To date, scientists know about 400 species of various helminths. They are able to parasitize almost all organs and systems of a person, causing a huge number of diseases.
Worms are afraid of cleaning, so the main prevention is to observe basic hygiene rules
According to statistics, parasites inhabit the body of one in four people on our planet, and almost everyone encounters some species at least once in their life. Worm prevention remains one of the most pressing problems of modern medicine. What means can be used to prevent parasites from entering 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:
- not drug;
- medicinal, or traditional;
- folk remedies.
It is difficult to say which of these directions is optimal in the fight against worms. All complement each other, so the best effect is observed only with an integrated approach.
Non-pharmacological 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 adequate heat treatment;
- when drinking poor quality water or from unverified sources.
Several times a day, after going off the road or interacting with pets, it is recommended that you wash your hands with soap and water.
Therefore, nonspecific prevention of worms consists of the following points:
- compliance with the rules of personal hygiene;
- regular linen change;
- timely cleaning in the house;
- correct handling of food before consumption;
- the use of water that complies with sanitary and hygienic standards, only from reliable 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 bathroom, when returning home from public places. Doorknobs, handrails, bills, and all kinds of surfaces a person touches can be contaminated with parasite eggs.
They enter the body through the mouth. In this way geohelminths are transmitted: roundworms, pinworms, whipworms, nekator, hookworms, intestinal eels. 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 tapeworm infection 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 attentive. Use only bottled water for drinking. If this is not possible, the water for drinking and cooking must be boiled. You can use special preparations designed for water purification. Thoroughly wash fruit and vegetables. When eating local dishes, it is necessary to choose those that have undergone a good heat treatment.
In a house where only adults live, wet cleaning should be done at least once a week, in the children's room - twice. Soft toys must be vacuumed, the rest must be washed with soapy water.
Animals should have periodic checkups by a veterinarian, followed by medication for the worms. 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 the scientists were divided into two large groups. The former believe that pill prophylaxis is safe, effective and should be done regularly. This applies to both adults and children. The second group opposes the use of pills for prophylactic purposes. It is of the opinion that by using rather toxic drugs to prevent worms, a person harms his body more. This tactic is like shooting a flock of sparrows with a cannon.
Considering that tablets for worms are still pharmacological agents, have some indications and contraindications for use, and also have a number of side effects, they should only be used with a high probability of worm infestation. One can suspect in such cases:
- contact with an infected patient - at home, in kindergarten, at school;
- the presence of free-range pets;
- the presence of clinical signs of the disease with negative laboratory test results.
The latter case deserves special attention. Most 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 disorders;
- 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 many prophylactic agents against helminths. Compared with the 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 worms folk remedies are rarely accompanied by unwanted phenomena and usually give a good result.
Their 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 particularly effective as a prophylactic agent against pinworms and roundworms. These worms have no 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. After that, the infusion must be filtered and drunk in one course, one tablespoon three times a day, before meals.
Absinthe 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 peel of a fruit is made with 0. 5 liters of boiling water. The resulting product must be drunk within 1. 5 hours. After 3 hours, it is necessary to take laxative tablets.
Birch tar is recommended to be used as a prophylactic agent against lamblia. To do this, you need to drink it over a 14-day course. On the first day, a 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 cranberry juice. The remedy should be drunk on an empty stomach and, after three hours, take a laxative. It is used both against roundworms and against 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 adequacy of parasite prophylaxis must be made by the attending physician. She will inform you about what means exist against worms and will help you choose the method that will be optimal in each case.