Worms in humans are a rather unpleasant phenomenon that may not appear for a long time. Parasitic worms are scientifically called helminths. Human infection is called helminthiasis. This happens as a result of eggs of worms falling into our body. Contrary to popular belief that hookworms are purely a childhood disease, adults are also susceptible to severe parasite attacks. Scientists have estimated that every fourth person on earth is a carrier of this disease.
Where can they live?
Adult helminths move around the body until they settle in the organs that are most suitable for them. The eggs of the parasites enter the intestine and settle there. This is the most common location. It is easy to find worms in the intestines and remove them.
In second place in popularity among worms is the liver. Next are the lungs. There are very rare forms of the disease in which the worms enter the eyeballs and muscles.
Classification
Human worms are classified according to their location. There are luminal and tissue types.
Cloth- these are those that live in organs. They can cause the following diseases:
paragonimosis – this is a type of infection of the lung tissue by worms;echinococcosis – damage to the liver;cysticercosis – brain;filariasis - lymph nodes.
The second type of human worms isshining. This is the most common type of disease that affects the intestines. Worms can be completely different: hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, whipworms, tapeworms, pinworms and others.
Stages of development
Worms in an adult can appear from completely different sources. In order for the parasite to start developing in the body, it must enter through the mouth. Worm eggs can be found in raw meat, untreated tank water or on dirty hands. In this form, they enter the oral cavity, then the stomach, and then are absorbed by the intestines.
Already in the stomach, the larva hatches from the egg, which begins its journey through the human body until it finds an ideal environment for further development. If these are intestinal parasites, then you don't have to move far. If it is pulmonary or cerebral, then the larva will move through the blood stream until it settles in the right place.
At the third stage of development, the larva turns into an adult helminth that feeds on vitamins and minerals intended for the human body. The parasite lays eggs again and multiplies at a very high rate.
The time frame for the implementation of all stages is from several hours to several days. During this period, it is important to choose a good worm medicine for a person.
Symptoms
There are not always clear signs of worms in humans. Symptoms may appear only during certain periods of the disease or not at all. When an adult lives in the body, it is extremely difficult to notice, because the disease can be mistaken for any other disease. Helminths can be detected randomly by examination of feces.
To visualize what happens in the body, consider the example of the life cycle of a roundworm. This type of worm likes to travel, and in the process of moving around the body, it can spread itself.
The cause of infection with roundworms can be the consumption of unwashed vegetables and fruits. The parasite lays eggs on the ground and they can easily fall on plants.
After the egg of the worm enters the mouth and stomach, it begins to grow and turn into a larva, which very quickly (within 2-3 hours) enters the circulatory system and begins to move through the small blood stream. Its target is the lungs.
In the lung tissue, the larva grows until it becomes an adult, which will have little space and will have to eat the cells of the alveoli and small bronchi. At this stage, the first symptoms appear, and if the diagnosis is made correctly, then the medicine for worms will quickly help a person get rid of them.
The patient begins to cough, there are attacks of shortness of breath, the body temperature rises. In rare cases, an allergic rash appears. This is how worms manifest themselves in humans. Symptoms and treatment will depend on the stage of development, as all these signs can be mistaken for a common cold.
After the adult has chewed its way through the respiratory tract and into the mouth, it will lay eggs for the human to swallow again and they will enter the gastrointestinal tract, where the cycle begins again.
Phases of the disease
Symptoms of worms in an adult will be different depending on the stage of the disease. There can be two of them:
- Sharp
- Acquired.
The first phase occurs in the first days after infection as the larvae travel through the body. A person may experience itching, reddened skin and rashes. There may be a dry barking cough with attacks of suffocation. If you donate blood for tests, the result will show a significant increase in eosinophils.
The transition to the second phase shows that the human worms have settled in the right place and exist quietly without disturbing anyone. This is a hidden stage that may not appear even for a few years.
The medicine for worms in humans will help get rid of them only if an infection is accidentally found. Men and women should carefully listen to their bodies. During the months that people feed on parasites, the general condition of the body will change. Metabolism suffers first. After all, the peculiarity of helminths is that by attaching to the walls of the organs, they suck all the nutrients and minerals from the cells, as a result of which the functionality of the affected areas is disturbed.
