Infection with intestinal forms of worms is the most common type of parasitic disease. It is believed that in one form or another more than 90% of the world's population is infected with helminths, although this view has not been scientifically confirmed. Most helminthiasis affects children who ignore the basic rules of personal hygiene. However, the presence of parasitic worms in the intestines of adults is not uncommon.
Symptoms and signs of infection
In modern medicine there are certain ideas about what symptoms indicate a helminthic lesion. In reality, however, the clinical picture of helminthiasis is extremely rare in its full form. Much more often the disease is latent and its symptoms are not specific enough to be associated with worms.
The pathological influence of worms is due to several mechanisms:
- mechanical damage to the intestinal walls;
- toxic effect of waste products from parasites;
- the absorption of some of the substances necessary for the human body that come with food;
- obstruction of the liver ducts, intestinal lumen (lumps of worms).
As a rule, helminths do not collect in lumps and are located longitudinally in the intestinal lumen. Acute intestinal obstruction develops only with improper treatment, when the disturbed but not destroyed parasites begin to move actively, become entangled and form volumetric complexes of their own bodies.
Helminthiasis has the following set of symptoms:
- nausea;
- weakness;
- dizziness;
- vomiting;
- headache;
- diarrhea;
- weight loss;
- itching in the anus;
- regional lymphadenitis;
- joint pain;
- hidden blood in the stool;
- signs of inflammation in the small intestine;
- stomach ache.
Some types of helminths can affect the bladder and cause hematuria (blood in the urine), penetrating the liver, lungs, muscles and brain. When the lungs are affected, the patient has a debilitating cough, sometimes sputum with blood.
Worms in children usually lead to reduced growth and mental development, make the child nervous and restless. Pinworms crawling from the anus to lay eggs cause severe itching at night and in the evening (the period of greatest worm activity).
Types of parasites
There are 3 main types of worms in the human body: round, tapeworms and flatworms.
roundworms
The most prominent representatives of the parasite species are pinworms and roundworms. Infection with these helminths accounts for 80% of all helminthiasis detected in the former CIS countries.
These worms are of different sexes, have a relatively small body size (1-2 to several tens of centimeters), the infection occurs by fecal-oral route.
Tapeworm
They are the largest of all parasitic worms. The most famous members of the group, pork and beef tapeworms, can reach a length of 10-15 meters.
The reproduction of parasites takes place without the participation of the second individual. The eggs are released into the environment with the patient's stool.
flatworms
Small representatives of helminths, usually living in the bile and liver ducts.
Residents of endemic areas may not cause any symptoms of the disease for many years. When infecting a person who has not had contact with the parasite in the past, they lead to severe liver disease. May cause hepatitis, gallstone disease and other symptoms.
Echinococcus
Echinococcus is the only tapeworm that uses humans as an intermediate host.
In this case, the larvae of the parasite enter the bloodstream, spread throughout the body and settle in the tissues, after which they begin to grow. Echinococcal cysts form. In this case, worm tablets for humans or animals are practically useless. The Finns were removed immediately.
Worm tablets for adults
Most of today's anthelmintic drugs are based on one of three main substances: mebendazole, albendazole or levamisole.
based on mebendazole
Broad-spectrum drugs prescribed to patients suffering from enterobiosis, ascariasis, hookworm, trichuriasis, teniasis, echinococcosis and other helminthic infestations.
Side effects include:
- nausea;
- stomach pain;
- vomiting;
- headache;
- increase in the amount of liver enzymes in the blood.
Contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women, children under 2 years of age, people suffering from liver disease and alcohol dependence (during excessive drinking). Laxatives are not prescribed when prescribing these drugs.
Based on albendazole
The funds have a broad spectrum of action, allow you to achieve a therapeutic effect in ascariasis, enterobiosis, tapeworm infection and flat parasites. It is used to treat echinococcosis when surgical treatment is not possible.
The drugs are contraindicated in pregnancy, lactation, young children, with retinal pathology and non-helminthic liver lesions. Side effects include nausea, vomiting, and other signs of toxic syndrome that are common to almost all anthelmintic drugs.
Based on levamisole
Most effective in infestation with pinworms and roundworms. In other helminthic diseases, they also have the desired effect, but treatment may require a longer course than using analogues.
The drugs have immunostimulatory properties and can be used as such in moderate immunodeficiency.
Levamisole-based products are contraindicated in the following conditions:
- pregnancy;
- lactation;
- childhood;
- overeating alcoholism;
- liver disease;
- agranulocytosis.
Levamisole and its derivatives with long-term treatment can cause agranulocytosis, nausea, vomiting, depression, dermatitis, anorexia.
Tablets and suspensions for children
As a rule, the treatment of helminthiasis in children over 3-4 years of age can be carried out using the same drugs that are prescribed for adults. In this case, the dose of the drug should be adjusted according to the age of the child.
You should keep in mind that for easier administration, the suspension can be made from any tablet agent. To do this, the required amount of the drug is crushed to a powdery state, added to the required amount of drinking water and mixed well.
Self-made suspensions cannot be dosed in the same way as the factory-made dosage forms. The required amount of the drug is measured before preparing the suspension!
