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 point of view has not received scientific confirmation. Mostly helminthiases affect 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 what symptoms indicate a helminthic lesion. However, in reality, the clinical picture of helminthiases 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 products;
- the absorption of a part of the substances necessary for the human body that come with food;
- blockage of the hepatic ducts, intestinal lumen (lumps of worms).
As a rule, helminths do not gather in lumps and are located longitudinally in the intestinal lumen. Acute intestinal obstruction develops only with improper treatment, when alarmed, but not destroyed parasites begin to move actively, become entangled and form volumetric complexes from their own bodies.
Helminthiases have the following set of symptoms:
- nausea;
- weakness;
- dizziness;
- vomit;
- headache;
- diarrhea;
- weight loss;
- 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), penetrate the liver, lungs, muscles, and brain. When the lungs are affected, the patient has a debilitating cough, sometimes 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 activity of the worms).
Types of parasites
In the human body, 3 main types of worms parasitize: round, tape and flat.
roundworms
The most prominent representatives of the species of parasites are pinworms and roundworms. Infection with these helminths accounts for 80% of cases of all helminthiases found in the territory of the countries of the former CIS.
These worms are of different sexes, have relatively small body sizes (from 1-2 to several tens of centimeters), infection occurs by the fecal-oral route.
Tapeworms
They are the largest of all parasitic worms. The most famous representatives of the group, pork and bovine 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 feces.
flatworms
Small representatives of helminths, living, as a rule, in the bile and hepatic ducts.
Residents of endemic areas may not cause any symptoms of the disease for many years. In the case of infection of a person who has not had contact with the parasite in the past, they lead to severe liver diseases. Can cause hepatitis, manifestations of gallstone disease 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 grow. Echinococcal cysts are formed. In this case, tablets from worms for humans or animals are practically useless. Finns are removed promptly.
Tablets from worms for adults
The vast majority of today's popular antihelminthic drugs are created on the basis of one of the three main substances: mebendazole, albendazole or levamisole.
based on mebendazole
Broad-spectrum drugs that are prescribed to patients suffering from enterobiasis, ascariasis, ankylostomidosis, trichuriasis, teniasis, 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 of age, people suffering from liver disease and alcohol addiction (during binge drinking). 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 in pregnancy, lactation, younger 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 antihelminthic drugs.
Based on levamisole
Most effective when infected with pinworms and roundworms. In other diseases of the helminthic nature, they also have the necessary effect, however, treatment may require a longer course than when using analogues.
Medicines have immunostimulant properties and can be used as such in moderate immunodeficiency.
Means based on levamisole are contraindicated in the following conditions:
- pregnancy;
- lactation;
- childhood;
- alcoholism in the stage of binge;
- liver disease;
- agranulocytosis.
Levamisole and its derivatives during long-term treatment can cause agranulocytosis, nausea, vomiting, depression, dermatitis, anorexia.
Tablets and suspensions for children
As a rule, the treatment of helminthiases in children older than 3-4 years can be done using the same drugs that are prescribed for adults. In this case, the dose of the drug should be adjusted according to the age of the child.
You should be aware that for ease of administration, the suspension can be made from any tableted agent. To do this, the required amount of the drug is crushed to a powder state, added to the required amount of drinking water and mixed thoroughly.
Self-prepared suspensions cannot be dosed in the same way as factory dosage forms are dosed. The required amount of the drug is measured before preparing the suspension!
Folk recipes for worms
Answering 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 an adverse effect on worms. The tool is effective in almost any intestinal helminthiases. Some sources claim that the action of cucurbitin extends to extraintestinal helminths.
Pumpkin seeds should only be consumed raw. Heat treatment destroys the active substances in them. In addition, it is not recommended to remove the peel. It is better if the seeds are crushed in a blender along with the peel. 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 it does not have sufficient efficiency for this. However, as a means of prevention, as well as as an auxiliary substance in the presence of basic therapy, carrots are quite suitable.
You can use carrots in any form that does not require heat treatment. It is best if the dishes, which include a vegetable, will contain pepper or hot spices (Korean-style carrots). The plant is given to children in a raw, purified form.
Linen
You can remove worms from the intestines using ordinary or black flax. Flax seeds can be used crushed and mixed with cinnamon. However, it is better if they are used in the form of an infusion. For its preparation 1-2 tbsp. spoons of seeds crushed 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 course of treatment is until the moment when eggs of parasites are no longer found in the feces.
Chamomile decoction
A decoction of chamomile can be used in almost unlimited quantities. It does not have a direct antihelminthic effect, however, it promotes the healing of microcracks on 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 antihelminthic plants. 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 warm 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 re-invasion and improve immunity, garlic is recommended.
Hemp and linseed oil
Hemp, linseed, 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 should be taken.
Tansy
Tansy is one of the most popular antihelminthic drugs recognized by both 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. Also, inflorescences are part of many complex remedies (troychatka).
Tansy is strictly contraindicated for pregnant women and children under 12 years old!
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 crushed to a state of powder 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 0. 7-0. 8 grams per day. For ease of use, herbs can be mixed with food. The composition is taken for several months.
Sagebrush
Wormwood in the treatment of helminthiases in adults is often used in the form of an alcohol tincture. To do this, the dried grass is crushed, 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. It is necessary to take it 30-50 grams on an empty stomach, twice a day.
In childhood, wormwood tincture is replaced with infusion, where pure drinking water is used instead of alcohol. The frequency and duration of the reception does not change.
Worms Enema Recipes
Enemas for helminthiasis can remove parasites that have migrated into the rectum for reproduction. Garlic, soda enemas and tansy enemas are used.
Enema with garlic
For setting an enema, a decoction of garlic is used. Several cloves of the plant are poured with water and boiled for 2-3 minutes. After that, the pulp of garlic 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 of age. Also, this type of treatment is useless for tissue parasites, tapeworms, localized in the hepatic ducts, tapeworms. The procedure is carried out before going to bed. Preliminary it is recommended to put a cleansing enema.
soda enema
The solution is prepared from a glass of water and 0. 5 teaspoon of baking soda. The powder is dissolved and boiled for five minutes. After the solution is cooled, filtered and injected into the rectum at bedtime.
There are no age restrictions here. To set an enema for very young children, its volume should be compared with 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 the 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.
Enema with tansy is contraindicated for children under 14 years old!
Prevention
The basis for the prevention of worms is clean hands. Therefore, a child, like an adult, must observe the basic rules of personal hygiene.
The second fundamental principle of prevention is the annual medical examination with a mandatory examination of feces for the presence of helminth eggs. Preventive courses of treatment 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!