Prevention of helminths - how to fight immunity and what to do

Prevention of helminthsconsists in observing strict hygiene rules. Many of us do not even realize that we are infected with many parasites. Fatigue, apathy, headaches and indigestion are most often due to fatigue or food quality. And few people think that these symptoms may indicate parasite infestation.

Worst of all, helminthiasis is hidden, slowly undermining our health. The risk group includes children whose bodies are often vulnerable to parasites. That is why it is so important to prevent the appearance of worms in a natural way, with the help of immunity.

Helminths and harm to the body

Human worm infestation can be caused by more than 400 species of parasitic worms. Infection often occurs through contaminated food and water, less often helminths enter the body through the skin.

Depending on the routes of infection, parasites are divided into 3 groups:

• biohelminths- through food (echinococcus, cattle and swine tapeworm);
• geohelminths- with hands contaminated with feces, household items, sometimes water (neighbor, hookworm, roundworm);
• contact worms- in personal contact with an infected person, less often in self-infection (pinworms, dwarf tapeworm).

According to the structure of the body, parasites are divided into the following types:

• round (nematodes);
• tape (cestodes);
• flukes (there are powerful suckers and a flat body).

The risk group includes children attending pre-school institutions, agricultural workers, immunodeficiency patients, the elderly and the elderly. Pets can also be at risk of infection.

In adults, helminthiasis often occurs latently, has a long course and manifests itself with various clinical signs disguised as various pathologies. Children are characterized by an acute course with vivid symptoms, which is associated with the peculiarities of the immune system.

Helminths use the human body as a source of food, habitat and reproduction. Instead, by releasing products from their vital activity, worms cause systemic toxic damage to human organs and systems.

For example, hookworm larvae secrete an anticoagulant to maintain blood flow. It is estimated that A. duodenale alone causes 0. 2 ml of blood loss per day. For the loss of 5 ml of blood, the presence of 25 helminths in the body is enough. But there are usually many more of them. As a result, the infected person has severe anemia.

According to numerous studies, helminthic invasions contribute to the more frequent development of somatic diseases, exacerbation of chronic pathologies, having a negative effect on the body of the host, including his immune system.

A characteristic feature of most helminthiasis is the chronic course, associated with the prolonged presence of the pathogen in the body and repeated infections. Helminthiasis in children is often accompanied by various non-specific symptoms: weakness, fatigue, irritability, sleep disorders, dyspepsia, growth retardation and weight gain, decreased immunity.

Diseases caused by helminths reduce performance and impair quality of life.

The role of immunity against helminths

The immune system is alert to our health. It protects the body from viruses, bacteria and parasites. Unfortunately, immunity copes with the latter a little worse. This is especially true for children. The child's defenses are not sufficiently developed, and helminthic invasions further undermine the body's resistance to infections. That is why the prevention of helminths in children is so important.

Antiparasitic immunity is similar to antibacterial. Both cellular and humoral connections are involved in protection against helminths. The first barrier for intruders is the skin and mucous membranes. More often, worms enter the body through the digestive tract. The lining of the stomach and intestines contains immune cells that cause a cascade of reactions to reject the parasite and remove it from the body.

The problem is that helminths have their own defense mechanisms, which often allow them to easily cross the first barrier.

Immunity against helminths is divided into primary and secondary. Since the primary human being is born, it is a genetically determined protective factor. The secondary is formed during life after infection and the production of specific antibodies against a particular type of parasite.

The recently discovered TSLP (Thymus Stromal Lymphopoietin) has aroused great interest among scientists. Due to its unique properties, the cytokine plays an important role in protecting the body from worms. Depending on the nature of the infection, TSLP may enhance or suppress the protective responses regulated by two types of T lymphocytes.

The likelihood of infection largely depends on innate immunity and the health of the immune system as a whole, the effectiveness of which is always individual and depends on the type of worm.

The proper functioning of the immune system depends on our diet, if the body lacks the necessary vitamins and minerals to build immune cells, then the response to infections will be weak and the fight will end in defeat.

Immunity needs biologically active substances that come to us with food. In case of chronic stress or illness, it is necessary to support the immune system with vitamins and microelements, as the body uses all the nutrients to strengthen the nervous system, as well as herbs. And only in extreme cases resort to medical treatment.

How does immunity against worms work?

