Helminths (parasitic worms) are widespread throughout the world. They are especially common in hot countries and places with humid climates. In total, there are about 400 species of worms capable of infecting the human body. They are all divided into 3 categories: nematodes, cestodes and trematodes. Invasions caused by nematodes - roundworms, whose habitat is the intestines - are successfully treated at home. How to remove parasites from the body? What should be done to restore health without resorting to hospitalization?
Danger of parasites to humans
The pathological effect of parasites on humans depends on the stage of helminthiasis. Most of the known worms have a larval stage of development, which is characterized by the presence of migrating larvae in the patient's blood. Note:
- sensitization (conjunctivitis, swelling, skin rash, lymphadenitis, tonsillitis);
- lung damage (cough, pneumonia);
- kidney and liver damage (biliary obstruction, jaundice, hepatitis, microhematuria);
- brain damage (meningitis, meningoencephalitis).
In the intestinal stage of invasion, the clinical picture is somewhat altered. The resulting symptoms are due to mechanical damage to the intestinal mucosa, impaired absorption of nutrients and excretion of waste products of the parasite in the intestinal lumen.
In the classic version, intestinal helminthiasis manifests itself as follows:
- dyspeptic syndrome (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea);
- intoxication (weakness, fatigue, headache and muscle aches, hyperthermia).
At the same time there are changes in the composition of blood and feces. Eggs of the parasite, its sexually mature forms and blood are found in the feces. Anemia, hypoproteinemia, eosinophilic leukocytosis are noted in the blood.
Note: in practice, the clinical picture often combines signs of the migratory and intestinal stages of the disease. This is due to the fact that a patient who does not follow the rules of personal hygiene becomes infected again. At the same time, the older parasites already acquire a mature form, the new ones pass through the larval stage.
How to get rid of worms at home
Nematodes are usually treated at home. If necessary, self-treatment of invasions caused by intestinal forms of cestodes (teniasis, teniarinosis) is possible. Successful therapy of tissue forms of invasion is impossible without the supervision of a specialist and the appointment of competent drug therapy. You can get rid of parasites both with the help of medicines and with the help of folk recipes.
9 popular broad-spectrum parasite medications
Modern anthelmintics allow you to get rid of worms in a short time. Depending on the type of invasion, the duration of the course of therapy varies from 1 to 5-7 days. Most of the existing drugs have a broad spectrum of action and are effective in many parasitic diseases.
Pyrantel
Used in intestinal helminthiasis, has low toxicity and high efficiency. It is prescribed as a single dose, 10 mg / kg for enterobiosis and ascariasis, 10 mg / kg once daily for 3 days with some. The tablets should be taken on an empty stomach and chewed thoroughly. Treatment with pyrantel during pregnancy requires some caution. Vague abdominal pain may occur during the course.
Mebendazole
Used in ascariasis, trichocephaly, enterobiasis and other helminth infestations. 100 mg once is prescribed for adult patients. Children from 2 to 10 years the dose should be reduced to 25-50 mg. The tool is not used during pregnancy and lactation, as well as when the patient is less than 2 years old. Nausea or vomiting may occur during treatment.
Albendazole
Used to treat almost all types of helminth infections. For the treatment of hookworm, enterobiosis and ascariasis, the drug is prescribed 0, 2 grams once. Other types of invasion require a long course of therapy. The tablets are taken orally after a meal, without chewing. Contraindicated in pregnancy, retinal diseases, lactation. In long courses, alopecia, pancytopenia, dyspepsia are possible.
Levamisole
Most active in ascariasis. It can be used to treat necatorosis, hookworm, enterobiosis. 150 mg at a time is prescribed, preferably in the evening. For children, the dose is calculated according to the formula 2. 5 mg / kg. Not used during pregnancy, lactation, agranulocytosis. Side effects: dermatitis, sleep disturbance, neuralgia, myalgia.