What could be the consequences?
There are parasites that cause dangerous conditions in the body. For example, the presence of trichinella or schistosoma leads to anemia and vitamin deficiency.
Remember that worms also release their metabolic products into the human intestine, which leads to the development of dysbacteriosis and excessive reproduction of opportunistic organisms.
The immune system suffers. She becomes weaker and allergies appear. A person becomes susceptible to viral attacks and falls ill more often.
If human worms are not treated, the consequences can be unpredictable. Each type of parasite affects different organs and they are the first to suffer. If the liver is damaged, jaundice may develop. Hookworm leads to anemia, because this type of helminth feeds exclusively on blood. So the most important thing at any stage is to choose a worm medicine for a person.
Diagnosis
Just two tests can save a life. This is a general blood and stool test. With an annual medical examination, the risks of missing a disease are minimal.
There will be the following changes in the blood: leukocytosis - a shift of the leukocyte formula to the right and an increase in the number of eosinophils.
Worms in human feces are the surest and fastest way to find them. You must take the test fresh, then the result will be correct.
Tablets to prevent worms in humans
Medicines can be divided into two groups: those that have a broad spectrum of action, and those that kill a certain type of helminths. Since there are more than 70 types of worms that infect humans, it is impossible to determine without examination which parasite got inside. Deworming tablets for humans must be prescribed by a doctor.
In medicine, all worms are divided into three groups:
- nematodes;
- cestodes;
- trematodes.
Treatment will depend on what type of helminth inhabits the body.
Nematodes (roundworms)
This species includes: pinworms, roundworms, trichinella, whipworm and hookworm. In children and adults, the first two representatives are most common.
Cestodes (tapeworms)
Cestodes are a huge number of representatives of helminths. The most common are taeniarhynchosis, coenurosis, alveococcosis, sparganosis, broad tapeworm, etc.
Trematodes (flatworms)
Representatives of this class can be listed for a very long time. Most often, the organism is affected by opisthorchosis (cat moth), fascioliasis, clonorchiasis (Chinese moth), lung moth, etc.
How to take deworming tablets
Regardless of what type of helminth has settled in the body of an adult or a child, remember the main and most important rule: if a worm is found in one family member, then everyone must be treated. It is necessary to disinfect all objects in the house. If you have pets, you should check them first, as our pets could be the source of the problem.
All anthelmintic drugs work on adults without affecting eggs and larvae. Therefore, the second rule is: two weeks after taking the drug, the course must be repeated. This is especially true in cases of pinworm infection. These parasites are so cunning that they leave the larvae outside the body and a person can become infected again.
It is recommended to take the tablets in the morning and do a cleansing enema in the evening.
Be careful! All medications should be taken as prescribed by a doctor. This is especially true in cases of infection with flatworms and tapeworms. They are so dangerous that treatment is carried out in a hospital. When removing them, the dosage must be strictly observed, taking into account the weight and age of the patient, since the drugs are very toxic. Self-medication in such cases is unacceptable!
Preventing worms
The debate among mothers about whether or not they should take worm prevention pills never ends. Some believe that this is a good way to protect against dangerous consequences, since children are most susceptible to infection. Others consider it unnecessary and do not want to burden the body with pills that are not necessary.
Very often children of school and preschool age are affected by pinworms. The test for enterobiosis can be falsely negative, and then the sick child, bringing parasites into the house or school, can infect everyone. Transmission of pinworm eggs occurs through household items, handshakes, pet hair, doorknobs and other surrounding objects.
The main methods of prevention include observing the rules of personal hygiene. It is necessary to wash your hands with soap after defecation, before eating, after going out on the street or visiting public places.
What to do if the child complains of itching in the anus? This is one of the most pronounced symptoms of a pinworm infection. In this case, you should be examined for enterobiosis as quickly as possible. Let's say a child complains in the evening, and in the morning you have to run to the clinic.
If the result of the first scraping is negative and the itching continues, then the test should be repeated after two days for one week and then after another two weeks.
