Parasitic diseases are widespread among the population, many people encounter them at least once in their lives, it is almost impossible to fully insure against their occurrence. However, many of them lead to other, more serious diseases. Parasites are able to cause disturbances in the work of various organs, they often begin to treat the effects of parasitic infection, the main problem is clarified much later.
Parasites can attack any organ system, they can be in the gut, in the liver, live on the skin, some even reach the brain. The main thing is to identify the lesion at an early stage, when it does not affect several organs and does not become extensive, then it will be much easier to get rid of parasites.
Types of parasites
There are many parasites that infect various organs. These are not just worms that live mainly in the gut and other worms. Parasites in the human body can be of other types. They can all be divided into several groups:
- worms (roundworms, worms, pinworms, echinococci and others);
- bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus aureus);
- viruses (influenza, herpes, smallpox, rotavirus and others).
However, worms are most often associated with the word "parasites". Their manifestations and treatment tactics are usually very similar.
Symptoms
The symptoms of parasitic infections are often reminiscent of other diseases, so when they are detected, it is important to make a comprehensive diagnosis to show whether the person is ill due to parasites or should look for another cause. The main symptoms of parasitic diseases are as follows:
- Diarrhea. It comes from the waste products of some types of parasites.
- Constipation. Some worms, as they grow, block the passage of the intestines, which can even cause intestinal obstruction. Parasites can also cause jaundice by blocking the bile ducts.
- Constant bloating. Gas production often occurs when infected with worms.
- Muscle and joint pain. Like arthritis pain. They develop during the migration of parasites in the body.
- Allergic reactions. Parasites are strong irritants and they and their waste products can cause allergies. In addition, they cause damage to the intestinal tissue, which forces the immune system to work more actively and react to this irritation with allergic reactions.
- Various skin lesions - rashes, acne, dermatitis and other skin diseases. Papillomas are also a sign of a parasitic infection.
- Iron deficiency anemia.
Weight gain can also be a symptom. A person can lose weight drastically or gain weight. Weight loss may be associated with loss of appetite, digestive disorders. A sharp increase in weight is usually associated with a drop in blood sugar levels, the patient begins to experience constant hunger.
Negative symptoms of the nervous system. The activity of parasites literally poisons the body, which can lead to disorders of the nervous system. These include severe anxiety in general, increased anxiety and mild depression.
Other things to look out for:
- The gnashing of teeth in me is bruxism. This is the reaction of the nervous system to the presence of an irritant in the body.
- Sleep disorders. Sometimes it appears due to itching in the anal area at night, this is a sure sign of worms.
- Dysbacteriosis.
- Chronic fatigue, malaise.
- Immune disorders, increased morbidity, frequent colds.
- Respiratory diseases. Parasites can reach the respiratory tract and cause coughs, pneumonia and even asthma attacks.
Important! If there are similar symptoms, you should be tested for a parasitic infection.
More about the manifestations of parasitic diseases
People react to foreign bodies differently. In some forms of helminthiasis, the symptoms of parasites in the body of an adult become noticeable several years after the colonization of the organs. In young patients, the first signs are often seen in the early stages of the disease.
How to recognize worms in children?
The prevalence of helminths in these patients is much higher. As a result, the following signs of parasites appear:
- Weakness
- Sleep quality deteriorates
- Loss of appetite, usually accompanied by a delay in physical development
- Unwarranted aggression, nervousness and irritability appear
- Stools are disturbed and in most cases constipation is a consequence of this
- Squeaking and itching of the anus are signs of some worms.
What are the anomalies for identifying helminths in adults?
The parasitic organism is retained in the mouth, which is facilitated by special enzymes. This is only the first obstacle in the way of larvae and helminth eggs. In addition, moving through the human body, helminths enter the digestive tract, where they are exposed to gastric juice and antibodies produced by the body. This means that there is a natural cleansing of the intestines from parasites, and the spread is slower.
However, over time, the following symptoms appear:
- Changes in the central nervous system: headache, dizziness, sleep disturbance, irritability, aggression
- Diseases of certain organs develop: pancreatitis, pneumonia, appendicitis, duodenitis, etc.