Piperazine adipate
Apply against pinworms and roundworms. In ascariasis 2 grams of the drug is prescribed 2 times a day. The course of treatment is 2 days. In enterobiosis the duration of the course is 5 days. The doses and schedule remain the same. The product is drunk after a meal. Contraindicated in case of individual hypersensitivity. You may feel nauseous or vomit during the course of treatment.
Niclosamide
More commonly used to treat tapeworm helminthiasis. The daily dose for an adult is 2-3 grams. It is divided into 3 steps. The tablets are crushed before use. The course of treatment is an average of 4 days. The drug is combined with a laxative. Contraindicated in renal and hepatic failure, pregnancy, in early childhood and old age. May cause nausea, photophobia, exacerbation of dermatitis, allergic reactions.
Praziquantel
A broad-spectrum agent for the treatment of trematodes and cestodes. It is prescribed in a dose of 0. 04 grams per kilogram of the patient's own weight. You need to take the drug several times a day, with an interval of not more than 6 but not less than 4 hours. The average course of treatment is 3-4 days. The exact duration of the drug is determined by the doctor. Contraindicated in the first trimester of pregnancy, with ocular cysticercosis, liver disease, individual hypersensitivity of the patient to the components of the drug. During treatment it is possible to develop dyspepsia syndrome, general toxic syndrome and allergic reactions.
Pirvinia embonate
Highly specialized drug for the treatment of enterobiosis. 5 mg is prescribed once. The tablet should be swallowed whole without chewing. The best results can be achieved if the treatment is carried out immediately after breakfast. A second course is possible no earlier than 2 weeks later. Contraindicated in intestinal diseases and multiple organ failure. Short-term nausea is possible after ingestion.
Carbendacime
Indicated for nematodes, most effective in pinworm infection. The course of treatment is 3 days for all invasions except enterobiosis. In the latter case, the agent is taken once. The dose is calculated on the basis of 10 mg / kg body weight. You should take pills in the morning and evening. Diarrhea and flatulence are possible during treatment. Contraindicated in pregnancy, lactation, early childhood.
The drugs described above are highly effective but quite toxic drugs. Therefore, their use is possible only in the absence of contraindications. Otherwise, it is necessary to use traditional medicines to get rid of worms.
Medicines for children against worms: getting rid of parasites
A rather narrow range of drugs is used to treat young children. Young children are prescribed drugs such as pyrantel, piperazine, vanquin. These drugs have virtually no toxic effect. In addition, they are produced not only in the form of tablets, but also in the form of a suspension.
Pyrantel
In the form of a suspension is prescribed for children from 6 months to 2 years. At the age of six months, the agent is dosed at 2. 5 mg / 10 kg body weight per dose. If the patient is older than 6 months, the suspension is dosed at 5 ml / 10 kg body weight. The frequency of administration and duration of treatment correspond to the frequency of adults.
The tablets are prescribed to children after they have been swallowed well. As a rule, at this time the child will be 2 years old. The dosage of pyrantel tablets for children of different ages is shown in the table below:
| Age | Dose |
| aged 2-6 years | 250 mg |
| aged 6-12 years | 500 mg |
| More than 12 years | 750 mg |
Piperazine adipate
The course of treatment and frequency of administration for children do not differ from treatment in adult patients. The dose is adjusted according to the patient's age:
| Age | Dose |
| Less than a year | 200 mg |
| 2-3 | 300 mg |
| 4-5 | 500 mg |
| 6-8 | 750 mg |
| 9-12 | 1 gram |
| 13-15 | 1. 5 grams |
Dosages may be adjusted by the treating physician according to the severity of the disease and the susceptibility of the parasites to the drug used.
It is permissible to use more toxic drugs to treat children only with low efficacy of the above means. Monitoring of the child's condition is necessary during treatment.
How to get rid of worms during pregnancy
Medications are not recommended during pregnancy. During intrauterine development, the fetus is extremely vulnerable to chemicals. Anthelmintic therapy may have a teratogenic effect, causing pathology in the child's development.
