The treatment of parasitic diseases is an urgent problem for the population of countries with hot and hot climates. According to the World Health Organization, 25% of the world's population is susceptible to helminthic infestations. Parasites are able to exist for a long time (several years) in the host's body, without betraying their presence and gradually destroying the organs from the inside. Most helminthiasis is accompanied by allergic reactions and suppression of immunological protection, which leads to serious illness and even death.
What are worms
Helminths (worms) - the general name of parasitic worms, the owner of which is a person or an animal. Currently, there are more than 250 species of helminths on the planet (about 90 of them live in the CIS). In length, worms in the human body can reach several meters, but most are between 20 and 40 cm. Helminths are able to inhabit almost any organ of the human body, feeding on the internal resources of the host, weakening it and leading to the development of diseases.
The peculiarity of helminths is that their full life cycle cannot take place in the body of the host - non-specific conditions for the human body are necessary for the maturation of eggs. The prolonged presence of worms is due to reinfection (ingestion of mature eggs in the mouth, then in the stomach and intestines). Once the helminth eggs enter the human body, the larvae emerge from them and begin to move around the body. Most helminths "live" in the intestines, but some types of worms are able to move with the bloodstream to other organs (lungs, liver, heart, brain, eyes).
During 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 from helminths;
- absorption of useful substances necessary for a person by the parasite;
- closure of liver ducts, intestinal lumen with lumps of worms (this is rare with lesions of large helminths).
Helminthiasis are a group of diseases caused by helminthic invasions. Children are more susceptible to such pathologies, because their immunity is not yet fully formed, and, moreover, they are not able to take care of personal hygiene on their own. Further away from the child, it is possible to infect adult family members, which contributes to further spread.
For helminthiasis, the specific symptoms are not characteristic, since the clinical picture of infection with worms is similar to the signs of pathologies of the gallbladder, liver, gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, laboratory tests are necessary to make an accurate diagnosis. In addition, asymptomatic carriage is often found, the diagnosis of which is associated with certain difficulties.
Types
Helminths, on the basis of morphological characteristics, are divided into three large groups: roundworms, tapeworms and tapeworms. Each category is subdivided into several classes. Helminthiasis are grouped into groups depending on the type of worm causing the disease. Features of varieties of helminths and the pathologies they cause:
- Roundworms (nematodes) are heterosexual helminths of a relatively small size (2-40 cm), are widespread due to the ease of transmission. Nematode infection occurs when the eggs of the parasites enter 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, accompanied by severe exhaustion, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. The second most common helminthiasis is caused by the roundworm worm and is called ascariasis - this is a pathology in which the parasites infect not only the human intestine, but also other organs (liver, lungs, heart). Ascariasis is able to cause internal bleeding, the appearance of allergic reactions in children - developmental delay. Whipworm, despite its small size (3-5 cm), can have a toxic effect on the human body for 5 years, causing the disease of trichocephalosis. The influence of Trichinella worms leads to the development of trichinosis, a hallmark of which is damage to muscle tissue.
- Tapeworms (cestoses) are the largest representatives of helminths (10-15 meters). They are parasites of the same sex, i. e. their reproduction is carried out by a single individual. An obligatory stage in the life cycle of tapeworms is the development of ungulates in the body. Cestode eggs enter the environment in the faeces of host animals. In addition, infection with contaminated meat is possible. For example, insufficient heat treatment of pork leads to infection with pork tapeworm, beef - with bovine tapeworm. Echinococcosis, caused by tapeworms of echinococci, for which a person is an intermediate host, is considered a serious parasitic disease. This pathology leads to the formation of cysts in the organs, which can only be removed with the help of surgical intervention.
- Flatworms (trematodes) are small (7-30 mm) and usually affect the hepatic and biliary tract. Trematosis can lead to the development of hepatitis, cholelithiasis. The main characteristic of tapeworms is the presence of suction cups on the surface of the body, which are used to absorb nutrients and blood. Trematode infection occurs due to the consumption of undercooked or undercooked fish and seafood. The main representatives of trematodes are liver fluke and schistosomes; the first causes opisthorchiasis, the second - schistosomiasis.
