To date, scientists know about 400 species of different helminths. They are able to parasitize in almost all organs and systems of man, 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 certain 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 the penetration of parasites into the human body?
Main information
Depending on the means by which the prevention of helminthic diseases is carried out, it can be of the following types:
- non-medicinal;
- medical or traditional;
- folk remedies.
It is difficult to say which of these areas is optimal in the fight against worms. They all complement each other, so that the best effect is observed only with an integrated approach.
Non-drug methods
By following quite simple rules, you can prevent the ingestion of invasive forms of worms in the body. The latter can enter the human body in the following ways:
- with dirty food or hands;
- when consuming food that has not undergone appropriate heat treatment;
- when you drink poor quality water or water from untested sources.
It is recommended to wash your hands with soap and water several times a day after coming from the street or communicating with pets.
Therefore, non-specific prevention of worms consists of the following points:
- compliance with the rules of personal hygiene;
- regular change of underwear;
- timely cleaning of the house;
- proper handling of food before consumption;
- the use of water that meets sanitary and hygienic standards only from trusted sources.
It is believed that the rules of personal hygiene are ignored by children. But this phenomenon is not uncommon for adults. Regular hand washing should be mandatory before meals, after using the toilet when returning from public places. Door handles, railings, banknotes and any 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, some, 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, blood steaks, the likelihood of tapeworm infection increases. They are considered to be 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 drinking water. If this is not possible, drinking and cooking water should be boiled. You can use special detergents designed to purify water. Wash vegetables and fruits well. When eating local dishes, you should choose those that have undergone good heat treatment.
In a house where only adults live, wet cleaning should be done at least once a week, in a children's room - twice. Soft toys should be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner, the rest should be washed with soapy water.
Pets should be periodically examined by a veterinarian, followed by worm medications. If the patient adheres to these recommendations, it is quite possible that he does not need treatment with pills.
Medical prevention
As for the prevention of worms with pharmacological drugs, here scientists have been divided into two major 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 quite toxic drugs to prevent worms, a person harms his body more. This tactic is like shooting a cannon at a flock of sparrows.
Given that worm tablets 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 infection. It can be suspected in such cases:
- contact with an infected patient - at home, in kindergarten, school;
- the presence of pets that are free;
- the presence of clinical signs of the disease with negative results from laboratory tests.
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 traditional medicine for the prevention of worms.
Folk ways
Folk medicine also offers many prophylactics against helminths. Compared to traditional treatment with pills, 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 good results.
The relative cheapness makes them accessible to the vast majority of the population of our country, and their relative safety allows them to be used as preventive measures against worms.
Tansy has a paralytic effect on worms. It is especially effective as a prophylactic against pinworms and roundworms. These worms do not have any adaptations to 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 an hour. Then the infusion should be filtered and drunk in a course, one tablespoon three times a day before meals.
Wormwood is effective against tapeworms, roundworms and giardia. Alcoholic tincture is used for treatment and prevention, which is taken 20 drops three times a day half an hour before meals.
Another effective remedy is pomegranate. The peel of a fruit is boiled with 0, 5 liters of boiling water. The resulting product should be drunk within 1, 5 hours. After 3 hours you should take laxative tablets.
It is recommended to use birch tar as a prophylactic against giardia. To do this, you need to drink it for 14 days. On the first day, a drop of tar is dissolved in a spoonful of honey. Then one drop is added every day, the number becomes 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 should be taken 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 parasite prophylaxis should be made by the attending physician. It will inform you what remedies against worms exist and will help you choose the method that will be optimal for each case.