- Pale skin indicates parasites, sometimes jaundice develops
- Worms can be identified by a stool disorder: constipation replaces diarrhea and vice versa
- Flatulence, intestinal motility is impaired
- Another manifestation is abdominal pain
- Allergic reactions in various forms.
How do worms affect overall health?
Weakness is noted, as worms are almost always found in human intestines. In this case, the microflora is disturbed, which affects the absorption of nutrients, which means that a person does not get enough vitamins and trace elements. As a result, the body weakens and the immunity decreases. Under such conditions, the body becomes susceptible to viruses, bacterial infections. The liver is among the first to suffer.
If disease develops in a particular organ (be it the heart, kidneys, organs of vision, liver) and the classical treatment regimen for such cases does not work, it is necessary to assume the development of parasitic diseases in humans. If you try to treat them, one can recover quite quickly.
Classification of parasites
All organisms are classified into two main groups:
- Intestinal
- Extra intestinal.
Representatives of two species live in humans, but in different parts of the body. For example, intestinal parasites in humans always colonize the digestive organs. Extraintestinal forms of helminths tend to infect tissues: muscles, brain, visual organs and others. In addition, all external organisms living in the human body are divided into species, taking into account the structure of the body:
- Unicellular (they are the simplest, for example lamblia)
- Helminths: pinworms, roundworms and the like.
There are several classes of worms:
- Nematodes;
- Trematodes;
- Cestodes.
The first class includes roundworms as roundworms. The second class is represented by methyl, methyl. Cestodes are called flatworms, including tapeworms.
Causes
The main causes of parasitic diseases are careless contact with sick people and neglect of personal hygiene rules. Children who spend a lot of time playing outside are often infected, especially young ones who practice in the sandbox.
This puts people at risk who do not wash their hands after the street and after eating, do not wear barrier protection when in contact with infected patients, sharing their personal hygiene products with other people. In addition, there is a risk of infection if meat products, vegetables and fruits are poorly processed.
Diagnostics
It can be difficult to diagnose parasitic diseases, especially in the early stages, their symptoms often reminiscent of other diseases.
The most common tests for parasites are feces and tampons. These methods will help determine the presence of parasites in the gut and their appearance, but will not be able to show their presence in other organs.
There are currently much more reliable methods for detecting parasitic diseases, they can be more expensive than conventional analysis, but their accuracy is much higher. First, they include a blood test for parasites - ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). The accuracy of this method is 99%, it helps to determine not only the presence of parasites, but the dynamics of the lesion and the number, wherever there are foreign organisms.
In addition to blood tests, there are other methods, for example:
- ultrasound and radiography;
- computed tomography;
- endoscopy and endobiopsy;
- RNGA;
- RSK;
- RIF.
The necessary tests are chosen by the doctor, and in each case they may be different. The parasitologist deals with the parasites, although you should first contact the doctor who deals with the organ system with which the unpleasant symptoms are associated. For example, if the manifestations of a parasitic disease are related to the digestive system, you should contact a gastroenterologist.
Important! It is impossible to reliably determine the presence of parasites in your body; tests are needed.
How to get rid of parasites?
Parasites require complex intervention. Most of them have a long life and treatment depends on the form in which the parasites are currently present in the body. Other factors must be taken into account, such as diseases that occur against the background of a parasitic infection.
Preparation
Parasite drugs are usually available in tablet form, they have a broad spectrum of action, one drug can act against several species at once. There are many herbal preparations that are milder.
Medicines can be administered once or as a course. It all depends on the stage of the parasitic disease, the type of parasites, the presence or absence of certain symptoms.
It is worth remembering that drugs have a huge number of side effects. Antiparasitic drugs have a strong toxic effect on the body, so they should be taken with caution. You also cannot combine them with other medicines.
It is often necessary to cleanse the body after a course of treatment, as not all dead parasites come out naturally. Decomposing in the body, they can cause severe toxicosis.
After courses of medication, you should start to restore immunity. Vitamin complexes, diet and maintaining a healthy lifestyle will help.
Important! You cannot take antiparasitic drugs on your own.
