Many organisms coexist with people on the planet, some of which are capable of parasitizing inside humans and animals. In the people they are called by one common word - worms. The treatment of such a problem, signs of parasite infection and methods of prevention are discussed below.
Beware of the parasites!
To be infected with helminths, and this is the correct name for worms and similar creatures that can parasitize in humans, animals, fish, in many ways. They cause significant damage to health, although often the infected person himself cannot even assume that the problems that have arisen are a consequence of the parasite's vital activity. What are worms in humans? The answer to this question will help determine the type of individuals that caused a violation of health, and therefore, choose the right treatment. After all, why are worms dangerous? Isolation of vital products into the body systems , absorption of nutrients, the lack of which affects well-being. In the treatment of helminthiases, one of the main points should be strict observance of the rules of personal hygiene.
What is the danger?
An analysis such as feces for worm eggs serves as a mandatory point of a medical examination to determine the general state of health. From the moment of admission to the nursery and before receiving vouchers for spa treatment, a person must undergo such a procedure. The presence of parasites in the body causes medical withdrawal in certain situations. Many people prefer to take pills for the prevention of worms in advance in order to be sure of obtaining the necessary negative research results. But why are helminths so dangerous that the procedure for determining their presence in the body is one of the most common during medical examinations of people of different ages and professions?
Parasites that live in the human body exert a detrimental effect on it, manifested in different ways. So, immunity suffers from their life activity - the tendency to colds, viral and bacterial infections increases. The body begins to lack useful substances - trace elements and vitamins, which affects all processes in systems, organs and tissues, causing various diseases and pathologies. Since the worms carry out all the vital processes within the human body, the toxins released by them have a toxic effect, intoxication occurs. This, in turn, contributes to the development of asthma, allergies, and impaired liver and kidney function. Worms have a negative effect on the work of all departments of the gastrointestinal tract. They also affect the functioning of the central nervous system, causing insomnia, irritability, excessive irritability, aggressiveness, which can develop into depression. Negative consequences haunt those who suffer from a problem such as worms. Her treatment should be carried out competently, taking into account many aspects, starting with the type of helminth and ending with the general state of human health.
So different parasites
Before deciding on the method of treatment, it is necessary to find out what kind of worms a person has. Their scientists discovered several species. They are divided into two large groups:
- roundworms of a nematode (Nematoda);
- flatworms.
Both this and the other group of parasites are very extensive, because only 40 flukes, belonging to flatworms, trematodes, which are able to parasitize in the human body and cause diseases, are found in about 40 species. In humans, diseases caused by the activity of worms are divided as follows:
- hookworm;
- enterobiosis;
- trichocephalosis.
What measures should be taken to prevent infection? Why are worms dangerous? Intoxication of the human or animal organism with the products of their vital functions, as well as damage to the tissues and organs in which they settle.
Scientists parasites that are able to carry out vital activities in the human body, are divided, if I may say so, by location:
- Enlightened - this type includes worms that settle in various parts of the intestine. There are more than a hundred of them, pinworms, roundworms, hookworms, bovine tapeworm, and whipworm are the most common.
- Fabric. They live in other organs and tissues, in addition to the intestines, affect the heart, lungs, liver, lymphatic system, and brain.
That is why the analysis of feces for worm eggs is not always able to give an exact answer to the question about the potential possibility of human invasion.
Need to beware?
Symptoms of worm infection often do not immediately suspect such a problem. General weakness and malaise, weight loss, deterioration of the skin and hair are not only signs of helminthiasis, but also many other health problems. But itching in the anus, especially at night, the appearance of white worm-shaped inclusions in the feces, which upon closer examination turn out to be pinworm type helminths, should be an incentive to visit a doctor and be tested for helminthiasis in order to identify the problem and get good treatment. Unfortunately, such obvious signs appear only when the infection has become extensive. The very first symptoms often go unnoticed, parasites develop, in some cases spreading to many organs, affecting not only the intestines. In what cases is it necessary to visit a doctor for the appointment of certain tests that can detect helminthiasis? They are divided by specialists according to the area of manifestation:
- Gastrointestinal Disorders In the vast majority of cases, parasites are in the intestines of the person, causing a disorder of this particular system: stool disorders occur - constipation is replaced by diarrhea, heartburn and flatulence intensify, painful sensations appear in the abdomen, especially in the right hypochondrium and around the navel.
