest number of patients with this disease is noted. This dynamics is connected with the fact that a small child spends a lot of time digging in the sand, where the feces of the infected dogs can appear. Thus children usually forget to observe rules of personal hygiene, in due time to wash hands and to not drag in a mouth foreign objects lifted from the earth. That is why, at the slightest suspicion of infection with toxocarp, parents must urgently hand over the necessary IFA in the case of a baby.
In the event that parasite antigens are not found in the blood and all the data( the positivity coefficient and the titre) of the conducted study will be normal, the child will need to be under the supervision of a specialist for 2 months, since such indicators can indicate the eye form of toxocariasis. Many parents are asking how to properly prepare children for analysis of toxocariasis and how it is carried out.
- The material for analysis is taken from the vein, so a preliminary conversation with the child about possible unpleasant sensations is necessary;
- The procedure is performed in a special laboratory early in the morning and on an empty stomach. Before the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for antibodies to toxocarp the baby should not be fed.
In the rest, no prior preparation and compliance with the appropriate diet is required. But it must be remembered that experts always differentiate this invasion with other helminthiases that have similar symptoms( the presence of allergic reactions), as well as with diseases that are accompanied by eosinophilia. That is why, in case of confirmation of the norm of the conducted study, but if the small patient has signs of toxocarias, additional tests are prescribed.
Treatment of toxocar in the blood with folk remedies
When titres and the positive analysis coefficient of the patient are above the norm, urgent measures should be taken to get rid of this disease. Many people are afraid of therapy with medicines, because they are all very toxic. That is why most patients seek to use folk remedies in the treatment of helminthiases. But in case of confirmation of the clinical form of toxocarias, the results of the performed tests with such methods of therapy should be extremely cautious. The thing is that pathogens are caused by larvae of helminths migrating through all the internal organs of a person and even falling into his eyes, rather than sexually mature worms located in the intestine.
Therefore, before taking measures to get rid of the attack by domestic methods, you should consult a specialist. It is necessary to do this even in the case when antibodies to antigens to toxocars in hand-received analysis data are weakly expressed. Only an experienced physician can offer an effective technique for the therapy of this helminthiasis, suitable for a particular patient. But he will do it only after taking all the analyzes necessary in this case. Folk remedies with this disease are used as concomitant. There are several centuries-old recipes that help get rid of worms:
- In case of toxocarosis, the bark and the roots of the ash tree are well established. It is best not to buy them in a pharmacy, but to get it yourself. The dried raw materials are crushed and poured with boiling water. For 1 tsp.means taking a glass of water.everything is boiled and cooked on a low heat for 10 minutes. After this, the broth is infused for an hour and filtered. Take it in the morning and evening on an empty stomach;
- Will help get rid of toxocara and decoction of tansy. For its preparation 3 tbsp.l.dry herbs tansy poured 200 ml of boiling water and infused for an hour. The drug is used for 1 tbsp.l.at least 4 times a day for a week. After that, take a week off. The course of therapy continues until the person can get rid of toxocariasis.
But the best way is to protect yourself from infection. It is quite easy to do this. It is necessary to conduct regular de-worming of pets and avoid close contact with domestic animals. Also, you should monitor the cleanliness of the playgrounds and prevent dogs from walking to them.