The treatment of parasitic diseases is an urgent problem for the population of countries with hot and warm climates. According to the World Health Organization, 25% of the world's population is susceptible to helminthic infestations. Parasites can exist for a long time (for several years) in the host's body, without revealing their presence and gradually destroying the organs from the inside. Most helminthiases are accompanied by allergic reactions and suppression of immune protection, leading 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, the worms in the human body can reach several meters, but most are 20-40 cm in size. Helminths can inhabit almost all organs 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 complete life cycle cannot take place in the host's body; conditions that are nonspecific to 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 and then in the stomach and intestines). After helminth eggs enter the human body, the larvae emerge from them and begin to move through the body. Most helminths "live" in the intestines, but some types of worms can 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 helminth waste products;
- absorption of useful substances necessary for a person by the parasite;
- closure of the liver ducts, intestinal lumen with clumps of worms (rare with lesions of large helminths).
Helminthiases are a group of diseases caused by helminthic invasions. Children are more susceptible to such pathologies, since their immunity has not yet been fully formed, and, moreover, they cannot take care of personal hygiene on their own. Beyond the child, it is possible to infect adult family members, contributing to further spread.
For helminthiasis, specific symptoms are not characteristic, since the clinical picture of worm infection is similar to the signs of pathologies of the gallbladder, liver and gastrointestinal tract, therefore, laboratory tests are necessary. to establish an accurate diagnosis. In addition, asymptomatic transport 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, tape and flatworms. Each category is subdivided into several classes. Helminthiases are combined into groups according to the type of worm causing the disease. Characteristics of the varieties of helminths and the pathologies that they provoke:
- Roundworms (nematodes) are heterosexual helminths of a relatively small size (2-40 cm), they are widespread due to the ease of transmission. Nematode infection occurs when parasite eggs enter the host's mouth from the feces of the carriers. The most common representatives of helminths are pinworms: they are infected in 90% of cases. Pinworm larvae cause enterobiasis disease, accompanied by severe exhaustion, gastrointestinal tract disorders. The second most common helminthiasis is caused by the ascaris worm and is called ascariasis; this is a pathology in which parasites infect not only the human intestine, but also other organs (liver, lungs, heart). Ascariasis can provoke internal bleeding, the appearance of allergic reactions, in children - delayed development. The so-called whipworm, despite its small size (3-5 cm), can have a toxic effect on the human body for 5 years, causing the disease of whipworm. The influence of Trichinella worms leads to the development of trichinosis, the characteristic feature of which is damage to muscle tissue.
- Tapeworms (cestosis) are the largest representatives of helminths (10-15 meters). These are parasites of the same sex, that is, their reproduction is carried out by a single individual. An obligatory stage in the life cycle of tapeworms is the development of ungulates on the body. Cestode eggs enter the environment in the faeces of host animals. Also, infection through contaminated meat is possible. For example, insufficient heat treatment of pork meat leads to infection with pork tapeworms, beef - with bovine tapeworms. Echinococcosis, caused by echinococcal tapeworms, 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 bile ducts. Trematoses can lead to the development of hepatitis, cholelithiasis. The main characteristic of flatworms is the presence of suckers on the surface of the body, which serve to absorb nutrients and blood. Fluke infection occurs due to eating undercooked or undercooked fish and shellfish. 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. The reproduction of these parasites occurs by division, so their number increases 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, 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 protozoal invasions is carried out by the oral-fecal route: mature eggs or spores enter the host's mouth and intestines from the feces of infected animals. Science knows four main forms of infection:
- Contact - carried out 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 disease-causing eggs or cysts, causes soil-transmitted helminth infections.
- Infection that occurs from eating raw or insufficiently thermally processed 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 injuries from different helminths are often 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 to make a diagnosis, for example, disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, the nervous system indicates the presence of bovine tapeworm in the body, allergic reactions and skin rashes, whipworms, etc. How to remove worms from a person, what methods and drugs exist for this - these problems are treated by a doctor who specializes in infectious diseases.
The determination of the correct diagnosis is based on the exact establishment of the type of pathogenic helminth. This may require laboratory tests (urine, blood, stool, bile) and other diagnostic measures (ultrasound, fluorography). It is necessary to begin to eliminate parasites immediately: the longer the helminths are in the body, the more difficult it will be to get rid of the consequences of defeat later. The doctor prescribes the treatment based 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 prevention of new infections. Previously, only popular methods were used to eliminate parasites, while now they are used as additional measures to combat helminths, as many synthetic anthelmintic drugs have appeared on the pharmaceutical market.