A distinct niche among parasitic invasions is occupied by protozoan infections caused by the simplest unicellular microorganisms. These parasites reproduce by division, so their number increases rapidly. The most common type of single-celled parasite in our region is lamblia, it exists in two forms - vegetation and cysts (spores). According to statistics, one in three children suffers from giardiasis, since the infection occurs when only 2-10 lamblia cysts enter the intestine.
Causes
Infection with helminthic and protozoan invasions is carried out by the oral-fecal route - eggs or mature spores enter the mouth and intestines of the host from the feces of infected animals. There are four main modes of infection that science knows:
- Contact - carried out when a person comes into contact with an infected carrier (animals, birds, other person), leads to the development of contact helminthiasis.
- Infection through soil and water, which contain pathogenic eggs or cysts, causes soil-transmitted helminthiasis.
- Infection that occurs when consuming raw or insufficiently heat-treated meat and fish leads to the development of biohelminthiasis.
- A small percentage of infestations are due to insect bites.
How to treat human worms
Symptoms of lesions caused by different helminths are generally similar. The most striking and common signs are sudden weight loss, discomfort, pallor of the skin, itching in the anus. At the same time, some symptoms can still help in making a diagnosis - for example, disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, the nervous system signals the presence of bovine tapeworm in the body, allergic reactions and rashes on the skin - whipworms, etc. How to remove worms from a person, what methods and drugs are available for this - these problems are treated by a doctor who specializes in infectious diseases.
Determination of the correct diagnosis is based on the exact establishment of the type of pathogenic helminths. This may require laboratory tests (urine, blood, stool, bile) and other diagnostic measures (ultrasound, fluorography). It is necessary to immediately begin to eliminate the parasites - the more helminths are in the body, the more difficult it is to get rid of the consequences of the defeat later. The doctor prescribes treatment depending on the weight, sex and age of the patient, 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 adherence to a diet that improves health and the prevention of new infections. Previously, only traditional methods were used to eliminate parasites, while now they are used as additional measures to combat helminths, because many synthetic anthelmintics have appeared on the pharmaceutical market.
The modern pharmacological industry has about 20 drugs for eliminating worms in humans. Among them there are drugs with a narrow and wide spectrum of action:
| Drug type | Indications |
| Anti-nematodic (aimed at eliminating roundworms | Enterobiasis, ascariasis, trichocephalosis, trichinosis, strongyloidiasis, hookworm |
| Anti-trematode (intended to eliminate tapeworms) | Schistosomiasis, fascioliasis, opisthorchiasis, clonorchiasis |
| Protivocestodnoy (aimed at eliminating tapeworms) | Echinococcosis, diphyllobothriasis, tapeworm, teniarinchiasis, diphyllobothriasis |
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 treatment after 2-3 weeks to rule out re-infection. In addition, experts advise, when treating some types of helminthiasis, to do an enema in the evening or drink a laxative after taking the tablets in the morning.
Among 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 work of the neuromuscular system of helminths, suppress metabolism (due to inhibition of fumarate reductase) and destroyintegumentary tissues of worms.
During treatment, the patient may develop signs of intoxication: intestinal disturbances, headache, vomiting, allergic reactions, abdominal pain. Treatment of worms in humans with antiparasitic drugs should only take place on prescription from a doctor and according to the manufacturer's instructions, in order to avoid complications and side effects.
