Worms are parasites belonging to the group of helminths. Existing in the body of mammals, fish and humans, they feed on the "host", harming the body by reducing the nutritional value of food, excreting waste products, reducing immunity and increasing susceptibility to allergens. Over the history of the fight against helminthiases, mankind has invented many methods of treatment. We consider the effectiveness of these methods, the effect of prevention in the form of regular intake of pills for worms and separate the truth from fiction.
Worms: parasites that are harmful to health
Although in nature there are symbiont parasites that exist at the expense of the host, but bring not only harm, but also benefit to the main body, worms are parasites, whose presence in the body significantly impairs health. In terms of the degree of damage, helminthiases are compared with diseases such as tuberculosis, coronary heart disease and chronic diarrhea.
Worms are parasites that, even at the initial stage of helminthiasis, can cause disruptions in the functioning of the digestive system, immunity, and allergic reactions. With the development of the disease, anemia, varieties of deficiency conditions are noted due to the consumption of nutrients, vitamins, minerals by helminths, which enter the human body with food.
The group of worms, parasites, helminths, include roundworms, pinworms, nematodes, toxocaras. In terms of the spread of helminthiases, they are compared with infectious diseases, second only to influenza. And the presence of helminths in the body against the background of an acute infectious process can significantly complicate recovery, prolong the disease.
Severe helminthiases also affect reproductive function, can be the cause of infertility, the birth of children with developmental disabilities. The spread of worms throughout the body becomes the cause of a person's disability.
The prevalence of helminths is most often explained by non-observance of hygiene rules ("disease of dirty hands"), the quality of living conditions, and pollution of the territories around livestock farms, both personal and commercial. Failure to comply with sanitary and hygienic standards: processing food, hands, surfaces in public places creates in our climatic conditions a favorable environment for the reproduction of helminths and their transmission from one carrier to another.
Children and the elderly are most susceptible to parasitic diseases due to reduced immune defense. Children also have not yet formed the habit of washing their hands, but there is an instinct to examine everything with the mouth, as well as the need to bite their nails and suck their fingers.
Myths and reality: on the treatment and prevention of the disease "helminthiasis"
The existence of various "home", alternative methods of treating helminthiasis, mankind owes to the opinion that it is "shameful" to visit a doctor with such a diagnosis. Therefore, having learned about the presence of worms from the test results or suspecting helminthiasis in themselves by general symptoms, people often try to avoid consulting a specialist by buying "pills for worms" in pharmacies or resorting to "folk" methods of treatment.
Self-diagnosis is often based on false indications and attempts at treatment are harmful to health. One of the common myths says that night bruxism, teeth grinding in a dream, is an indisputable sign of the presence of worms in the body, parasites that contribute to restless sleep. This version has not found any confirmation in the course of scientific research, most often the cause of bruxism is stress and dysfunctions of the nervous system. And "to be treated for worms" in this case does not make any sense.
Let's look at some of the common alternative treatments for helminthiasis.
Eating a large amount of greens rich in aromatic substances: parsley, dill, celery, cilantro does not have any effect on helminths and other groups of parasites living in the body and on the surface of the body. In the same way, helminths are indifferent to vegetables, fruits, orange berries, which are also credited with healing properties. An increased amount of vitamins, supplied with large amounts of greens or pumpkin, sea buckthorn, carrots, persimmons, can improve the general condition for a while, but not cure helminthiasis. But hypervitaminosis and indigestion in those who are fond of this method of therapy are quite common. Not to mention the possibility of additional infection when using poorly washed herbs: in order to get rid of the eggs of the worms, the greens must be thoroughly washed several times before eating.
Various types of bowel lavage, intestinal enemas with lemon or garlic juice promise instant relief from parasites. However, the cavity of the small intestine, the habitat of helminths, is not available for enemas and Esmarch mugs. The consequences of such a pseudoscientific method is not a cure for helminthiasis, but a violation of the intestinal microflora with regular enemas and, as a result, the erosion of its mucous surface when using caustic juices.
Dangers of self-prescribing tablets for worms
If folk remedies do not help, then it is necessary to resort to medications. Tablets for worms, remedies that cure helminthiases, are quite common and are freely sold in pharmacies.
However, it is worth remembering that helminthiasis and other parasitoses are quite large, and, despite the existence of combined action drugs, there is no single "worm pill". For different types of helminths, different medicines are produced.
Moreover, drugs for helminthiasis are quite toxic and have a number of contraindications, both in terms of general health and for age periods or physiological conditions (pregnancy at different periods). The selection of a suitable drug is carried out by a specialist who takes into account all factors, the degree of infection. In some cases, a course of treatment is needed that combines several medications, additional medications to support the body during treatment, and prevention of the most likely complications.
Prevention of helminthiasis in the form of regular antiparasitic drugs, which some people, especially pet breeders, follow, can do more harm than the initial stage of the disease. The action of anthelmintic drugs is based on the poisoning of parasites, but they are toxic to humans, and they should not be taken "just in case, for prevention".