Body cleansing at home
Some of the measures against parasites can be taken at home, especially for organisms that infect the intestines. You can clean your intestines at home, but it is worth remembering that not all products are equally good, some, such as cleaning with soda, can be dangerous to health.
Monastic tea
Monastery tea is often recommended against parasites. This drink contains many useful medicinal plants: sage, yarrow, oak bark, mint and many others. It is believed to help fight parasitic diseases.
The course of treatment with monastery tea lasts three weeks, no more than a glass of drink per day is needed. Taking such tea will increase immunity and help the body deal with parasites, but it is not suitable as an independent drug, it is better to combine it with conservative treatment and then use it for prevention.
Another name for the monastery tea is his, sometimes it can be found that way.
Dance: How to take
Tansy is one of the herbs of parasites, the second name of this plant, worm, speaks for itself. The methods of using this herb vary depending on the type of parasite.
The following recipe helps with worms and roundworms. You need to take a tablespoon of dried flowers and pour a glass of hot water. Insist for four hours, then strain. You should take such an infusion four times a day, one tablespoon before meals.
Bitter wormwood
Wormwood is another medicinal plant that helps fight parasites. This herb is effective for children and adults, the only negative is the unpleasant taste.
To comfortably take wormwood against worms, place the crushed plant in gelatin capsules. For a child you need no more than a quarter of a teaspoon, for an adult - one second. One serving is needed on the first day of intake, then one serving is added every day. Thus there should be seven servings on the eighth day. In addition, seven capsules by the end of the second week of intake.
You can also make wormwood-based enemas.
Birch tar
Birch tar is a natural antiseptic that helps fight worms and other internal parasites. One drop of tar is taken for a teaspoon of honey, take this mixture at bedtime for twelve days. This method has almost no contraindications, honey tar can be used for children.
Pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin seeds help with parasites. There are several recipes for taking them for medicinal purposes. You can simply eat two tablespoons of pumpkin seeds every morning before meals, then wait about an hour and empty your bowels. This method works well against tapeworm.
Against worms is recommended to take a cup of ground roasted seeds, mix with a cup of honey, add a teaspoon of baking soda. This mixture should be infused for ten days. Take a spoonful on an empty stomach long before breakfast.
Garlic: How to take
Garlic has disinfectant properties, it is believed to be harmful to worms. The most useful and harmless to the body is the honey-garlic mixture against parasites.
To do this, take 300 grams of garlic juice and mix with 500 grams of honey. Boil this mixture on low heat in a water bath for half an hour, stirring occasionally and removing the resulting foam. Cool the resulting mixture, transfer to glass jars, store in a cool, dark place. For worms, take one tablespoon about 3-4 times a day, exclusively before meals.
Flax and cloves
Based on flax seeds and cloves you can make a kind of spice that has an antiparasitic effect.
Grind the flax seeds and cloves in a coffee grinder in the same ratio. Such a drug can be added to food during cooking, the main thing is not to eat more than 25 grams of drug per day. Sometimes you have to take breaks. This drug helps with all types of parasites.
Important! It is worth remembering that many medicinal plants can cause allergies. If you develop individual intolerance, they should be discarded.
How to treat parasites
If symptoms are detected that indicate the presence of parasites in the intestines or other organs, treatment can be carried out with the help of folk remedies. They allow you to quickly get rid of worms and prevent the development of serious complications.
Popular recipes
Unconventional treatment involves the use of natural ingredients. decoctions or infusions are usually made from them. Such means allow you to expel worms and perform a thorough cleaning of internal organs. You can choose your own treatment regimen for each patient. The most popular recipes are:
- Coriander seeds - heat in a pan without oil, crush and consume up to three times a day.
- Watermelon seeds - chop and mix with milk. Drink two glasses a day.
- Fox mushrooms - have a negative effect on most parasites, but after heat treatment these properties disappear. Therefore, the mushrooms are made into a tincture: grind the product, pour vodka and send it in a dark, cool place for fifteen days. Take a spoon before bed.
- Onions - chop to a pulp and pour boiling water, leave for ten hours, use inside.