- Nervous Disorders. Poisoning by parasites' vital products causes disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system. Intoxication leads to headaches, dizziness. Often infected with worms, patients take such symptoms for the development of migraine, start to drink painkillers, which, in turn, negatively affects the state of health. In their life, parasites use those beneficial substances that can be obtained in the human body. Because of this, the patient experiences vitamin deficiency, manifested in a constant feeling of fatigue, weakness. Such violations are especially pronounced due to the infection of the body by worms in children - babies do not sleep well, are naughty, school-age children reduce school performance.
- Allergic reactions and skin manifestations of helminthiasis are also common consequences of such a problem. Due to the fact that parasites secrete products of their vital activity into the human body, some reactions of the body begin to pass more actively, for example, skin rashes, itching. Rhinitis and a dry cough may also appear, the condition of the nails and hair, which suffer from intoxication, is disturbed.
- Helminths, once in the human body and settled in it, cause a deterioration in the general state of health, expressed in a decrease in immunity, frequent colds. The infected person has frequent inflammatory diseases of the nasopharynx, urinary tract and genital area. Also, the presence of helminths in the human body can be manifested by bad breath and the appearance of an unpleasant aftertaste in the mouth.
All deviations in the state of health and well-being that arise require consultation with a specialist and certain tests. Many of those who think about the potential possibility of helminth infection are looking for an answer to the question of whether garlic helps with worms, believing that improvised products will help to avoid such an unpleasant problem as helminthiasis. But to be sure that there are no intruders in your body, you need to undergo a thorough examination.
How to identify a problem?
Under certain life circumstances, a person may have a suspicion of worms. Which doctor should I contact to resolve the issue of diagnosis and adequate treatment of such a problem? The main specialist who deals with a disease such as helminthiasis is an infectious disease doctor.
A specialist can make a preliminary diagnosis of a particular type of parasite, "settled" in the patient’s body, according to certain signs. So, pinworm infestation is characterized by itching, felt in the anus, intensifying mainly at night. If parasites actively multiply, and there are a lot of them, then they can be seen on the feces even with the naked eye. Deep dysbiosis against the background of damage to the intestinal mucosa develops against the background of infection with helminths such as whipworm, Schistosome trematode, hookworms. If the invasion of the body is caused by a wide tape, then a characteristic sign, in addition to dysbiosis, will be B-12-deficient anemia. Ascaridosis can be characterized by strong weight loss, an obsessive cough, weakness, and sore throat. The development of jaundice, disruption of the liver and spleen may indicate infection with hepatic parasites.
It should be noted that the incubation period for different types of helminths can last from 3-4 days to 3-4 weeks. But for a parasite such as filarias, causing filariasis or elephantiasis, this time period is up to one and a half years.
Only a specialist can determine the presence of helminths in the body, their type and method of treatment. It is impossible to independently choose an effective remedy for worms for children or adults!
In order to determine helminthic invasion, a person of any age is assigned three basic analyzes:
- feces for helminth eggs;
- blood on giardia parasitizing in the liver;
- scraping for enterobiosis.
Under certain conditions, additional studies may be prescribed to the patient, for example, during a recent visit to tropical regions where parasites that are atypical for Russia can be infected.
Risk group
Perhaps no one is immune from such a problem as worms. Treatment of invasion should be selected by a specialist only after diagnosis and taking into account the general health of the patient. Perhaps someone will object that in any pharmacy you can see on the shelves preparations for worms with a wide spectrum of action, which are sold without a prescription. But to recommend this or that remedy, only a specialist can. As with any other disease, helminthiasis is best prevented. This is especially true for people at risk:
- Small children;
- people in close contact with animals;
- those who eat meat or fish that are not fully cooked;
- hunters.
Today, experts conduct research in the sphere of the influence of helminths on the development of many serious diseases, including oncological ones. That is why the timely identified problem of invasion, high-quality infection prevention become very relevant for modern society.
Pharmacy products
Worm tablets are sold at any pharmacy. Their price range is quite extensive. But before you buy and take any drug, you need to get specialist advice, because different types of parasites such as worms require treatment accordingly. Only a doctor will be able to recommend a drug that is able to get rid of uninvited guests in the human body in a timely manner and efficiently. Drugs can be conditionally divided according to the method of their effect on parasites:
- paralyzing the activity of individuals;
- disturbing metabolic processes in the tissues of parasites;
- blocking certain processes in the body of the helminth.
