Infection with intestinal forms of worms is the most common type of parasitic diseases. There is an opinion that in one form or another more than 90% of the world's population is infected with helminths, although this view has not received scientific confirmation. Helminthiasis mainly affects children who ignore the basic rules of personal hygiene. However, the presence of parasitic worms in the intestines of adults is not uncommon.
Symptoms and signs of infection
In modern medicine, there are certain ideas about the symptoms indicating a helminthic lesion. However, in reality, the clinical picture of helminthiasis is extremely rare in its full form. Much more often, the disease is latent, and its signs are not specific enough to associate them with worms.
The pathological influence of worms is due to several mechanisms:
- mechanical damage to the intestinal walls;
- toxic effect of parasite waste;
- the absorption of part of the substances necessary for the human body which accompany food;
- blockage of hepatic ducts, intestinal lumen (pieces of worms).
As a rule, helminths do not collect in pieces and are located longitudinally in the intestinal lumen. Acute intestinal obstruction develops only with improper treatment, when alarmed, but not destroyed, the parasites begin to actively move, become entangled and form volumetric complexes from their own bodies.
Helminthiasis has the following set of symptoms:
- nausea;
- weakness;
- dizziness;
- To vomit;
- headache;
- diarrhea;
- weightloss;
- itching in the anus;
- regional lymphadenitis;
- pain in the joints;
- occult blood in feces;
- signs of inflammation in the small intestine;
- abdominal pain.
Some types of helminths can affect the bladder and cause hematuria (blood in the urine), enter the liver, lungs, muscles and brain. When the lungs are affected, the patient has a debilitating cough, sometimes the sputum is separated with an admixture of blood.
Worms in children usually lead to a decrease in growth and mental development, make the child nervous and restless. Pinworms crawling out of the anus to lay eggs cause severe itching at night and in the evening (the period of greatest worm activity).
Types of Parasites
In the human body, 3 main types of worms parasitize: round, ribbon and flat.
roundworms
The most important representatives of parasite species are pinworms and roundworms. Infection with these helminths accounts for 80% of cases of all helminthiasis found on the territory of the former CIS countries.
These worms are of different sexes, have relatively small body sizes (from 1-2 to several tens of centimeters), infection occurs through the fecal-oral route.
Tapeworms
They are the largest of all parasitic worms. The most famous representatives of the group, pork and cattle tapeworms, can reach a length of 10-15 meters.
Reproduction of parasites occurs without the participation of the second individual. Eggs are excreted into the environment with the patient's faeces.
flatworms
Small representatives of helminths, living, as a rule, in the biliary and hepatic tracts.
Residents of endemic areas may show no symptoms of the disease for many years. In case of infection of a person who has not been in contact with the parasite in the past, they lead to serious liver diseases. May cause hepatitis, manifestations of gallstones and other symptoms.
Echinococcus
Echinococcus is the only tapeworm that uses humans as an intermediate host.
In this case, the larvae of the parasite enter the bloodstream, spread throughout the body and settle in the tissues, after which they begin to develop. Echinococcus cysts form. In this case, tablets from worms for humans or animals are practically useless. The Finns are expelled quickly.
Worm tablets for adults
The vast majority of popular anthelmintic drugs today are created on the basis of one of three main substances: mebendazole, albendazole or levamisole.
based on mebendazole
Broad-spectrum drugs prescribed to patients with enterobiosis, ascariasis, hookworm, trichocephalosis, taeniasis, echinococcosis and other helminthic invasions.
Side effects include:
- nausea;
- stomach ache;
- vomiting;
- headache;
- an increase in the amount of liver enzymes in the blood.
Contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women, children under 2 years old, people with liver disease and alcohol dependence (when excessive alcohol consumption). A laxative is not prescribed when prescribing these funds.
Based on albendazole
Means have a wide spectrum of action, allow you to achieve a therapeutic effect in ascariasis, enterobiasis, infection with tape and flat parasites. Used to treat echinococcosis when surgical treatment is not possible.
The drugs are contraindicated during pregnancy, lactation, young children, with pathology of the retina and non-helminthic lesions of the liver. Side effects include nausea, vomiting and other signs of a toxic syndrome, which are characteristic of almost all anthelmintic drugs.
Based on levamisole
Most effective when infected with pinworms and roundworms. In other diseases of a helminthic nature, they also have the necessary effect, however, treatment may require longer treatment than when using analogues.
The drugs have immunostimulating properties and can be used as such in case of moderate immunodeficiency.
Means based on levamisole are contraindicated in the following conditions:
- pregnancy;
- lactation;
- childhood;
- binge eating alcoholism;
- liver disease;
- agranulocytosis.
Levamisole and its derivatives during long-term therapy can cause agranulocytosis, nausea, vomiting, depression, dermatitis, anorexia.
Tablets and suspensions for children
As a rule, the treatment of helminthiasis in children over 3-4 years old can be carried out using the same drugs prescribed for adults. In this case, the dose of the drug should be adjusted depending on the age of the child.
You should know that for ease of administration, the suspension can be prepared from any agent in tablet form. To do this, the required amount of medicine is ground to a powder state, added to the required amount of drinking water and thoroughly mixed.
Self-prepared suspensions cannot be dosed in the same way as factory dosage forms. The required amount of medicine is measured before preparing the suspension!