- Elecampane - boil and boil for five minutes. Insist at night and take on an empty stomach in the morning.
- celandine - mix with boiling water and send to a water bath for a quarter of an hour. After forty minutes, strain and drink up to three times a day.
- Wormwood - chop the grass, pour hot milk, insist and drink the whole portion in the morning.
- Ginger - Pass through a blender and consume within six days.
- Cloves - taken in powder form after a meal.
- Pumpkin seeds - they contain a poisonous substance that is dangerous to parasites. Raw, shelled seeds can be eaten before meals or mixed with warm milk.
Other methods
At home, treatment carried out with the help of folk remedies is complemented by a set of measures that allow you to quickly get rid of parasites living in the human body. We are talking about cleansing enemas. For their implementation are used:
- Garlic - can be combined with milk or herbal infusions.
- Baking soda - heat the water to a temperature of forty-two degrees, add powder and mix well. Soda can be added to three liters of warm water.
Wormwood and tansy work well for enemas. The herbs are mixed, poured with hot water and boiled. Cool the broth, add a clove of garlic, leave for three hours and strain. The procedure should be done before bedtime. Another option is pumpkin oil. A variety of recipes can be used for an adult. The main thing is to choose a drug that is suitable for eliminating a particular type of helminth.
Soap for washing against helminths
One of the options for treating parasites in the body is with ordinary laundry soap. Used for washing hands after walking, going to the toilet and more. The soap solution kills all germs on the skin and prevents them from entering the body. In the morning and after each act of defecation, it is recommended to wash the anus with laundry soap - it destroys both parasites and their eggs. With the help of the product you can wash razors, towels, combs.
It is difficult to cleanse the body of uninvited guests, but it is quite possible. If you decide to use non-traditional means, you must show patience and perseverance, as they do not give immediate results. Sometimes the course of treatment takes several weeks. In addition, to achieve the desired results, all recipes must be applied correctly and regularly.
How the infection occurs
It is not for nothing that many people do not like to touch the door handles and pets on the street, because this is the fastest way to catch parasites. The infection usually occurs from:
- Handshake;
- household articles;
- Door handles;
- animal fur;
- Clothing, household articles;
- Patient's bed linen.
Sometimes it is impossible to rule out all factors, as the child can become infected in kindergarten or school, just like adults on public transport and elsewhere.
Even those who like to eat raw steaks and rolls can, along with the delicacy, catch parasites that live in raw products subjected to insufficient heat treatment.
Sometimes the symptoms of parasites in the body are discovered many years later and one does not even remember during which period he ate unwashed fruit or pet a cat.
The main thing is prevention
This doesn't mean you have to keep testing, but it does mean you have to commit to prevention:
- Wash your hands more often with soap and water;
- Use antibacterial wipes;
- Do not touch animals on the street;
- Do not eat unwashed vegetables and fruits and not fried fish and meat.
Those who have young children should be especially careful, as they are carriers of various parasites that can be caught in the sandstone, on the railings or elsewhere.
If a child attends kindergarten, seeding tank and stool delivery are mandatory, so it is not difficult to identify the disease.
Adults have a problem with this. Rarely can a doctor ask you to take stool for analysis, and that for helminths.
This should be taken care of by the patient himself, especially those who love exotic cuisine and extreme relaxation.
If there are parasites, the symptoms may be different, but where are these or those more common?
How to prevent infection?
First you need to understand how to determine the presence of parasites in the body. If the suspicions are confirmed, treatment is prescribed. You must follow simple rules so that the situation does not happen again:
- Parasites in the stomach and other organs of the digestive tract end up with dirty hands. This means that you need to wash them often.
- Change of bed linen, bed.
- Room cleaning.
- Cleaning products, pay special attention to vegetables, fruits. Meat and fish must be processed.
- To prevent signs of various parasites in the human body, clothing and underwear should be subjected to high temperature treatment. After washing, things are ironed.
- The water is filtered, boiled.
Thus, if the question arises how to check for the presence of worms, an examination is performed to diagnose helminthiasis. It is also possible to identify worms by external examination, observing the symptoms. The treatment is performed in a complete way, but before that the body is cleansed.