Folk recipes for worms
Answering questions about how to expel worms from a child or adult, one can not fail to mention folk remedies.
pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin seeds contain cucurbitin, a substance that has an adverse effect on worms. The tool is effective in almost all intestinal helminthiasis. Some sources claim that the action of cucurbitin extends to extraintestinal helminths.
Pumpkin seeds should be eaten raw. Heat treatment destroys the active substances in them. In addition, the removal of the bark is not recommended. It is better to crush the seeds in a blender together with the peel. For easier use, the mass can be poured with milk.
carrots
It is not necessary to use carrots as a stand-alone treatment for helminthiasis, as it is not effective enough. However, as a means of prevention, as well as an adjuvant in the presence of basic therapy, carrots are quite suitable.
You can use carrots in any form that does not require heat treatment. It is best for dishes that include vegetables to contain black pepper or hot spices (Korean-style carrots). The plant is given to children in raw, purified form.
underwear
You can remove the worms from the intestines with plain or black linen. Flax seeds can be used crushed and mixed with cinnamon. However, it is better if used in the form of infusion. To prepare it, 1-2 tablespoons of crushed seeds in a blender are poured into a glass of boiling water and allowed to infuse. After a few hours, the composition should be filtered and taken 100 ml twice a day on an empty stomach. The course of treatment is until the eggs of the parasites are no longer found in the feces.
Decoction of chamomile
Decoction of chamomile can be used in almost unlimited quantities. It does not have a direct anthelmintic effect, but promotes the healing of microcracks in the intestinal mucosa, which are formed as a result of the activity of helminths.
In addition, chamomile contains a huge amount of vitamins, natural immunostimulants and other nutrients.
Garlic
Garlic is one of the best anthelmintic plants. You can use it in its pure form, as well as mixed with milk. The mixture is prepared by squeezing 10-12 drops of garlic juice into a glass of warm boiled milk. It is necessary to drink garlic milk in the morning, on an empty stomach, for 1-2 weeks. In the future, garlic is recommended to prevent re-invasion and improve immunity.
Hemp and linseed oil
Hemp, flaxseed, sea buckthorn, cedar and other oils also have anthelmintic action.
When removing worms with folk remedies, the oil should be given 1 teaspoon twice a day, preferably on an empty stomach, shortly before meals. A relative contraindication to the use of this method is severe dyspepsia, accompanied by profuse diarrhea. Fixing agents must be taken before starting oil treatment.
tansy
Tansy is one of the most popular anthelmintic drugs, recognized by both folk and traditional medicine.
For the treatment of helminth infection the plant can be consumed in powder form (orally, 0, 7-1 g 1 time per day for a week) or in the form of an aqueous decoction. Also, inflorescences are part of many complex drugs (troychatka).
Tansy is strictly contraindicated for pregnant women and children under 12 years!
Threesome
The composition of the so-called "troychatka" includes 1 g of tansy, 0, 5 g of cloves and 0, 3 g of wormwood. All components are crushed to a powder and mixed. The mixture is allowed to be used inside in pure form. In this case, the dose of the drug should be increased gradually, starting from half 0, 7-0, 8 grams per day. For easier use, herbs can be mixed with food. The composition is taken for several months.
Pauline
Wormwood in the treatment of helminthiasis in adults is often used in the form of alcoholic tincture. To do this, the dried grass is crushed, the required amount of powder is measured and poured with vodka in a ratio of 1: 3. The tincture is ready for use after 2-3 weeks. It is necessary to take 30-50 grams on an empty stomach, twice a day.
In childhood, wormwood tincture is replaced by infusion, where pure drinking water is used instead of alcohol. The frequency and duration of administration do not change.
Recipes for worm enemas
Enemas for helminthiasis can remove parasites that have migrated to the rectum for reproduction. Enemas with garlic, soda and tansy are used.
Enema with garlic
Garlic decoction is used to apply the enema. A few cloves of the plant are flooded with water and boiled for 2-3 minutes. The garlic pulp is then removed, the broth is cooled, filtered and then injected into the rectum with a syringe.
Enemas with garlic are not given to children under 3 years of age. Also, this type of treatment is useless for tissue parasites, tapeworms localized in the liver ducts, tapeworms. The procedure is performed before bedtime. It is recommended to apply a cleansing enema in advance.
soda enema
The solution is prepared from a glass of water and 0, 5 teaspoons of baking soda. The powder is dissolved and boiled for five minutes. After the solution has cooled, it is filtered and injected into the rectum at bedtime.
There are no age restrictions here. To place an enema for very young children, its volume should be compared with the size of the child's body. The course of treatment consists of 6-7 procedures.
Enema with tansy
The solution is prepared from crushed tansy inflorescences. To do this, pour 2-3 tablespoons of powder with a glass of boiling water and insist for half an hour. The solution is then filtered through gauze and injected into the rectum. The course of treatment is 1-2 weeks.
Enema with tansy is contraindicated for children under 14 years!
Prevention
The basis for preventing worms is clean hands. Therefore, the child, as well as an adult, must follow the basic rules of personal hygiene.
The second basic principle of prevention is the annual medical examination with a mandatory examination of the stool for the presence of helminth eggs. Preventive courses of treatment are recommended only in the absence of contraindications and with the use of low-toxic agents. Otherwise, highly toxic drugs will do more harm than good!