To date, scientists know about 400 species of various helminths. They are capable of parasitizing almost all organs and systems of a person, causing a huge number of diseases.
Worms are afraid of cleanliness, therefore, the main prevention is to observe basic hygiene rules
According to statistics, parasites inhabit the body of every fourth person on our planet, and almost everyone encounters some species at least once in their life. Prevention of worms remains one of the most pressing issues of modern medicine. What means can be used to prevent the ingress 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-drug;
- medicinal, or traditional;
- folk remedies.
It is difficult to say which of these directions is optimal in the fight against worms. All of them complement each other, so the best effect is observed only with an integrated approach.
Non-drug methods
Observing fairly simple rules, you can prevent the ingestion of invasive forms of worms into the body. The latter can enter the human body in the following ways:
- with dirty food or hands;
- when eating food that has not undergone proper heat treatment;
- when drinking substandard water, or water from unverified sources.
Several times a day, after coming from the street or interacting with pets, it is recommended to wash your hands with soap and water.
Therefore, non-specific prevention of worms consists in the following points:
- compliance with the rules of personal hygiene;
- regular linen change;
- timely cleaning in the house;
- proper handling of food before consumption;
- drinking water that meets sanitary and hygienic standards, only from trusted sources.
It is believed that the rules of personal hygiene are neglected by children. But this phenomenon is not uncommon for adults. Regular hand washing should be a must before eating, after using the toilet, when returning home from public places. Doorknobs, handrails, banknotes, and all kinds 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, whipworm, nekator, 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-quality 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 need to be extremely careful and careful. Use only bottled water for drinking. If this is not possible, water for drinking and cooking must be boiled. You can use special preparations designed for water purification. Wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly. When eating local dishes, you need to choose those that have undergone good heat treatment.
In a house where only adults live, wet cleaning should be carried out at least once a week, in a children's room - twice. Soft toys should be vacuumed, the rest should be washed in soapy water.
Pets should be examined periodically by a veterinarian followed by medication for worms. If the patient adheres to these recommendations, it is quite possible that he will not need treatment with pills.
Medical prevention
As for the prevention of worms with pharmacological drugs, here the scientists were divided into two large groups. The former believe that prophylaxis with pills is safe, effective and should be carried out 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 rather toxic drugs for the prevention of worms, a person harms his body more. This tactic is like firing a cannon at a flock of sparrows.
Considering that tablets for worms are still pharmacological agents, have certain indications and contraindications for use, and also have a number of side effects, they should be used only with a high probability of worm infestation. It can be suspected in such cases:
- contact with an infected patient - at home, in kindergarten, school;
- the presence of pets that are free-range;
- the presence of clinical signs of the disease with negative laboratory 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;
- malaise;
- irritability;
- sleep disturbance;
- problems with intellectual activity;
- skin manifestations of unknown origin;
- Iron-deficiency anemia.
The presence of a complex of these symptoms is an indication for the appointment of a traditional medicine for the prevention of worms.
Folk ways
Traditional medicine also offers a lot of prophylactic agents against helminths. Compared to traditional pill treatment, 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 is rarely accompanied by undesirable phenomena, and they 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 worms. 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 an infusion of tansy, pour a tablespoon of raw materials with a glass of boiling water, insist for one hour. After that, the infusion must be filtered and drunk in a course, one tablespoon three times a day, before meals.
Wormwood is effective against tapeworms, roundworms and lamblia. For treatment and prevention, alcohol tincture is used, which is taken 20 drops three times a day half an hour before meals.
Another effective remedy is pomegranate. The rind of one fruit is brewed with 0. 5 liters of boiling water. The resulting product must be drunk within 1. 5 hours. After 3 hours, you need to take laxative tablets.
It is recommended to use birch tar as a prophylactic agent against lamblia. To do this, you need to drink it in a course of 14 days. On the first day, one drop of tar is dissolved in a spoonful of honey. Then one drop is added every day, bringing the number to eight. Such courses can be held no more than once every six months.
Two tablespoons of pumpkin seeds should be mixed with lingonberry juice. The remedy must be drunk on an empty stomach, and after three hours, take a laxative. It is used against both roundworms and tapeworms.
Recommendations
Both pills and folk remedies for the treatment of worms should be taken only under the supervision of specialists. The final decision on the appropriateness of prophylaxis against parasites should be made by the attending physician. He will inform you about what means against worms exist, and will help you choose the method that will be optimal in each case.