The treatment of parasitic diseases is an urgent problem for the population of countries with warm and hot climates. According to the World Health Organization, 25% of the world's population is susceptible to helminth infestations. Parasites are able to exist for a long time (for several years) in the body of the host, without betraying their presence and gradually destroying the organs from within. Most helminthiasis is accompanied by allergic reactions and suppression of immune defenses, leading to serious illness and even death.
What are worms
Helminths (worms) - the common name for parasitic worms owned by humans or animals. There are currently more than 250 species of helminths on the planet (about 90 of them live in the CIS). The worms in the human body can reach several meters in length, but most are 20-40 cm in size. Helminths are able to inhabit almost all organs of the human body, feeding on the internal resources of the host, weakening it and leading to the development ofdiseases.
The peculiarity of helminths is that their full life cycle cannot take place in the body of the host - the maturation of eggs requires conditions that are non-specific to the human body. Prolonged presence of worms is due to re-infection (ingestion of mature eggs in the mouth and then in the stomach and intestines). Once the helminth eggs enter the human body, the larvae emerge from them and begin to move through the body. Most helminths "live" in the gut, but some types of worms are able to migrate with the bloodstream to other organs (lungs, liver, heart, brain, eyes).
In the process of infection and further development in adults, worms in the human body have the following pathological effect:
- mechanical violation of the integrity of the intestinal wall;
- exposure to toxic waste products to helminths;
- absorption of nutrients needed by the parasite;
- closure of the ducts of the liver, intestinal lumen with lumps of worms (rarely found with lesions of large helminths).
Helminthiasis is a group of diseases caused by helminth infestations. Children are more susceptible to such pathologies, because their immunity is not yet fully formed and, moreover, they can not take care of personal hygiene. Further from the child it is possible to infect adult family members, which contributes to further spread.
The specific symptoms of helminthiasis are not typical, as the clinical picture of worm infection is similar to the signs of pathologies of the gallbladder, liver, gastrointestinal tract, so laboratory tests are needed to establish an accurate diagnosis. In addition, asymptomatic wear is often found, the diagnosis of which is associated with certain difficulties.
Kinds
Helminths, based on morphological characteristics, are divided into three major groups: round, tapeworms and flatworms. Each category is divided into several classes. Helminthiases are grouped together based on the type of worm. Characteristics of helminth species and the pathologies they cause:
- Roundworms (nematodes) are heterosexual helminths of relatively small size (2-40 cm), widespread due to ease of transmission. Infection with nematodes occurs when the eggs of the parasites get into the mouth of the host from the feces of the carriers. The most common representatives of helminths are pinworms - they are infected in 90% of cases. Pinworm larvae cause enterobiosis disease, accompanied by severe exhaustion, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. The second most common helminthiasis is caused by the worm ascaris and is called ascariasis - a pathology in which parasites infect not only the human intestine but also other organs (liver, lungs, heart). Ascariasis is able to provoke internal bleeding, the appearance of allergic reactions, in children - developmental delay. The so-called whip, despite its small size (3-5 cm), can have a toxic effect on the human body for 5 years, causing the disease trichocephalus. The influence of Trichinella worms leads to the development of trichinosis, a characteristic feature of which is damage to muscle tissue.
- Tapeworms (cestoses) are the largest representatives of helminths (10-15 meters). These are same-sex parasites, ie they reproduce by one individual. An obligatory stage in the life cycle of tapeworm is the development of ungulates in the body. Cestode eggs enter the environment in the feces of host animals. Infection with contaminated meat is also possible. For example, insufficient heat treatment of pork leads to infection with swine tapeworm, beef - with beef tapeworm. Echinococcosis caused by tapeworms of echinococci, for which man is an intermediate host, is considered a serious parasitic disease. This pathology leads to the formation of cysts in the organs, which can be eliminated only with the help of surgery.
- Flatworms (trematodes) are small (7-30 mm) and usually affect the liver and bile ducts. Trematoses can lead to the development of hepatitis, cholelithiasis. The main feature of flatworms is the presence of suckers on the surface of the body, which serve to absorb nutrients and blood. Trematode infection occurs due to the consumption of poorly cooked or cooked fish and seafood. The main representatives of trematodes are liver flukes and schistosomes; the first causes opisthorchiasis, the second - schistosomiasis.
A separate niche among parasitic invasions is occupied by protozoan infections caused by the simplest single-celled microorganisms. These parasites reproduce by division, so their numbers increase rapidly. The most common type of unicellular parasite in our region is lamblia, it exists in two forms - vegetation and cysts (spores). According to statistics, every third child suffers from giardiasis, as the infection occurs when only 2-10 giardiasis cysts enter the intestine.
Reasons
Infection with helminthic and protozoan invasions is carried out by oral-fecal route - mature eggs or spores enter the mouth and intestines of the host from the feces of infected animals. Science knows four main ways of infection:
- Contact - occurs when a person comes into contact with an infected carrier (animals, birds, another person), leads to the development of contact helminthiasis.
- Infection through soil and water, which contain pathogenic eggs or cysts, causes geohelminthiasis.
- The infection, which occurs when eating raw or undercooked meat and fish, leads to the development of biohelminthiasis.
- A small percentage of infections are due to insect bites.
How to treat human worms
The symptoms of lesions of different helminths are usually similar. The most striking and common signs are sudden weight loss, malaise, pale skin, itchy anus. At the same time, some symptoms can still help in the diagnosis - for example, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, the nervous system signals the presence of bovine tapeworm in the body, allergic reactions and skin rashes - whip and others. How to remove worms from a person, what methods and drugs exist for this - these questions are dealt with by a doctor of infectious diseases.