If absolutely necessary, pregnant women are allowed to take piperazine and praziquantel. Other chemotherapeutic drugs are strongly contraindicated. The treatment of worms is carried out with folk remedies or postponed until birth.
We remove worms with folk remedies: 10 recipes
Folk remedies are an excellent method of treating helminthiasis caused by roundworms. The effectiveness of herbal remedies is reduced by infection with tapeworms and flatworms. However, natural remedies can help with proper selection and use. The following recipes are considered the most effective:
Троичатка Иванченко
A mixture of dried tansy, wormwood and cloves. The components are mixed in a ratio of 4: 1: 4, respectively. The dose for 1 dose is 1. 75 grams. The course of treatment is 2 weeks with three daily doses. It is necessary to use the powder on an empty stomach, 3 times a day.
Garlic with milk
Squeeze the juice from 2 heads of garlic and add it to a glass of warm milk. The mixture is drunk once a day, on an empty stomach for 2-3 weeks.
Pure garlic
For the treatment of helminthiasis, garlic can be consumed in its pure form during meals. To achieve the expected effect, it is recommended to consume 1 vegetable clove three times a day for 2 weeks.
Flaxseeds
1-2 teaspoons of seeds, crushed, pour a glass of boiling water and leave to infuse until the mixture cools. The infusion is then filtered, poured into a glass bottle and taken in 100 ml, morning and evening. The duration of the course corresponds to the time until the helminth eggs stop being found in the faeces. On average, this takes 2-3 weeks.
Pumpkin seeds
Contribute to the elimination of not only intestinal but also tissue parasites from the body. The product is used raw. Heat treatment destroys the anthelmintic substances present in the seeds. The seeds should be consumed together with skins, pre-cut into porridge, filled with milk. The daily dose is 200-300 grams per adult. It is recommended to use cleansing enemas during treatment.
Wormwood Tincture
To prepare the tincture, take 1 part of dried and chopped wormwood herb and 2 parts vodka. The components are mixed and removed in a dark, dry place for 2 weeks. The drug is then considered ready. It should be consumed 30-50 ml twice a day, on an empty stomach. The tincture is not used for the treatment of pediatric patients.
Spices
Hot spices (all types of peppers) are commonly used to prevent roundworm infestation. No special recipes are required for their use. It is enough to add a pinch of hot spice to food every day.
Immortals
Used as a flask. 2 tablespoons chopped herbs pour 400 ml of boiling water and insist for two hours. Then the product is filtered and consumed at 0, 5 cups 4 times a day before meals. The course of treatment is 10 days.
Walnut Bark
Crush the green walnut shells (4 pieces) and pour into a glass (250 ml) of boiling water. After cooling, the product is filtered and taken before meals for 1/3 cup. The dose prepared at once should be taken during the day in 3-4 doses. The course of treatment is 2 weeks.
Bow
Onions or green onions are taken in the same way as garlic. Up to 3 small heads per day can be consumed to treat helminthiasis. For preventive purposes, one onion eaten a day is enough. The drug helps to remove worms from the body within 1-2 weeks.
During the treatment of parasitic diseases, no matter what methods are carried out, the rules of personal hygiene must be observed. Disturbed parasites often begin to move actively and leave the intestines through the anus. This is especially true for pinworms and roundworms.
Note: Most folk remedies are contraindicated during pregnancy. Without fear you can use pumpkin seeds, walnut peel, onions and garlic in small quantities (onions - 0, 5-1 small heads per day, garlic - 2-3 cloves per day).
Conclusion
When thinking about how to get rid of worms in humans, you should not rely solely on clinical symptoms that confirm their presence. It is a common mistake of people who do anthelmintic therapy at home to stop taking medication once the obvious signs of the disease have disappeared. The course of treatment must be completed. The exception is when the drug is poorly tolerated by the patient. In such situations, you should visit a parasitologist for advice and choosing a less toxic agent.