So far, scientists know about 400 species of various helminths. They are capable of parasitizing almost every organ and system in a person, causing a large number of illnesses.
Worms are afraid of cleaning, so the main prevention is to observe basic hygiene rules
According to statistics, parasites inhabit the bodies of every four people on our planet, and almost everyone encounters some species at least once in their lifetime. Worm prevention remains one of the most pressing issues in modern medicine. What means can be used to prevent the entry of parasites into the human body?
General information
Depending on the means by which the prevention of helminthic diseases is carried out, it can be of the following types:
- non-medicated;
- medicinal or traditional;
- folk remedies.
It's hard to say which of these directions is ideal in fighting worms. They all complement each other, so the best effect is only seen with an integrated approach.
non-drug methods
By following very simple rules, you can avoid ingesting invasive forms of worms into your body. The latter can enter the human body in the following ways:
- with food or dirty hands;
- when eating foods that have not undergone adequate heat treatment;
- when drinking substandard water, or water from unverified sources.
Several times a day, after leaving the street or interacting with pets, it is recommended to wash your hands with soap and water.
Therefore, non-specific worm prevention consists of the following points:
- compliance with personal hygiene standards;
- regular change of linen;
- timely house cleaning;
- proper handling of food before consumption;
- use water that meets sanitary and hygienic standards, only from reliable sources.
It is believed that personal hygiene rules are neglected by children. But this phenomenon is not uncommon for adults. Regular hand washing should be a must before eating, after using the restroom, when returning home from public places. Knobs, handrails, notes and all kinds of surfaces a person touches can be contaminated with parasite eggs.
They enter the body through the mouth. In this way, geohelminths are transmitted - roundworms, moths, whipworms, nekator, hookworms, intestinal eel. Biohelminths, which need an intermediate host for full development and reproduction, enter the body when they eat foods that have undergone low-quality heat treatment.
For an adult who actively consumes sushi, poorly processed salty and smoked fish, bloody steaks, the likelihood of tapeworm infection increases. They are considered the longest and most dangerous of all helminths that can inhabit the human body.
When traveling to exotic countries, you need to be extremely careful and careful. Use only bottled water for drinking. If this is not possible, the water for drinking and cooking must be boiled. You can use special preparations designed for water purification. Wash vegetables and fruits well. When eating local dishes, you need to choose those that have undergone a good heat treatment.
In a house where adults only live, wet cleaning should be carried out at least once a week, in the children's room - twice. The soft toys must be vacuumed, the rest must be washed with soap and water.
Pets should undergo periodic examinations by a veterinarian, followed by medication for worms. If the patient follows these recommendations, it is quite possible that they do not need pill treatment.
medical prevention
As for the prevention of worms with pharmacological drugs, here the scientists were divided into two large groups. The former believe that pill prophylaxis is safe, effective, and should be performed regularly. This applies to both adults and children. The second group opposes the use of pills for prophylactic purposes. She is of the opinion that, by using very toxic drugs to prevent worms, one does more harm to the body. This tactic is like firing a cannon at a flock of sparrows.
Considering that worm pills are still drugs, they have certain indications and contraindications for use, in addition to a series of side effects, they should only be used with a high probability of worm infestation. One can suspect in such cases:
- contact with an infected patient - at home, in kindergarten, at school;
- the presence of free-range pets;
- the presence of clinical signs of the disease with negative laboratory test results.
The last case deserves special attention. Often, doctors, taking into account the patient's complaints, suspect that the patient has parasites, and the results of laboratory tests remain negative. In such cases, doctors recommend so-called prophylactic treatment against worms. The main symptoms are:
- general weakness;
- malaise;
- irritability;
- sleep disorders;
- problems with intellectual activity;
- cutaneous manifestations of unknown origin;
- Iron deficiency anemia.
The presence of a complex of these symptoms is an indication for consulting a traditional medicine for the prevention of worms.
popular ways
Traditional medicine also offers many prophylactic agents against helminths. Compared to traditional pill treatment, folk remedies for worms have several advantages. First, they are relatively safe for the human body. Prevention and treatment with folk remedies against worms are rarely accompanied by undesirable phenomena and usually give good results.
Their relative low cost makes them available to the absolute majority of the population of our country, and their relative safety allows them to be used as prophylactics against worms.
Tansy has a paralytic effect on worms. It is especially effective as a prophylactic agent against worms and roundworms. These worms have no adaptations that help them stay in the body. To prepare a tansy infusion, pour a tablespoon of raw material with a glass of boiling water, insist for an hour. After that, the infusion should be filtered and drunk in one course, one tablespoon three times a day, before meals.
Absinthe is effective against worms, roundworms and lamblia. For treatment and prevention, the tincture of alcohol is used, which is ingested 20 drops three times a day, half an hour before meals.
Another effective remedy is pomegranate. The skin of a fruit is fermented with 0. 5 liters of boiling water. The resulting product should be drunk within 1, 5 hours. After 3 hours you need to take laxative tablets.
Birch tar is recommended as a prophylactic agent against lamblia. To do this, you need to drink it in a 14-day course. On the first day, a drop of tar is dissolved in a spoon of honey. Then, one drop is added each day, bringing the number to eight. These courses can be taken at most once every six months.
Two tablespoons of pumpkin seeds should be mixed with blueberry juice. The medicine should be drunk on an empty stomach and, after three hours, taken with a laxative. It is used against roundworms and worms.
Recommendations
Both pills and folk remedies for the treatment of worms should only be taken under expert supervision. The final decision on the adequacy of prophylaxis against parasites should be made by the treating physician. It will inform you about the means available against worms and help you choose the most suitable method for each case.