Determining the correct diagnosis is based on accurately identifying the type of pathogenic helminth. This may require laboratory tests (urine, blood, faeces, bile) and other diagnostic measures (ultrasound, fluorography). You need to start eliminating parasites immediately - the longer the helminths are in the body, the harder it is to get rid of the effects of the lesion later. The doctor prescribes treatment based on the patient's weight, gender and age, taking into account the individual characteristics and general condition of the patient.
Successful elimination of worms in humans is ensured not only by treatment with anthelmintic drugs, but also by following a healthy diet and preventing new infections. Previously, only folk remedies were used to eliminate parasites, but now they are used as additional measures to combat helminths, as many synthetic anthelmintic drugs have appeared on the pharmaceutical market.
The modern pharmaceutical industry has about 20 drugs to eliminate worms in humans. Among them are drugs with a narrow and broad spectrum of action:
> zxtable border = "1" cellpadding = "0" >How to remove worms from a person
Most anthelmintic drugs are effective against adults - eggs and larvae are not significantly destructive. For this reason, doctors recommend repeating the course after 2-3 weeks to rule out re-infection. In addition, experts advise when treating certain types of helminthiasis, apply an enema in the evening or drink a laxative after taking the pill in the morning.
Among the traditional medicines the most effective are raw pumpkin seeds, garlic, tansy. The mechanism of action of most drugs and non-traditional drugs to eliminate worms is to disrupt the nervous and muscular system of helminths, suppress metabolism (due to inhibition of fumarate reductase) and destruction of the integumentary tissues of worms.
During treatment, the patient may develop signs of intoxication: intestinal disorders, headache, vomiting, allergic reactions, abdominal pain. Treatment of worms in people with antiparasitic drugs should be carried out only on prescription and according to the manufacturer's instructions to avoid complications and side effects.
Tablets
All medicines to remove worms should be taken with a glass of liquid (water, milk). Comparative characteristics of some worm tablets. All drugs are prohibited for use during pregnancy and lactation:
> zxtable border = "1" cellpadding = "0" >To successfully combat parasites, it is important to carefully follow the rules of personal hygiene, strictly adhere to the course of treatment prescribed by your doctor. In addition to the use of anthelmintic drugs, it is recommended to take care of removing toxins from the body and restoring the functioning of organs, strengthening the immune system. Folk recipes (infusions, teas), as well as industrial vitamin and mineral complexes are widely used for these purposes.
Folk remedies
The use of recipes of traditional medicine is very effective in eliminating parasites. For this purpose, decoctions, tinctures, solutions for enemas of the following natural ingredients are used:
- garlic;
- pumpkin seeds;
- Walnut;
- onions;
- herbs: dandelion, tansy, wormwood, burdock, nettle;
- oils: hemp, cedar, flaxseed, sea buckthorn.
How to remove worms at home
Some types of helminthiasis are successfully treated at home without hospitalization, but if they are infected with large types of worms, maintenance therapy in a hospital setting may be needed. Eliminating worms at home involves both drug treatment and the use of alternative medicine. All drugs are taken only on prescription, self-medication is prohibited.
Pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin seeds are considered the most popular folk remedy for removing worms due to their negative effect on worms and the lack of side effects. The anthelmintic properties of this product are due to the presence in them of the substance cucurbitine, which is a poison to most worms. Pumpkin seeds should be consumed with the peel no more than 300 g per day per adult. Some popular recipes:
- Wash and dry the seeds, grind in a blender, add honey. It is necessary to consume the mixture on an empty stomach, after 4 hours take a laxative.
- During the day you should eat 100 g of seeds (divided into 4 portions), after each intake, after one hour, drink a teaspoon of castor oil, the course is 3-4 days.
Garlic
Garlic medicines are believed to be effective against roundworms, pinworms and some types of tapeworms. In addition, garlic has immunostimulatory properties and does not cause serious side effects. Here are some recipes for medicines with garlic:
- Grind 2 lemons and 10 garlic cloves in a meat grinder, stir and refrigerate. Take the product 1 tablespoon three times a day.
- Pour 200 ml of warm water a few chopped garlic cloves, leave overnight. Garlic water should be taken 200 ml in the morning on an empty stomach for a week.
Trinity
This product contains powders from several plants in various combinations. These drugs not only help in the fight against common helminth infestations, but also help to normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract:
- Mix tansy, cloves and wormwood in a ratio of 4: 2: 1. Take a mixture of 1 teaspoon a day before meals with water, on the second day eat 2 tablespoons, on all following days - 3. The course of treatment is 14 days.
- Mix calendula, dried calamus and cumin seeds in a ratio of 2: 1: 1. Take the mixture in a similar way.
Enema of worms
Enemas based on parasitic substances are widely used to eliminate worms. Such procedures are effective only in the case of intestinal helminthiasis. Some popular recipes:
- Pour 2-3 chopped garlic cloves with a glass of milk, bring to a boil, cool. Use an enema solution within 2 weeks. Children under 3 years of age should not receive an enema with garlic.
- Pour ½ a teaspoon of baking soda with a glass of water, bring to a boil, cool. It is necessary to put soda enema for 30 minutes. The course of treatment is 7 days.
- 1 tablespoon chopped tansy flowers pour 500 ml of hot water, boil for 15 minutes, then leave for 4 hours. The course of treatment is 5-7 days.