To date, scientists know about 400 species of various helminths. They are capable of parasitizing in almost all organs and systems of a person, causing a huge number of diseases.
Worms are afraid of cleanliness, so the main prevention is to follow basic hygiene rules
According to statistics, parasites inhabit the body of every fourth person on our planet, and almost everyone encounters a species at least once in their life. Worm prevention remains one of the most pressing issues in modern medicine. What means can be used to prevent parasites from entering the human body?
General information
Depending on the way the prevention of helminthic diseases is carried out, there can be the following types:
- non-drugs;
- medical or traditional;
- folk remedies.
It is difficult to say which of these directions is optimal in the fight against worms. They all complement each other, so that the best effect is seen only with an integrated approach.
Drug-free methods
By following fairly simple rules, you can prevent invasive forms of worms from swallowing into your body. The latter can enter the human body in the following ways:
- dirty food or hands;
- when you eat food that has not undergone proper heat treatment;
- when you drink non-standard water, or water from unverified sources.
It is recommended to wash your hands with soap and water several times a day, after coming from the street or interacting with pets.
Therefore, nonspecific worm prevention consists of the following points:
- compliance with the rules of personal hygiene;
- regular change of bed linen;
- timely cleaning in the house;
- proper food handling before consumption;
- use of water that meets sanitary and hygienic standards, only from verified sources.
Children are considered to be neglecting the rules of personal hygiene. But this phenomenon is not uncommon for adults. Regular hand washing should be mandatory before meals, after using the toilet, when returning home from public places. Door handles, handrails, banknotes and all types of surfaces that a person touches can be contaminated with parasite eggs.
They enter the body through the mouth. In this way geohelminths are transmitted - roundworms, pinworms, whip, nectar, hookworm, intestinal eel. Biohelminths, which need an intermediate host for full development and reproduction, enter the body when they eat food that has undergone poor heat treatment.
For an adult who actively consumes sushi, poorly processed salted and smoked fish, steaks with blood, the likelihood of infection with tapeworms increases. They are considered the longest and most dangerous of all helminths that can inhabit the human body.
When traveling to exotic countries, you have to be extremely careful and cautious. Use only bottled water for drinking. If this is not possible, drinking and cooking water must be boiled. You can use special preparations designed for water purification. Wash vegetables and fruits well. When eating local dishes, you must choose those that have undergone good heat treatment.
In the house where only adults live, wet cleaning should be carried out at least once a week, in the children's room - twice. Soft toys should be vacuumed, the rest washed in soapy water.
Pets should be periodically examined by a veterinarian and then given worm medications. If the patient adheres to these recommendations, it is quite possible that he will not need treatment with tablets.
Medical prevention
As for the prevention of worms by pharmacological drugs, here scientists are divided into two large groups. The former believe that tablet 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 believes that by using rather toxic drugs to prevent worms a man does more harm to his body. This tactic is like shooting a cannon at a flock of sparrows.
Since earthworm tablets are still pharmacological agents, have certain indications and contraindications for use, and have a number of side effects, they should be used only with a high probability of worm infection. It can be suspected in such cases:
- contact with an infected patient - at home, in kindergarten, school;
- the presence of free-range pets;
- the presence of clinical signs of disease with negative laboratory test results.
The latter case deserves special attention. Very often, doctors, taking into account the patient's complaints, suspect that he has parasites, and the results of laboratory tests remain negative. In such cases, doctors recommend the so-called. prophylactic treatment against worms. The main symptoms are:
- general weakness;
- weakness;
- irritability;
- sleep disorder;
- problems with intellectual activity;
- cutaneous manifestations of unknown origin;
- Iron deficiency anemia.
The presence of a complex of these symptoms is an indication for the appointment of traditional medicine for the prevention of worms.
Folk ways
Traditional medicine also offers many prophylactic remedies against helminths. Compared to traditional treatment with tablets, folk remedies for worms have a number of advantages. First of all, they are relatively safe for the human body. Prevention and treatment with folk remedies against worms are rarely accompanied by side effects, and usually give a good result.
The relative cheapness makes them available to the absolute majority of the population of our country, and their relative safety allows them to be used as prophylactic agents against worms.
Tansy has a paralytic effect on earthworms. It is especially effective as a prophylactic agent against pinworms and roundworms. These worms do not have any adaptations that would help them stay in the body. To prepare the infusion of tansy, pour a tablespoon of raw materials with a glass of boiling water, insist one hour. After that, the infusion should be filtered and drunk in the course, one tablespoon three times a day, before meals.
Wormwood is effective against tapeworms, roundworms and lamblia. For treatment and prevention, an alcoholic tincture is used, which is taken 20 drops three times a day half an hour before meals.
Another effective remedy is pomegranate. The peel of one fruit is boiled with 0, 5 liters of boiling water. The resulting product must be drunk within 1, 5 hours. After 3 hours it is necessary to take laxative tablets.
It is recommended to use birch tar as a prophylactic against lamblia. To do this, you must drink it for 14 days. On the first day, one drop of tar is dissolved in a teaspoon of honey. Then one drop is added every day, bringing the number to eight. Such courses may be held no more than once every six months.
Two tablespoons of pumpkin seeds should be mixed with cranberry juice. The drug must be taken on an empty stomach, and after three hours take a laxative. It is also used against roundworms and tapeworms.
Recommendations
Both tablets and folk remedies for the treatment of worms should be taken only under the supervision of a specialist. The final decision on the appropriateness of parasite prophylaxis must be made by the attending physician. He will inform you about what anthelmintics exist and will help you choose the method that will be optimal in each case.