Tablets
All medicines for the elimination of worms should be taken with meals with a glass of liquid (water, milk). Comparative characteristics of some tablets against worms. All drugs are prohibited during pregnancy and lactation:
| The active substance of the drug | action | Indications | Method of application (for adults) | Side effects | Contraindications |
| Pirantel | Nerve endings blocked in the muscles of the worm | Enterobiasis, ascariasis, noncatorosis, hookworm infection | Up to 75 kg - 15 ml of syrup once, 75 kg and more - 20 ml | Dizziness, digestive system disorders, skin rashes | Hepatic failure, up to 6 months |
| Carbendazim | Paralysis of the parasite musculature | Ascariasis, strongyloidiasis, trichocephalosis, noncatoriasis | Depends on the type of parasite | Nausea, weakness, allergic reactions | Component sensitivity |
| Pyrvinia's boat | Violation of the metabolism of worms | Enterobiasis | 5 mg / kg body weight once in the morning after breakfast | Headache, nausea, diarrhea, allergic reactions | Hepatic failure, up to 3 months |
For an effective fight against parasites, it is important to strictly follow the rules of personal hygiene, strictly adhere to the treatment prescribed by the doctor. In addition to the use of anthelmintic drugs, it is recommended to take care to remove toxins from the body and restore the functioning of organs, strengthening the immune system. For these purposes, folk recipes (infusions, teas), as well as industrial complexes of vitamins and minerals are widely used.
Folk remedies
The use of traditional medicine recipes is very effective in removing parasites. For this purpose, decoctions, tinctures, solutions for enemas from the following natural ingredients are used:
- Garlic;
- pumpkin seeds;
- Walnut;
- onion;
- herbs: dandelion, tansy, wormwood, burdock, nettle;
- oils: hemp, cedar, flax, sea buckthorn.
How to eliminate worms at home
Some types of helminthiasis are successfully treated at home without hospital admission to a hospital, but in cases of infection with large types of worms, supportive inpatient treatment may be required. Eliminating worms at home includes both drug therapy and the use of alternative medicine. All funds are accepted only on prescription from a doctor, self-medication is prohibited.
Pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin seeds are considered the most popular folk remedy for eliminating worms due to their negative effect on worms and the lack of side reactions. The anthelmintic properties of this product are due to the presence in them of the substance cucurbitin, which is a poison for most worms. Pumpkin seeds should be eaten with the skin on no more than 300 g per day for an adult. Several 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 need to eat 100 g of seeds (divided into 4 portions), after each intake, after an hour, drink a teaspoon of castor oil, the course lasts 3-4 days.
Garlic
Garlic remedies are believed to be effective against roundworms, pinworms, and certain types of tapeworms. In addition, garlic has immunostimulatory properties and does not cause serious side effects. Several recipes for garlic medicines:
- Grind 2 lemons and 10 heads of garlic in a meat grinder, mix and refrigerate. Take the product 1 tablespoon three times a day.
- Pour 200 ml of lukewarm water over a few chopped garlic cloves, let stand overnight. Garlic water should be taken every day, 200 ml in the morning on an empty stomach for a week.
Troïchetka
This product contains powders of several plants in different combinations. These drugs not only help in the fight against common helminthic invasions, but also help to normalize the work of the gastrointestinal tract:
- Mix tansy, cloves and wormwood in a 4: 2: 1 ratio. Take a mixture of 1 teaspoon per day before meals with water, on the second day eat 2 tbsp, all following days - 3. The duration of treatment is 14 days.
- Mix calendula, dry calamus and caraway seeds in a 2: 1: 1 ratio. Take the mixture in the same way.
Worm enemas
Enemas based on substances toxic to parasites have been widely used in the elimination of worms. Such procedures are effective only in the case of intestinal helminthiasis. Several popular recipes:
- Pour 2-3 chopped garlic cloves with a glass of milk, bring to a boil, cool. Use the enema solution within 2 weeks. Children under 3 years old should not be given garlic enemas.
- Pour ½ teaspoon of baking soda with a glass of water, bring to the boil, let cool. It is necessary to put a soda enema for 30 minutes. The duration of treatment is 7 days.
- 1 tablespoon of chopped tansy flowers pour 500 ml of hot water, boil for 15 minutes, then leave to stand for 4 hours. The duration of treatment is 5-7 days.