If one of the following statements applies to you, then you should take preventive measures:
- presence of furry pets;
- permanent games in the sandbox or on the ground;
- travel to an exotic country;
- the father is an avid fisherman or hunter.
Folk recipes
Let's look at how to remove worms from a person at home. Recipes against helminths have been known since ancient times. And despite the fact that they are successfully replaced by synthetic substances, the folk method remains proven for prevention.
Let's look at the most effective recipes:
Onion, honey, aloe juice. Onions are considered the most versatile tool. It has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anthelmintic effects. Mix it in equal proportions with aloe juice and honey and get a real remedy against worms. Take 1 teaspoon before breakfast for several days. Due to the fact that the product is sweet, children are likely to drink it.Carrot juice. Fresh carrots contain not only a whole storehouse of vitamins, but also have an anthelmintic effect. By drinking it on an empty stomach, you can enrich your body with energy for the whole day and at the same time prevent an unpleasant illness.Garlic – one of the most effective means against worms. Let's look at recipes on how you can remove worms from a person at home:- Finely chop or press the garlic. Roll out the resulting pulp in small portions in cheesecloth so that it looks like a candle. Place in the anus at night for 10 days. This medicine is effective against pinworms and is used for adults and children.
- Garlic enemas. Another way to remove unpleasant neighbors from the intestines. The solution should consist of water and minced garlic in proportion. For one glass you need to take several cloves. Repeat the procedure 2 times a week.
- Garlic with honey. Another option for children's medicine. To prevent garlic from burning, it is mixed with natural honey. Take 1 tsp twice a day.
- Garlic in milk. For lovers of unusual tastes, a medicine based on milk is offered. There are five crushed cloves of garlic per liter of cow product. The mixture is boiled and taken in small portions before going to bed.
Herbal infusions
From time immemorial, all medicines have been prepared with herbs. Mother Nature knows better than anyone how to get rid of worm parasites. It is time to systematize this knowledge.
To prepare an herbal remedy, you need to choose bitter plants, such as cloves, wormwood, thyme, yarrow and cumin. Ready infusions should be taken every day. Complete purification of the body will take a month, but the improvement occurs after 2-3 weeks of the course.
Let's look at the most famous recipes for herbal tinctures for the treatment of helminths:
Based on the tansy. Pour the grass with boiling water in the following ratio: 100 grams of dry mixture per 150 ml of hot water. Cover with a lid and let it sit for 8-10 hours. You should take 30 drops dissolved in a glass of water.Based on wormwood. This herb should be infused in alcohol for a week. Proportion 1: 1. For 100 grams of grass, 100 ml of alcohol. Take 25 drops dissolved in a glass of water.- Effective
tincture on walnut shells. It must be filled with alcohol per 100 grams of dry product and 150 ml of "fire" water. Based on cloves. Dry, unopened clove tree buds are used for the tincture. Pour 100 grams of aromatic spice with a cup of boiling water and let it stand for at least 3 days. The daily dose of the drug is 30 drops per glass of water.
Pumpkin seeds against worms
Pumpkin seeds are safe for both children and adults. This is a very popular folk remedy against helminths. Let's take a look at how to remove worms from humans using this product.
What is the secret? The fact is that the shell of the pumpkin seeds contains a substance such as cucurbin, which is destructive to worms. Therefore, you should only consume unshelled green seeds.
Cucurbin does not kill the worms, it just paralyzes them. Adults lose the ability to move, cling to body cells and suck out nutrients, meaning they will soon die naturally and be expelled through the human anus.
The most effective recipe is with pumpkin seeds and castor oil. One serving of 100 unshelled seeds should be eaten in the morning. Then take one teaspoon of castor oil. The latter has a laxative effect to remove parasites from the body.
Mix pumpkin and honey. First you need to grind the seeds to a pulp in a blender, then add a little honey. Eat muesli in the morning on an empty stomach. The course of treatment is several days. It is desirable to repeat after 2 weeks.
Another healthy snack is pumpkin seeds and garlic. First, the grains are fried in a pan without fat and water until red. The mixture is then poured into a blender, garlic is added and ground into a paste. Leave it overnight and take one tablespoon of the mixture in the morning.