The modern drug industry has about 20 drugs to kill worms in humans. Among them are drugs of a narrow and broad spectrum of action:
| Drug type | Indications |
| Anti-nematode (intended to eliminate intestinal worms) | Enterobiasis, ascariasis, whipworm, trichinosis, strongyloidosis, hookworm |
| Anti-trematode (intended to eliminate flatworms) | Schistosomiasis, fascioliasis, opisthorchiasis, clonorchiasis |
| Protivocestodnoy (intended to eliminate tapeworms) | Echinococcosis, diphyllobothriasis, taeniasis, teniarinchiasis, diphyllobothriasis |
How to remove worms from a person.
Most anthelmintic drugs are effective against adults: the eggs and larvae are not significantly destructive. For this reason, doctors recommend repeating the course after 2-3 weeks to exclude a reinfection. In addition, experts advise, when treating some types of helminthiasis, to take an enema at night or drink a laxative after taking the pills 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 medicines to eliminate worms consists in interrupting the work of the neuromuscular system of helminths, suppressing the metabolism (due to the inhibition of fumarate reductase) and destroying the integumentary tissues of the worms. worms.
During treatment, the patient may develop signs of intoxication: intestinal disorders, headache, vomiting, allergic reactions, abdominal pain. Treatment of worms in humans with antiparasitic drugs should only be done as prescribed by a doctor and according to the manufacturer's instructions, 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 for worms. It is forbidden to use all drugs during pregnancy and lactation:
| The active substance of the drug. | Action | Indications | Application method (for adults) | Side effects | Contraindications |
| Pyrantel | Blocked nerve endings in worm muscles | Enterobiasis, ascariasis, not catorosis, hookworm | 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 of age. |
| Carbendazim | Paralysis of the musculature of parasites. | Ascariasis, strongyloidiasis, whipworm, not catorosis | It depends on the type of parasite | Nausea, weakness, allergic reactions. | Component sensitivity |
| Pyrvinia emboat | Violation of the metabolism of worms. | Enterobiasis | 5 mg / kg of body weight once in the morning after breakfast | Headache, nausea, diarrhea, allergic reactions. | Hepatic failure, up to 3 months of age. |
For a successful fight against parasites, it is important to carefully follow the rules of personal hygiene, to strictly adhere to the course of treatment prescribed by the doctor. In addition to the use of anthelmintic drugs, it is recommended to take care of the elimination of toxins from the body and restore the functioning of the organs, strengthening the immune system. For these purposes, popular recipes (infusions, teas), as well as industrial complexes of vitamins and minerals are widely used.
Home remedies
The use of traditional medicine recipes is very effective in eliminating parasites. For this purpose, decoctions, tinctures, solutions for enemas of the following natural ingredients are used:
- Garlic;
- Pumpkin seeds;
- Nut;
- onion;
- herbs: dandelion, tansy, wormwood, burdock, nettle;
- oils: hemp, cedar, linseed, sea buckthorn.
How to remove worms at home
Some types of helminthiasis are successfully treated at home without a hospital stay, but if they become infected with large types of worms, supportive therapy in a hospital setting may be needed. Eliminating worms at home includes both drug treatment and the use of alternative medicine. Funds are accepted only as prescribed by a doctor, self-medication is prohibited.
Pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin seeds are considered the most popular folk remedy for removing worms due to its negative effect on worms and the absence 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 consumed with the peel 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 is 3-4 days.
Garlic
Garlic remedies are believed to be effective against pinworms, pinworms, and some types of tapeworms. In addition, garlic has immunostimulating properties and does not cause serious side effects. Various recipes for medicines with garlic:
- Grind 2 lemons and 10 garlic heads in a meat grinder, mix and refrigerate. Take the product 1 tablespoon three times a day.
- Pour 200 ml of warm water over a few minced garlic cloves, let it rest overnight. Garlic water should be taken every day, 200 ml in the morning on an empty stomach for a week.
Troichetka
This product contains powders from various 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 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 subsequent days - 3. The course of treatment is 14 days.
- Mix calendula, dried calamus and caraway seeds in a 2: 1: 1 ratio. Take the mixture in a similar way.
Worm enemas
Enemas based on substances poisonous 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 minced garlic cloves with a glass of milk, bring to a boil, cool. Use the enema solution within 2 weeks. Children under the age of 3 should not receive a garlic enema.
- Pour ½ teaspoon of baking soda with a glass of water, bring to a boil, cool. It is necessary to put a soda enema for 30 minutes. The course of treatment is 7 days.
- 1 tablespoon of chopped tansy flowers pour 500 ml of hot water, boil for 15 minutes and leave for 4 hours. The course of treatment is 5-7 days.