Primary immunity against helminths can work in several ways:

1. The parasite adapts to the internal environment of the host organism, grows well, develops, multiplies. The immune response is minimal. In such cases, helminthiasis is prolonged, sometimes difficult. An example is the invasion of dwarf tapeworms.
2. There is a moderate immune response to the introduction of helminths. This limits the fertility of the worm. For example, roundworms.
3. The protective reaction is well expressed, which blocks the full development of the parasite. The worm does not reach sexual maturity, but can be harmful to health. The disease is short-lived or has a latent course.
4. Effective primary immunity stops the introduction of parasites at the stage of the skin and mucous membranes. As a result, helminths do not penetrate the internal organs and do not harm health.

Secondary immunity helps the body respond faster and more effectively to repeated helminth infestations. This blocks the development of worms in the first stage of infection and reduces toxic effects. The protective reaction is based on the presence in the blood of antibodies (immunoglobulins) to this type of helminth.

The main links of immune protection against parasitic invasion:

• the reaction of the tissues of the internal organs, which leads to isolation (capsule formation) and destruction of worms;
• production of class A and E immunoglobulins;
• changes in hormonal activity, especially on the part of estrogens, which are found in both the female and male body;
• hereditary factor (antiparasitic primary immunity).

An indicator of infection is the high content of eosinophils in the blood, which indicates an allergic reaction. The second important point is the sharp increase in the concentration of immunoglobulin E, provided that there is no food intolerance.

Important prevention rules

Immunity copes with the introduction of parasites in different ways, not always effectively enough. Our task is to help the body prevent the threat of an alien invasion. Preventive measures must be observed at all times and without exception.

Parents should teach their child from an early age the rules of personal hygiene to minimize the risk of infection.

Preventive measures are simple and accessible to all, while allowing you to completely (or almost completely) eliminate the risk of helminth infestation. However, doctors recommend that at-risk groups perform additional drug prophylaxis, even if all necessary measures are taken. Medications are also taken as directed by a doctor if an infection is suspected or worms are found during diagnosis.

Rules for prevention of helminthiasis:

1. Buy meat and fish products in certain places. Vendors must have a quality certificate and a health certificate.
2. Cook enough food. Follow the rules for salting, canning and marinating.
3. Drink boiled tap or filtered water.
4. Wash vegetables and fruits under running water before use. Greens can first be rinsed in soapy water and then rinsed with clean water. Strawberries are dipped in 1% soda solution. After the fruits are washed thoroughly with running water. Vegetables heavily contaminated with fertilizers are recommended to first soak in a weak iodine solution (not more than 0, 3%).
5. Follow the rules of personal hygiene. Wash hands with soap and water after using the toilet, outdoors, gardening, after any contact with animals, including pets.
6. Clean the area regularly with disinfectants, especially the bathrooms and kitchen.
7. Deworming of pets on a veterinarian's schedule (usually 1-2 times a year).
8. In case of enterobiosis, pay special attention to the hygiene of the hands and nails, wash the child at night and in the morning, change the linen and bed linen every time, which are pre-ironed with an iron. This prevents re-infection.
9. It is important to lead a healthy lifestyle to strengthen and maintain your immune system. Rational nutrition, regular physical activity, proper stress response and rejection of bad habits will reduce the risk of parasite infestation.
10. Chemoprophylaxis 1-2 times a year according to the scheme prescribed by the doctor.

Worm medicines are taken in pill form.This is a chemoprophylaxis aimed at destroying parasites that may have entered the body but did not have time to cause a reaction from the internal organs.

They have an anthelmintic effectpumpkin seeds.Before eating the seeds can be chopped and mixed with a little honey. The daily dose for adults is 300 grams, for children, depending on age. Up to 4 years - 80 grams, up to 7 years - 100 grams, up to 10 years - 150 grams, up to 15 years - 200 grams. After 3 hours it is taken as a laxative.

Prevention of helminthiasis consists in strengthening the immune system, compliance with the rules of personal hygiene and culinary processing of products. By following simple rules, we can prevent worm infections. Annual chemoprophylaxis helps our immune system cope with the foreign attack.

Talk to your doctor before taking an anthelmintic. The specialist will choose the right medicine for you and will give recommendations on the treatment regimen. Uncontrolled intake can not only be useless, but also harm your health. Remember this.

An excellent alternative to pills are worm herbs.