What tablets can be purchased for the prevention of worms? This is a common question pharmacists hear in pharmacies. They work mainly to outstrip the manifest manifestation of helminthic invasion, a person only assumes infection, without observing any deviations in the state of health.
Also in pharmacies you can buy herbs from worms, which are verified by scientific research and have an anthelmintic effect.
Popular parasite medications
The most popular tablets from worms suggest both a therapeutic and a preventive effect. These include the Vermox drug, which has a negative effect on a wide range of parasites - from common pinworms to trichinella. Also, this medicine is used in the treatment of mixed helminthiasis. Similar to "Vermox" action has the drug "Dekaris". The treatment of worms in children and adults requires a consultation with a specialist, since anthelmintic drugs have a wide range of contraindications and potential side effects. Another popular drug that can be used even in the treatment of young children is Pirantel. This remedy actively affects individuals located in the intestine, but if the invasion affects the internal tissues, then this remedy is powerless against it. Quite often people ask: "Does garlic help from worms?" It is definitely very difficult to answer unequivocally, only a doctor can recommend such a method of therapy as a prophylaxis or treatment, and then, most likely, as an additional remedy.
Helper Plants
Treatment of worms in children, as well as the prevention of helminth infections, should become one of the permanent points of care for a child of any age. Since children, mastering the world around them, all try to "try for a tooth and a taste," the risk of contracting the same pinworms or roundworms is constantly present.
For centuries, people tried to get rid of worms with the help of plants. Currently, the antiparasitic effect of some of them is confirmed by scientific research. These are, for example, pumpkin seeds, which have a laxative and, as a result, anthelmintic property. Brittle buckthorn bark has a similar effect, which in pharmacies can be purchased in the form of powder for the preparation of infusion or decoction.
Does garlic help with worms? Yes, in some cases this spice is capable of exerting an anthelmintic effect. In addition, infusions and tinctures based on garlic stimulate immunity, affect the ability to cleanse the body of uninvited guests - viruses, bacteria, fungi and helminths. Herbs from worms are invariably popular, especially as prophylactic agents - these are tansy, centaury, wormwood, ginger, chamomile. They are used in decoctions and infusions, have a laxative, anthelmintic, disinfecting, anti-inflammatory property. It will be most reasonable to take such alternative medicines as an addition to the main therapy for established invasion or preventive measures.
Folk methods
Another way to get rid of worms in the intestines of a person is to wash it. You can use drugs and plants that cause diarrhea. And you can apply an enema recipe for worms. For example, this:
- 20 grams of wormwood must be ground;
- pour 3 liters of hot boiled water into raw materials;
- insist for half an hour;
- drain, filtering, the resulting product and squeeze through cheesecloth;
- use the infusion warm - 25-35 degrees for a more comfortable feeling during the procedure and better action of the components.
An enema can only be set once a day. Moreover, like any other medical intervention in the human body, it must be agreed with a specialist. Enema helps to remove toxins and toxins, waste products of the parasites and themselves. But if the invasion is not cavitary, but interstitial, then the enema will be only an auxiliary agent that cleanses the intestines. To use for the preparation of such a remedy as an enema against parasites, many medicinal plants can be used - chamomile, St. John's wort, calendula. The proportions in this case remain unchanged - 20 grams of dry grass per 3 liters of water. They will help to cope with the task and not harm the intestinal microflora.
Hygiene and Prevention
For people at all times, such a problem as worms was relevant. The treatment of invasions was and is being carried out using all possible means. The pharmaceutical industry is constantly releasing new drugs that can cope with the helminth infection of the body. But still the best remedy is prevention.Since helminth infection occurs mainly through the mouth, any possibility of the entry of parasite eggs into the oral cavity and further into the intestine should be excluded. To do this, strictly observe the following rules:
- wash hands regularly with soap;
- monitor the cleanliness of household items, such as children's toys that a child can put in his mouth;
- wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly with running water;
- vaccinate and treat pets with which family members are in contact;
- subjected to thorough heat treatment of meat and fish during cooking;
- comply with personal hygiene rules (regular change of underwear, care of the intimate area with the help of special care products);
- if you suspect infection with helminths, or even just for the purpose of prevention, you must consult a doctor for a special examination and the selection of medicines and preventive drugs.
Observance of precautionary measures will allow to avoid such health problems as worms. Treatment of invasion can be quite lengthy, and therefore expensive, although prevention will bring protection against invasion and the general benefit of the body, preventing infection not only by worms, but also by fungi, viruses and bacteria.