Folk recipes for worms
To answer questions about how to expel worms from a child or an adult, one cannot fail to mention folk methods of treatment.
pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin seeds contain cucurbitin, a substance that has a detrimental effect on worms. The tool is effective in almost all intestinal helminthiasis. Some sources claim that the action of cucurbitine extends to extra-intestinal helminths.
Pumpkin seeds should only be eaten raw. Heat treatment destroys the active substances contained in them. Also, it is not recommended to remove the skin. It is best if the seeds are ground in a blender with the skin on. For ease of use, the mass can be poured with milk.
Carrot
It is not necessary to use carrots as an independent remedy for the treatment of helminthiasis, since they do not have sufficient effectiveness for this. However, as a means of prevention, as well as as an auxiliary substance in the presence of basic treatment, carrots are quite suitable.
You can use carrots in any form that does not require heat treatment. It is better if the dishes, which include a vegetable, contain pepper or strong spices (Korean-style carrots). The plant is given to children in a raw and purified form.
Linen
You can remove worms from the intestines using plain or black linen. Flax seeds can be used ground up and mixed with cinnamon. However, it is preferable that they are used in the form of an infusion. For its preparation 1-2 tbsp. spoons of crushed seeds in a blender are poured with a glass of boiling water and left to infuse. After a few hours, the composition should be filtered and taken 100 ml twice a day on an empty stomach. The treatment lasts until the parasite eggs are no longer found in the faeces.
Chamomile decoction
A chamomile decoction can be used in almost unlimited quantities. It does not have a direct antihelminthic effect, however, it promotes the healing of microcracks in the intestinal mucosa, which are formed as a result of the activity of helminths.
In addition, chamomile contains a huge amount of vitamins, natural immunostimulants and other beneficial substances.
Garlic
Garlic is one of the best anthelmintic herbs. You can use it in its pure form, as well as mixed with milk. The mixture is prepared by squeezing 10-12 drops of garlic juice into a glass of hot boiled milk. It is necessary to drink garlic milk in the morning on an empty stomach for 1-2 weeks. In the future, in order to prevent reinvasion and improve immunity, garlic is recommended.
Hemp and linseed oil
Hemp, flaxseed, sea buckthorn, cedar and other oils also have antihelminthic action.
When we remove worms with folk remedies, the oil should be given 1 teaspoon twice a day, preferably on an empty stomach, shortly before meals. A relative contraindication to the use of this method is severe dyspepsia, accompanied by profuse diarrhea. Before starting oil treatment, fixing agents must be taken.
tansy
Tansy is one of the most popular antihelminthic drugs recognized by folk and traditional medicine.
For the treatment of helminthic infection, the plant can be consumed in the form of a powder (orally, 0. 7-1 g 1 time per day for a week) or in the form of an aqueous decoction. In addition, inflorescences are part of many complex remedies (troychatka).
Tansy is strictly contraindicated for pregnant women and children under 12!
Troychatka
The composition of the so-called "troychatka" includes 1 g of tansy, 0. 5 g of cloves and 0. 3 g of wormwood. All components are ground to a powder state and mixed together. It is allowed to use the mixture inside in its pure form. In this case, the dose of the drug should be increased gradually, starting from half from 0. 7 to 0. 8 grams per day. For ease of use, the herbs can be mixed with food. The composition is taken for several months.
Mugwort
Wormwood in the treatment of helminthiasis in adults is often used in the form of alcohol tincture. To do this, the dried grass is ground, the required amount of powder is measured and poured with vodka in a ratio of 1: 3. The tincture is ready for use in 2-3 weeks. You should take 30 to 50 grams on an empty stomach, twice a day.
In childhood, wormwood tincture is replaced by infusion, where pure drinking water is used instead of alcohol. The reception frequency and duration do not change.
Worm Enema Recipes
Enemas for helminthiasis can remove parasites that have migrated into the rectum for reproduction. Garlic, soda enemas and tansy enemas are used.
Garlic enema
To prepare an enema, a decoction of garlic is used. Several cloves from the plant are poured with water and boiled for 2-3 minutes. After that, the garlic pulp is removed, the broth is cooled, filtered, and then injected into the rectum with a syringe.
Garlic enemas are not given to children under 3 years old. Also, this type of treatment is useless for tissue parasites, tapeworms, localized in the hepatic ducts, tapeworms. The procedure is performed before going to bed. Beforehand, it is recommended to put a cleansing enema.
soda enema
The solution is prepared from a glass of water and 0. 5 teaspoons of baking soda. The powder is dissolved and boiled for five minutes. After the solution has cooled, filtered and injected into the rectum at bedtime.
There is no age limit here. To define an enema for very young children, its volume should be compared to the size of the child's body. The course of treatment consists of 6-7 procedures.
Enema with tansy
The solution is prepared from crushed tansy inflorescences. To do this, pour 2-3 tablespoons of powder with a glass of boiling water and insist for half an hour. The solution is then filtered through gauze and injected into the rectum. The course of treatment is 1-2 weeks.
The tansy enema is contraindicated for children under 14!
Prevention
The basis of worm prevention is clean hands. Therefore, a child, like an adult, must adhere to the basic rules of personal hygiene.
The second basic principle of prevention is the annual medical examination with a mandatory examination of feces for the presence of helminth eggs. Preventive treatments are recommended only in the absence of contraindications and with the use of low-toxic agents. Otherwise, highly toxic drugs will do more harm than good!